Benchmade 555 or Spyderco Native from Walmart for Brother?

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pjmaxm

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OK, I have two knives and I am not sure which to give to my brother for Christmas. I have a Benchmade 555 and a Spyderco Native from Walmart. I want to give him the better of the two knives and I am not sure which to give.
The Spyderco has much better steel, S30v vs. 440c. Yet the Benchmade has a better lock, Axis vs. lockback. The fit and finish seem to be a little better on the Benchmade, but not miles ahead of the Spyderco. Both are made in the USA and have a lifetime warrenty. I myself, have a few Spydercos and love them, but the Benchmade seemed like a great knife for my brother who has never had a good knife before. Then I picked up a Spyderco Native at Walmart and was really impressed with it.

So in your educated opinion, which would you give to your younger brother?
 
ive been in the same position as to what knife to get for myself. the steel on the native is far superior, but you are right, the fit and finish on the benchmade is great, plus the axis lock is good.
its really all just a matter of preference i guess. id just flip a coin and keep whichever one you dont give him
 
Not to muddy the water, your other choices are good, but you might consider these alternatives.

Exceptionally beautiful execution of a brilliant design, frame lock, buttery opening and closing, tip down pocket strong pocket clip, 440C blade, stainless handle, extremely sharp out of the box & bargain price.

larger: http://store.yahoo.com/bestknives/bu179mahi.html

smaller: http://store.yahoo.com/bestknives/bu174macu.html

I've been carrying the Buck Mayo Cutback, about $30 @ WM, and liked it/used it so much that I ordered its big brother the TNT.

However, you could spoil your brother with these.

If I am wrong you can break both of my legs and I won't squawk.

All the best,

oregon
 
I am giving my lil bro a native, he likes lockbacks and he likes the spydie hole. Ask your bro what he prefers by lettin him play with your knives and he'll give you a clue. Plus my lil bro has been listened to my rants on steel and what I like best and I am sure he'll feel better seein s30v on the blade than 440C. Benchmade's 555 is a nice knife though and I am sure whichever one you give him he'll love I mean the natives 40, and the Benchmades around 60-70 online. So there not too far off in their price ranges.
 
That 440c is nothing to sneeze at.

Pretty damn good steel itself, i wouldn't have a problem with either.
Myself, i would love either as a gift, the AXIS is pretty much icing on a good design like the grip's.

I think, i would give him the AXIS, Lockbacks are common, the other isnt as much, unless talking about them here.

WR
 
I already bought both the Benchmade and the Spyderco. So thanks for the other suggestions from oregon, but I am chosing between two knives I have in my possesion. The price difference was only $15 ($40 for the spyderco and $55 for the Benchmade), so it really doesn't matter either way on the price.

I am leaning towards the Benchmade as a gift because it has the axis lock, as mentioned not as common, and because of the fit and finish; yet if I was buying for myself I would get the Spyderco. I have a bias towards Spyderco for myself ( I have 3), so I guess that is why I am thinking of the Spyderco for my brother. Just trying to make sure that my bias was not clouding my decision. I love Spydercos but the Benchmade mini-grip just feels a little more special or unique, and hence a better gift.
 
I definitely prefer the minigrip....VG10 and S30V are great steels, but 440C is fine. The axis lock and action are just stellar on grips...the action on lockback spydercos has always been poor for me, and I've just confirmed it for myself because I'm holding four of them right now (both natives, a kopa and a delica). However, the Native looks much nicer and feels GREAT in my hand. It probably does look more brutal though. Also, the scales on the Natives (particular the III) are much grippier than the griptilian's, ironically. The III has a really great pocket clip, in my opinion. Also people with bigger hands will almost definitely prefer the Natives to a minigrip, ergonomically....I can only barely fit my hand on my minigrip, but the finger choil makes everything well on the native.
FRN knives need steel liners, and the griptilian gives them to you...I believe the Centofante has steel liners and doesn't cost anymore than the Native so that'll help you.

I'd get the minigrip unless you have a special need for better handles and don't care about the action.
 
It sounds like your brother isn't a huge knife person. If that is the case, I would get him the MiniGrip.

I don't think he will appreciate the difference in steel as much as he would the Axis lock. The Axis lock is something a non-knife person would have fun with and enjoy. He may understand that S30V is better than 440C, but it may not really matter that much to him. Even 440A is good enough for 99.9999% of all tasks that 99.9999% of all people must do.
 
BM.
440c will do him just fine, and it'll be easier for him to sharpen.
The axis lock will be unlike anything he's seen, and I'm sure he'll be impressed.

the axis lock rocks
440c is decent
i'd get him the grip

zen
peace.
 
I'd go with the Grip. I own each flavor of Grip(Tanto, regular, the odd one with an oval hole) and 3 Natives(Native 1,2, and 3) and I prefer the Grips for carry, but there's a Native in my tacklebox.

So... +1 on the Grip.

oil
 
I'd gotten a Native from Walmart then decided I didn't like the blade shape. I returned it and got a 556 from Cabela's with the D2 blade.

My first Benchmade and I love the Axis lock. The Mini-Grip Benchmade is a perfect EDC knife!!
 
Personally, I'd rather have the Benchmade. But that is just me, your milage may very.
 
Another vote for the Grip. I would much rather have a Grip than a Native. I like the the feel of the Grip better.
 
Im a big spyderco fan, but this one goes to the Grip. the grip is just all around a nicer knife IMO, plus 440c hold a good edge for a long time and easier to sharpen then S30V.
 
I think it depends what your brother wants ... the BM may be a good intro for someone who likes to just play with their knives (it's pretty, more traditional looking, axis, etc.) but I've heard great things about the Native as a workhorse. Most Spydie fans have been converts after having to use a Spydie for X period of time ... so I would say Native if he's going to use it hard for anything, BM if you want a 'gentle' knife introduction :)
 
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