Best bang for your buck knife company?

J

JDX

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So to try and make this simpler, let's say the budget is $150-$250.

Out of these threee company's, which is the best in terms of fit and finish, materials, and overall quality? I'm not counting warranty as a determining factor.

Benchmade, spyderco and zero tolerance. I'm 23, I'm working on my second bachelors so financially I haven't been able to test out many benchmades or zt's. I've held a mini grip and used a zt 350 but that's it. I mainly have purchased spyderco.

Pm2, Manix 2, native 5, southard, Techno, Delica 4 and Sage 3 are the ones I've owned. Ive been selling them as I realized I just need one good knife and don't need a rotation which I know many of you have.

So out of these three company's which would be my best bet? Which company is less about the name and more about the knife??

Thanks
 
I'd say spyderco is a good bet value wise. Specifically the Para 2, for 120 bucks it's a lot of knife for the money. You could also check out some of the newer chinese companies like Kiser or WE they offer some of the best bang for your buck of any company.
 
I would look for:
Benchmade Stryker in M4/CF
Benchmade 710 in m390
Benchmade 940 in 20cv
ZT 562CF in 20cv/204p/m390
Spyderco Spydiechef
Spyderco Mantra 1/2
Spyderco Gayle Bradley 2

If I am going to stick to a one knife option, I want a tool steel that takes a keen edge, or holds a working edge longer while having some added toughness over s30v, et al.

Though the Spydiechef doesn't quite fit that description, the sheer corrosion resistance keeps it in good shape and it's shape lends fantastically to slicing cuts and quite honestly, I just want one.
The Mantra 2 also is built as more of a slicer, but it would excel at that.
The 940 would be a smaller looking package with a surprisingly large blade in it. Quite the opposite of the PM2 effect.
 
Spyderco, out of those 3. I'd say zero tolerance, but they are art knives IMO, not worker knives. Their lock geometry is all out of whack on any model you pick up, leaving lockbar movement as a major problem, and most ZT fans don't even know it since they aren't used 😯. Benchmade is known for having very wonky blade and edge grinds and I've owned two benchmades with severe lock stick.

If a tool Steel is what you're looking for, I'd suggest looking at knifecenter's manix 2 in cruwear/carbon fiber, or a lionsteel sr-11 (not the sr-1, although that's a fine knife too). M390/20cv/204p are damn fine edc steels, and in fact my personal favorite, it's tougher and less chippy than s30v or a super wear resistant steel like zdp-189, it excels pretty much everywhere while not being king in any one area.
 
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I was blown away by my KC Manix 2 Cru-wear/Carbon fiber knife. Amazing quality! I have 5 other Spydercos, but that is definitely above the rest of my spydercos. Someone already mentioned We and Kizer are great. I got a BM mini grip in M4 with the custom configuration page, great little knife.
 
spyderco and zt. benchmades cannot be in this party, they are overpriced and have horrible fit and finish. heck even the materials they are offering in comparison to other brands are more expensive.
 
In my humble opinion, Spyderco is ridiculously hard to beat in the "bang for your buck" category. Their base prices are usually a great steal especially when you consider pretty much all $100+ knives come with CPM S30V standard. Where you start paying a good chunk is whenever you go after a sprint run model. A standard PM2 is thee best knife for the price in my opinion.

The only other knife I think comes close to the PM2 in value and using top notch material has to be a Benchmade Ritter Griptilian. M390 steel is at the top of the steel world right now(for now). Plus Benchmade's warranty really adds a lot of value to the knife(to me at least). If you can forgo the G10 handles, a Ritter Griptilian is an incredible value. I carry mine more than my PM2, mostly because of size(I own the mini).

* My Benchmade Ritter Grip came in A++ condition. Even bevels, scary sharp edge, centered and I'll say it again.. Thee smoothest action I've ever had in a knife.
 
I also like the large Buck Bantam (285) or the Buck large Vantage. Excellent value, good steel, US made. Inexpensive.
Rich
 
I know you didn't mention this company in your top three above, but I'd like to chime in. Spyderco has a million knives out there, and Benchmade is great as well but hear me out. Emerson's stuff is pretty great quality, and yes, there's plenty of haters out there so take this as you will. The ZT stuff is also good but the blade designs are either alienistic or bland. Just my opinion now. But the Emerson stuff holds its value and is tough as nails. Easy to maintain and the Wave Feature is one of the best things to happen to a tactical genre knife. For $200-250 you've got a new CQC7 or Roadhouse or many other options. You won't be disappointed unless you read too much into the hater talk out there. Go find a dealer and hold some. Or check out the ZT/emerson collabs. Nice fit and finish but they're being discontinued so act fast. My personal favorite is the 0620CF with the CTS-204P steel. That's all


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Although many of them are below $150 I'd say the most quality for minimum money would have to be Cold Steel. I have many Cold Steel products and I also own many higher end knives too. But if I had to pick a knife to be reliable in extreme situations I'd probably grab a CS. They are literally designed to be punished. lol Just mho Tho

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I mainly have ZT, benchmade and spyderco knives
All 3 are brands I can recommend
However I think the question of "best bang for the buck" is more about specific knives than companies
You can find better of less good value for the price in every companies

IMHO the ZT0350, the basic Griptilians, the PM2 and te Delica 4 are good bang for the buck
Their are lots of other knives that are good and some that may seems less interesting
 
SigKershaw said:
I know you didn't mention this company in your top three above, but I'd like to chime in. Spyderco has a million knives out there, and Benchmade is great as well but hear me out. Emerson's stuff is pretty great quality, and yes, there's plenty of haters out there so take this as you will. The ZT stuff is also good but the blade designs are either alienistic or bland. Just my opinion now. But the Emerson stuff holds its value and is tough as nails. Easy to maintain and the Wave Feature is one of the best things to happen to a tactical genre knife. For $200-250 you've got a new CQC7 or Roadhouse or many other options. You won't be disappointed unless you read too much into the hater talk out there. Go find a dealer and hold some. Or check out the ZT/emerson collabs. Nice fit and finish but they're being discontinued so act fast. My personal favorite is the 0620CF with the CTS-204P steel. That's all


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Click to expand...

there's a thread about what brands are overpriced and emerson is probably the most repeated name in that thread.
 
Spyderco and Benchmade make some great knives in that price range. However I think in terms of the material you get ZT is the best bang for your buck. Just like Kershaw, it's older more frugal bother, ZT offers amazing value for your dollar. For that price range you can easily get titanium framelocks with super steel blades. If you wanted a Spyderco or Benchmade titanium framelock with a supersteel blade you will be paying alot more.

Not that the Spydercos and BMs in that price range aren't awesome too. Just I think ZT is the best value.
 
Spyderco and ZT both fit the bill here. Well-built , good materials and fair prices.

Benchmade as a "best bang for the buck" is laughable.

Just my opinion.
 
`br4dz- said:
Their lock geometry is all out of whack on any model you pick up, leaving lockbar movement as a major problem, and most ZT fans don't even know it since they aren't used 😯.
Click to expand...

You have to be kidding. Because you've had every single model and several of each and met every single owner right?
If not, don't talk like you know it all.


sent from a highly secretive CIA base somewhere in the deep jungles of South America shhh
 
Based on my experiences alone for my money I'd say Spyderco, Cold Steel and Victorinox.

Going a bit higher dollar I'm giving a shout out to Battle Horse Knives.
 
A title asking what knife company is best bang for the buck and then limiting it so drastically is sort of misleading and reduces the diversity of answers.

Even with your very limited criteria I'd say it is spyderco for me.
 
I can't suggest Benchmade anymore, their quality doesn't seem to be consistent anymore. Actually I recently said that I would never buy another Benchmade knife again. Zero Tolerance and Spyderco have a lot to offer for the price, they are likely going to be the ones getting my business in the future. I recently bought the ZT 0566BW with the Elmax blade myself. Actually, why buy another knife? Sounds to me like you have a great selection already. Just keep the one you like the most and sell the rest.
 
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