Best of the Big 3?

All of them have great designs and at the end it is a question of personnel tastes


Here is my personal selection

Spyderco: Spydiechef
Other options -PM2, Para 3, Native 5, Delica 4

Benchmade: Bugout
Other options: Griptilian, 940

ZT: 0470
Other options: 0450, 0393, 0562
 
As someone who has owned and carried all 3 of these brands I recommend:

Benchmade: 941 mine is worn in and snappy. I carried it all the time when I was landscaping and the steel is so nice. I have owned and carried a couple grips and they are a little to fat in the handle anymore. The Bugout is great.

Spyderco: I own more spdies than any other brand. I recommend the PM2 or Para 3. I have a few pm3s in all the different varieties one in M390 and one in Maxamet and they are great. My newest in M390 is now my go to for carrying. I also recommend the Native 5 LW. I never gave the Native much thought till I snagged one off the exchange and I'm falling in love with it. Thin, decent size blade and just all around well built. I also recommend the salt series: cheap, reliable and take a licking.

ZT: I have owned a few zts. Currently one of my edcs is a 0566cf. Its a machine. S35VN is incredible on this thing. I also owned a 0301 a few years back. some shit-bird stole it from me and its on my list of knives to get again. My buddy has a 562 and I do like that as well. ZT just makes knives built like brick houses.

Cant go wrong with any of them. If I were you I'd wait a couple of months and snag a sprint Spyderco. Spyderco is releasing a few blades in Rex 45 and they look badass. Also releasing a tanto pm2.

-EG
 
Spyderco Para 2, I bought one because of the masses thinking it wouldn't be what so many said it was. I was wrong, I really like it and carry it as much as other knives costing several times as much.
ZT 0450, I'm not sure how many ZT models I have owned. I haven't had an issue with any but none impressed me as well as the 450.
My favorite Benchmade is one that gets little attention, the Freak. Great knife for someone who spends a lot of time outdoors.
 
ZT: 0470 > 0640
Spyderco: Spydiechef = Kapara > Native Chief
BM: Mini Crooked River > 940-1 = 560BK-1

These are, of course, personal preferences.
 
A handful of top manufacturers dominate the niche knife market. Benchmade, Spyderco and ZT are among them. Some of their best and most popular knives are collaborations with top designers. Sinkevich, Southard, others.

Other top designers include Sergei Shirogorov, Ray Laconico, Gareth Bull, Trevor Burger, Chris Reeve. Different designs; customs, midtechs and production models, both in-house and outsourced. WE Knives and Kizer are producing several Laconico models and WE will offer a Gareth Bull soon. The build quality that all of these makers produce is comparable even if their prices are not. All are competitive in offering super steels like M390, Elmax, S35VN, etc.
 
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Spyderco - Native 5 LW in your steel of choice, a true workhorse of a folding knife
Benchmade - NA(I have 1, not a big fan)
ZT - NA(Hate em)
 
quick update...


so I ordered a few.

Spyderco PM2. S110V/blue G10. Yeah. It was just a matter of time. Possibly the most "universally loved" production folder along with the Sebenza. So I had to get one.

Spyderco Shaman. I was gonna add the Native 5 to my cart but I like the contoured handles of the Shaman. I also like that the Native and Shaman don't have the "Spyderco hump" and have a cleaner look. I'm a big guy so the bigger size shouldn't be much of an issue.

Cold Steel AD10. Really liking what I see here. Was gonna go with the ultimate hunter, but so far the AD10 has had global praise - and again - I don't mind the size. I keep an 4" N frame Smith and Wesson on my nightstand. Sure, a J frame would work. Maybe even easier to handle. But something about the N frame suits me more. Same idea with the overbuilt AD10. Now the 4Max...that's just craziness!

Cold Steel AD15 looks a bit weird to me. I'd have to handle the Scorpion lock before I order it. Same thing with Benchmades. Not sure if I dig the AXIS lock. Will have to handle one first.

Still deciding on a ZT.

Thanks again for all the help.
 
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