Benchmade VS. Spyderco

ratdog · Dec 13, 2006

First off let me say that I like both of these manufacturers but it seems to me that Spyderco really cares about their customers. The owner, Sal, posts on this board and the spyderco forum, and it seems like they incorporate feedback from their customers into there blades. While I love my Griptillians and will continue to EDC them, I think all my future purchases will be Spydercos.

zealot · Dec 13, 2006

Have you owned any Benchmades other than the grip? Z

Wunderbar · Dec 13, 2006

I once had a broken pocket clip on my AFCK. I called Benchmade and they sent me one free of charge. All my customer service experiences with them have been wonderful. No to dog Spyderco. They are just two different knife companies that offer different types of knives. The only thing that I don't like about Spyderco is that the printed half there '06 catalog in spanish. I'm more into the assimilation process than I am the nurture process. My European wife doesn't like that either. She's been trying to get a Spyderco catalog printed German for years now.

toad224 · Dec 13, 2006

I like both companies. I've never owned a Benchmade product, and I do have several Spyderco products (and I EDC a Spyderco), but for some reason I'd rather have a Benchmade knife over a Spyderco knife. Spyderco products just seem cheaper. I wish I could have some combination of a Benchmade 710 and a Endura 4 Wave.

ratdog · Dec 13, 2006

zealot said:
Have you owned any Benchmades other than the grip? Z

I haven't owned any others... just handled at the store. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Benchmade makes bad knives, they make great knives. Lately I've just gravitated towards Spyderco. I liken Benchmade and Spyderco to Toyota and Honda. They both make quality cars at a great value and they have customers that show loyalty to one or the other.

JPD1998 · Dec 13, 2006

ratdog said:
I haven't owned any others... just handled at the store. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Benchmade makes bad knives, they make great knives. Lately I've just gravitated towards Spyderco. I liken Benchmade and Spyderco to Toyota and Honda. They both make quality cars at a great value and they have customers that show loyalty to one or the other.

It's always going to come down to personal preferences and perception of what quality is or isn't . Obviously you like Spyderco's designs and there's nothing wrong with that. Spyderco knives are well designed working tools and yes the fact that Mr. Glesser participates here speaks volumes about his interest in user feedback.

I think both companies have pretty good CS and thankfully I've never had to use CS from either company.

I think it's pretty fair to say that in the $100 and over range both companies make an excellent product. However for me , the Blue and Black class Bechmade knives represents some of the best production knives on the planet, especially the Axis Lock models. I will add that I don't own any Spyderco knives in that price range yet, but I hope to get a Chinook II/III soon....

But when it comes time to actually buy , I wind up with either a BM or an Emerson knife.

Steven Andrews · Dec 13, 2006

Deadhead Archer · Dec 13, 2006

I appreciate Sal's presence here on the web, compared to Benchmade's non-visible interaction with customers.

That being said, both companies make quality products which I'll continue to buy. Design, aesthetics, and customer support (not having ever used it but from what I've seen by others) are top notch for both companies for production manufacturers. I try to purchase only users, and both Benchmade and Spyderco (with Kershaw making a close third) make up the bulk of my production folder collection.

What is this, Ford vs Chevy?

Zombie Zeke · Dec 13, 2006

I love my Skirmish it was my EDC for about 6 months and it just got replaced with a Spyderco Military. Honestly the Benchmade is a higher dollar knife and way prettier but the military I can live with 24/7. Another BM vs. Sydie moment was at the shop when I almost bought the Snody Wharncliffe model over the military. But in the end I love the serrations on the Spydie and the weight. Also thanks to Clint after reading his review of the military my feelings of consternation fading regarding the liner lock.

Tetsusaiga · Dec 13, 2006

I started off my trip into knifedom with a spyderco.. ok.. it was a pseudo spyderco.. one of the first generation Natives that were assembled by Camillus. Good user knife, but I wasn't too impressed.

Then I got the BM Pika (tanto version) and there was slight bladeplay, not too impressed either. bladeplay was actually later eliminated with a Torx..

Then came a spydie D'Allara and a BM 10300 Monochrome.

The spydie was in one word... SMOOTH... smoothest folder I've had so far... but the BM's framelock locked up like a fixed blade.. ZERO bladeplay.. no S*** and we are talking about red class made in Taiwan BM performing like that!

F & F were comparable on both which led me to think that a blue or black class BM might outclass the spydie, but then I had a made in China byrd crossbill and boy was the lock up tight and the F & F excellent... in the <$25 region, the byrds can't be beat..

I have a 710 custom fitted with a M2 blade coming in a week or so, my first axis.. dying to get my hands on it, might not be a fair comparison to any spydie or BM since it has been changed in a way (for better or for worse, I wouldn't know), but well.. will see how it goes

So there.. I know I haven't said anything conclusive but just tot of sharing my own experience...

One last thing, if you look at the folders closed. BM definitely has sleeker lines and more pocket friendly size than spydies.... closed.. the BMs are way way cooler than spydies....

glockman99 · Dec 13, 2006

Deadhead Archer said:
I appreciate Sal's presence here on the web, compared to Benchmade's non-visible interaction with customers.

Are you aware that Benchmade DOES host its' own forum?

.
http://benchmadeforum.com/groupee/forums

Nathan S · Dec 13, 2006

Personally, I prefer Benchmade knives. But Spyderco has a personal touch that is hard to match. We've seen Sal go the extra mile many times to make sure that that their customers are happy. And, in my book, that counts for just as much as the quality of their product.

Joe Talmadge · Dec 13, 2006

But even at Benchmade's forum, the presence is an impersonal, only semi-informative "Benchmade Support Team" or whatever they're calling it. Benchmade's strategy is definitely light, impersonal presence on the web. I wish they'd re-think that, but I don't think web presence by itself would get me to rule out a particular maker. Spyderco's particularly solid, personal presence (not just Sal's) really is a nice touch though, and deserves some points

meat · Dec 13, 2006

I had a couple of Benchmade knives and I love the Axis lock, but I really like the direction that Spyderco is going with the steels they are using. It seems that almost every Spyderco comes with at least VG-10 and some use ZDP-189. I also like smaller knives and Spyderco seems to have more available. Both companies make great knives though.

barrabas74 · Dec 13, 2006

Steven Andrews said:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=386582&highlight=benchmade+spyderco

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=353352&highlight=benchmade+spyderco

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=373402&highlight=benchmade+spyderco

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=398199&highlight=benchmade+spyderco

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156646&highlight=benchmade+spyderco

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226372&highlight=benchmade+spyderco

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148340&highlight=benchmade+spyderco

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=422615&highlight=benchmade+spyderco

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132661&highlight=benchmade+spyderco

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=360557&highlight=benchmade+spyderco

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252339&highlight=benchmade+spyderco

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258854&highlight=benchmade+spyderco

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=423185&highlight=benchmade+spyderco

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=405633&highlight=benchmade+spyderco

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=290802&highlight=benchmade+spyderco

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121154&highlight=benchmade+spyderco

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154682&highlight=benchmade+spyderco

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83186&highlight=benchmade+spyderco

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/search.php?searchid=1401138

Jeez Andrews cant you see that we dont have enough of these?

moonwilson · Dec 13, 2006

Wunderbar said:
The only thing that I don't like about Spyderco is that the printed half there '06 catalog in spanish. I'm more into the assimilation process than I am the nurture process.

So I'm not the only one this irritated the hell out of! Hooray! I'll second that comment.

STR · Dec 13, 2006

But even at Benchmade's forum, the presence is an impersonal, only semi-informative "Benchmade Support Team" or whatever they're calling it. Benchmade's strategy is definitely light, impersonal presence on the web. I wish they'd re-think that, but I don't think web presence by itself would get me to rule out a particular maker. Spyderco's particularly solid, personal presence (not just Sal's) really is a nice touch though, and deserves some points

I don't blame BM for adopting an attitude that takes them away from the forum scene to a large extent or makes it light as you say. Who could seeing how some of the people from the manufacturers are treated now and again on the forums? No respect is really shown at times to them, and even Sal is pressed hard to put up with it on occasion but fortunately for all us he can and does deal very well with the public. I like having the manufacturer forums around and wish factory representatives were around more don't get me wrong, but many of them probably fear it to some extent seeing what happened to Cold Steel and others that left that scene for various reasons after trying it.

STR

Kohai999 · Dec 13, 2006

STR said:
......but many of them probably fear it to some extent seeing what happened to Cold Steel and others that left that scene for various reasons after trying it. STR

Not to promote thread drift, but Lynn does not entirely run his business in a pro-customer, pro-knife community manner(putting this mildly), so he deserves whatever written beatdown Cold Steel gets on the Forums.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

barrabas74 · Dec 13, 2006

STR said:
I don't blame BM for adopting an attitude that takes them away from the forum scene to a large extent or makes it light as you say. Who could seeing how some of the people from the manufacturers are treated now and again on the forums? No respect is really shown at times to them, and even Sal is pressed hard to put up with it on occasion but fortunately for all us he can and does deal very well with the public. I like having the manufacturer forums around and wish factory representatives were around more don't get me wrong, but many of them probably fear it to some extent seeing what happened to Cold Steel and others that left that scene for various reasons after trying it.

STR

Good point STR, I know if I worked for BM or any manufacturer it would be like walkin on broken glass around here sometimes. I too wish that the BM guys would have more of a presence around here but thats up to them. As far as there products go I like them both. I do like the direction Spyderco is going with ZDP but benchmades products and steel choice have always been good in my book.

mmmotorcycle · Dec 13, 2006

It's A Tie..... Spyderco offers high quality-low cost knives and generally uses a no-hassel lock back mechanism. They use great stainless steels but no tool steels. Benchmade offers high quality-mid cost knives and generally uses a no-hassel AXIS lock, I prefer the AXIS lock over any lock back unless it's my Manix. They use great stainless steels but with less variety than Spyderco but get away with this because they offer tool steels such as D-2 and for a while even M-2.

All that leading to the conclusion that they are equal sharers in the throne of "the best production knife company on the planet". Keep in mind this is all my opinion based off of my experiences with both companies.

mmmotorcycle

Benchmade VS. Spyderco

ratdog

zealot

Wunderbar

toad224

ratdog

JPD1998

Steven Andrews

Deadhead Archer

Zombie Zeke

Tetsusaiga

glockman99

RIP Dann, you were a good guy.

Nathan S

Joe Talmadge

meat

barrabas74

moonwilson

STR

Knifemaker/Moderator

Kohai999

Second Degree Cutter

barrabas74

mmmotorcycle

Captain Slow