Here are my first impressions of BM Mini Barrage 585 compared to Spyderco Caly 3 G10, which might be of interest to someone considering these knives.
Just received a Caly 3 G10 today, and its my first Spyderco knife. Been carrying the 585 for several weeks, and I have three other BM knives, one folder, two fixed. First impressions:
Caly 3 is slightly lighter, thinner (flatter with or without the clip), has a low-ride clip, and its slightly wider, so, for me, it carries a bit better clipped to a pocket or loose in the pocket, which is the primary reason I bought it. I prefer the BM catalogue because it specifies the thickness of their knives, which is a key specification.
The Caly 3 handle not quite as hand filling as the 585 handle, but probably good enough for my intended purpose, low profile EDC, opening packages, preparing food. However, the choil for my index finger is very close to a very sharp blade. I like the Caly 3 gimping, which mitigates the closeness of the blade.
Published specs for length of both knives are correct. Both blades are roughly 3 and both handles are roughly 4. The blade on the Caly 3 is about 1/10 longer and the cutting edge is about 1/10 shorter, so its a wash.
The observable machined surfaces of the Caly 3 are slightly better (smoother), giving the impression of a slightly better finished knife. The G10 scales of the Caly 3 also give the impression of slightly higher quality than the molded plastic scales on the 585, but I have no complaints about the 585 scales.
The Spyder hole seems to work as least as well as BM thumb studs, and the Caly 3 deploys about as well as a knife with my unassisted BM Axis lock. Out of the box, the Caly 3 mechanism seems to be a bit rougher than the 585, but it works well enough. I am comfortable with the Caly 3 back lock.
585 problems:
1. Delivered with a blade that was loose side to side. Adjusted the pivot screw twice, but it came loose within a day or two. Two emails to Benchmade asking whether to Locktite the pivot screw or return the knife have gone unanswered, leaving a very poor impression of BM customer service. If I keep this knife, I will probably Locktite the pivot screw. So far, the Caly 3 doesnt have this problems and neither does my BM Mini Rukus.
For now, Ive tightened the 585 pivot screw and taped it down, and the pivot screw hasnt come loose in a week. After tightening the pivot screw, I noticed a slight amount of vertical play in the blade, which I am not sure that I would call a problem.
2. Out of the box, the 585 was not very sharp, but good enough to open packages and slice apples, so I havent sharpened it yet. By comparison, the Mini Rukus was sharp, and the Caly 3 is VERY sharp. Of my two BM fixed knives, one was sharp, one wasnt.
These are minor problems that can be fixed, and I can always phone Benchmade customer service. However, it shouldnt be necessary, and I might think twice before mail ordering another BM knife.
The assisted opening on the 585 works very well. However, I am not that enamored with assisted opening, and I have tightened the pivot screw, so that the blade opens with only slightly more enthusiasm than a standard Axis lock and the blade has no side-to-side play.
The assisted opening blade still pops up like fresh toast, which makes me wonder whether its abusing the locking mechanism, so I tend to ease it open. The complexity and long-term reliability of the assisted opening mechanism and the blade lock concerns me too, but it does seem to work well.
Concerns about the Caly 3:
1. Scales are riveted to the liners, so they cant be removed for cleaning if the knife gets dunked in salt water.
2. I have heard that the Caly 3 pivot is a bushing-less design, so I am wondering whether this might become a problem down the road, but I might have heard wrong.
One balance, I think they are both good knives with similar uses. I plan to use both knives for a while and keep the one that works the best for me, and I will update this post if my impressions change.
Just received a Caly 3 G10 today, and its my first Spyderco knife. Been carrying the 585 for several weeks, and I have three other BM knives, one folder, two fixed. First impressions:
Caly 3 is slightly lighter, thinner (flatter with or without the clip), has a low-ride clip, and its slightly wider, so, for me, it carries a bit better clipped to a pocket or loose in the pocket, which is the primary reason I bought it. I prefer the BM catalogue because it specifies the thickness of their knives, which is a key specification.
The Caly 3 handle not quite as hand filling as the 585 handle, but probably good enough for my intended purpose, low profile EDC, opening packages, preparing food. However, the choil for my index finger is very close to a very sharp blade. I like the Caly 3 gimping, which mitigates the closeness of the blade.
Published specs for length of both knives are correct. Both blades are roughly 3 and both handles are roughly 4. The blade on the Caly 3 is about 1/10 longer and the cutting edge is about 1/10 shorter, so its a wash.
The observable machined surfaces of the Caly 3 are slightly better (smoother), giving the impression of a slightly better finished knife. The G10 scales of the Caly 3 also give the impression of slightly higher quality than the molded plastic scales on the 585, but I have no complaints about the 585 scales.
The Spyder hole seems to work as least as well as BM thumb studs, and the Caly 3 deploys about as well as a knife with my unassisted BM Axis lock. Out of the box, the Caly 3 mechanism seems to be a bit rougher than the 585, but it works well enough. I am comfortable with the Caly 3 back lock.
585 problems:
1. Delivered with a blade that was loose side to side. Adjusted the pivot screw twice, but it came loose within a day or two. Two emails to Benchmade asking whether to Locktite the pivot screw or return the knife have gone unanswered, leaving a very poor impression of BM customer service. If I keep this knife, I will probably Locktite the pivot screw. So far, the Caly 3 doesnt have this problems and neither does my BM Mini Rukus.
For now, Ive tightened the 585 pivot screw and taped it down, and the pivot screw hasnt come loose in a week. After tightening the pivot screw, I noticed a slight amount of vertical play in the blade, which I am not sure that I would call a problem.
2. Out of the box, the 585 was not very sharp, but good enough to open packages and slice apples, so I havent sharpened it yet. By comparison, the Mini Rukus was sharp, and the Caly 3 is VERY sharp. Of my two BM fixed knives, one was sharp, one wasnt.
These are minor problems that can be fixed, and I can always phone Benchmade customer service. However, it shouldnt be necessary, and I might think twice before mail ordering another BM knife.
The assisted opening on the 585 works very well. However, I am not that enamored with assisted opening, and I have tightened the pivot screw, so that the blade opens with only slightly more enthusiasm than a standard Axis lock and the blade has no side-to-side play.
The assisted opening blade still pops up like fresh toast, which makes me wonder whether its abusing the locking mechanism, so I tend to ease it open. The complexity and long-term reliability of the assisted opening mechanism and the blade lock concerns me too, but it does seem to work well.
Concerns about the Caly 3:
1. Scales are riveted to the liners, so they cant be removed for cleaning if the knife gets dunked in salt water.
2. I have heard that the Caly 3 pivot is a bushing-less design, so I am wondering whether this might become a problem down the road, but I might have heard wrong.
One balance, I think they are both good knives with similar uses. I plan to use both knives for a while and keep the one that works the best for me, and I will update this post if my impressions change.
