Spyderco Manbug® CPM SPY27® Folding Knife | MPCBL | Cobalt Blue FRN | Keychain Field Instrument

The Experience

Spyderco's founder Sal Glesser carries a Ladybug. Then he made it better — and for anyone whose hands outgrew the Ladybug, he made it bigger. The result is the Manbug — a keychain-sized folding knife that fits on a carabiner, rides in a watch pocket, and cuts with an authority that consistently surprises everyone who picks one up for the first time. This particular Manbug raises the standard further. The Cobalt Blue FRN handle is the visual signature of Spyderco's elite SPY27 family — and it means the blade inside is CPM SPY27, Spyderco's proprietary powder metallurgy steel developed exclusively with Crucible Industries. Starting with the proven chemistry of VG-10, CPM SPY27 supercharges it with increased volumes of carbon, molybdenum, and vanadium, adds niobium and nitrogen, and subjects the entire alloy to Crucible's Particle Metallurgy process — producing an exceptionally homogenous microstructure that gets "sticky sharp," holds that edge longer, and resists corrosion at a level standard VG-10 cannot match. All of it in a knife that weighs less than an ounce and fits on a keychain. This is the Manbug for the field professional who wants the best steel available in the smallest possible package.

Scientific Engineering

• CPM SPY27 — Spyderco's Proprietary Blade Steel: Developed exclusively with Crucible Industries, CPM SPY27 begins with the cobalt-enriched VG-10 alloy chemistry and enhances it through Crucible's Particle Metallurgy process — atomizing molten steel into fine powder before consolidating it under high pressure to produce an exceptionally uniform alloy distribution throughout the blade. The result is a microstructure free of the segregation that limits conventional steel performance, with significantly improved edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance over standard VG-10.
• Full Flat Ground PlainEdge™ Blade: The leaf-shaped blade is full flat ground — a geometry that produces a thin, consistent taper from spine to edge across the blade's full width, maximizing cutting efficiency and reducing material resistance during slicing tasks.
• Trademark Round Hole™ One-Handed Opening: Spyderco's signature round hole allows smooth, reliable one-handed deployment with either thumb or forefinger — accessible even on a knife this compact.
• Bi-Directional Texturing™ FRN Handle: The Cobalt Blue fiberglass-reinforced nylon handle scales are injection-molded with Spyderco's patented Bi-Directional Texturing — angled ridges that provide a secure non-slip grip from any hand position, including wet or gloved hands in active field conditions.
• Lockback Mechanism: A stout back lock secures the blade firmly in the open position during use — one of the most time-tested and mechanically reliable locking systems in folding knife design.
• Keychain/Lanyard Configuration: An integrated keychain hole at the handle end allows the Manbug to ride permanently on a keychain, carabiner, or pack attachment point — always accessible, never left behind.
• Cobalt Blue — Signature SPY27 Colorway: Across the entire Spyderco lineup, Cobalt Blue handles mark CPM SPY27 steel instruments exclusively — making the color itself a meaningful quality signal that serious knife enthusiasts recognize immediately.
• Clipless Design: The Manbug's clipless handle keeps its profile minimal and snag-free — riding flat in a watch pocket, coin pocket, or clipped to a keychain without the bulk or printing of a conventional clip knife.

Boutique & Conservation Values

• Designed by Spyderco's Founder: The Manbug was personally designed by Sal Glesser — Spyderco's founder — as his own improvement on the Ladybug he carried daily. It is not a production exercise. It is a knife the person who built the company chose to carry.
• Premium Steel, Minimal Package: CPM SPY27 is reserved for Spyderco's most performance-oriented instruments. Finding it in a sub-ounce keychain knife is genuinely unusual — and genuinely compelling for the field professional who refuses to compromise on blade quality regardless of form factor.
• Country of Origin: Japan
• Spyderco Warranty: Every Manbug CPM SPY27 is backed by Spyderco's manufacturer warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.

Specifications

• Blade Length: 1.94" (49.3mm)
• Cutting Edge: 1.63" (41.4mm)
• Blade Thickness: 0.087" (2.2mm)
• Blade Steel: CPM SPY27 Stainless Steel
• Blade Finish: Satin
• Blade Grind: Full Flat
• Overall Length: 4.49" (114mm)
• Closed Length: 2.56" (65mm)
• Handle Material: Cobalt Blue FRN (Fiberglass-Reinforced Nylon)
• Lock Type: Lockback
• Weight: 0.7 oz. (19.8g)
• Carry System: Keychain hole, clipless
• Country of Origin: Japan
• Shipping Weight: 1 lb. (estimated)
• Warranty: Spyderco Manufacturer Warranty