Can you all help me out with a sensitive question?

For what it's worth, every CRKT I have personally handled wasn't of very good build quality and the F&F wasn't very good either. I prefer to stick with Spyderco, BM and Kershaw for folders.
 
IMO... Spyderco and Benchmade are about equal in quality, Spyderco offers more steel options, usually are slightly lower in price for the same thing s30V/g10. Benchmade also has their Gold class $400-1000+ options. Lately I'm really liking the benchmades in M390, which is one steel spyderco hasn't done...yet (hopefully a para 2, military, or manix 2 soon). I have only slightly more spydercos than benchmades, but I'd say I like them overall about equally, (though my top two individual knives are a military sprint run and para 2 sprint run). CRKT almost always has lower quality steel and handle materials, the only two that come to mind are the M16 that had 154cm and the newer Ken onion Ripple which I thought was actually pretty nice, especially for a CRKT with ACUTO steel which is suppose to be like 440C I think, very smooth flipper though, but overall I'd put CRKT in a lower tier than BM and SPY. I think they have some cool designs, I just wish their quality supported them better.
 
Spyderco & Benchmade quality are about the same from my experiences.I've never had to use either's customer/warranty service,so can't comment on that.

CRKT isn't even in the same league as them,& therefore incomparable.
I mean AUS4?C'mon,what respectable knife company would try & pass off a quality knife using that crap?That's just the tip of the iceberg too.
 
I really like my CRKTs but I have had to modify them slightly. Their knurling on the thumb studs and "flippers" on their M16 and M21 models is so aggressive it will shred your pants. :) I filed mine down.

but they take and hold really good edges. I like them a lot, but rather than investing in another, I tried two byrds.
 
The big 3 production companies for folders are Benchmade, Kershaw (and their Zero Tolerance line), and Spyderco. I'd say that the big 3 second tier ones are CRKT, Cold Steel, and Gerber. CRKT makes some good knives once in a while, but I wouldn't count on it.

Benchmade makes a really good overall knife. They're generally more expensive than Kershaws or Spydercos, but they're good products.

Kershaw makes a really good value knife. A lot of their models seem to perform way out of their price range. Plus, they have the best customer service in the industry.

Spyderco focuses more on utility than the other two. They use blade steels and edge geometry much more effectively than the others. They are also more of a niche brand for the knife community, as they listen to their customers and produce specialized models that the others wouldn't. However, their customer service is the worst of the three.
 
Tsujigiri said:
The big 3 production companies for folders are Benchmade, Kershaw (and their Zero Tolerance line), and Spyderco. I'd say that the big 3 second tier ones are CRKT, Cold Steel, and Gerber. CRKT makes some good knives once in a while, but I wouldn't count on it.

Benchmade makes a really good overall knife. They're generally more expensive than Kershaws or Spydercos, but they're good products.

Kershaw makes a really good value knife. A lot of their models seem to perform way out of their price range. Plus, they have the best customer service in the industry.

Spyderco focuses more on utility than the other two. They use blade steels and edge geometry much more effectively than the others. They are also more of a niche brand for the knife community, as they listen to their customers and produce specialized models that the others wouldn't. However, their customer service is the worst of the three.
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I'm surprised at that comment . Spyderco is known for their exceptional customer service . It's one of the reasons I buy their products
I hang out a lot at their forum and they always address their problems effectively and timely :)
 
I haven't handled many benchmades or spydercos but I have a decent collection of kershaws and I think the quality and consistency knife to knife is fantastic, they make great knives... Customer service was good the one time I've had to use it... I'll be putting benchmade's to the test real soon once I send my 790 in (it's had side to side blade play since I got it, my girlfriends is solid as is my 630)... The only spyderco I've purchased was actually bought as a gift for my dad but in the time I fondled it (manix 2) it was a very quality piece... I've had a few on my list but just haven't acted on purchasing them for myself... Although when that fluted ti military hits the deck the game will change!!
 
I have got many knives from all the manufacturers mentioned above. Probably too many knives - my wife might be right after all. But I can not say which company is better - nether even thought about that. I buy the knives because I like them - not because they are from Spyderco or Benchmade. There is sort of a list of the manufacturers which qualify from my point of view - so I would be very careful buying from anybody outside it. But Spyderco, Benchmade and Kershaw are already there - without further discrimination. CRKT is I would say excluded - though I have a few knives from them. Probably by chance, or because I liked the knives so much. I do not approve their choice of steels.
 
I'm sorry if I'm a skeptic...but you've here since June of 2009 with 620 posts...and you haven't seen the price of 3 of the most popular brands of knives in the last 15 years.....really?
 
love spyderco for all the reasons given. just gotta love the variety. Have had a few Kershaws and carried a couple of them over the years, the Leek was my favorite for ages. i have 2 ckrt knives and use neither though i regard them as good value knives and they have a wide selection of models. Benchmades are awsome in allot of ways, the ones i would like to get however are quite expensive and in that upper end price range there are just others id rather pop for if i were to pop for a knife at that level. not that they dont have some nice ones in and around the $100 mark i just havnt warmed up to one yet.
 
Spyderco has great customer service, they just don't let people take advantage of them.
I've never had a problem getting Spyderco to fix the couple of things that I needed them to on new knives. You aren't going to abuse one of their knives and get them to fix it for free, though.
 
Spyderco vs BM comes down to taste-whether you like D2 or VG10 or 154CM or ZDP, whether you prefer Axis lock or back lock etc, hole or stud.

CRKT is, IMHO, a step down from both.
 
jeff_c said:
How does Spyderco, Benchmade and CRKT compare?
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Benchmade -- Every one I've had has been impeccably made of top-quality materials. The AXIS lock is smooth and unique. On the whole, they tend to be pricey. Most (or at least many) are made in the USA, with others in Taiwan or China.

CRKT -- The knives I've had were made in China of inferior materials with poor fit and finish. The designs seem okay.

Spyderco -- All their knives are well made from good materials, whether the budget line or the more exclusive models. Their inexpensive stuff is better than CRKT's and their expensive stuff is comparable to Benchmade. Most are made in Japan or the USA, with some made in Taiwan, or China.

Spyderco has an active presence on this forum and Sal Glesser, the owner posts frequently. He, and all of the folks at Spyderco seem like great people. Not saying the other companies don't have great people, I just don't know it if they do....

Of course, you might want to add Kershaw to the mix, as well.
 
I am a very strong believer in both Spyderco and Kershaw. I do not own any Benchmades and have not seen many CKRT knives that interest me. I think that Spyderco and Kershaw offer a much wider range of knives and better bang for the buck than most other manufacturers. In the $80.00 to $140.00 range they are very hard to beat. And the ZT range, don't get me started, in a word, superior. Only other knife brand I really like is Emerson, but that is a whole different story.:D
 
I love the fit & finish of a Benchmade compared to the latest Spydercos. Benchmade 710 and 940 series are beautiful. The Military is hit or miss with "out of the box" issues and they cheapened up the Endura 4's with the FRN handles, they made that one Endura 4 G10, SS lined, FFG model and discontinued it! :confused: YMMV
 
marknett1 said:
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I'm surprised at that comment . Spyderco is known for their exceptional customer service . It's one of the reasons I buy their products
I hang out a lot at their forum and they always address their problems effectively and timely :)
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They charge $5 for return shipping no matter what you do, like Benchmade does. And they say that if you take apart the knife the warranty is voided, which Benchmade also does (Kershaw does neither of these things). But what really separates Benchmade CS from Spyderco CS for me is the fact that Spyderco will not replace blades. They charge $20 plus return shipping just to grind the chips out of a blade, whereas Benchmade will give you a brand new blade for $25 plus return shipping. Benchmade will also send you free clips if you ask for them (upgraded Parkerized clips, which Spyderco does not even have), with Spyderco you have to pay for the clip and shipping. And Kershaw, of course, beats both of these companies in CS. I'm not saying that Spyderco hates their customers, but they do have the worst customer service of the three.
 
What are you looking for? If you ask me:

In terms of quality: Benchmade > Spyderco > CRKT

In terms of performance: Spyderco > Benchmade > CRKT

In terms of price/performance: Spyderco > Benchmade (I don't know where to put CRKT, but I generally don't hold their products with any high regard; their stuff is mostly cheaper in terms of price.)
 
jill jackson said:
Spyderco has great customer service, they just don't let people take advantage of them.
I've never had a problem getting Spyderco to fix the couple of things that I needed them to on new knives. You aren't going to abuse one of their knives and get them to fix it for free, though.
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Jill, that was very well put.

As for free blade replacements, it depends on your business model. Spyderco knives are still mostly made over seas by independent makers. I don't expect there are many spare parts laying around Golden, CO. My assumption is that the makers send completed knives, not parts.

Also, many of the locking mechanisms require fitting. Even if there were spare blades kept in Golden, that will require more personnel to deal with warranty work instead of meeting market demands. And we all know they're working their butts off already.
 
One made the comment about going for Japanese or Golden made Spyderco models is something I disagree with. The Taiwan made models like the Bradley and Sage, and Chokwe for example are as good as any production knives made with the possible exception of CRK.

Actually, I like the Bradley better than any CRK made currently.

Benchmade has a tendency to underharden steels. Their M2 was at a stated RC 60-62 but I've never seen one above RC 59. Likewise their M4 is the same, whereas Spyderco's is closer to RC 62-63.

Benchmade doesn't have S90V, but they are now using M390 steel which is very nice.

I do believe Kershaw and Buck have the best, no questions asked warranty if that's important to you. For me, Spyderco's is great as I'm not the kind of person to destroy a knifeblade then want it replaced. If it's a true warranty problem they will replace the knife, or, if out of production give credit for the knife. That's everything I need.

So, My top two are Spyderco and Kershaw, next Buck, lastly Benchmade.
 
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