The review below was originally prepared for the Everyday Commentary blog (http://www.everydaycommentary.com/), a wonderful resource, and is reposted with Anthony's permission. The scoring outline and references are pursuant to the Everyday Commentary system. The opinions are my own.
First up the Benchmade Griptilian 550HG, available at a leading dealer for $93.50 USD. This knife features light, cheap feeling glass fill Noryl GTX handles reinforced with double 420J stainless liners. The knife uses an AXIS lock and the blade is 154-CM stainless steel with a hollow grind and ambidextrous thumb hole. The pocket clip can be reversed for right or left handed use. The knife is made in the USA.
Specifications: Overall Length: 8.07" Blade Length: 3.45" Blade Thickness: 0.115" Blade Material: 154CM Stainless Steel Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC Blade Style: Modified Sheepsfoot Closed Length: 4.62" Handle Thickness: 0.640" Weight: 3.25 oz.
blade:handle (more is better) and blade:weight (in these ratios more is better)
.747
1.06
Next is the Spyderco Stretch II. Available at the same dealer for $79.95 USD. Made in Japan. According to BladeHQ, "The Spyderco C90 Stretch started as a pet-project lockback knife design. Spydercos owner and chief designer made it for his personal use, incorporating features he wanted. He wanted high performance blade steel with edge retention super-powers for outdoor cutting: things like wood, rope and anything encountered in the wild. It had to work equally well indoors on cardboard, mail and fingernails. He sized it so it wouldnt scare nonknife people and made it look slick on the off chance hed someday have to wear a suit. Blade is solid plain edge VG-10. Features black fiberglass reinforced nylon handles (FRN). The C90PBK exemplifies all that is Spyderco, function, high performance, advanced materials and workmanship in an out-of-the-ordinary package."
Specifications: Overall Length: 7.94" Blade Length: 3.5" Cutting Edge: 3.19" Blade Thickness: .125" Blade Steel: VG-10 Hole Diameter: 9/16" Handle Material: Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon Closed Length: 4.44" Weight: 3.4 oz.
blade:handle and blade:weight (using blade length, not cutting edge)
0.79
1.03
Blade profiles
Handle thickness
Blade thickness
It wasn't until I happened to place these two knives side-by-side that I noticed how similar they are. However, the similarities are only skin deep. In the hand and in use the subtle differences appear. Here's how they stack up against one another.
Steel: Benchmade: 2 Spyderco: 2
According to the scoring chart both 154CM and VG10 are supposed to get a 1. Supersteels they are not, but good quality, perfectly useable steels they are. Of the two I prefer the VG10 of the Spyderco. I find it takes a keener edge. I have a lot of VG10 blades and have no complaints. I have fewer with 154CM but it is a steel I've used extensively in the past and find it to be roughly equivalent to VG-10. I prefer VG10 of the two but the difference is not enough for me to deduct a point. Both models have optional, superior blade materials available.
Grind: Benchmade: 1 Spyderco: 2
This one is simple: full flat grind > high hollow grind. In use the difference is noticeable. While the Spyderco starts off a little thicker at the spine, the Benchmade is the blade that feels too thick. When cutting cardboard and even hot dogs I noticed the Benchmade was thicker and thus required more force. The Spyderco is clearly the superior cutter in my experience. The Benchmade is too thick behind the edge for my tastes.
Blade shape: Benchmade: 2 Spyderco: 2
The actual edge cutting profile isn't very different. It just plain works. Some people are turned off by the Spyderco's spine profile but I love it. The Benchmade actually follows a similar line without quite as much flair. Both work and the difference is minimal.
Lock: Benchmade: 2 Spyderco: 2
The Benchmade has the advantage here. Seriously, who doesn't like the Axis lock? It works, it is ambidextrous, and it is strong. The same could be said about the Spyderco. Lockbacks are not as "sexy" as the Axis lock but they too work well so I will not deduct any points because some people hate them for reasons which escape me. I'm just glad to have options other than the ubiquitous Ti framelock!
Design: Benchmade: 2 Spyderco: 2
Both knives are well designed and time tested. If I had to pick a winner it would be the Stretch. The energy that Sal Glesser, a genius in my mind, invested into the design is obvious. I prefer the Doug Ritter Grip model to the standard Griptilian but in reality there isn't much difference between the two.
Fit and Finish: Benchmade: 2 Spyderco: 2
The Benchmade has better blade centering. The Spyerdco has better polishing. The Benchmade has slight horizontal blade play, the Spyderco has none in either direction. The grinds on each are such that I did not notice any defects.
Retention method: Benchmade: 2 Spyderco: 2
Both use a standard pocket clip secured by three screws. Both sit at approximately the same height in the pocket. Tie.
Deployment: Benchmade: 2 Spyderco: 2
Both use the Spyderhole, which in my opinion is the best option available. Tie. If the Benchmade had thumbstuds I would have subtracted a point.
Grip: Benchmade: 1 Spyderco: 2
The Benchmade is wider and easier on the hand for heavy cuts. The Spyderco has better texturing and better jimping. The Spyderco also has a choil, which I like. The Spyderco envelops the hand better. The Benchmade's scales feel cheap.
Carry: Benchmade: 1 Spyderco: 2
The Benchmade is too fat. Perhaps I have just grown accustomed to thin Spyderco knives but the first impression I had of the Benchmade was how thick it is. It carries well for all that girth but physics cannot be ignored. Slimmer is better for something that spends more time in my pocket than in the hand.
Totals
Benchmade: 17
Spyderco: 20
Both knives are high quality and I'd be happy to own either one to the exclusion of the other. Given the choice, though, I'd chose the Spyderco Stretch II 9 out of 10 times.
First up the Benchmade Griptilian 550HG, available at a leading dealer for $93.50 USD. This knife features light, cheap feeling glass fill Noryl GTX handles reinforced with double 420J stainless liners. The knife uses an AXIS lock and the blade is 154-CM stainless steel with a hollow grind and ambidextrous thumb hole. The pocket clip can be reversed for right or left handed use. The knife is made in the USA.
Specifications: Overall Length: 8.07" Blade Length: 3.45" Blade Thickness: 0.115" Blade Material: 154CM Stainless Steel Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC Blade Style: Modified Sheepsfoot Closed Length: 4.62" Handle Thickness: 0.640" Weight: 3.25 oz.
blade:handle (more is better) and blade:weight (in these ratios more is better)
.747
1.06
Next is the Spyderco Stretch II. Available at the same dealer for $79.95 USD. Made in Japan. According to BladeHQ, "The Spyderco C90 Stretch started as a pet-project lockback knife design. Spydercos owner and chief designer made it for his personal use, incorporating features he wanted. He wanted high performance blade steel with edge retention super-powers for outdoor cutting: things like wood, rope and anything encountered in the wild. It had to work equally well indoors on cardboard, mail and fingernails. He sized it so it wouldnt scare nonknife people and made it look slick on the off chance hed someday have to wear a suit. Blade is solid plain edge VG-10. Features black fiberglass reinforced nylon handles (FRN). The C90PBK exemplifies all that is Spyderco, function, high performance, advanced materials and workmanship in an out-of-the-ordinary package."
Specifications: Overall Length: 7.94" Blade Length: 3.5" Cutting Edge: 3.19" Blade Thickness: .125" Blade Steel: VG-10 Hole Diameter: 9/16" Handle Material: Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon Closed Length: 4.44" Weight: 3.4 oz.
blade:handle and blade:weight (using blade length, not cutting edge)
0.79
1.03
Blade profiles
Handle thickness
Blade thickness
It wasn't until I happened to place these two knives side-by-side that I noticed how similar they are. However, the similarities are only skin deep. In the hand and in use the subtle differences appear. Here's how they stack up against one another.
Steel: Benchmade: 2 Spyderco: 2
According to the scoring chart both 154CM and VG10 are supposed to get a 1. Supersteels they are not, but good quality, perfectly useable steels they are. Of the two I prefer the VG10 of the Spyderco. I find it takes a keener edge. I have a lot of VG10 blades and have no complaints. I have fewer with 154CM but it is a steel I've used extensively in the past and find it to be roughly equivalent to VG-10. I prefer VG10 of the two but the difference is not enough for me to deduct a point. Both models have optional, superior blade materials available.
Grind: Benchmade: 1 Spyderco: 2
This one is simple: full flat grind > high hollow grind. In use the difference is noticeable. While the Spyderco starts off a little thicker at the spine, the Benchmade is the blade that feels too thick. When cutting cardboard and even hot dogs I noticed the Benchmade was thicker and thus required more force. The Spyderco is clearly the superior cutter in my experience. The Benchmade is too thick behind the edge for my tastes.
Blade shape: Benchmade: 2 Spyderco: 2
The actual edge cutting profile isn't very different. It just plain works. Some people are turned off by the Spyderco's spine profile but I love it. The Benchmade actually follows a similar line without quite as much flair. Both work and the difference is minimal.
Lock: Benchmade: 2 Spyderco: 2
The Benchmade has the advantage here. Seriously, who doesn't like the Axis lock? It works, it is ambidextrous, and it is strong. The same could be said about the Spyderco. Lockbacks are not as "sexy" as the Axis lock but they too work well so I will not deduct any points because some people hate them for reasons which escape me. I'm just glad to have options other than the ubiquitous Ti framelock!
Design: Benchmade: 2 Spyderco: 2
Both knives are well designed and time tested. If I had to pick a winner it would be the Stretch. The energy that Sal Glesser, a genius in my mind, invested into the design is obvious. I prefer the Doug Ritter Grip model to the standard Griptilian but in reality there isn't much difference between the two.
Fit and Finish: Benchmade: 2 Spyderco: 2
The Benchmade has better blade centering. The Spyerdco has better polishing. The Benchmade has slight horizontal blade play, the Spyderco has none in either direction. The grinds on each are such that I did not notice any defects.
Retention method: Benchmade: 2 Spyderco: 2
Both use a standard pocket clip secured by three screws. Both sit at approximately the same height in the pocket. Tie.
Deployment: Benchmade: 2 Spyderco: 2
Both use the Spyderhole, which in my opinion is the best option available. Tie. If the Benchmade had thumbstuds I would have subtracted a point.
Grip: Benchmade: 1 Spyderco: 2
The Benchmade is wider and easier on the hand for heavy cuts. The Spyderco has better texturing and better jimping. The Spyderco also has a choil, which I like. The Spyderco envelops the hand better. The Benchmade's scales feel cheap.
Carry: Benchmade: 1 Spyderco: 2
The Benchmade is too fat. Perhaps I have just grown accustomed to thin Spyderco knives but the first impression I had of the Benchmade was how thick it is. It carries well for all that girth but physics cannot be ignored. Slimmer is better for something that spends more time in my pocket than in the hand.
Totals
Benchmade: 17
Spyderco: 20
Both knives are high quality and I'd be happy to own either one to the exclusion of the other. Given the choice, though, I'd chose the Spyderco Stretch II 9 out of 10 times.
