Benchmades

I've had both and sold all the Spydercos and now only have Benchmade/Ritter Grips. I very much liked the Spydercos but the grips just feel better and more comfortable in my hand......I've also upgraded to Cuscadi and Wilkins scales for both knives and don't see myself ever needing other knives!!
 
I only have 2 benchmades at the moment (a discontinued variation of the Grip and a Presidio Ultra). I'm really looking for an AFCK with a liner lock and possibly a 710 as I have heard very good things, but not much else. I used to think BM was a bit overpriced but once my budget expanded, my opinion changed.

I'm actually thinning out my spyderco collection as there are only a few models I actually carry. Its a matter of finding what you like.
 
Ryan Irizarry said:
Which Benchmade is the best for under $100?
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at that price range your options are extremely limited. You're looking at the griptilians and the presidio ultra. The benchmade game gets a lot more interesting in the $150-200 range. I'd suggest you save up a bit more.
 
Spyderco is a better choice at a lower price range, but in the 150-200 range benchmade really shines. I love the para2, with the exception of the g10 handles. I personally don't like grippy handles, since I like my pants pockets.
 
Sub-$100, buy a Mini Presidio Ultra or a Mini Griptilian. I prefer the former but either will do. You can find a lot more sub-$100 Benchmades out there on the For Sale forum if you browse around, but any $100-200 knife selling for less than $100 will go pretty quick, so you'll need patience and a good bit of luck.
 
Both Benchmade and Spyderco are highly regarded manufacturers and designers with excellent reputations. All their products will cut. It comes down to a matter of personal choice, I don't like knives with holes; other people swear by them. I also happen to think that BM's Axis lock is a brilliant piece of design. Six of one, half dozen of the other... your choice. Hard to go wrong with either.
 
For under $100 Id go with a Griptilian. I love the 550 and 555 (mini) because of the blade shape and the thumbholes. Id also suggest a Bone Collector or Mini Bone Collector, I think the mini is $110 and the full size is $100, but they are great knives. I have a Griptilian 550HG and a Mini Bone Collector and love them both, I EDC each one with a ZT everyday ( I rotate two pair of EDCs ZT/BM at all times) and they are amazing. They make amazing slicers and are very light, which to me makes them ideal for EDC.
 
Ares1307 said:
For under $100 Id go with a Griptilian. I love the 550 and 555 (mini) because of the blade shape and the thumbholes. Id also suggest a Bone Collector or Mini Bone Collector, I think the mini is $110 and the full size is $100, but they are great knives. I have a Griptilian 550HG and a Mini Bone Collector and love them both, I EDC each one with a ZT everyday ( I rotate two pair of EDCs ZT/BM at all times) and they are amazing. They make amazing slicers and are very light, which to me makes them ideal for EDC.
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I'm with you. The BM mini Bone Collector is perfect for EDC. Stout, bull-strong, great blade steel, Axis lock, Spydie hold, great ergos, the works. Honestly if I'd designed a folder from the ground up, it would be very similar to the mini BC. And this from someone who EDC'd a small Sebenza for the past 10 years.

Prof.
 
I own CRKs, Spydercos, Hinderer, Les George, and 2 Benchmades, the 806 M390 AFCK and the 615 Mini Rukus. I consider the BMs to be right up there with the rest of the collection in terms of beauty, fit and finish, and quality.
 
why are Spyderco's usually sharper. Benchmade may have better quality but even after hiring a "sharpening" professor (they did), the Spyderco's are sharper and have better grinds. Don't know why.
 
kestrel57 said:
why are Spyderco's usually sharper. Benchmade may have better quality but even after hiring a "sharpening" professor (they did), the Spyderco's are sharper and have better grinds. Don't know why.
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Behind every sharp edge is a man who made it that way. Spyderco appears to have hired better men to do their sharpening. You can teach a guy to sharpen all you want, but nothing replaces feel. Benchmade has been getting better about their out of box sharpness as of late, maybe their men are getting a feel for it. Now if only they could stop putting such ridiculously wide bevels on their knives...I honestly have had benchmades that came close to 60° inclusive, that's double the angle spyderco shoots for...
 
Not every Benchmade has been for me, but the brand itself is outstanding. I've been carrying an 800AFCKM2HSS for probably ten years now. Regularly. Despite having owned other customs and brands. The only other knife that shares EDC duties is a Al Mar Sere 2000. I've also carried various Spyderco knives (Military, Police, Endura, etc) and they are fantastic, I just keep going back to the others. Like someone said above, if you see something you like from either company, go for it. They will not let you down.

I should also add that I once sent my AFCK in with no pivot pin and a bent clip. They cleaned and sharpened it, and replaced the missing and broken parts. 5 bucks for return postage. Outstanding.
 
MPR 755 is a blast to own, the pleasure of ownership and use
have made this chubby, little knife, worth it's price.
 
Jesse B. said:
If your value system is based solely on price-to-performance ratio, I'd probably give Spyderco a slight edge. If aesthetic value factors in, Benchmade imo has the edge. They're both excellent companies and hopefully in time you'll get to experience and appreciate the differences between the two.
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+1 This.
 
THIs:

Rider675 said:
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.
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For me I think Spyderco makes some great knives, but personally I hate the way the hole feels/works as an opener. So I'm not a fan.
Thus I have a few Benchmades and no Spyderco knives.
 
It's good to shop around for benchmades and use sites that have the discount codes. Benchmades really aren't that pricey when you use the codes, i'm surprised by how many people overpay for Benchmades. Like i'll even see some used or like new Benchmades on the exchange that are more expensive than a new one off a different website, people just need to shop around.
 
Franz_N said:
It's good to shop around for benchmades and use sites that have the discount codes. Benchmades really aren't that pricey when you use the codes, i'm surprised by how many people overpay for Benchmades. Like i'll even see some used or like new Benchmades on the exchange that are more expensive than a new one off a different website, people just need to shop around.
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I'm a bit surprised how popular, discontinued and limited edition Benchmades don't seem to command the same price increases as Spydercos seem to. Secondary market prices are sometimes too LOW for these items --- not a good sign in the marketing/product wars.

Don't get me wrong I love Benchmade's (710s, 800s, etc...). I almost wonder if Zero Tolerance is going to be a third competitor to the partial duopoly.
 
shqxk said:
+1 This.
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+2. I'd add that too many Spyderco's have the leaf shape to me and they may make too many different models & variants. Almost too ergonomic and similar with a few very odd looking models. Benchmade may not offer enough good new models/designs. And the sharpening, large angles bother me a bit. I don't understand --- it's almost as if Benchmade doesn't realize they'd gain market share with better sharpened knives. After all, a knife is a piece of sharp steel. It's not a well made opening system --- one used over and over by the way.

Still, I love both brands. Maybe they're both so good that it makes it easier to complain a bout the other. So, I'm still satisfied! :-)
 
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