Benchmades

R

Ryan Irizarry

Joined
Aug 27, 2012
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From what I have heard everyone swears by Benchmade. Would it be worth it to spend $100-$150 on a Benchmade? Or should I try a higher end Spyderco? If a Spyderco which one?
 
I personally think my 940 plain edge satin was worth the 150 i payed for it. I carry it everyday and there hasn't been a day when I didn't need it at least once. With that said, I'm currently thinking of a spyderco myself. Though it really depends on what size you want, handle material, etc. For a larger handle with a decently sized blade, the paramilitary 2 seems like a really popular blade. It's also 50 dollars cheaper than my knife, and you can get it used for probably around 90 on the forums if you're lucky. I'm looking into a native 4 CF which even with cf handles is STILL cheaper than my 940 lol. But honestly it's all down to personal preference, they'll both work extremely well for day to day tasks.
 
Both Benchmade and Spyderco make quality knives. If you see something you like at a price you are willing to pay, go for it! :thumbup:
 
When you learn more about knives, you will understand what features work better for you/a given situation. That said, I traded my last benchmade (710) and all my folders are Spyderco. I think blade shape, steel, ergos, weight, etc. are what you should look for, not a particular brand.
 
Can't go wrong with benchmade. I own several and they are good knives. They have a really good customer service too.
 
Check out the limited mini onslaught.. Carbon fiber and great blade for your max range... I love my Benchmades.. The Axis lock is great.
 
I have the Benchmade tomahawk and a couple of folding knives from them as well, and use them all on a regular basis including on multiple deployments. I have never not been satisfied with one of their products.
 
I have quite a few knives and by far the bulk are Spyderco with no Benchmade. I like BM just fine and have seen many I would by if there wasn't a Spydie I was looking at... Personally, if I had $100 burning a hole in my pocket I'd get a para2...
 
I've owned several of both brands and currently have zero benchmades and a few Spyderco.
I prefer Spyderco because(made in the USA or not) you get more for your money and excellent fit and finish.
 
Aren't those two nice choices? Have some of both; just bought a combo blade Griptillian and plan to alternate it with my Spyderco Endura. As noted it depends what you want, suspect my next purchase will be a Spyderco, perhaps a Military.
 
I have never owned a spyderco. The few I have handled have been excellent quality knives...I just don't care for the large hole in the blade, I feel it weakens the blade.

I have owned several benchmades over the years and currently own two. Great quality at a fair price. I highly recommend either the 275 Adamas or the Contego.

I also have a couple zt's which are also excellent knives.
 
I have owned both. Both makers have some excellent choices. You may want to try looking at both in person if that is a possibility.
 
wildmike said:
I have never owned a spyderco. The few I have handled have been excellent quality knives...I just don't care for the large hole in the blade, I feel it weakens the blade.

I have owned several benchmades over the years and currently own two. Great quality at a fair price. I highly recommend either the 275 Adamas or the Contego.

I also have a couple zt's which are also excellent knives.
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That's funny, because ever since owning a knive with a hole, I won't use anything else. The sole Benchmade I own in the 15030 Bone Collector. I've owned several Spyderco's and while they offer a ton a variety with steel, locks, and material, they always miss with me for one reason or another.

Here is a quick pick of my Mini Bone Collector and the Spyderco Persistence (my first Spyderco so it holds a special place). Not the best pic for comparison since they are customs, but both very nice pieces. I currently wield the Bone Collector for EDC.
CocoKnivesAlt3.jpg
 
BM & Spydie are two of the most popular knife brands, which in my opinion represent 2 of the very best value for the dollar production knife makers in the market. I own many more BM's because they make many more models in the USA and that's a meaningful metric to me.

That said, Spydie is so good, that I don't deprive myself from owning some of their products just because the model I like isn't made in the US. But, because most aren't made in the US, Spydie will never make up the majority of my blades, especially since there's always a BM equivalent that meets my needs.
 
I have both BM's and Spydies. I like both. In Spyderco there are two must haves in my opinion, a Para 2 and a Gayle Bradley with the cpm m4 steel. I feel Spyderco should offer more models with premium steels like m4 and m390. I have the cf Millie in m390. But the Milli's clip irritates my hand during use.

The Benchmades I have and carry most every day now are the 810 Contego and the 730-1203 Ares. The Contego has the cpm m4 steel, and the Ares has m390. Both knives are top notch, and pretty much kicked all the others out of my pockets.

I love the Axis lock. For me it is much safer, smoother, and easier to operate than a lot of liner locks. I can see myself eventually carrying mostly all Benchmades.
 
My first Benchmade was a 710 which got about 7 years of carry time with no interruption. I like the 100% ambidextrous design of it and would trust it to do any task I'd ask a folder to do. When I bought it in 1999 I paid $140 for it, and I sold it for about $60 after I was done with it. So in all it cost me about three cents a day to carry it.

A Benchmade is definitely worth three cents a day. Hell I'd pay five cents a day for one.
 
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They are both great brands, and almost mutually exclusive. Very different design philosophies. I hardly consider them competitors.
 
philwar said:
They are both great brands, and almost mutually exclusive. Very different design philosophies. I hardly consider them competitors.
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The design differences between them are what makes them competitive with each other in my opinion. They both have tactical type knives, and slicers. I was purchasing Spyderco's first, and then went to Benchmades. I tried one of their Axis lock knives, a 15030 Bone Collector, and loved it. The Spydie hole and an Axis lock, what more could I ask for right. Well, I'm finding that I prefer the studs on the Benchmades over the Spydie holes.

Prior to the Spydies I had ZT's and Kershaw. But, I had some issue's with a few of the ZT's that required fixing by customer service, and I found that I do not like assisted opening knives that much. I prefer manual opening. So, now I only have one ZT, and one Kershaw. They will probably be traded or sold off eventually because all they do is set in my safe.
 
As far as variety in design goes. Benchmade and Spyderco are neck and neck in my opinion.
The best thing to do is just buy whichever ones you like best.

Both companies produce outstanding products and I don't think I could settle on only owning one brand.

That being said... I have far more benchmades than spydercos. But how can you blame me? they're so beautiful...
 
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