Benchmade or spyderco?

I'm pretty even about spyder hole versus thumb stud. Like them both.


But if you're actually touching the blade, you're doing it the slow way (unless you're using a flipper). Axis lock opening or compression lock opening for intermediates. Should be all wrist for pros, and by the time you're an expert, you should get rid of half of the flick of the wrist and it should appear like all your knives are assisted opening. It would personally not bother me at all if my tactical knives had neither.
 
having only one spyderco and one benchmade both at the $100 price point this is the conclusion that i come to. spyderco is definately the worker. my pmilie is lightweight and very balanced. the scales have great ergos and provide excellent grip. it aint pretty so you wont have a hard time beating the crap out of it and making even uglier from using it.
on the other hand i have an AFCK. ergos are definately not as good but still decent. the scales a tiny bit more slippery, but the action is just as BM describles it, silky smooth. dont get my wrong the pmilie is plenty smooth. quality wise it seems like BM wins. once again spyderco isnt far behind.

so this is my advice. for a no nonsense cutter/user get a spyderco. if you like playing with knives and collecting them get a BM.
 
naggalowmo said:
quality wise it seems like BM wins. once again spyderco isnt far behind.
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Guess it depends how you define quality. The nested liners and top-quality steel on the Para are good things. I can see how the fit and finish on the Para might not match up to the F&F on some Benchmades, but then I get a knife like the Ocelot, which has the best F&F of any knife I've owned.

I suppose I'd be willing to say that Benchmade's knives, to the majority of people, are nicer-looking than Spyderco's. (Once you get into knives, though, you start looking at things case by case. My Spydie Lum looks a whole lot nicer than a Griptilian.) At any rate, BMs might please more people aesthetically, and the Axis lock still trumps the Compression lock until the latter can suck the blade back into the closed position, but while we're generalizing, Spyderco uses better steel, probably tends to heat-treat it better, certainly sharpens it better, has better ergonomics, and makes knives that are appreciated when they're used to cut things.

Each Spyderco knife should come with a light bulb, so when someone uses it to cut something for the first time, they can hold the light bulb over their head to indicate that they understand.
 
Oh yes Shmackey i agree about the Lum folder... I LOVE that thing. seriously THE best looking spydie ever. i really hope they do the zdp sprint run.
 
I like both companies. However in my opinion high-end Spyderco lockbacks (like Manix and Chinook) are superior user/functional knives to benchmades (only possible exception is the BM710), however axis knives can usually be flicked open faster than spydercos. I think lockstrength between the steel-lined spyderco lockbacks and axis are probably similar, however I'd bet money on an axis wearing out before a lockback. Although they are gaining a great reputation I personally don't care for the compression or ball-bearing locks (sometimes used by spyderco), nor am I a big fan of liner/frame locks (used by BM). Spyderco uses better steel for the money than benchmade, I'll take VG-10 over 440C or 154CM any day, and I'd imagine S30V (I've never had any trouble with it) can hold its own with D2 or M2, but don't have as much experience with these steels. Bottom line, no matter which brand you choose, NOBODY makes a better folding knife than Spyderco or Benchmade.

DO yourself a favor and pickup a BM710HS and a 806D2 (while you still can), and get a Spyderco Manix and Chinook II, of the 4, I prefer the Manix.

My favorite non-Spyderco/Benchmades: CRKT M-16 and Al Mar Sere 2000 (though I don't have one YET)
 
DGG said:
Untamed -

I can't find San Miguel beer around here??? Is it a dark beer like Guiness?

What knives to you use the most in the PI? I always thought of it a the dream scuba diving vacation (sea snakes and man-eating clams too) but very tropical with heat and humidity.

I seem to remember a demonstration of butterfly knives somewhere that was so awesome I assumed that the user had ground off the edge until at the end he whacked an orange in half with the knife.
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Sorry to be off topic folks. . .

Too bad. Ask any G.I. serviceman who's been stationed here to tell you about it :D . Haven't tasted Guiness so can't compare, but good 'ol "San Mig" has yellowish color to give you an idea. Also, I'm from the central planes region (Central Luzon) and away from water but we're known for having one of the richest when in comes to marine bio-diversity. A bit hot yes, but with "warm" people. :)

As for knives---generally speaking---the better locally made ones are forged from leaf springs from old trucks (5160???) and though large sometimes are ground thin (1/8"), hence an all-arounder. Handles in carabao/water buffalo horn is tough, maybe like G10? Rust is just a matter of simple wiping and user maintenance, no biggie if you cope.

As for balis? Not much of a user since I can't EDC it (legal stuff) but I've got one stored away I inherited from an uncle; handmade from Batangas, rough F&F, 5", tool steel and is well tempered (my uncle said when he bought it, the seller gave a demo by sticking coins on the table with it!).
 
Temper said:
Benchmade's in general are appreciated faster than Spyderco's IMO. Benchmade had a lot of presence and sexy lines, PB washers and G-10 up the ying yang, think 'Cheerleader' Spyderco's are more like a sport science major you meet in the library but she's a rocket in the sack ;)
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ROFLMAO :thumbup: :) :p
 
I like Benchmade better then Spyderco. Mostly becuz of looks. I think that Spydies are very ugly (well most of them). But I have no doubt that they are awesome knives. I just love the way BMs look. And they are awesome knives to.

TBG
 
In my collection I have almost 60 Benchmade's and close to 40 Spyderco's. The Earliest Benchmade is from 1995, and the earliest Spyderco is from the about 1990-91.

Warrenty and Repair: Both companies have a good to great reputation here. I would tend to say that Benchmade's might be a bit better. Keep in mind two things here, however. From what I understand, Benchmade is a larger company (more people working). Also consider this. The vast majority of Benchmade's knives are made here in their factory (excluding the Red Class). The number of knives made in Golden for Spyderco, compared to the total number of knives they sell is much smaller. If you send your broken Spyderco Civilian back to Golden, it is not going to the people who made it and gave it birth (they are in Japan). If you send your broken 940 back to Benchmade... It is in the "makers" hands. Some of those factors give Benchmade a slight edge in this dept. However, from what I hear Spyderco does a great job.

Fit and Finish: Benchmade has always impressed me as machinist who want to make the perfect knife. Spyderco is the company that wants to design the perfect cutting tool. You don't get a Spyderco that is not sharp. Of all the Benchmade's I have gotten, I can't remember a less than perfect fit and finish. I have had a few Spyderco issues (cosmetic or fit and finish), but I have gotten a few Benchmade's that were less than sharp. Pick you posion here I guess. In the last year, Benchmade has made some serious strides in the sharpness dept. I have gotten some seriously sharp Benchmade's

Price point: Look at the average price of the two companies lines... Benchmade is shooting for higher price point. A $120 Spyderco would top of the price structure. A $120 Benchmade is almost a value leader for them! So you like $69 knives, you will find more quality Spyderco's. Excluding the Griptilians, don't have a ton to pick from in the Benchmade line up (you can also get a BM 530)

Steel and materials: Spyderco gets the nod. They have always been one to try new steels. Now I am not sure I would say S30V beats M2. They are different, and I love both. However Spyderco will give you the latest and greatest in steels. Both use high tech materials in other areas (handles, liners). However Benchmade has taken to aluminum, and Ti... I think it goes back to that machinist thing and working with metal! I seem to like Spyderco's G-10 work better.

Collecting: Benchmade has some great LE. However IMHO, Spyderco seems to generate more interest in this area. I think it has to do with the fact that Spyderco models have a fast turn over rate. I have seen many a Spyderco that has only been for sale a year! I think this drives the collectors market for them. Also consider that they have a few more years on Benchmade and that may make a difference.

Locks and Openers: Spyderco has a wide array of locks. I have become quite partial to the Compression Lock... However the Axis Lock is amazing, and wins here. Strong, reliable, and repair-able if need be. However Spyderco's "Hole" is the best opener. The old Benchmade 800 AFCK can't be beat, with that round hole.

In reality, it comes down to what you like, what it looks like, and what moves you. Knife fans need to feel passoniate about what they carry. I can't tell someone which company, and philosophy will move them. However both are compaines I respect. I tend to prefer Benchmade.

Yet have a Spyderco Para Military in my pocket at the moment. :)
 
There both great companies, but I like benchmade better because I prefer thumbstuds to holes.
 
So far i'm leaning towards the 630 skirmish. But i still havent made up my mind. He says he also has alot of knives from crkt and cold steel. I have heard the crkt have good folding knives, however i heard good things from cold steels fixed blades not folding knives. Any imput on those, and should i still stick with the 630 skirmish?
 
Stick with the Skirmish. Have you handled one? It is a large knife. There IS the 635' mini-Skirmish.
 
i like benchmade becasue of the design of their knives, i dont like the look of spyderco's. and the axis lock, buttery smooth, locks up tight.
 
I have decided to go with the skirmish. I told him to put it aside till I go down there around Christmas time. He also said he has got a few ka-bars and a few cold steel items (fixed blades I hope). Any input on which of these has the better fixed blades. I have a couple of ka-bar’s and they are great. However, I have also heard GREAT things about some of cold steels fixed blades. Any comment from you knife pros out there from good knives from either company?
Thanks,

Cutlass
 
You cannot go wrong with either, but BM is a little better. When it comes to knives Les de Asis knows his sh*t. Go to each of their sites and decide for yourself. I think that BM is like sig sauer or HK and spyderco is more like ruger or berretta. Or Bm is like Mercedes and spyderco is like BMW. Kinda like your lincoln vs caddy argument, to each his own.
Oh yeah......Benchmade is better!
 
You cannot go wrong with either, but BM is a little better. When it comes to knives Les de Asis knows his sh*t. Go to each of their sites and decide for yourself. I think that BM is like sig sauer or HK and spyderco is more like ruger or berretta. Or Bm is like Mercedes and spyderco is like BMW. Kinda like your lincoln vs caddy argument, to each his own.
Oh yeah......Benchmade is better!
 
I agree that it comes down to what you like.I've only had two BMs, the Mini Stryder and Sequel and knew they were awesome knives ,but something about them didn't agree with my tastes. I remember looking my first Spydie more than a decade ago and thought it was fugly, but then I used it...I can't get enough of them now.With all due respect to the Stryker, it fell short in terms of cutting abilty for me and it was sent to the trading block as result.Spyderco ,IMHO, make knives to do what knives are supposed to do and there is beauty in that. And with that said, I don't think there are nicer looking knives out there. The other thing about Spydies; you'll never mistake them for anything but;)
 
I've never owned a Spyderco, (yet) but I carry a BM at the moment. The AXIS lock is slick as snot on a doorknob. It's light and sturdy. It's sexy as hell.
I love it. I can't give an opinion on any Spyderco's, but I can say that BM's have much more of the "007 look."
 
Spyderco. Cutting power, cost, warranty, service, ingenuity. I'm not afraid to use a Spydie because of these reasons. I also like the weight factor on all FRN models.
 
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