Is Spyderco still "better value" than Benchmade?

Spyderco; sent them an early endura w molded pocket clip that broke off.it was sent back they wouldnt touch it or replace; sent a crooked river to Benchmade for blue backspacer and pivot collar; waited for call to pay for the work; knife just showed up, blue backspacer blue pivot collar,oiled and touched up edge like a razor blade,all free of charge including return shipping.I have 6 spydercos and will keep them but that Endura thing sucked.shoulda sent a newer version to replace that one....
 
goldie said:
Spyderco; sent them an early endura w molded pocket clip that broke off.it was sent back they wouldnt touch it or replace; sent a crooked river to Benchmade for blue backspacer and pivot collar; waited for call to pay for the work; knife just showed up, blue backspacer blue pivot collar,oiled and touched up edge like a razor blade,all free of charge including return shipping.I have 6 spydercos and will keep them but that Endura thing sucked.shoulda sent a newer version to replace that one....
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Was it a custom crooked river you sent in? Because I was under the impression that they won't do that for standard production knives but will reconfigure a custom (which I'm thinking of doing with my mini CR so I can give it to my son later and have it be in his favorite color... Red! Lol)
 
It was a regular crooked river not a custom . Maybe i just got lucky; i called first and asked about having it done.they said to send it in.I would call them see if they will do it.i was told it was going to be 25.00+ return shipping it wound up costing nothing.No bill or anything i even left a note w phone number to contact for payment ..
 
goldie said:
It was a regular crooked river not a custom . Maybe i just got lucky; i called first and asked about having it done.they said to send it in.I would call them see if they will do it.i was told it was going to be 25.00+ return shipping it wound up costing nothing.No bill or anything i even left a note w phone number to contact for payment ..
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Interesting. Benchmade seems to do things like that though. I mean, disassembly voids warranty but I've never seen them deny warranty if someone has taken a knife apart. They'll even put it together for you if you can't which is cool.

Just another reason for me to support them lol
 
I removed the grey scales and dyed them blue they didnt seem to have a problem w that ..
 
Can someone explain how spyderco or benchmade price is any worse than any others??

Seems the whole market is in that price range. Other than maybe cold steel, wait....
They still have knives from 80 to 200 $.

It's kinda expensive yet I see alot of other options that are double what spyder or benchm offer.
 
goldie said:
Spyderco; sent them an early endura w molded pocket clip that broke off.it was sent back they wouldnt touch it or replace; sent a crooked river to Benchmade for blue backspacer and pivot collar; waited for call to pay for the work; knife just showed up, blue backspacer blue pivot collar,oiled and touched up edge like a razor blade,all free of charge including return shipping.I have 6 spydercos and will keep them but that Endura thing sucked.shoulda sent a newer version to replace that one....
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With the molded pocket clip, they used to replace it with a scew on clip. They must have stopped that practice. However, the knife you have was released in 1990 and retired in 1998, 22-30yo. One of my girls has one with a broken off clip and a 1/4" off the tip, scratched and beat to hell...still cuts and locks up tight. Got it for $5, best Spyderco deal ever :)

The OP is just another BM lover putting down Spyderco to get attention, kind of sad, but not new. This person even admits it. Usually it's BM that gets skewered.

Both companies make great knives, they are just different. For example, BM has balisongs and Spyderco has Terzuola ;)
 
S Skar

Take a look at the cold steel recon 1. Now compare size and materials.
 
marthinus said:
Interesting this thread popped up. Been looking at the Spyderco Military and the Benchmade Crooked River lately.

Almost a $50 difference on the price made my rethink the Military, one of my favorite models.

Granted I am not concerned about centering, thinness etc as I generally regrind all my knives to my liking and do appropriate tuning.
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Not sure which CR and Millie you are looking at but the G10 S30V Cooked River is only about $16 more than the G10 satin S30V Military, according to BladeHQ.
 
sharp_edge said:
Not sure which CR and Millie you are looking at but the G10 S30V Cooked River is only about $16 more than the G10 satin S30V Military, according to BladeHQ.
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And the Crooked River is tip up...Axis vs Liner Lock. Stronger tip on the CR. I'm carrying mine right now, it's great. I've handled a Millie and I would like one, but it's only tip down. I understand the reasoning, but I still carry my Contego, Crooked River, Native Chief all tip up. I think the Millie should have been given that option long ago, but maybe with the Military 2. If so, I'll snag one!
 
Skar said:
Can someone explain how spyderco or benchmade price is any worse than any others??

Seems the whole market is in that price range. Other than maybe cold steel, wait....
They still have knives from 80 to 200 $.

It's kinda expensive yet I see alot of other options that are double what spyder or benchm offer.
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They're not. I mean you can get a Benchmade Contego for around 200 with M4 steel. Or a Cold Steel AD10 for almost the same, with S35VN, less blade length, and it's more of a pocket hog. And the Contego is US made. Now, don't get me wrong, I have an AD10 (hollow ground) and i got it for 100 bucks. I wouldn't trade it for anything, I love it. Taiwan made and Taiwan makes some damn fine blades (Spyderco Amalgam, Drunken, or how about the Ontario RAT 1, everyones favorite budget beater?).

I understand Spyderco has raised their prices a lot in the past couple years. The Shaman came out at 150 bucks. now its 202. I wish I would have bought one when they first came out but you know what? I paid full current price and it was worth it to me. It's one of my favorites now, and I don't feel ripped off. Same with my Benchmades. My Super Freek is amazing, and I paid about the same price for it. Or my G10 Grip, or my customs. Value is personal, and some people don't feel that Spyderco and Benchmade are a good value. Some do. It's just the way of the world.

However you can get great deals on knives with good materials. I mean, Cold Steel has many offerings for very little money and they are quality knives. Or you can go with the expensive models and have better materials. There is something for everyone out there. Some people just like to complain I guess? I'd love cheaper Spydies and Benchmades too but if I want a particular knife I'll either pay the price or try and find a used one for a deal.
 
rycen said:
S Skar

Take a look at the cold steel recon 1. Now compare size and materials.
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The recon 1 looks like a nice knife a little more blade. I do like the knife over all.
But the price is very similar.

Recon is made in a different location out of U.S.
Also lacks some of the perks that BM and spyder offer in a similar price range.

I believe I would still prefer a ford or Chevy option here over cold steel.
 
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I'm in Canada. Some Benchmades are better value IMO. Maxamet PM2 cost me $345. Super Freek was $280. And I don't know what Spyderco is like but Benchmade will send replacement parts and clips for free.
 
Spyderco's continued price increases have dramatically reduced what was one their value proposition. Benchmade has pretty much always been at higher price points than Spyderco....until Spyderco's latest price escalation. These companies seem to be racing to determine which can reach a higher price point first. Meanwhile, brands such as Civivi have arisen and taken over the good quality/high value market segment. With the current and future US economy in question, it would seem somewhat likely that these mid/higher end US manufacturers may find their market share shrinking as a result of the business strategies noted above as the economy tightens.
 
At the lower end of Benchmade's line, my opinion is that you can get a "nicer" knife from Benchmade for the price. I don't think Benchmade has anything that competes (in price) with the Tenacious line or the Seki knives. At any price, I have higher confidence in Spyderco delivering a product with better QC. I really like both, but if a recommend a Benchmade to a friend I have to recommend it with the QC caveat. I recommend Spyderco without reservation.

I don't really see it as a competition. It's like blondes vs brunettes, either way, its a win.
 
I was thinking about getting a BM 781 Anthem and everything I read said that the people that had bought them said they had issues with how gritty they opened and closed. I like ZT's better than fords. Lol
 
I have serious doubts that either Spyderco or Benchmade look forward to the inevitable price increases. Especially Spyderco. Cost of materials, cost of operating a manufacturing business, cost of living, etc., do not go down, they go up. They are well aware that many will find the higher prices exceeding their price bracket, and perhaps turn away from future purchases. They aren’t in a race to see who can raise their prices as high as possible; that would be ridiculous. Not to mention that Spyderco is constantly looking into and using newer steels, among other things. That all costs money.

Jim
 
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James Y said:
I have serious doubts that either Spyderco or Benchmade look forward to the inevitable price increases. Especially Spyderco. Cost of materials, cost of operating a manufacturing business, cost of living, etc., do not go down, they go up. They are well aware that many will find the higher prices exceeding their price bracket, and perhaps turn away from future purchases. They aren’t in a race to see who can raise their prices as high as possible; that would be ridiculous. Not to mention that Spyderco is constantly looking into and using newer steels, among other things. That all costs money.

Jim
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Good to have an insider's view.
 
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