help me decide on which BM please!!!

C

curious2003

Joined
Apr 20, 2003
Messages
220
I have decided to choose a Benchmade knife over Spyderco for my everyday carry. I'm only planning on spending under $190 so I initially got a Delica and Endura. However, after some thought and picking up a BM, I realized three things bothered me about Spydies: they had crappy FRN handles with no liners, they had horrible fit and finish, and they seemed fragile with lots of bladeplay (yes I know how this goes against what legions believe but that is my impression after handling 4-5 of them). If I hadn't heard about their legendary quality I would never have guessed. So even though VG-10 is supposedly such a great steel, I am willing to look at 154CM or even 440C b/c BM quality seemed much better. However, due to the prices I can only afford one with my budget. I narrowed my choices down to three as knife selection is limited in Toronto. Your opinions matter as I have never bought a knife before (I returned my Spydies). Thanks guys :)

choice 1) 720 Mel Pardue {axis lock, PE, satin finish, $189.94)

This is offered in the Bowie with 154 CM steel and aluminum handle only. I do not know how this compares to G-10. Any comments? I also do not know why AXIS lock is supposed to be so special. Is it really that much better than say a Modified Locking Liner? I also heard AXIS does not do well with snow. Also I do not think this 720 comes with any liners? Why not?

choice 2) 814 mini AFCK {modified locking liner, PE, $123.94}

This is Drop Point blade with G-10 handle and 154CM. The blade seemed really small even though it's longer than the Delica's. I guess it has to do with the narrow blade. I am unsure if this has liners.

choice 3) 813 mini Tsek {modified locking liner, comboedge, satin finish, $105.45}

This comes in Drop Point with G-10 handle. I don't like this but it only comes half serrated instead of fully plain. This uses 440C. The saleman said how 154CM is so much superior to 440C and I should forget the price difference and get the 814 instead. However this blade is larger in size even if shorter. I am also unaware if this has a liner.


So there are my three choices. I would love any opinions on these knives as well as answers to my questions such as what type of liners are used for each, differences in locks, if aluminum is better than G-10, etc

thanks a bunch for helping a guy out! I hope to one day own more knives as well but I hope to get a good start with a good choice :)

oh last min addition somebody suggested i try out a 551 Griptilian. Only have them in combo again :( and price is $116.94 440C and AXIS lock. Is this handle as strong as G-10? or same as Spydies? Basically the 551 has AXIS with no G-10 while the 813 has G-10 with no AXIS. if it's between them which is better? better lock or better handle material? pros and cons? thanks again!
 
Curious, I have both the 551 (Griptilian) and the 814 (Mini AFCK). I would recommend both as very good knives for EDC. Have you looked at online sites for picking up whatever you choose? The prices you have quoted seem to be actual factory prices or something. I can recommend NewGrahamKnives.com as an excellent place to check out for knife purchases. The customer service has been second to none in the transactions I have had with them. Whatever your choice, check out online sites for comparison prices at least. Just my opinion.
 
I really like the handle on the BM720. It does have the liners that are required for the "drop-in" Axis lock setup, but liners are really not as important on an aluminum handle as they are on synthetics. Even without steel liners an aluminum handle will be solid and plenty strong.

There is a lot of discussion in the archives about the virtues of the Axis lock. Some people feel that it is not as good as a liner lock or lockback, while others think that it is the best locking system out there. I belong to the second group. At first I didn't see what all the fuss was about, until I got an Axis lock knife of my own. Now my primary work and EDC folder is an Axis lock, every day. The smoothness, reliability, and longevity of this design make it a winner in my book.

I went through several Benchmades before I found my "perfect" one, and I have a few recommendations.

I feel that the Al handled 720 is the best all around medium sized product in the Benchmade Axis lineup that I am aware of.

I actually liked the handle and lock system on that knife so much that I did a bit of fabricating and managed to fit a blade (from a BM 550) that was more my style into it.

The Griptilianses have full liners on the Mini versions and partial liners on the full size. They are really two very different knives in feel and action. If you don't need a full sized knife I would say grab the 555 or 551 and never look back. For the price they simply cannot be beat.
 
My vote goes to the 720.

I haven't handled any of your other options, but I do own a 720s. It was my edc for over a year, and was first axis lock I had ever seen. Becuase of that knife, I've bought over 10 BMs since then. My 720s has held up superbly, edge and handle. I love the axis lock system, and is the only type of knife I carry if I don't have my Microtech LCC in my pocket.

Este es mi dos centavos.

MXDan
 
You need to look at some of the internet dealers. New Graham was mentioned. The owner of this board is also good. I have had good experience with Roger of www.knifeworks.com. Good and fast service.
 
Go for the 720 if for no other reason than the Axis lock. But you can get it in G-10 as well, I think it's the 722 and that's the one I would go with having owned both. The Bowie blade is nice as an EDC as well.

I think you could also do well by looking at the TSEK but it seems like you want to keep the size down.

If you're looking at a Benchmade start with an Axis lock and see what everyone likes so much ;)

Definitely don't go by list price when looking, online dealers sell at around 30% off of list.
 
May I make an observation in defense of Spyderco? When you compare an Endura to a BenchMade 720 Pardue, you are comparing $48.99* knife in the Endura to a $119.99* knife in the 720. Perhaps a better comparison might be with the Spyderco Military at $104.99*, Chinook at $111.99*, or Lum Chinese at $117.99*. These would seem to be fairer comparisons as they compete in the same price range.

* Prices at http://www.1sks.com/
 
If those are your choices and I assume they are imposed choices due to poor stock carried at some store in Toronto, I would go with the benchmade 720, I've handled one and its great its just not been on my list to purchase, i have an 806D2,710HS,940,735 and a 180 and love them all.
 
When I think of SpyderCo I think of a user knife. I'm not worried about it if it breaks...much like a Cold Steel knife. I must say that my SpyderCo Rescue is about 10yrs old and I've beaten the crap out of it and it is still hangin' in there. They do not make me feel "proud to own", though.

When I think of BenchMade I think of quality without having to take out a mortgage. The BM943 is just about perfect as far as I am concerned. The BM806D2 is also extremely highly recommended and so overbuilt I can't imagine damaging it. I feel the same about the BM710HS. Definitely user friendly and able to take abuse but they also have that, "PROUD TO USE AND OWN", quality.
 
fullerH

I am just going by what I have personally handled in stores. I have never seen the higher end Spydies in real life, only in pictures so I have nothing to compare to BM with in terms of G-10, liners, etc

However, I do know that there is a large price difference but I am saying that even before I ever laid eyes on a BM, I was already hugely diappointed with Spyderco quality for the money as well as from what people rave about on internet about them.

I had a $30-$40 S & W 400 steel Zytel handle blade made by Taylor cutlery like 6 years ago. The fit and finsh were superior to the Delica and Endura. Metal was smooth with no defects, lock fit perfectly and seamlessly. Zytel was perfect. Blade was comboedge and never chipped, lost a tip, or lost a serration. I abused it like crazy on cardboard, plastic, stabbing, slashing to test it. No bladeplay or lock failure. Did I mention that this I got from mail order?

The Spydies on the other hand, I personally CHOSE. I got a Delica and Endura. Had problems so exchanged for two others. More problems. Refunded and will never look at Spydies again. Blade play like crazy on first Endura , with a chipped serration (newspaper), huge blade play, and more. First Delica has badly cut opening hole that was uneven and had sharp edges all over. Lock area not seamless but the bar stuck up to irritate my hand when placing my thumb there to cut things.

Second Endura had short teeth on some of the serrations and a deformed scallop as well as stiff lock. Second Delica suddenly got stiff lock for no apparent reason, had badly ground edge on the PE section which made the blade uneven when looked at from spine angle. The edge as it approached the tip suddenly moves upwards and wide. Also uneven. Plus nicked tip and brown burn mark there. Blade did not fit well with lock either.

Vg-10 steel too and after a few cuts on paper, cardboard the serrations looked nicked? I know Vg-10 is supposed to be good but maybe the stories about easy chipping are true?

Maybe it's just the store I got them at but if that is indicative of Sypderco quality I am unimpressed.
 
Good god! With all of those problems it sounds like you received some Spyderco knock-offs made of 420 steel rather that the real deal. I have never run into a line of lemons like that. Of the 20+ Spydercos I have I have only had a major problem with one, (replaced by Spyderco) and a minor problem with one other (an abused beater with a slight blemish to a grind line). I wonder if that store is buying seconds to sell? :D

As for the benchmades I have a 550 and 555 both PE that I think would make a good EDC. My only quibble here is that the grippy texture makes it a bit more of a chore to get out of the pocket.

I have a couple of the 940 series (940 & 942) and these are nice. Just depends on the blade style you like.

However of the choices you listed it would be the 720. This would give you the most knife with the most features for the money. If you like G-10 handles go with the 721. If you can only get one for a while the 720/721 will fill your EDC bill nicely.
 
Curious:

I love my benchmade 814 Mini AFCK, and it has performed excellently.

Shop around for some better prices though.
Check out Knifeworks.com: Benchmade Model 814, Mini AFCK, Plain Edge,Price $62.99 ($US), or about $91.07 ($CAN).

TT2Toes
 
Curious 2003:

1. I second what kevtan said - check some prices at internet dealers, way cheaper than the MSRP numbers you seem to have.

2. BM720 is a great stout knife with an ergonomic handle and a useful blade shape. AXIS lock is one of the best - you will see.

3. Do not rule out the BM 940 series - they are very light, cut amazingly well because of the thin blade profile, and carry well.
 
I still like my plain old black handled plain edge mini griptilian better than any BM Ive laid my paws on.
 
i never said broken. it didn't break off. i said chipped. and it wasn't chipped when i got it
maybe weakened? i dunno

all i know is i cut a bunch of magazines up and newspapers and it chipped slightly on the side of one tooth

my other spydie after cutting the same stuff looked notched. others have said vg-10 has this happen alot too. maybe this batch was not heat treated properly? i have no clue.

something happened. why are you rolling your eyes?
 
The only way I could possibly see the edge chipping is if you cut a staple, or something else real hard. I have used my Camillus EDC to cut steel without needing anything more than a sharpening. This makes it real hard for me to believe that an edge could chip on a piece of paper. Not saying you are lying or anything, but if it really did chip on just a newpaper then that is a major problem. Maybe you should have contacted Spyederco about it, from what I have heard they have excellent customer service.
 
i returned it to the store i bought it at. no need to contact spyderco. for some reason at the store, all their spydies seem defective in some way ot another

i also noticed that none of them come with what i heard is supposed to come with new spydies...the warrenty card.

maybe they buy defective ones? i have no clue. but it wasn't like that when i got it, i checked it over. and it became like that after i used it to saw a rolled up mag and cut a ton of newspapers

when i returned it the guy wasn't surprised at the chip. i have no clue. like i said, i tried another one after that and after minimal cutting on the same materials again the serrated teeth looked heavily used. very notched up but no chipping. i have a crappy folder with 440 steel that had serrations that went through more and kept a better shape.

maybe it was that batch? i have no clue
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top