Benchmade 556 vs Spyderco Native III

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allenC

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Jun 18, 2000
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Benchmade 556 Pardue Mini-Griptilian vs Spyderco C78 Native III

556 Mini-Griptilian
Pros:

Dual full-length steel liners for strength.
Flat-ground blade.
Very effective handle texture for non-slip grip.
Very secure pocket-carry.
Torx screw construction allows for an adjustable pivot and disassembly.
Axis-lock strength and ease of use.
Very compact design.

Cons:

The integrated guard shortens the grip.
Its screws can become loose and possibly lost.
Possibility of broken omega-springs, compromising the lock.
Difficult to clean between the scales and liners without disassembly, places for gunk and debris to build up.
The screws used to secure the pocket-clip and connect the scales to the liners are excessively long and intrude in to the blade space.

Native III
Pros:

Rivet-pin construction eliminates the possibility of lost screws.
The reliable lock-back design offers very little that can fail.
Very easy to clean and maintain with no hidden areas for debris to build up.
The wire-clip is very easy on cloth for pocket-carry.
The FRN handle is thicker and stronger than the typical Spyderco FRN folder handle.

Cons:

Hollow-ground blade.
Wire-clip does'nt seem as secure as the traditional clip.
Handle design does'nt offer as many different grips--not as versatile.
Because of the rivet-pin construction, you cannot adjust the pivot or disassemble the knife.

The bottom line:

Both of these folders are very nice high quality knives from two of the best knife companies in the world. You simply cannot go wrong with either one and I don't regret buying either of them.
But if I had to choose one over the other, the Native III would be the one.

The 556 has one of the best blades I've ever used on a small folder. The flat-grind and edge geometry makes the 556 the better slicer of the two knives.
The problem is that you really cannot take full advantage of that great blade because the handle grip is too short.
The choil formed by the handle and blade of the Native III allows for a strong secure full-sized grip.

While the 556 is no doubt the stronger knife due to the dual steel liners, the thick FRN handle of the Native III is plenty strong enough for a folder this size.

Also, the Native III is about as "worry free" as you can get in a folder. There are no omega-springs to think about and no screws to worry over. Torx-screws are great until you have a loose one and you're many miles from the nearest screw-driver.

So, if you're searching for a smaller folder with a full-size grip that's also sharp, reliable, worry free, with premium blade-steel, give the Spyderco Native III a try.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
Very well done review, Allen!

I have both of thesse blades and carry them at different times. I like the Spydie Native I better than the III for the clip and blade.

Both really good knives.
I disagree with the possibility of loose screws with the mini Griptillian 556. I think it is unlikely, tho it could happen.

The benefits of the screws are the ability to take a blade apart if you wish to.
Tho I've not taken apart either one.
I have taken others apart to clean or otherwise play and learn with. :)
Thanks for the insightful review.
Tom
 
Another point is the cleaning of the Grip, WD40 using the straw usually gets out all gunk regardless of its location. Besides, how much can really get in there?
 
Really well done review. I'm gonna have to copy your style if I ever write another one! :D
 
First off:

I would like to read more about your personal experience rather than a repeat of common prejudges.

Have you lost the native because the clip is a wire?

Have the screws of the Grippi gone loose or have you lost one?

Have one of those springs broke?

I guess no. First hand reviews please.
 
Just an addition:

Considering your worries about lost screws. How about loctiting them if you are really that nervous?

It sounds a bit unballanced, to recommend one knife without that simple and common option.

You like the Native and that is ok. But personal preferences shouldn´t be hidden behind half objektive points.
 
Okay Blop,

No. I have'nt lost the Native III due to the clip, BUT it does slid right out of my pocket with the greatest of ease--MUCH easier than the Mini-Griptilian.
Now this might be because the 556 has a rougher texture, but from from flexing the 556 clip and the Native III's wire-clip it does seem that the wire-clip does'nt apply as much pressure.
I can easily imagine that it would not take much force to dislodge the knife from my pocket.

As for the 556's screws:
Yes, some have become loose--not to the point of falling out however.
Being the knife-nut that I am, I'm always playing with my knives, inspecting them, and making minor adjustments (obsessive I know).
And I do need to tighten a screw now and then--mostly the pocket-clip (probably because it gets flexed alot).
The pivot also needs to be adjusted occassionally, as does nearly EVERY adjustable-pivot knife that I actually use.

I choose not to lock-tite my knives because I like to disassemble them also.
It really does'nt take much force to either strip the screw or twist the torx-driver.

So, looking at it from an objectable standpoint, I guess you have to decide which feature is more important to you:
The ability to adjust the pivot and disassemble OR the worry-free function of rivets.

For myself, I don't really NEED to disassemble (and believe me, Axis-lock knives are NOT the easiest knives to get back together).
And it's comforting to know that the Native III's rivets are something I simply don't have to worry about.

I still love the Mini-Griptilian, in fact I carry one at the hospital where I work (the 555). If a screw is loose there I can always go to my locker and get the torx-driver (yeah, I keep torx-drivers for my knife in my locker. I told you I'm a knife-nut).
But if I were hiking or camping, the rivet-construction gives me peace of mind (and one less item to pack--the torx-driver).

Hope this helps,
Allen.
 
AllenC,
I think you are contradicting yourself. You like to disassemble your knives, but you don't like the Grips screws, prefering the "worry-free function of rivets" on the Native III which (because of the rivets) can't be disassembled.

Objectively, I have never had a screw even start to back out on any of my Benchmade knives. That said, because I don't disassmeble them, they could just as well have rivets. If you would leave the screws alone, I think you'd find that they hold like rivets. They're only backing out because you've loosened them.
 
For the record, I carried a Native III clipped to my right front pocket with the wire clip every day for about 4 months... It never fell off. Ever.
 
allenC said:
Hope this helps,
Allen.
Click to expand...

Yes, this has helped. :)

So, i am locktiting the pivots and it isn´t a problem to get it loose if needed. Mabe the glue i use is not that strong, but it´s right for the use.

I never ever had a clip or handle screw gone loose. So i am surprised that yours do. I am not weaing satin clothes :D , so i expect my clips are bend as yours. I noticed, that BM small screws are not tighten hard. So i always give them a little more and that is ok. Never had to loctite them, cause they see no movement like the pivot.

BTW i did some disassembly with them. And the BM screws held up great you can put them apart and together with no problem.

So if some handle screws turn loose. Give Angie at BM a try.
 
Ras,
Hey, I never said I was consistant.
I do like to take things apart AND I like things that don't NEED to be taken apart--confusing huh?

Maybe I open and close my knives more often that others, very few of my folders with adjustable pivots see no amount of loosening over time.
Mind you, I don't need to tighten them every single time I use them or even after 100 times.
But I know that eventually I will need to adjust them, no big deal.

BTW, have you checked the screws in your Benchmade lately?
Check them out, you might be surprised.

BuckyKatt,
You've had your native III much longer than I've had mine--how do you like the wire-clip compared to the traditional clips?
It seems more furniture friendly then some clips I've used.
Does it seem to scratch things less or more?
It's encouraging to know that you've had no trouble with the clip.

Thanks one and all,
Allen.
 
I've got both a Meerkat and Native III that have 'em; both show up regularly in my EDC rotation. Those wire clips rock! They're easier on the pockets, easier to clip and unclip yet still secure, and they don't catch on things like the flat ones. I wish more knifemakers would give 'em a try.
 
I've been carrying a Spyderco Forum Native III for two years. It is my normal EDC, so it gets duty at least 6 days out of 7. It has never come out of my pocket without being requested. I really like the wire clip. As a bonus, it seems to be gentler on the pants and the wooden armed furniture.

Chris
 
Just curious. I'd add that because the 556 has a blade a little under 3 inches and the Native has one a little over three inches, I'd give the nod to BM for being a little more worry free in an jurisdiction where you don't know the blade limits.

Kref
 
I suppose it depends upon who is doing the measuring.

While the 556 has the smaller overall blade length, the Native III actually has less cutting edge because of the choil.

And it seems that when I'm holding them in my hand, you can see more blade of the 556.

But the 556 does have something "sheeple friendly" going for it: It's available in very friendly colors!
It's hard to be intimidated by a bright yellow or purple or lime green knife.

Allen.
 
allenC said:
Ras,


BTW, have you checked the screws in your Benchmade lately?
Check them out, you might be surprised.


Allen.
Click to expand...

Often with no surprise exept the pivot getting loose over time on one 806, so i do loctite ém and have no problem to get it loose if needed. Spine screws never turned loose.

If so, call BM!
 
I don't think it's a problem to call Benchmade about.

I don't want to use locktite, and they are screwsafter all--I don't see how Benchmade could possibly promise that a screw will never become loose and need to be retightened.

Heck, Benchmade itself even sells the Blue Box with the drivers needed to tighten those screws.

Allen.
 
Just a comment/query.

over here in the sunny UK ;) "loctite" is like superglue. Once you glue it, it ain't coming undone easily!

I am curious we also have stuff marketed as "Threadlock" this is a kind of semi glue that you can put on the threads of the screw and it will glue it firm enough to stop it coming loose accidently but you can still undo it with a screwdriver / torx etc and it doesn't leave a sticky residue.

Are we talking about the same thing ?
 
Kiri said:
Just a comment/query.

over here in the sunny UK ;) "loctite" is like superglue. Once you glue it, it ain't coming undone easily!

I am curious we also have stuff marketed as "Threadlock" this is a kind of semi glue that you can put on the threads of the screw and it will glue it firm enough to stop it coming loose accidently but you can still undo it with a screwdriver / torx etc and it doesn't leave a sticky residue.

Are we talking about the same thing ?
Click to expand...
http://www.loctite.com/int_henkel/loctite/entry.cfm

It comes in many differents forms and strengths.
 
I checked out the screws of my 550 and they all were tight with no chance to move.

Usually BMs screws are a bit loose for my taste, so i give them a quarter turn more, but Allan C might be right so i checked it on that knife with the very same result: Secure.

Benchmade will take care cause they want you to be satisfied with the workmanship of the product. If the pivot turns loose over time, thats of no surprise, because the screw is not tighten as much as possible. The others are, so they shall stay that way.

Many peole are tuning ther knives or want hem to be checked by themselfes (many ae voiding their warranty, can´t tell this.. :D ). So BM offers a cute blue box. Benchmade doesn´t sell sharpmakers. But that doesn´t mean their knives wont dull or that dulling is a case of warranty :D .

You decide. Many are telling, you can expect more, secure screws minimum. But if you think, you´ve got enough for the money, ok.
 
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