Benchmade vs. Spyderco

I sold off all my knives about 7 years ago due to financial problems including about 20 Benchmades and 10 Spydercos. I got sorted out and started buying again and find myself with 20 or so Spydercos and 2 Benchmades. I haven't intentionally avoided Benchmade but always seem to be tempted by the ones with holes.
 
i'm a bit like that. my financial condition is dictated by the number of knives i own (a lot slicker than counting heads of cattle or pigs.) i'm trying to shake of the spyderco bug a bit and look into BM. trouble is, i'm more attracted to their gold class pieces and prices are steep!
 
Having lived in Batangas in the Philippines as a kid I like balisongs and Benchmade has a lot more choices in that category than Spyderco who only offer the SmallFly and I believe even it is now out of production with the remaining knives being NOS. As for more normal designs Spyderco has more designs and sizes but I personally prefer the Axis lock and find many Spyderco blade shapes a bit wierd. Very much personal taste and preferences though. Both are excellent companies with very good products.
 
Both Spyderco and Benchmade are excellent companies with outstanding products.
 
Purely personal preference, I do prefer Benchmade over Spyderco. I never quite like how the way Spyderco opens and many of their blade/handle are in more rounded/curved form, and Benchmade has more 'tradition' more straight blade/handle profiles that I like.
 
I am a Spyderco guy. I have however never owned a Benchmade. I have played with a few and wasn't blown away. I do not like assited opening, so some Benchmade's are a no-go right there. There doesn't seem to be much variety with Benchmade. I see them more of an old classic, and I see Spyderco more of a youngin pushing the envelope, and that draws me in. When it comes time to spend my limited money, Spyderco just speaks more to me. Nothing against Benchmade, they just don't excite me much. I also feel like I get more value with Spyderco when comparing prices to materials used
 
Considering the relative ages of Benchmade and Spyderco, I don't see what you're saying.

No secret that I'm a Benchmade fan, I also like some Spyderco designs.

Both have had some ugly designs, designs I will never even consider buying, some cheap and others expensive.
 
I like both. I prefer Benchmade because the Axis lock is my favorite lock, and I don't trust any liner lock. Not even Benchmades, I had a half dozen that I could tap in the palm of my hand and make them fail.

I also like the diversity of knife designs Benchmade offers. I may be the only one who thinks most Spyderco knives look the same. That's not necessary a bad thing.

I bought a Paramilitary 2 a few weeks ago. I was so impressed by the compression lock, the overall feel, cutting performance, size and looks that I bought another one with a black blade.

Since I got them, I have carried both everyday. Not a single Benchmade. I still prefer Benchmade, but it is not because Spyderco is lacking anything (except more compression lock knives). I will soon put a Rukus back in my pocket, and a Para 2 IWB.

So I'm sure by now you have learned BOTH are great companies, and it's all personal preference. The most important part is you like your knife. After all your the one that will be carrying and using it.
 
Lawllllll,

A good knife is a good knife regardless of the maker. Both companies make great knives, but you would be foolish to only buy one brand of knives.

Expand your horizon my friend, even beyond these two manufacturers.

This question simply cannot be answered in the first place.

Everybody has different tastes and preferences so naturally some people prefer one or the other but I think most people would agree that both companies (and many others) are fantastic.

Trying to be logical, just my 2 cents though.

-Jay
 
Only foolish if you think one company can provide everything.

I have mostly Benchmade knives, a few that aren't.
 
Which maker is better? Benchmade or Spyderco, and why?

I appreciate any feedback!

-Blue

Both are best. Seriously...I have been buying both for 20 years. Neither is better than the other. Specific knives may be better than other specific knives, but that's true even without considering multiple makers.
 
Which premium knife brand do you see at more stores?
Which company sells more knives?
Which company has a website NOT setup like it's from 1992?
Spyderco's are nice. Benchmade's are REALLY nice. Here are the real reasons why.

Benchmade's....
have better warranty service.
support custom knife makers better than anyone else.
support smaller shops by giving them exclusive knife designs.
has a premium gold class of fancy, yet obtainable knives
has a black class of extreme tacticool knives.
have better support for the military.
have a more varied selection
doesn't have a gigantic blade height just to allow for an archaic thumb hole.
Benchmades are all American made.

Spyderco's...
are basic and very utilitarian looking. straight to the point. (I will probably buy 1 someday.)
most are full flat ground
most are full flat ground, rarely anthing else with style. no black, no partial serrations, no choices
Spiders are stupid.
 
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negative blade angle (tip drops down from the axis of the handle) + properly contoured/curved handles = a knife that is truly a pleasure to cut with.

some people like the flat handles and straight blade angles which are more prevalent on BM knives, and they're certainly not wrong.

however the human body is shaped certain ways, and works certain ways. handle spines that curve, and palm swells simply fit the average hand better than a straighter handle. blades that angle down greatly increase your body mechanics in average cutting chores.

the fact that most flagship spyderco models offer these features to great effect gives credence to their "designed in the dark" mindset. they weren't designed to look how knives are "supposed to look", or to look pretty. they were designed to simply work as well as they can. any aesthetic embellishments come in addition to the ergonomics.

I wouldn't call bm knives "bad"in hand. they just make more knives that seem to look how knives are traditionally supposed to look, and don't nearly have that factor of feeling like the handle was designed for MY hand.

this is being pretty general, as both companies break from this simplistic mold I have given them, as both have a ton of models and options.

but if you put me in a dark room with six of each companies' main sellers, and told me to pick six to leave with, I'd wager at least four or five would be spyderco.

I could absolutely do my cutting tasks with a straight bm, but I get more joy from that fit in hand of a spyderco military or native. others get their joy in different aspects of the knife, or even go against physics and feel the bm actually fits better :p

once again, nobody is wrong. as far as build quality and materials there is no winner here. both are top of the game. so as long as you find one that fits your needs it doesn't matter if it has a butterfly on the blade or a tick -err I mean a spider. :p
 
Which premium knife brand do you see at more stores?
Which company sells more knives?
Which company has a website NOT setup like it's from 1992?
Spyderco's are nice. Benchmade's are REALLY nice. Here are the real reasons why.

Benchmade's....
have better warranty service.
support custom knife maker better than anyone else.
support smaller shops by giving them exclusive knife designs.
has a premium gold class of fancy, yet obtainable knives
has a black class of extreme tacticool knives.
have better support for the military.
have a more varied selection
doesn't have a gigantic blade height just to allow for an archaic thumb hole.
Benchmades are all American made.

Spyderco's...
are basic and very utilitarian looking. straight to the point. (I will probably buy 1 someday.)
most are full flat ground
most are full flat ground, rarely anthing else with style. no black, no partial serrations, no choices
Spiders are stupid.

Agreed :thumbup:
 
doesn't have a gigantic blade height just to allow for an archaic thumb hole.
Benchmades are all American made.

Spyderco's...

Spiders are stupid.

Archaic thumbhole? It's a darn useful way to deploy their knives and one that many BMs have copied - odd statement
Benchmade are all America Made? - Wrong - many were made overseas
Spiders are stupid? I can't even imagine why someone would post this.
 
Benchmade supports US manufacturing. And when they go over sea's, the price shows.
Spyderco, not so much so.
 
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