Benchmade VS. Spyderco

i don't own either one but enjoy reading the comparisons between these two heavyweights because it helps me decide when funds allow me to.
is the axis lock all that and reliable?
 
cards94 said:
i don't own either one but enjoy reading the comparisons between these two heavyweights because it helps me decide when funds allow me to.
is the axis lock all that and reliable?
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So far I've only found one issue with it, it can be sticky in sand/dirt. It needs to be cleaned a bit more carefully compared to other locks.

There are other reports of the omega spring failing, but I've never experienced.
 
99cuts said:
So far I've only found one issue with it, it can be sticky in sand/dirt. It needs to be cleaned a bit more carefully compared to other locks.

There are other reports of the omega spring failing, but I've never experienced.
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there are many that swear by the axis lock and is the deciding factor for buying but than i come across an issue like the one you mentioned and it brings me back to square one. i just want the most reliable long lasting knife for my dollar. i guess sooner or later i'll have to take the plunge and make a decision.
 
cards94 said:
there are many that swear by the axis lock and is the deciding factor for buying but than i come across an issue like the one you mentioned and it brings me back to square one. i just want the most reliable long lasting knife for my dollar. i guess sooner or later i'll have to take the plunge and make a decision.
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if that's important in your usage, i can understand. for me I rarely get my knives that dirty, so it's a great lock to me.

of course if you find that "perfect" lock mechanism, do let me know!
 
There is no versus.
The correct answer is "Both!", once you find the models which do it for you.
Some Benchmades have slippery handles, and some don't.
Some Spydercos have slippery handles too.
Both have a wide selection of quality locks.
Both have a myriad of designs.
Both use a wide range of steels.

I have both. :)
 
The one thing about the axis lock that bugs me is the tension varies from knife to knife. I would think it would be universal. The one on my 530 is a bitch. SOOO stiff. I've fondled many a benchmade, and they all seem to have different stiffness on the lock. Just weird.
 
They Both make great knifes.

My latest 710 in D2 I'm impressed with just as much as my new Gale Bradley.

I'm a Rift and Contego fan, but man did the 300SN not connect with me.

Spyderco, wow look what they did with the different metals in the Military and Para Military 2 series, Pure home run!!!!!!!! Techno and Southard flipper, more home runs for me!! I didn't have a ball lock, so I bought a Manix XL frn in BD1, it gets SHARP but I might sell it off with the 300SN, some knifes just don't make the connection. :(

My Civilian and Contego both get time in the right front pocket.

They both still innovate, I'll give them both $$ in the future, but I have slightly more Spydercos in the toolbox.

I need to get off my Microtech kick, and score more military's.
 
Both companies are rock solid. I own, have owned, and handled several Spydercos and Benchmades and all of them are/were terrific knives in their own right. I lean more towards Benchmade, but that doesn't mean Spyderco is any less of a company.
 
fzla226 said:
Spyderco have better QC on their knives, but Benchmade has a much better warranty and can back up their knives better. BM can also meet demand for their knives and the current production ones are always easy to find, something you can't say about Spyderco.
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I've been buying both for 20 years and haven't had any reason to say Benchmade has better warranty service than Spyderco. As far as demand goes, take a look at the catalog. Spyderco has far more models in production than Benchmade.
 
Cypress said:
I've thought about this a little more, and have boiled it down to two things...

Benchmade has better fit and finish, and better materials. My PM2 arrived with a sticky pivot due to a burr on the inner liner, and an uneven bevel grind. Granted, I only own one Spyderco, but NONE of my Benchmades needed "fixing" upon arrival.

Spyderco has better handles. By far. The reason I always carry my PM2 rather than my other knives, is the handle offers a HUGE amount of diversity as far as gripping options. The blade even has a finger choil, and the jimping is perfect. I even use the thumbhole as another way of getting even more "choked up" on the blade for greater control.

While I was reprofiling my PM2, I carried my favorite EDC Benchmade, the 943. I realized how much I valued the Spyderco every time I reached to grab the knife. The 943 handle is "slippery" compared to the PM2. Don't get me wrong, my Benchmades are beautiful knives, and marvels of engineering, but they seem to value those two qualities over being ultimately "usable".
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I've gotten uneven grinds from both. I've gotten two warped blades from Benchmade, which has NEVER happened with Spyderco. I've lost count of the number of badly centered blades I've gotten from Benchmade, compared to very few (maybe as few as one) from Spyderco. I love both, I own lots of both...and I actually think this whole thread is sort of pointless... :)
 
JNewell said:
I've gotten uneven grinds from both. I've gotten two warped blades from Benchmade, which has NEVER happened with Spyderco. I've lost count of the number of badly centered blades I've gotten from Benchmade, compared to very few (maybe as few as one) from Spyderco. I love both, I own lots of both...and I actually think this whole thread is sort of pointless... :)
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Ding, ding ding!!! :D
 
Benchmade will replace blades on their knives for $25... If you want a black blade, pay $30. Do you realize what this means!? You can buy a knife and change it's blade style... I.e. Griptilian (drop point, sheepsfoot, and tanto). Benchmade 940 with spear point or reverse tanto, etc... When you buy a bench made, you pretty much have a knife until the end of time or until you lose it or give it away...
 
The axis lock makes deploying easy and fun. I guess that's why I never use my delica4 and keep ordering benchmades.
 
Derek the Destroyer said:
Benchmade will replace blades on their knives for $25... If you want a black blade, pay $30. Do you realize what this means!? You can buy a knife and change it's blade style... I.e. Griptilian (drop point, sheepsfoot, and tanto). Benchmade 940 with spear point or reverse tanto, etc... When you buy a bench made, you pretty much have a knife until the end of time or until you lose it or give it away...
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Actually, that isn't what it means - there are limits to how far Benchmade will vary from cataloged knives. And when replacement blades are out of stock, like for my 710HS knives, you are not going to get a replacement blade in that steel - they'll replace the blade, but not with something that's not available as a replacement part in their inventory.
 
i know at least three knife companies that are much bigger than spydey. it's not a general market leader.
 
In my never ending quest for the perfect blade, I have had many of both. As I kept buying and then "thin the herd" of the less desirable.... I find myself with many Spydercos in my EDC rotation, but no Benchmades. YMMV.
 
I will say this my favorite edc knife is a benchmade . But my favorite knife maker is spyderco by far . Spyderco has IMHO more choices in sizes from a Bug to a Millitary .
 
Just traded off one of my last few spydercos only have 5 left. moving up to benchmade they just seem a little more solid never had a benchmade with bladeplay compared to my spydercos wich almost all had bladeplay and benchmades seem like a better value some examples 950 rift, the bone collector and my favorite the 810 contego all made in the usa and under $130.
 
bertosknives said:
Just traded off one of my last few spydercos only have 5 left. moving up to benchmade they just seem a little more solid never had a benchmade with bladeplay compared to my spydercos wich almost all had bladeplay and benchmades seem like a better value some examples 950 rift, the bone collector and my favorite the 810 contego all made in the usa and under $130.
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Interesting how people have different experiences, as I've had a bitch of a time adjusting most of the BMs I've owned in the past to get blade-play out while still keeping the knife smooth when opening. Some were worse than others, but that has been my experience.
 
bertosknives said:
Just traded off one of my last few spydercos only have 5 left. moving up to benchmade they just seem a little more solid never had a benchmade with bladeplay compared to my spydercos wich almost all had bladeplay and benchmades seem like a better value some examples 950 rift, the bone collector and my favorite the 810 contego all made in the usa and under $130.
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sounds like you consider spyderco second rate compared to benchmade. just wish i could get into that axis lock.
 
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