Is the Benchmade opening hole wrong?

O

Omega Leather Works

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Jun 13, 2007
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It's no secret that Spyderco came up with, and made famous, the blade opening hole.

Since Spydercos (arguably) main competition, Benchmade also uses an opening hole I got to wondering...

Do you think it's wrong that BM uses, from what I can tell, an identical iconic feature from another company?

If not why?
 
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Spyderco does it better. They use bigger holes with sharp enough edges to increase your traction. Some benchmades have holes with a radius at the edge and your thumb can slip out. IMO the Para2 is the most positive and foolproof opening folder I have that isn't assisted opening.
 
I think it is wrong. Spyderco does it best though. Benchmade is a follower. They say the integral lock is their own by calling it a mono lock
 
I think they should give Sal credit in their catalog, just as Sal gives others credit (when he uses their locking device, etc...) in the back of his catalog. Just my opinion.
I haven't seen a Benchmade catalog in awhile, so I'm not positive that they don't.
 
If Sal didn't want people drilling holes in blades to use them as opening device, he would have protected his idea more strongly. I'm sure he doesn't mind Benchmade using it.
 
Nah, I don't see how it's wrong. It'd be like Apple suing Samsung because they copyrighted a basic geometric shape. It's a fairly simple concept, and, after all, competition is the drive for innovation.

Honestly, I don't think that there's any real advantage to a hole, when you could have a thumb stud. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
 
THE PUNISHER said:
this is making my head hurt.

bm got sal's okay to use the hole.

nuf said.
Click to expand...

The Punisher is right. While the SpyderHole is trademarked, BM and Spyderco reached an agreement that we don't know the specifics of. Sal himself mentioned it some time ago.
 
This is why I think Spyderco should do a Sage with an Axis lock... hehe
 
Sorry to bring up a sore subject. I did do a search.

As for Spyderco doing it better in terms of a sharper edge, are you sure that's a design flow and not just a byproduct of manufacturing? I know that on some of my Spydercos the hole is sharp on one side then smooth on the other. Then on more refined models like the southard the hole appears chamfered, granted it's a flipper so the hole is not the primary means of opening. Still the inconsistencies make the idea suspect to me at least.

Edit~ and I totally agree, Benchmade should be giving Sal credit. Sal is absolutely spotless (as far as I can tell) when it comes to this and it really makes Spyderco look honorable as a company.
 
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I do believe the hole on the Southard is designed to be more of a logo -- albeit a functional one.

I wouldn't say it's "wrong" per se, as others have said I believe BM got Sal's okay; yet, I would prefer if Benchmade did as Spyderco does and gave credit to the inventors when they use their ideas (e.g. Spyderco's credit of "Walker liner-lock, Reeve Integral Lock, etc" in their catalogs). Just shows more class.
 
RevDevil said:
Please explain, I am interested in this concept.
Click to expand...

What I meant was he would have taken/threatened legal action, as Busse does with the "talon hole", if he was more concerned about its unlicensed use. I'm sure Benchmade has it licensed though, as others have said.
 
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