Benchmade vs. Spyderco

M

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Oct 27, 2001
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I know this has been covered before but please bear with me seems I can't use the search function. I have seen many occasions where spydies are said to be so much better in many ways. I have on occasion handled many different spydies and just can't seem to find out how they are built better. Would someone please enlighted me on this cause I don't like basing my opinions a company by just my having little contact with their products.
Thanks in advance.


MNU
 
And I forgot to say that serrations are a mute point to me because I prefer not to have them on my knives.
 
they're both top notch production folders. I think it would come down to which models you're looking at and which feels better in your hand.

Frank
 
Originally posted by SilverFoxKnows
they're both top notch production folders. I think it would come down to which models you're looking at and which feels better in your hand.

Frank
Click to expand...
I agree, and would add that whenever I hear someone bash one and say the other is the greatest knife in the world, I seriously discount that persons opinion.
 
I really feel that they are two different companies. Spyderco does a great job with the Endura/Delica series. They are super tough yet lightweight knives with cutting edge steels. They pack the best bang for the buck. Spyderco's higher end knives are more oriented toward a certain market. Benchmade's higher end knives with the axis lock make great EDCs and are great knives.
Just my .02
 
I found that usually the odd shapes of Spyderco are very ergonomic, while I have to find a BM that fits my hand well.
However, BM offers some of their blades in carbon steel (like D2 and M2) and I wish Spyderco would do that some times, not that the stainless is not great, but just to claim that I have a stainless Spydie ;)
 
I tend to stick with Spyderco over and over again. They have some great designs and a greater variety of price ranges for their knives.
Matt
 
I've been packing my Endura for almost 6 months now....it's my EDC cos I'm not afraid to bash or lose it. Only thing is, I've just cut a plastic bottle with it, and now it won't shave....Calyth, Jazzman, do your VG10 Spydies "lose" the shaving edge so quickly? Is it normal? I always thought that VG10 was the steel of gods, and could cut a FEW pep bottles at least.....

spyken
 
My experience with VG-10 has been great. My Mouse held a shaving edge forever it seemed. From what I've heard, the plastic used in soda bottles is pretty tough stuff and that it would dull almost anything pretty quickly. I wouldn't say that it is the steel of the gods ;) but I think that it is great for an EDC
Matt
 
Im a big fan of benchmade and spyderco, both are well made and I think it comes down to preference. ;)
 
My experience with VG10 was with a Beretta Avenger and the sever angle of the edge made the edge very fragile IMHO if you look real close in the pic you'll see the chipped edges, I'm hoping the Edge Pro I just got will fix that problem.
 

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The topic is very broad so it's hard to say. A knife by knife comparison would be easier.

But for arguments sake I'm going to side with BM.

I carried my AFCK for two years solid and have nothing but good things to say about its design and cutting ability.

I thought my EKI Commander would replace it permanently but after a tune-up next week the AFCK will find its way back into my pocket. Only this time it will be carried weakside instead of strong.
 
i started w/spydies, still like them, but seemed BM made more stuff that appealed to me, now its emerson and micro tech, but they are all good imho

greg
 
I'll have to side with BM. Better aesthetics. More useful choices in design tradeoffs, for my uses.

Phil
 
As mentioned by some in earlier posts and although I prefer Spydies, I won't side with Spyderco...and bash BenchMade. IMHO, each of these companies produces high quality knives.

It all comes down to the consumer and what appeals to him/her.

Just my .02. :D
 
I don't think materials come into play between these two companys both use top notch stuff and both offer great customer service and warrantys. What it does come down to is what the knife feels like to you when you pick it up and what the knife looks like to you when you see it. If you like the looks and the feel of it, go with that one. From either company you can't go wrong. As a lose rule of thumb: Spyderco tends to go towards function over form in thier knives and Benchmade leans towards form over function but it's a thin line.
 
Originally posted by SilverFoxKnows
they're both top notch production folders. I think it would come down to which models you're looking at and which feels better in your hand.

Frank
Click to expand...

For me, that's definitely the right answer. These are, IMO, the two best mostly-folder companies going, and I'd have to know which two knives were being compared in order to pick one over the other -- to be clear, I don't think a general overall rating of one company over the other is meaningful, so closely are they matched. There is no clear edge in knife industry leadership (these are the leaders!), materials choices, in-house designs, collaboration designs, fit & finish, after-purchase customer care.

That isn't to say the two companies are interchangeable. In many cases, they've taken different approaches to the same problem, and both come up with great offerings, though one or the other might work better for me personally. They also both have knives in their line that are relatively stronger solutions or weaker solutions. In some cases, one company has a great offering, and the comparison offering from the other isn't so great.

In many cases, I'll pick a Spyderco or Benchmade over a much more highly-priced production knife or custom knife.

Joe
 
Slightly off topic, but what blade configuration do you guys like in your Endura or Delica? I was leaning towards all serrated since that seems to be what Spyderco is known for...

Mark
 
That's like asking who is hotter? Ginger, or Mary Ann (on Gilligan's Island). It depends on who you are asking.

I don't think one company's knives are better than the other; just very different for different consumer tastes.

For the past two years, I've been on the Spyderco bandwagon. It's strange because I never cared for their knives before then. However, I'm totally sold on Spydercos and my next several purchases will only be Spyderco. Why?

1. First and foremost, they make very unique and distinctive looking blades. There is no mistaking a Spyderco with any other knives. They have a cult following like Porsche owners, or Breitling watches. Not everyone likes them but the ones that do are gah-gah over them.

2. All their inhouse knives are built so well. All companies have their lemons but the quality control and management at Spyderco are superb and on par with ISO standards in my opinion.

3. Sal Glesser. Here's a guy who takes his personal time to talk to the community he serves to find out what they like and don't like. Not a lot of Spyderco's competitors do that.

Now Benchmade is pretty innovative too, and I really like their knives; although I questioned their quality control a couple of years back. I credit them with starting the race (or should I say rage) for the better and stronger lock. When they started mass marketing the Axis locks (apparently it's not a new idea) other cutlery companies were coming up with variations (SOG, Cold Steel, et al.). In addition, the 710 Axis is...well, there's no point in saying how good it is as most of us realize that it kicks the butt of folders costing much more.

FTC

BTW, I vote for Mary Ann!
 
Personally, my favorite is Benchmade. My Benchmades open so much more smoothly than any Spyderco I've ever touched!

However, one Benchmade will often cost you as much as two Spydercos! :eek:

I love my Benchmades, but I still intend to buy a couple Spydercos.
 
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