benchmade vs spyderco

While you are waiting for answers,you will find a wealth of info in past threads on this. I think most of it boils down to personal preferrence. I have a Delica and a Mini Grip. I like the BM a bit better because of the Axis lock. It's smoother.
 
Typically the BMs are smoother, especially the axis lock ones. But many of the Spyderco line is smooth also. The ATR for example is as silky smooth as any BM; so is the Veile 2 for that matter.

BM has a very high fit and finish and is usually considered to be better here I think but that is mostly due to the vast number of FRN knives Spyderco produces. BM makes autos where as Spyderco does not. (yet)

Overall they are pretty close with the exception that the BM is more appealing to the eyes than most Spydercos. Spydies are more appealing to the hands though.

If there is one place where Spyderco stands out as having a clear advantage it is in sharpness out of the box. Here they leave BM in the dust. The first thing I had to do to my BM 420 Resistor when I opened it was sharpen it and bring it up to a level I could live with. Same way on my Weehawk years ago and an Ares not too long ago. They just didn't have that factory bite they should come with. The angle of the bevel was different on each side of the blade on the 420 also.

Spyderco knives cut right out of the box. They are perhaps the sharpest factory knives made. At least that has been my experience with them.
 
ecmouse said:
are they even comparable?
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Very much so, both offer very high end steels and grip materials and high end locks. Benchmade tends to be more tactical and Spyderco utility based on average, but there is a lot of cross over.

-Cliff
 
They're certainly comparable, but they're still different. Spyderco tends towards a mid-level market, and Benchmade tends towards the higher end. Of course, there's lots of high end Spydercos, and Benchmade has it's Red Class (lower priced knives made overseas). At any matching pricepoint though, you'll pretty much be comparing styles and shapes rather than materials and quality, and a lot of will come down to your preference in how a knife should feel/look in your hand.
 
If you compare the flat ground blades and don´t need a side to side changeable clip, it´s already your personal decision.
 
Spydie's got the round hole, and BM's got the Axis lock. The two best features around, and never together...
 
Yep, they are not only comparable, but IMO they are the largest rivals since Buck vs Case and Camillus vs Schrade.

Both of these two companies are probably the very best knife makers in the world.
They both offer top-of-the-line technology and materials, they both offer a wide variety of models to choose from, and they both work with some of the very best custom knife makers still living.

Some knives are better than others but neither company makes junk.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
AllenC - agreed with the rival thing. I didn't realize this until I actually acquired and carried both and I think this actually becomes a "usage" thing as well. I carry both a Mini-Grip and a Delica (actually, I carry way more than that :D ) but it's always a toss up which one to use on a given task. These two in particular, for me, are almost as indispensable as my SAK or Wave - don't leave home without 'em. Once you start to use them, they are much closer than you realize.

- gord
 
ecmouse said:
which company produces the better quality knife? are they even comparable?
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For doing what particular task?

Spyderco makes a better chef knife than Benchmade.

Benchmade makes better automatics than Spyderco.

Spyderco makes a better serrated edge than Benchmade.

They both make a ton of different knives so you need to specify the task or are you talking about a regular 3" EDC?

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_list.asp?category=6

http://spyderco.com/catalog/list.php?genre=knife
 
Which is "better"...Benchmade or Spyderco? I won't go into that, but I do carry Benchmade folders because Benchmade offered "lefty-friendly" folders in the style I need.
 
glockman99 said:
Which is "better"...Benchmade or Spyderco? I won't go into that, but I do carry Benchmade folders because Benchmade offered "lefty-friendly" folders in the style I need.
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I thought most Spyderco's had a hole that even lefties could use??!!
 
I think both companies are great but Sal Glesser comes to the forums to learn from ELUs and take the heat when someone has a problem with his knives. When the CEO cares that much about his product I am impressed big time. I give Spyderco the advantage over Benchmade.
 
I personally believe that benchmade seems to have the advantage in the higher end (100ish) price range, but that spyderco probably has the advantage in the 30-65ish price range (can't count out the grip though). I also believe that right now benchmade has the advantage in the balisong department too, since the bm42 is kind of the standard of flipping (and they have so many different blade options, if you're willing to pay for the discontinued ones), although spyderco is coming up with some interesting designs that are both interesting and functional from what I've heard.

I personally buy benchmade knives, because I love the axis lock and because so many of them have holes drilled for putting the clip on the side for left handed carry (another lefty here^^).
 
I post this whenever BM vs Spyderco comes up:
They are both equally cool! They both make teh balisongs! Woohoo!

You are welcome to bask in my wisdom :D
 
DGG said:
I thought most Spyderco's had a hole that even lefties could use??!!
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On many models the clip is on the wrong side, and can't be moved. The liner-lock is on the wrong side (such as with the Military model.).
 
..I love them both and have invested time ,effort(in researching,tracking down,&ordering their knives)and put lots of my hard-earned money into both companies.. :D :thumbup: :D :thumbup:Both offer superb products,well-made excellent materials and innovative designs/engineering.Long may they both prosper ...even though they could still be better. ;) Also isn't the BM806D2 rather like a "marriage" of the best Spyderco&BM designs-Spyderco hole and Axis lock,plus D2 steel and G10 scales/SS liners? :)
 
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