Although a heavier knife can feel substantial in your hand for cutting tasks, a lightweight option can still be desirable for EDC enthusiasts looking to carry around a quality blade that won’t be a nuisance throughout the day in your pocket.
Of course, you can find plenty of cheap folders that are small and lightweight, but what about something from a revered knifemaker? That’s where Spyderco’s Charisma comes in. After a couple years of prototyping and teasing, the 0.8-ounce EDC folder is now ready for production.
Eric Glesser’s Featherweight Design
Designed by Eric Glesser — son of Spyderco co-founder Sal Glesser — the Charisma first surfaced as a prototype at the 2024 Amsterdam Meet before undergoing refinement for its official debut in Spyderco’s first 2026 Reveal. The goal was to create a full-sized, fully functional EDC knife that tips the scales at less than an ounce while maintaining the durability and utility Spyderco’s known for.
To put that in perspective, the popular SOG Ultra XR weighs just 1.2oz and even the beloved Benchmade Bugout comes in at 1.85oz. The Charisma cuts that weight by about half.
Strategic Material Choices
Achieving that featherweight status required deliberate choices at every turn. The 2.98-inch modified wharncliffe blade uses Carpenter Technology’s CTS BD1N stainless steel, a nitrogen-enriched steel that Spyderco’s been deploying in lightweight iterations of popular models like the Para 3 Lightweight. The ultra-thin blade delivers respectable edge retention and corrosion resistance while staying easy to sharpen, though at just 0.05 inches thick, it’s not necessarily optimized for heavy-duty cutting.
The linerless FRN handle keeps things minimal without sacrificing grip. Injection-molded fiberglass-reinforced nylon might not have the heft of G10 or titanium, but it’s proven reliable across Spyderco’s catalog. Bilateral longitudinal grooves and pebbled texturing ensure secure handling, while the skeletal wire pocket clip and lanyard hole provide carry options as well.
Simplified but Secure
The low-profile back lock includes a Boye Dent — a relief cut in the release that prevents accidental closure — which is a smart safety feature on such a lightweight folder. Without liners to add rigidity, the injection-molded construction needs to pull double duty on both structure and lock support, but that’s a tradeoff Spyderco clearly felt comfortable making.
Spec Sheet
Blade Steel: CTS BD1N stainless steel
Blade Length: 2.98″
Blade Thickness: 0.05″
Overall Length: 6.8″
Closed Length: 3.82″
Handle Material: Fiberglass-reinforced nylon (FRN)
Lock Type: Back lock with Boye Dent
Weight: 0.81oz
Clip Position: Ambidextrous, tip-up
Origin: Made in Golden, Colorado, USA
Available Colors: Black, gray, red, blue
Pricing & Availability
The Spyderco Charisma is listed as “coming soon” with a retail price of $130. Available in black, gray, red, and blue, you can sign up for notifications through Spyderco’s website to know when it drops.
Recap
Spyderco Charisma EDC Knife
Designed by Eric Glesser, Spyderco’s Charisma is a full-sized EDC folder that weighs just 0.8 ounces — less than half the weight of the already-light Benchmade Bugout. Through strategic material choices like CTS BD1N steel, a linerless FRN handle, and a skeletal wire clip, it delivers everyday functionality without the pocket bulk.
