-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Benchmade vs. Spyderco
- Thread starter BlueCollarOutdoors
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2013
- Messages
- 1,562
Oh boy this thread is rather... interesting...
I love both companies and they both have a lot to offer, but here's what I'm noticing at least from Blade this year: the lack of prototypes from Benchmade. When I was at the Spyderco booth, the most disheartening thing aside from no photography is that I can't take home any of the prototypes. I don't know if it's just me, but I just wish Benchmade would do more collaborations and pump out some new designs.
Variety: Spyderco is a company that is just on top of it's game for what it has to offer. I don't know of any other knife company that offers so many variety of knives for so many different situations with so many different steel types. We have to give Spyderco credit for providing such variety for us.
Thumb hole/stud: I love Spyderco thumb holes. People don't appreciate thumb holes until they have to wear gloves or put a ziptie through the thumb hole. Being able to wave just about any Spyderco knife is pretty awesome. Even though it's a small thing, having thumb holes does take weight off the knife as opposed to thumb studs which adds weight. My favorite knife by Benchmade is the 746. Thumb holes just work remarkably well.
Locks: Honestly, if I have to do a task where I'm worried about lock failure of any degree I reach for a fixed blade not a folder. Are we all forgetting that folders are meant for cutting, not chopping, batoning, prying or any of the ridiculous criteria that people have. I love Axis lock. It's fun and reliable. However, like any mechanism the chance of failure increases with each additional part. That's why I prefer simplicity of compression lock or even just lock backs. Keep things simple, less things to go wrong.
Blade Steel: Spyderco just offers so many different steel types that I wish I have the money to get every single Spyderco variety out there. I wished that Benchmade had offered more steel type variety without stepping into the Gold Class. I think it defeats the purpose of high end steels by putting them in collector pieces than users. That's why Spyderco earns my respect in this area because it's considering the biggest factor: the user. Sure Spyderco has a lot of sprint runs, but I won't feel as bad that I messed up my <insert color> G-10 than a really exotic wood or beautifully anodized titanium. At very least, I'm a huge fan of 154CM so BM is still keeping me happy.
Quality Control: Benchmade is slipping quite a bit on this. I bought two Mini-Grips as gifts and when I had inspected them they were very off center and have a lot of blade play. When I tighten everything, the blade is immobile. oi... I also had recently sent back a 482 because the blade grind was very uneven and the centering is absolutely horrible. The grind was bad enough that BM had to let me know that they had to replace the blade because of the extreme of one of the bad grinds. When they send my knife bad, the blade grind on the new blade is still uneven so I had to send it back into BM. With Spyderco, the fit and finish on them are just perfect if not near perfect. I do get a few bad ones on there, but it was a Centofante. The centering on it is bad and the fit and finish isn't as good as my Delica, Superleaf, Southard, or PM2. Centering on a pinned knife wouldn't be that great in the first place. The centering on my PM2 isn't perfect either, but it's plenty far from the liners so I don't really care. Aside from those two knives, all my other Spydercos are just perfect.
Customer Service: I think Benchmade definitely has an edge in this one. I've bothered them so many times and they just catered to my needs. I'm so grateful for such wonderful customer service. The wonderful customer service of BM is one of the reasons why I love buying Benchmades. I know if I end up getting a lemon, Benchmade will make that lemon into lemonade. I've only had a few contacts with Spyderco customer service. I appreciated the limited help that I had received. I thought that my Southard needed new cup-washers, and Spyderco is unable to provide any extra parts for any foreign made knives. The rep did send me PB bushings to see if they are adequate. I appreciate the effort that she provided despite how it didn't remedied the situation, but trying is better than just saying they can't do anything.
Overseas vs USA: I love USA made products as much as the folks before me and the folks after me, but I accept the fact that great knives are made all over the world. USA isn't the only country in the world that makes knives or quality knives. For the defenders of BM saying that their oversea models shows in prices where Spyderco doesn't, well... have you seen a oversea BM that has anything better than 440C or Aus8. I don't believe that I've ever seen an overseas BM with ATS-34, D2, or S30V. When I look at some of the Taiwan Spydercos guess what do I see: CTS-204P,CPM-M4, S30V, and CTS-XHP. Steels aside, have you seen the fit and finish on those overseas BMs? Some of the HK line are so sorry that I couldn't believe that Benchmade had released them. Spyderco certainly has overseas factories, but the quality is maintained even with the budget line knives. If the knives produced there are good then the knives are good regardless of their origins.
As much as I love both companies, despite how I have more of a bias toward Spyderco I'll still buy the Benchmades that'll catch my eye.
I love both companies and they both have a lot to offer, but here's what I'm noticing at least from Blade this year: the lack of prototypes from Benchmade. When I was at the Spyderco booth, the most disheartening thing aside from no photography is that I can't take home any of the prototypes. I don't know if it's just me, but I just wish Benchmade would do more collaborations and pump out some new designs.
Variety: Spyderco is a company that is just on top of it's game for what it has to offer. I don't know of any other knife company that offers so many variety of knives for so many different situations with so many different steel types. We have to give Spyderco credit for providing such variety for us.
Thumb hole/stud: I love Spyderco thumb holes. People don't appreciate thumb holes until they have to wear gloves or put a ziptie through the thumb hole. Being able to wave just about any Spyderco knife is pretty awesome. Even though it's a small thing, having thumb holes does take weight off the knife as opposed to thumb studs which adds weight. My favorite knife by Benchmade is the 746. Thumb holes just work remarkably well.
Locks: Honestly, if I have to do a task where I'm worried about lock failure of any degree I reach for a fixed blade not a folder. Are we all forgetting that folders are meant for cutting, not chopping, batoning, prying or any of the ridiculous criteria that people have. I love Axis lock. It's fun and reliable. However, like any mechanism the chance of failure increases with each additional part. That's why I prefer simplicity of compression lock or even just lock backs. Keep things simple, less things to go wrong.
Blade Steel: Spyderco just offers so many different steel types that I wish I have the money to get every single Spyderco variety out there. I wished that Benchmade had offered more steel type variety without stepping into the Gold Class. I think it defeats the purpose of high end steels by putting them in collector pieces than users. That's why Spyderco earns my respect in this area because it's considering the biggest factor: the user. Sure Spyderco has a lot of sprint runs, but I won't feel as bad that I messed up my <insert color> G-10 than a really exotic wood or beautifully anodized titanium. At very least, I'm a huge fan of 154CM so BM is still keeping me happy.
Quality Control: Benchmade is slipping quite a bit on this. I bought two Mini-Grips as gifts and when I had inspected them they were very off center and have a lot of blade play. When I tighten everything, the blade is immobile. oi... I also had recently sent back a 482 because the blade grind was very uneven and the centering is absolutely horrible. The grind was bad enough that BM had to let me know that they had to replace the blade because of the extreme of one of the bad grinds. When they send my knife bad, the blade grind on the new blade is still uneven so I had to send it back into BM. With Spyderco, the fit and finish on them are just perfect if not near perfect. I do get a few bad ones on there, but it was a Centofante. The centering on it is bad and the fit and finish isn't as good as my Delica, Superleaf, Southard, or PM2. Centering on a pinned knife wouldn't be that great in the first place. The centering on my PM2 isn't perfect either, but it's plenty far from the liners so I don't really care. Aside from those two knives, all my other Spydercos are just perfect.
Customer Service: I think Benchmade definitely has an edge in this one. I've bothered them so many times and they just catered to my needs. I'm so grateful for such wonderful customer service. The wonderful customer service of BM is one of the reasons why I love buying Benchmades. I know if I end up getting a lemon, Benchmade will make that lemon into lemonade. I've only had a few contacts with Spyderco customer service. I appreciated the limited help that I had received. I thought that my Southard needed new cup-washers, and Spyderco is unable to provide any extra parts for any foreign made knives. The rep did send me PB bushings to see if they are adequate. I appreciate the effort that she provided despite how it didn't remedied the situation, but trying is better than just saying they can't do anything.
Overseas vs USA: I love USA made products as much as the folks before me and the folks after me, but I accept the fact that great knives are made all over the world. USA isn't the only country in the world that makes knives or quality knives. For the defenders of BM saying that their oversea models shows in prices where Spyderco doesn't, well... have you seen a oversea BM that has anything better than 440C or Aus8. I don't believe that I've ever seen an overseas BM with ATS-34, D2, or S30V. When I look at some of the Taiwan Spydercos guess what do I see: CTS-204P,CPM-M4, S30V, and CTS-XHP. Steels aside, have you seen the fit and finish on those overseas BMs? Some of the HK line are so sorry that I couldn't believe that Benchmade had released them. Spyderco certainly has overseas factories, but the quality is maintained even with the budget line knives. If the knives produced there are good then the knives are good regardless of their origins.
As much as I love both companies, despite how I have more of a bias toward Spyderco I'll still buy the Benchmades that'll catch my eye.
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2005
- Messages
- 7,425
I heard the Earth is flat, too. Whatchathink?- Joined
- Aug 3, 2013
- Messages
- 2
They are both fantastic companies, but being the broke kid that I am I like spyderco better simply because of the ambitious, tenacious, resilience line of folders but the triage would be my knife if I scraped together the cash.
Hello crom
The HK and Lone Wolf knives are still Benchmades. This is 1 example from Grand Prairie:
Benchmade Lone Wolf Big Water 5" Folding Fillet
Overall Length: 10.40"
Blade Length: 5.00"
Blade Material: 420J2 (Stainless)
Lock: Slide Lock
Closed Length: 6.87"
Handle Material: Orange FRN
Sheath: Nylon
Weight: 1.58 oz.
Country of Origin: China
Note that the word Benchmade appears prominently in the name of the knife, which would seem to indicate that it is a Benchmade, therefore I believe it is somewhat disengenuous to state or imply that all Benchmades are made in the USA. No matter what Benchmade chooses to call it, HK or Lone Wolf, it is still a Benchmade, just like a Byrd or Tenacious is still a Spyderco.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2010
- Messages
- 1,554
I prefer Spyderco to Benchmade. Nothing wrong with Benchmade, I am just drawn to Spyderco designs more so than Benchmade.
GronK
Gold Member
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2001
- Messages
- 19,312
Who cares? Spyderco has their Chinese production doing such good work with great quality control that some qualify for Spyderco branding. Like others I prefer American made but you have a choice here and they are certainly not hiding the fact that the Tenacious and and its siblings are made in China.
crom wrote:
A Byrd is not a Spyderco
Technically it is.
crom wrote:
If I buy a Byrd would I be buying a Spyderco?
Yes. Who makes the Byrd, who gets the money when you buy a Byrd, general motors? Of course not, Spyderco gets it.
crom wrote:
A Benchmade is not a Lone Wolf
True, but a Lone Wolf is a Benchmade.
crom wrote:
Do you agree that Benchmade branded knives are only made in the US?
Yes.
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2007
- Messages
- 3,219
My point is BENCHMADE is made in the US. That was my point from the beginning. I could care less they produce some Chinese lines, I realize the reasons big companies do this. I do however applaud them for making BENCHMADE knives in the US. I wish companies like Spyderco could make more than 3 models in the USA, but this is the reality in manufacturing these days. I see Kershaw releasing more and more Chinese knives and I wish it wasn't so, but what are you going to do? I have some Chinese Kershaws and they are well made knives, particularly the Crown. Also, say I had a 1999 Geo Metro and I needed a part. Am I going to call the part store and tell them I have a Toyota Corrola? No, i'd be confusing the guy on the phone and a Corrola isn't what I have.
What it is with people not being able to distinguish a company and a brand? I thought everybody know the difference these days!
We are not trying to compare companies here: right?
Even comparing brands is taking it a bit further than I would usually be comfortable with: it's better to stick to specific models!
We are not trying to compare companies here: right?
Even comparing brands is taking it a bit further than I would usually be comfortable with: it's better to stick to specific models!
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2008
- Messages
- 832
So does Spyderco. You do realize that when spyderco first started out, NONE of their knives were made in the U.S. They've been expanding gradually over the years.
From another thread:
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2003
- Messages
- 3,330
I started as a Benchmade fan because I used to live miles from the factory. Over time, I have found myself owning more Spyders than butterflies.
I appreciate the lighter carry the Military and the Endura represent over Axis equipped Benchmades of equivalent size.
When Benchmade offers carbon blades on folders they paint them. When Spyderco offers carbon steel folders, they laminate the steel. Paint on D2 is particularly silly.
My coming Super Blue steel Endura is something BM doesn't do—take a popular and price accessible model and give you steel choices. BM used to do a bit of this, but not so much the past 5-7 years.
Though I love the Axis lock, it requires 420 liners on each side, which creates pocket bulk and weight. Never had a problem with the omega springs.
Spyderco does clips better than does BM. The clip on my RUKUS was too flimsy for its half pound weight as it was obviously made for style rather than service life. Spydie clips that aren't wire based stay eternally close to the scales.
Bottom line, I like Spyderco's pace of churning out interesting things rather than waiting on the butterfly to set a course straight to something I'd like to buy.
I appreciate the lighter carry the Military and the Endura represent over Axis equipped Benchmades of equivalent size.
When Benchmade offers carbon blades on folders they paint them. When Spyderco offers carbon steel folders, they laminate the steel. Paint on D2 is particularly silly.
My coming Super Blue steel Endura is something BM doesn't do—take a popular and price accessible model and give you steel choices. BM used to do a bit of this, but not so much the past 5-7 years.
Though I love the Axis lock, it requires 420 liners on each side, which creates pocket bulk and weight. Never had a problem with the omega springs.
Spyderco does clips better than does BM. The clip on my RUKUS was too flimsy for its half pound weight as it was obviously made for style rather than service life. Spydie clips that aren't wire based stay eternally close to the scales.
Bottom line, I like Spyderco's pace of churning out interesting things rather than waiting on the butterfly to set a course straight to something I'd like to buy.
Native is in my pocket right now, but I love my Mini-Grip with Axis lock. It opens so fast and smooth. My goal is to add a full size Grip and call it a day. I like the steel in the Native, though, which is why I'm carrying it. I think the Ritter Grip full size is my "grail" knife. Can't wait to get one.
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2010
- Messages
- 3,622
I prefer Benchmades for the ergonomics, the lock (Axis), handle materials, stout-feeling construction, and USA production. I own only one model Spyderco now, the Military, but it is one of my absolute favorites to carry and use, and I have 3.
I generally stick to American made when presented with a choice. There are some great looking Taiwanese-made, Spyderco-branded knives that I will never try -but I'm ok with that. It sounds like the company who makes knives for Spyderco does a great job. But if I venture to try a Taiwanese knife, it has a Cold Steel price tag.
To address the "Lone Wolf is Benchmade" argument: If a knife says BENCHMADE, it is produced in the USA. If it says Lone Wolf or H&K, it is largely produced in Asia and not made by Benchmade but rather for Benchmade, the parent company. News Corp owns both The Wall Street Journal (in the US) and The Sun (in the UK); surely nobody contends that these two entities owned by the same corporation are the same?
I generally stick to American made when presented with a choice. There are some great looking Taiwanese-made, Spyderco-branded knives that I will never try -but I'm ok with that. It sounds like the company who makes knives for Spyderco does a great job. But if I venture to try a Taiwanese knife, it has a Cold Steel price tag.
To address the "Lone Wolf is Benchmade" argument: If a knife says BENCHMADE, it is produced in the USA. If it says Lone Wolf or H&K, it is largely produced in Asia and not made by Benchmade but rather for Benchmade, the parent company. News Corp owns both The Wall Street Journal (in the US) and The Sun (in the UK); surely nobody contends that these two entities owned by the same corporation are the same?