Are you a Benchmade or a Spyderco type of person?

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I like knife designs from both companies, I have more Spydies now than BM's but I have owned and still own plenty of BM's. The 800 series BM is one of my all time favorite designs to date and I own many, but I also love the Military and have, or have had pretty much every variation. The Spyderco Bradley is pretty hard to beat as far as bang for the buck right now!

Just my opinion, but I don't like the direction BM is going as of late....the price changes, although minor and more of a hassle, the surplus of gold models that I will likely never own, but mainly the quality control seems to be lacking as of late. Seems like there is a $500-800+ gold class released every other month! :barf:

Probably the last 10 Benchmades I have purchased were dull out of the box(most in M4 steel), and had some sort of cosmetic problems. Kinda sucks getting a super steel knife that you can't use until you sharpen it! I'm not all that picky and I use my knives for the most part but a 250$ knife should not be scratched all over and not centered out of the box. Its kind of frustrating if you have to sell a knife in the secondary market thats NIB "but" there are scratches all over it and its poorly centered. I have had my share of Spydies with defects too but percentage wise in my experience the BMs have more problems. To Spyderco's credit, the knives are always razor sharp out of the box in my experience!

I like the axis lock but its somewhat dependent on a tiny spring so its not the end all lock for me that other people think it is IMO.

All in all I am glad I have a choice and can pick between the differant companies and designs.
 
I haven't got time for all these decisions. Give me 2 of each, and a Kershaw for weekends.
 
would i be out of line to say ima kershaw guy?
i only own one bm and one spydie but 5 kershaws
i am going to get more spydies. however i will not buy another BM folder i may buy one of there balisongs.
 
I like both but lean towards Benchmade. In truth I am more a Chris Reeve knife or Emerson guy.
 
Out of the two, spyderco hands down...but i am a younger guy so maybe thats why:confused:

I have handled many BMs and i dont like them very much at all...i love my spydercos and have owned many...they are a much better design IMO...
 
eh, I don't think you can generalize about the entire lines of companies so easily.

Spyderco has some great knives. Benchmade has some great knives.

Spyderco has some so-so knives, so does Benchmade.

You would be much better off comparing individual knives-to-knives than all the knives of a company as a whole.
 
sesshin said:
eh, I don't think you can generalize about the entire lines of companies so easily.

Spyderco has some great knives. Benchmade has some great knives.

Spyderco has some so-so knives, so does Benchmade.

You would be much better off comparing individual knives-to-knives than all the knives of a company as a whole.
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Very true. My first Spyderco was a Mini-Manix, which I didn't like and it still sits in it's box. If I let that experience sour me, I wouldn't have had the pleasure of owning my collection of Millies, Natives and the incomparable Gayle Bradley. Aw hell, I can't honestly choose between Benchmade and Spyderco, so I'll just up my pain meds and arthritis be damned. ;)
 
I have owned the BM 710, the gravitator, and one of the snody models with a tanto blade. Sold them all, and purchased Spydercos and have never looked back.
 
I'm a benchmade guy. I started off a Spyderco fan, I've own a few Enduras a Police model and a mariner. When I got my 710d2 I was amazed by how awesome it was, it's been benchmade ever since.
 
After owning several of both, I feel like Spydercos feel like a toy compared to Benchmades.
To me, Spyderco make knives for people to collect, Bechmade make more solid knives to be used -with some colllectable options here and there.
Spyderco seems to give thier followers what they want,(which seems to be delicate cutters) and to hell with the rest of us.
What happens when you shoot out so many designs nonstop all the, time year aftre year, you end up not being able to cover warrantee issue properly beacuse the knife has been out of production too long.
A "lifetime warranty" should mean just that. To Spyderco, it only means untill they stop production of your knife. I say this from experience. I've also had negitive CS from them more than once; not once from benchmade.
I hate to go further, buy even though I know for a fact that some Spydercos can be good users, the company itself seems silly to me. They seem only about money and I think they're able to get it because they just keep punching out one after another. -That, and people get the idea that the Spyderco company really cares for them. With Spyderco, they speak with company people on different forums, and if you're a lucky "Spyder-zombie", you might even get to chat with Sal Glesser. -Wow!!!
-Sal is a business man, not your pal, no matter how you may see it.
Like I said, to me, the way Spyderco runs it's bussiness is comical, but they make money, so.... Guys just really seem to love knives that are real sharp out of the box, and many seem to like to be in contact with thier knife God, Sal.
Me, I'm just very thankful for Benchmade. I have no reason to speak to thier owned, other to thank him for the fine knives his company produces and to thank him for keeping Americans in work and our money in our county. And again, to me, not just Spyderco but most other production companys just seem like toys compared to Benchmades. I am 28 years old FYI.


I was a bit drunk when I typed this, but after reading it again this morning, I'll stand by ever word..

Lastly, BF has always been a very pro-Syderco place where the majority worship Spyderco. Also, there is no holding back when some one finds an negative issue with thier Benchmade.

I find it foolish, very foolish to not buy from a company because thier knives don't always ship razor sharp. -I wonder what happens when your "razor sharp from the factory spyderco gets dull? -Do you throw it away and buy another one?
Still, with that said, I can't say that I'll not own another Spyderco at some point, they do makes some good knives; but I'd also be perfectly fine not ever owning a Spyderco again too.
 
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53yo and have 8 Benchmades and 14 Sypdercos. Love both companies. I have to give a slight edge to Spyderco. My favorite BM is the Mini Grip 555 with a Spydie hole.
This is sorta like the Ford or Chevy circular argument.
 
Owned many of both, moved on to 'better' (a relative term) things. My knife use and collecting have evolved from much simpler and cheaper times. Just knowing someone like CR Knives was out there, was enough to want to taste and see if it was good. And it was. Kinda like going from Ontario in the early days, to Busse. It became a finer appreciation of materials, design, price, everything you're talking about now but at another level. At higher price points I doubt there's a whole lot of difference between Spydies and B'mades, just preferences and perceptions.
 
Siggyhk said:
-That, and people get the idea that the Spyderco company really cares for them. With Spyderco, they speak with people on different forums, and if you're a luck "Spyder-zombie", you might even get to chat with Sal Glesser. -Wow!!!
Like I said, to me. the way Spyderco runs it's bussiness is a joke. But guys love knives that are real sharp out of the box, and they like to be in contact with thier God. -Oh. I Say Glesser.
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And Benchmade cares about the end user in what way? The MAP pricing? Or the hostility towards internet retailers? Benchmade is a production company and a business first and foremost.

Go to the BLADE show sometime. Visit the Benchmade booth, try to talk to their reps, get an idea of the company. Every time I've gone they spend the first few minutes ignoring me and when I do finally get to talk to them and handle their wares they come across as businessmen who don't care very much about the knives or the culture. Not very friendly and it really feels like they're trying to shove you along.

Then go to the Spyderco booth. You'll most likely be greeted by someone who is friendly and accommodating. They'll ask you questions and talk about the knives. Last year I spent almost an hour talking prototypes with Ed Schempp, the year before that it was with Joyce Laituri. Both of them were very personable and seemed to care about what they were doing and what my experiences were with their product.

It's not just pandering to fans over the internet, it's a real value on the user and his or her experience with the company.

I have full repspect for a company who keeps thier business in the USA.
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That would be very nice if it were true. However, Benchmade still has a large revenue stream in the form of foreign made models under different brand names. ;)
 
For me, it just boils down to the brand I started on-- spyderco. I have nothing against Benchmade, but I got into knives with sypderco and I am now more familiar with their lineup- I cant even name 1 benchmade knife. Who knows, I may make a switch one day. I think that I just feel more comfortable with spydies cause I can look at a pic and pretty much know which model it is. This makes it much easier to follow the upcoming models and the company's forum. I just feel more at home there. I am 30 yrs old, married with no kids. I am very much into the outdoors- hiking, biking, backpacking.
 
I'm 47, married with one kid, work in scientific research, collect wine, like a good pipe, shoot when I can (but don't hunt), and am a William Henry guy. However, I have few Benchmades, but many, many more Spydies, therefore I would say I'm more Spydie than Benchie. Both are very good brands, but I lean towards the unique character of the Spydies, their rough and tough workhorse personality, and the people behind the brand. Actually, just bought their latest release, the Fred Perrin PPT folder.
 
Siggyhk said:
After owning several of both, I feel like Spydercos feel like a toy compared to Benchmades.
To me, Spyderco make knifes for people to collect, Bechmade make solid knives to be used -with some colllectable options here and there.
Spyderco seems to give thier followers what they want,(which seems to be delicate cutters) and to hell with the rest of us.
What happens when you shoot out so many designs nonstop all the time year aftre year, you end up not being able to cover warrantee issue properly beacuse the knife has been out of production too long.
A lifetime warranty should mean just that. To Spyderco, it only means untill they stop production of your knife. I say this from experience.
I hate to go further, buy even though I know for a fact that Spydercos can be good users, the company itself seems silly to me. They seem only about money and I think they're able to get it because they just keep punching out one after another. -That, and people get the idea that the Spyderco company really cares for them. With Spyderco, they speak with people on different forums, and if you're a luck "Spyder-zombie", you might even get to chat with Sal Glesser. -Wow!!!
Like I said, to me. the way Spyderco runs it's bussiness is a joke. But guys love knives that are real sharp out of the box, and they like to be in contact with thier God. -Oh. I Say Glesser.
Me, I'm just very thankful for Benchmade. And to me, not just Spyderco, but most othe production companys just seem like toys.
And on top of that, I have full repspect for a company who keeps thier business in the USA.
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I'm certainly glad I've taken the time to inform myself so as not to share your opinion.

Sal is most definitely not a god. He does however take the time to explain different design elements. This is a service normally only seen at the custom level.

Speaking of knives going out of production...Have you looked at any Benchmades lately?
 
Spyderco knives are more user friendly for me. I don't care for the looks of the Spydie hole, but I do love the way it functions.
Benchmandes look much cooler but I haven't found one that seems to fit well in my hand. They just don't feel right, Spydies are comfortable.
Nothing wrong with the quality of Benchmade, I just can't get the feel for 'em.
I do prefer my Umnumzaan over all other knives at the moment. Second is the small Seb 21 and third is the Spydie Gayle Bradley.

me - My relatively worthless 2 cents. I tend to go for function over fashion.
 
54
Never had kids plus my tubes are cut
Live with a girlfriend who has a 5 yo boy and 7 yo girl
US Navy Veteran, the old Naval Security Group and DAMNED proud of it!
Carry a CCW :D
25 year gaming professional
Don't smoke pot anymore ;)
Loves his beer and wine
Avid flyfisher as much as 50 days a year on a good year all over the Eastern Sierra fishery (world class in itself)
snow skier, full pass every year
MTB'er, trail riding is what I prefer
Ex-world class climber during the mid 70's to mid 80's, mostly in the Valley and Tuolumne (Ex = age affects climbing more than my other hobbies, still boulder pretty good)
Drive a Nissan Titan
Own a house in Reno and a condo in Incline Village, North Lake Tahoe
Owned as many as 55 knives at once, down to about 18 keepers, still a few to sell though - I have to hold them to know them - if they don't give me "that feeling" I sell them
Zero Benchmades anymore by their own doing and a lot would have to change there before I considered another
99% Spydercos here and 100% supporter of Sal and his mission and because Spyderco has more designs that appeal to me by far
 
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