I admit that I am a Benchmade guy over Spyderco

blade4sell

blade4sell

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Dec 11, 2012
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I think it really varies from person to person. I've heard so many go review on Spyderco. After getting my first Spyderco Manix 2 XL today, I was disappointed. Everything about it feels awkward? Somewhat uncomfortable....guess maybe it's just me. I mean, it looks nice, feels good but somehow I am unable to open blade smoothly. The ball lock so stiff....cannot close normally.

IDK....I think maybe it's every knife must be compatible with user. Or just my hands....
 
I think your last comment is just about right. I have several Spyderco and several Benchmade and some fit me way better than others. As an example, the Manix 2 doesn't fit me as well as a Delica or Endura does. The Benchmade Mini Grip feels better than a regular full size Grip. As far as the brands go, I don't like one more than the other. I like certain models better than others though. For my hands Spyderco makes more compatible knives for me.
It's nice that companies generally make such a wide variety. I can usually find a model that fits me from whatever reputable company I look at. Being left handed puts me in an even different category to please. :)
 
I think I am a Benchmade fan over Spyderco too, but I have several Spydercos that I like. There are also a lot of Spyderco models on my wish list, more than there are Benchmades. I don't feel that we have to choose one brand over the other, we can have whatever knives we like from whatever brands we like.
 
You certainly cannot go wrong preferring one over the other. Both put out good stuff. If you prefer Benchmade ALOT more, well then consider yourself lucky, at least you get to buy less knives lol.
 
I'm with you. I have tried a lot of Spyderco knives and just wasn't happy with most of them. The blade shape with the hump makes many of them feel big in the pocket compared to similar blade length Benchmades. Also, they're kind of ugly. At the same time, I found their build quality always seemed better than what I'd get with Benchmade (e.g. a $100 Spyderco seemed to have higher build quality than a $100 Benchmade would).

I love my 707, 940, 710, 950, etc., and the axis lock makes me happy.

However, I carried a fugly wonder of a knife all day today, the Spyderco Brad Southard and while I still think it's not the prettiest thing (brown? why brown? goofy hole on a flipper, really?) I have to admit something:

The Southard is a hell of a knife. It's a great design, and while I'd never have bought one just due to my aversion to its appearance, I can admit when I'm wrong. The damn thing isn't inexpensive, but I find myself feeling the same way about it that I did with my $100 Spyderco example--it feels like a much more expensive knife than it is.

I'm not a Spyderco convert, but I have to give the company credit. They provide a lot of bang for the buck, they are by all accounts great folks to work with, and the fugly duckling Southard is really pretty great.
 
I feel the same way. I know it is purely psychological, but spyderco knives always feel delicate to me. I know this to be completely untrue and I have never had a negative experience with one, but soon as I pick one up I feel like I'm definitely holding a finesse tool rather than a workhorse. Too many people who know more about knives than I do disagree for me to have any faith whatsoever in that feeling, but I tend to look past them when I'm shopping because of it.
 
I am with you on this one, I have owned a few different Spyderco knives and they never really took, I ended up selling them or trading them off. Not saying they aren't good quality knives I just personally don't like them. Aside from the Brad Southard I will probably never own another one. I actually have had a question on my mind for some time. I've heard a lot of people complain about the BM Griptillian scales which yea they aren't great but to me compared to say the scales on the Delica they are great. Those scales on the Delica are just ridiculous. Just my opinion yall
 
Maybe it does need time to getting used to. It has been a few hours since I put down my new manix 2 XL. After posting this thread, I went back to grap the manix then at first try, I flick it open and close effortlessly...felt great, After that, I couldn't repeat it again.... I'll try later...I think we need to get used to new knifes...practice..
 
But my BM 580 Barrage & 527 Ultra felt awesome the first time holding it...no need practice time...hold it, snap it open. With the Spyderco I need to work the thumb or flick the middle finger...kinda like drawing a circle with the thumb. Great quality I admit the Spyderco shows...the ball lock is way too stiff...

AXIS lock much sweet and easy to use..
 
estate4life said:
I am unable to open blade smoothly. The ball lock so stiff....cannot close normally.
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I do not own Manix XL, but have regular M2. No problem to open the blade, but always trouble to close. This is my least favorite lock out of all, which Spyderco use. But again, if type of the lock is not most important for you in the knife, you can try some other spydies. There are quite a few nice midlocks, liner-locks, compression locks, frame locks. But again somebody loves Ford and somebody loves Chevy.
 
I hear you. I just got a manix2 xl too and wrote some very nice words about it. I got it specifically because it had a stiff lock and that's what I wanted for a duty knife. Because it was big. Broad. etc..... In the role I got it for it's perfect. But I wouldn't carry it for a edc knife. It's just not elegant enough for that. My edc is a mini Onslaught, which I think is the perfect casual edc knife. I really love this knife in that role.
 
I would suggest trying a Gayle Bradley or a PM2. They are some of the most popular spydies for a reason. You already know how to open and close a liner lock effortlessly I'm sure, and once you get to know the compression lock, it will out shine the axis lock, in its own way, that is. I do love the axis lock, but its really hard to put down a comp lock some times, for me anyways. Good luck on your journey, and don't give up just yet.
Elliot
 
I have the regular Manix2 and I can close it easily using a finger on each side with the butt of the knife resting in my palm. It is more awkard than an Axis lock. I wouldn't buy the XL because my hand isn't big enough to cradle it in my palm like the regular Manix2.
I love Spyderco knives though. A long time ago I loved Benchmade knives. The ball lock isn't my favorite. I prefer the compression lock. Spyderco also makes reliable liner locks.
 
Axisjoe said:
I actually have had a question on my mind for some time. I've heard a lot of people complain about the BM Griptillian scales which yea they aren't great but to me compared to say the scales on the Delica they are great. Those scales on the Delica are just ridiculous. Just my opinion yall
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Just goes to show we're all different. My opinion on the scales of the Endura and Delica is that they're fantastic: hardy, durable, grippy, narrow, and light; just what I want in a day-to-day knife. The scales on the Griptilian series, on the other hand: flimsy, overly chunky, so-so traction, and hollow-feeling. Having said that, I actually am a big fan of the Griptilian series and I've owned several over the years (my wife took my last one and carries it with her everywhere). They're all wonderful knives that offer a good value!

I align myself with Spyderco more because I can't get enough of their wild designs. So many utterly bizarre shapes that end up working beautifully far more often than not. Spyderco is a risk-taker and they're endlessly innovating, trying numerous lock types, handle and blade shapes, and exotic blade steels as soon as they're available. Benchmade makes many of my favorite knives of all time (806, 710, 940/43) and the AXIS lock is a joy to use, but I find an enormous disconnect between them and their customer base: I love the level of community participation that Kershaw, Spyderco and a few other big manufacturers exhibit. Benchmade has always felt somewhat unreachable. I like 'em, but it always feels like they don't need me as a customer, if that makes any sense.

I think what's important is that whether or not we like most, or all, of a given companies offerings, we stay impartial toward one another and our individual tastes. We're lucky to have so many companies making so many different types of knives. I may not like all of Benchmade's knives (or Spyderco's, for that matter), but I'd be heartbroken if either of them closed up shop or significantly narrowed their lineups. Ultimately, it's undeniable that both companies offer extremely high quality knives, regardless of whether or not we like them, and that's what's important.
 
"I admit that I am a Benchmade guy over Spyderco"

You say this like it's a bad thing. Why is that? Just curious.

Other than being a massive fan of Chris Reeve knifes, I don't think I'd really consider myself to have strong allegiance to any other company. I do own a fair amount of Spyderco knives, I think about 15 or so. However, at the same time, there are a lot of Spyderco knives that just don't do it for me, even some of the more "mainstream" ones. The Manix for instance just doesn't really excite me, nor does the Tenacious, which a lot of people rave about.

At the same time, I also think that there are some great Benchmade knives. I like my Aphid, Mini Griptilian, and I'm looking to pick up a Shoki. The Emissary is also an interesting looking knife, although IMO it seems overpriced.
 
Nafunu said:
"I admit that I am a Benchmade guy over Spyderco"

You say this like it's a bad thing. Why is that? Just curious.

Other than being a massive fan of Chris Reeve knifes, I don't think I'd really consider myself to have strong allegiance to any other company. I do own a fair amount of Spyderco knives, I think about 15 or so. However, at the same time, there are a lot of Spyderco knives that just don't do it for me, even some of the more "mainstream" ones. The Manix for instance just doesn't really excite me, nor does the Tenacious, which a lot of people rave about.

At the same time, I also think that there are some great Benchmade knives. I like my Aphid, Mini Griptilian, and I'm looking to pick up a Shoki. The Emissary is also an interesting looking knife, although IMO it seems overpriced.
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Your sentiments are hereby echoed. :)
 
I am fairly new to buying knives, have always carried one, but just recently got the bug to start buying and collecting them. So far I think I am a Benchmade person. I like a lot of Spyderco models on paper, but when I see them and handle them, they just seem kind of big and awkward. I am not a huge fan of the Spydie hole, it makes the blade much larger from edge to spine, and I just prefer thumb studs. I will agree that Spyderco seems to offer a lot of great knives at a good price, but many are made out of the U.S. Not that they aren't made well, but I really prefer U.S. made. I think for me the Axis-Lock is what does it. I just love it, super smooth and easy to manipulate. One thing I think Spyderco does well is make many different models, and offers a lot of cool sprint runs. I really wish I liked them more, they account for such a large part of the affordable knife market.
 
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