The Cutting Edge: Wise Men Company Signet Ring

Signet Ring replaces backspacer on select Spyderco knives.

Spyderco® makes some of the most popular every day carry (EDC) pocket knives on the planet. They offer an extensive product line. No matter what your budget, taste, or need, you’ll find a Spyderco model that fits it.

The Wise Men Company Signet Ring is an innovative new product designed to enhance select Spyderco folders for tactical applications by the addition of a Karambit-style ring to enhance deployment, retention, and control.

The Signet Ring is currently available for the Delica® 4, Endura® 4, MatriarchTM 2, ParaMilitaryTM 2, and ParaMilitary 3. It replaces the factory backspacer.

The Signet Ring is CNC machined from a billet of 6061-T6 aerospace-grade aluminum and black MIL-A-8625 Type II anodized. It has a one-inch internal diameter ring. The edges of the ring are chamfered for comfort. The shape and jimping on the ring facilitate control and enhance its capability as an impact weapon. At only 0.33 ounce, the Signet Ring adds negligible weight to the knife.

Signet Ring weighs less than half an ounce and adds just over an inch to the length of the knife.

Installation of the Signet Ring takes only minutes. A video on the Wise Men Company website takes you step by step through the installation process. If you follow the instructions in the video, it’s quite easy. Be aware that disassembly of the knife by anyone other than Spyderco voids the knife’s warranty.

I installed the Signet Ring on a Spyderco Delica 4 Lightweight with Emerson Wave Opener that Spyderco provided to me for my evaluation. Wise Men Company provided the Signet Ring for the Delica. Installation went without a hitch, and fit was perfect.

Now in its fourth generation, the Delica emulates all the qualities that have defined the Spyderco Endura, but in a more compact and lightweight package. The Delica 4 family is available in a wide range of configurations.

The Delica 4 Lightweight with Emerson Wave Opener is an outstanding EDC tactical folder. With a closed length of 4.98 inches and weighing a mere 3.7 ounces, it’s darn near perfect for pocket carry. Ergonomics are superb.

Signet Ring allows user to draw their knife from the pocket easily and quickly.

The Emerson Wave Opener model has a 2.9-inch satin-finished Spyderco “Leaf-Shaped” blade made from VG-10, a high-end Japanese stainless steel developed for the cutlery industry. It has excellent corrosion resistance and can be sharpened to a very fine and durable edge.

The blade is sabre ground with a plain edge. There’s jimping on the thumb ramp for additional purchase and control.

The Emerson Opener model provides you with two opening options. In addition to the Spyderco trademark Round HoleTM, the knife also has the patented Emerson “wave” opener, which Spyderco has licensed from Ernest Emerson. This allows you to open the blade automatically as it clears the pocket by catching the wave on the edge of the pocket. There’s no faster method of opening a folder.

The Signet Ring and Emerson Opener make a perfect couple. The addition of the ring dramatically improves deployment speed from the pocket.

Signet Ring enhances retention and control. It can also be employed as an impact weapon.

The Delica 4 family features a back-lock locking mechanism, one of the strongest locking mechanisms for folders, according to independent testing.

Spyderco back locks feature a David Boye Dent to reduce the chances of the locking bar being accidentally depressed. The locking mechanism on my Delica has functioned flawlessly, with absolutely no blade play.

The handle on the Delica 4 Lightweight family is made of fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN) with skeletonized stainless steel liners. The handle scales feature Bi-Directional TexturingTM, a patented molded texturing pattern that provides an exceptionally secure, non-slip grip.

Spyderco Delica 4 Lightweight with Emerson Wave Opener and Wise Men Company Signet Ring are a great combo.

The handles on the Emerson Opener model are dark blue/gray. Stainless steel Torx (star) screws are utilized to attach the scales and pocket clip, and for the blade pivot screw. To install your Signet Ring, you need the appropriate Torx Drivers—T6 and T8 for the Delica family.

The Delica family has a four-position stainless steel hourglass clip for ambidextrous carry and operation, as well as a lanyard hole. The pocket clip on the Emerson Opener model is blackened.

I am very impressed with the fit, finish, and function of both the Spyderco Delica 4 with Emerson Opener and the Wise Men Signet Ring. They’re an outstanding combo that won’t set you out a lot of cash, either. Suggested retail for the Spyderco Delica 4 Lightweight with Emerson Opener is $124.95 and $30.00 for the Wise Men Company Signet Ring for the Delica.