benchmade vs. spyderco vs. cold steel

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Darrell3644

Darrell3644

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I bought a benchmade griptilian partially serrrated blade in 154cm steel recently and I found it to be a poor performer. The dealer I bought it from told me that the 154cm steel was far superior to the VG-10 steel spyderco uses. I am a plumber by trade and I cut a wide variety of materials. After just four days the tips of the serrations on the benchmade knife started breaking and just shearing off. After two weeks the knife was dull as a cucumber.

I have used spyderco enduras for fifteen years and have never broken not one tip of the serrations off. I usually don't have to sharpen a spyderco knife but once every six months to keep it sharp and it is easy to sharpen. I found the 154cm steel much harder to sharpen, and I have to sharpen it every week.

I also tried a cold steel voyager in VG-1 steel with a fully serrated edge. Although I think their serration design sucks, I thought I would try it anyway. Some of the serration tips sheared off, but it took awhile and I found the steel very easy to sharpen.

Anyway, I found that the spyderco enduras and the steel they use better than the cold steel voyager and vastly superior to the benchmade.

It seems that the opinion of people that I have found from knife reviews rate the VG-10 steel that spyderco uses better than 154cm.

Very disappointed in the benchmade product even though I do like their axis lock.
 
VG10 is very hard to beat as a general purpose folder steel. It's tied for #1 as my favorite steel for an EDC folder. 154CM is not "light years" ahead of VG10. They are different types of steels, but as a user (not a metallurigst), I personally rank them about equal in terms of edge holding, toughness, and corrosion resistance. In fact, 154CM is my other favorite folder steel. I currently carry a BM in 154CM for personal EDC and have used a Spydie D4 with VG10 as work EDC for a year or so (before I picked up a couple of D4s in ZDP189).

That sounds to me like a bad blade from BM. Their stuff doesn't usually perform poorly. My 154CM H&K 14210 is as sharp as anything I have and I've never had a problem with 154CM chipping or failing to hold its edge. 'Course, I only use PE blades, so my cutting experiences are surely different than yours.

If I were going to use a serrated knife it would be a Spyderco. Sounds like a SE VG10 Endura or a SE Para-Millie (it would be S30V, not VG10) might be just what you're lookin' for. Or... if you want an AXIS-type lock in a Spyderco, the D'Allara comes in a CE VG10 blade and it will feel more like the Grip did. It's a beefy knife, so you can get a good grip on the handle when cutting. It has a ball bearing lock which works in a similar fashion to the AXIS lock except that it uses a ball instead of a lockbar to secure the blade.
 
I use a Spyderco Delica 4 with a full Spyderedge as a EDC. I'm always cutting opern boxes and plastic containers and wire twisties. It's served me well for those purposes. I have only had to sharpen it once. I also have a Spyderco Delica 4 with a plain edge which I use for camping and general cutting chores. I'm completely satisfied with their performance. I also have a Benchmade Griptillian with a plain edge in D2 steel from Cabela's and it to is a very satisfactory knife. I use the Spydercos more as their more compact.
 
I have seen numerous reviews saying that the BM 154CM is on par to VG-10 in all performance aspect, but I never had luck with my min grip. Sure, the 154 did take a very keen edge but it chipped way to easily compare to my other S30V. In fact I have to sharpen and, or, reprofile the chips couple times a week. On the other hand, I never did chip my S30V or ZDP once and I use all of them everyday doing the same tasks. H1 on the other hand doesn't chip but roll way too easily, luckily it can be sharpen back to shape with next to no effort. I really want to purchase a few more Benchmade as the axis lock is the best lock for folders IMHO but their limited selection of steels other than 154CM, with leaf blades made me very difficult to find the next Benchmade purchase
 
LowTEC said:
I really want to purchase a few more Benchmade as the axis lock is the best lock for folders IMHO but their limited selection of steels other than 154CM, with leaf blades made me very difficult to find the next Benchmade purchase
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Cabelas offers the Griptillian and the Mini Griptillian (both plain edge or semi-serrated) in D2 steel. The price is comperable to the 154 CM models as well.
 
Ill go ahead and say that the majority of their knives are worth every penny spent on them, just pick what you like the most, its your money, as to which compnay makes better knives...No real answer...they all make good knives in a variety of price ranges...like I said, pick the oens you like and you can't miss!

The contraversy is not in the quality of the knives (in my opinon) the hangups come with the political side, like how the owner decides to ahndle buisness...but thats not yoru question, your question was how are their knives...again, thats a metter of opinion really, I think they are worth it...some don't...but then again you8 will get that from asking about anyones knives...

My biggest suggestion with buyign any knives is to do your homework on price, and size!!! size can be a shocker when gettign a new knife, many tiems you think they are bigger than they are, or smaller...just read dimesions and if needed draw one out on paper, cut it out and hold it to get soem kind of perspectyive on the real thgin, thatys if you cna make it to a knife shop to actually hold these knives...
 
cutlerylover said:
The contraversy is not in the quality of the knives (in my opinon) the hangups come with the political side, like how the owner decides to ahndle buisness...but thats not yoru question, your question was how are their knives...again, thats a metter of opinion really, I think they are worth it...some don't...but then again you8 will get that from asking about anyones knives...
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Thats what I was getting at. It seems any thread that mentions Cold Steel knives brings out a couple posts that bash the brand based on business practices.

I've never owned or used a Cold Steel brand knife. I was in no way knocking the quality of their offerings. Just pointing out that the mere mention of CS can get some folks rather cranky.
 
I understand...but yeah your right...many threads where cold steel in mentioned tend to get a bit loud...lol...lots of opinions flyign around..but thats the purpose of the forums right? To talk about what people think, like, prefer...? It migth get a bit boring if everyone always agreed...
 
I've got a bunch of Cold Steel knives dating back to the 1990's, and every one cuts pretty darned well, which is basically what I want in a knife. Lynn Thompson's marketing turns some people off, but he has been one of the most innovative knife makers, designers, and promoters over the last couple of decades.
 
I really don't want this to turn into another Lynn Thompson thread, but I do have to day the man really does love knives...At the very least he is a big knife nut...thats besides the point that he sells them and owns a knife company, of course he wants to sell his own knives...wouldn't you? the way he does it is whats questionable to some people I think, and thats the problem...for soem anyway...but as most people say and I agree is that in the edn, everythgin said and done, he makes knives that perform, and thats what we are all looking for...If you don't like them thats ok, you don't have to buy them...if you want to discuss how bad of a person he is, well Im not sure if that belogns on the forum? I do know it does not belong in this thread...Not that anyone said anythgin, I just don't want anyone to turn this new users thread into an off topic repeat...
 
My vote is for Spyderco in quality, inovation, standing behind their products, ETC. I have BM & CS knives and have been collecting and using knives for 25 years. In my opinion Spyderco is the best production knife 0n the market.
 
It may not be just the steel. If you like Spyderco, it's probably best to stay with them. As for Cold Steel's serrations, people either love 'em or hate 'em. It all depends what you use serrations for. I went through a period of time where I loved CS serrations all the way up and down the blade and I hated all the other serrations. Then I hated all serrations and wanted only plain blades. Now I've come to see some benefits in them.

You might want to try a Byrd Cara Cara with serrations. The Cara Cara's serrations aren't likely to break off because of their unique design. You will need to find one with other grips other than the typical stainless found in most of the designs. If you want to stick with Spyderco, they have great little points (which is why I hate 'em), and they last forever and a day.
 
The one thing I don't like about Spyderco is the cheap knives made in China. We are in debt to China to the tune of one trillion dollars, at the very least I WON'T buy knives made in China.
 
The only Benchmade knives I consider anymore are their Balis. No knives made in China for me, I don't care what company makes them, IMO they are junk!
 
redneckone said:
The only Benchmade knives I consider anymore are their Balis. No knives made in China for me, I don't care what company makes them, IMO they are junk!
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To each, their own. Although benchmade makes great Bali's, has a great Axis locking system and are really high quality pieces overall. Spyderco's are down to Earth, simple, and no-nonsense working mans knives. For that reason i tend to by Spyderco's. I will occasionally buy a benchmade for something unique but will never buy Coldsteel folders. Their fixed blades are some really great deals though.
 
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