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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Help! BM 690, 450 or Spydie Viele?
- Thread starter bladefan
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2001
- Messages
- 815
I have owned all three. The Viele and the 690 are both great. It really comes down to personal preference. I like the steel in the Viele, and the Hole, but fit and finish on the 690 was better. Problem with the Viele (both that I had) was that the washer on the non lock side allowed the blade to migrate a little so that when opening it sometmes rub on the liner. If it were me I would get the Viele and change the washers for bronze. Hope this helps.
The 690 is my current EDC, and I like it. A lot. More than any other knife I own, or am aware of.
From the options you have given it would appear that you are looking for a classy folder that doesn't sacrifice function for looks.
While Spyderco generally makes a quality product, the Viele does not appeal to me. If I want a upscale looking folder I am not interested in any knife that has a plastic handle, period. Plastic is fine for straight utility and tacticals, but if you want class you want something else. The Vieles are also noted for indifferent build quality. While VG10 is regarded as an excellent steel, I doubt you would notice a real difference between that and BM's 154CM.
Now to the fun part...
The 690 is simply a brilliant knife. It is the single best merging of form, function and materials that I have seen from any production knife. It is strong and cuts very well. The action is smooth and the lock makes a great sound when it engages. You can tell BM went the extra mile on the design and construction of this knife. Things like the unique fasteners and hardware and quality of fit and finish give this knife away as something special. I don't find the handle to be unduly thick, and the knife weighs very little for its size. Ti, wood, and carbon fiber are probably to blame for that one.
Before you decide I would recommend that you look at one in person. Pictures don't do a good job of conveying the look of this knife.
There is simply no way that a plastic knife can match the look and feel of the 690.
Do luxury cars have wood trim, or micarta trim?
From the options you have given it would appear that you are looking for a classy folder that doesn't sacrifice function for looks.
While Spyderco generally makes a quality product, the Viele does not appeal to me. If I want a upscale looking folder I am not interested in any knife that has a plastic handle, period. Plastic is fine for straight utility and tacticals, but if you want class you want something else. The Vieles are also noted for indifferent build quality. While VG10 is regarded as an excellent steel, I doubt you would notice a real difference between that and BM's 154CM.
Now to the fun part...
The 690 is simply a brilliant knife. It is the single best merging of form, function and materials that I have seen from any production knife. It is strong and cuts very well. The action is smooth and the lock makes a great sound when it engages. You can tell BM went the extra mile on the design and construction of this knife. Things like the unique fasteners and hardware and quality of fit and finish give this knife away as something special. I don't find the handle to be unduly thick, and the knife weighs very little for its size. Ti, wood, and carbon fiber are probably to blame for that one.
Before you decide I would recommend that you look at one in person. Pictures don't do a good job of conveying the look of this knife.
There is simply no way that a plastic knife can match the look and feel of the 690.
Do luxury cars have wood trim, or micarta trim?
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2002
- Messages
- 604
Love my 690. Set out to buy the 710HS and fell in love w/ the 690. Bought it first. Carried it EDC until I got my 710. Now I use the 690 for "dress." It's one tough, good-lookin' knife. Smooth, fun to use. Gets lottsa positive comments.
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2000
- Messages
- 324
Thanks for the info, I like the 690, I "tried one out" at the knife store and it was indeed light! Materials look great, and of course benchmade quality (see my post about bm/emerson cqc7 in testing forum)... I was also hesitant with viele cause I wanted something made in USA!
thanks again for the info!
thanks again for the info!