Benchmade & Spyderco: Characteristic Examples

If the frequent, repeated "XXXXX vs YYYYY" threads over the years are any indication...

Para Military 2 vs 940
Military vs 710
Delica/Endura vs Griptilian
 
Mister Coffee said:
Does place of manufacture matter on these knives? I'm not sure, but I am under the impression that they are not all made in the U.S.A.
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Not really. For Benchmade yes. Most Benchmade knives are made in America. I don't think any are made in China these days. Back in the days of the Red Class knives they did have some made in China but not ones I would have ever bought.

Spyderco it doesn't really matter. The Delica/Endura models with VG10 steel were made in Seki Japan. Great knives. Spyderco makes one of the only lines of China made knives I will buy. Spyderco quality control in my opinion is the best really. The Taiwan Spyderco models are flat out beautiful and some of the best production knives out there. Can't wait to get my hands on a Smock.
 
At the lower end---Griptilian vs Endura/Delica

As you go up, it becomes more varied

For me, the PM2 is the only Spyderco that gets into rotation---I have other models but they live in the drawer--I did carry a full stainless combo edge Endura for years before I got serious about better knives------Regularly carry these Benchmade's ---original Presidio ---drop point Stryker and my new Adamas. Carried a Griptilian for short while before I got my first Presidio----nothing really wrong with it but had a cheap feel to me and got me into Axis locks --which I absolutely love.
 
Smaller end, the Delica and the Mini Grip.... a bit bigger I'd say Endura and Griptilian.

I have to say that the Mini Grip and the Delica are a couple of the finest EDC pieces I've encountered. Both are offered in a ridiculous number of configurations.

Characteristic of the BM is probably the Axis lock and the Pardue influence. The Spydie Hole is an obvious characteristic of the Delica and Endura, as well as the profile.

But do not limit yourself to pieces that you hope are best "representative" of the brand, because in reality there just isn't one.

Both companies offer tremendous selections of stuff, and you are bound to find one of their models that just flat-out speaks to you.
 
ferider said:
I don’t own a Benchmade.

For Spyderco, we need to pick one of Sal’s designs, the most iconic being the Military, IMO.
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Good point. Sal Glesser his the founder and designer of Spyderco. The knives are his specific vision. I think that's important. Since the PM 2 is so popular in his thread, I have to ask: Did Sal design the PM 2?
 
Velitrius said:
Smaller end, the Delica and the Mini Grip.... a bit bigger I'd say Endura and Griptilian.

I have to say that the Mini Grip and the Delica are a couple of the finest EDC pieces I've encountered. Both are offered in a ridiculous number of configurations.

Characteristic of the BM is probably the Axis lock and the Pardue influence. The Spydie Hole is an obvious characteristic of the Delica and Endura, as well as the profile.

But do not limit yourself to pieces that you hope are best "representative" of the brand, because in reality there just isn't one.

Both companies offer tremendous selections of stuff, and you are bound to find one of their models that just flat-out speaks to you.
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Duly noted. Thanks, Vel.

I am trying to decide if the Axis lock is an essential characteristic. I think it is. And certainly the Spydie Hole is essential to Spyderco.
 
Mister Coffee said:
Good point. Sal Glesser his the founder and designer of Spyderco. The knives are his specific vision. I think that's important. Since the PM 2 is so popular in his thread, I have to ask: Did Sal design the PM 2?
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Based on the logos on the blades, I think Sal designed the Paramilitary 1, and Eric and him the PM2 and 3 together.

Other popular Sal G. designs include Endura and Shaman. Eric - on the other hand - did the Manix 2.

Let me ask you a hypothetical question:

Assume 2 sprint runs are released at the same time: a PM2 in Cruwear and a Shaman in Cruwear, both at MSRP, same number of pieces. Which one do you think flies off the shelf first ? :D
 
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I'd say as well...

Spyderco: PM2, followed by PM3
IMO, if it doesn't have the compression lock, you're not getting the full Spyderco exp.
My fav: PM3

Benchmade: Griptilian, followed by 940 and bugout.
IMO, BM is all about the axis lock.
My fav: Superfreak

The aftermarket scales and accessories for the these ones are through the roof.
 
ferider said:
Based on the logos on the blades, I think Sal designed the Paramilitary 1, and Eric and him the PM2 and 3 together.

Other popular Sal G. designs include Endura and Shaman. Eric - on the other hand - did the Manix 2.

Let me ask you a hypothetical question:

Assume 2 sprint runs are released at the same time: a PM2 in Cruwear and a Shaman in Cruwear, both at MSRP, same number of pieces. Which one do you think flies off the shelf first ? :D
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I don't know, but a lot of people really go for the PM 2.

Let me ask you a question:

Why the PM2 over the Military? Is there a trend toward short blades?
 
Mister Coffee said:
I don't know, but a lot of people really go for the PM 2.

Let me ask you a question:

Why the PM2 over the Military? Is there a trend toward short blades?
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And compression lock. But for me, yes, shorter blades fit most of my tasks better. 4" is a ton of edge. I find the PM2 too long most times, for my needs.
 
For Spyderco, I think the Endura, Military and/or Police models, which have been made since the early 90's, would define Spyderco line the best but, there is so much diversity in the Spyderco line, that these knives only scratch the surface as far as what Spyderco has to offer. The trademark Spydie hole is the defining feature of all Spyderco's.

As for Benchmade, I buy BM mainly for their autos and balis and in those genres, the BM Morpho 51 would epitomize their balis and the OTF Infidels or side opening Strykers best define their autos to me.

The only BM folder that I own is a gray Crooked River which I like very much but BM's "defining" (or at least most poplular) folder seems to be the BugOut. The Axis lock is the defining feature of most BM folders, my Crooked River and all variations of the BugOut have it.
 
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Spyderco...the Endura. I have one with molded in pocketclip. Very early.
Also the Police model. Iconic ground breaking designs. Epic.

Benchmade...Mchenry and Williams 710. The first AXIS lock knife. This knife and it's
revolutionary new lock made Benchmade knives with the AXIS lock iconic.
The only Benchmades I own without the AXIS lock are my Infidels.

People newer to the knife world will say PM2 or 3 and the bugout or griptillian.

I think the PM2 is an amazing design of the founder and his son and is a MUST OWN knife if you like blades.
I don't feel the same about the original griptillian or the bugout.
 
cistercian said:
Non sum dignus.
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I should add the giant hole in the blade is the design element that made Sal's early designs
amazing. It was revolutionary at the time to have such a big blade you could easily open with
one hand. They looked really weird but worked really well...I bought my first one after after opening it
a few times one handed. It cost 35 dollars back then! I loved the light weight and the handiness.
 
C cistercian : Duly noted. I think everyone agrees that the "Spydie Hole" is the Number 1 signature design element of a Spyderco. Benchmade makes/made a knife with a hole in the blade, and I think it was a wrong move and beneath Benchmade. Walking around wearing Picasso's hat doesn't make you Picasso. Benchmade should have stayed with their own totally cool knives, which, by the way, are totally cool. :)
 
For pure corporate knife identity, it's the Spyderco Military or the Benchmade AFCK. Killer, Hall of Fame knives.

On the more rugged side, it's the Spyderco Manix (the original, not the pretender) and the Benchmade Rukus, my favorite knife. Both are Hall of Famers.
 
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