Manufacturer Reputation

M

Midwest Ninja

Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Messages
906
I've been browsing through the various models foralmost every major knife maker out there (save customs, since i can't afford one right now). The thing that bothers me is one manufacterer *cough*Benchmade*cough* can charge literally twice the price for LESS steel compared to, say, Ka-Bar, CRKT, et cetera. I was looking at a new EDC, with the CRKT M-16 or M-21 in mind. I had heard a lot of good things about Benchmade, but their prices made me stagger- And products from both companies that would serve my needs were using AUS-8 most of the time. I could understand a moderate premuim for a better heat treat, superior handle materials, ect...but STILL. What gives Benchmade, Spyderco, ect such a rep when they don't appear to have any measurable advantage.
 
Really, benchmade's prices aren't that outrageous compared to some other companies out there, say Microtech that sells OTF knives from $200 and up. The CRKT m16 and m21 are good choices, but you do get what you pay for. Have you handled a Benchmade before? Handle one, and your perception might change.
 
SharpOne said:
Really, benchmade's prices aren't that outrageous compared to some other companies out there, say Microtech that sells OTF knives from $200 and up. The CRKT m16 and m21 are good choices, but you do get what you pay for. Have you handled a Benchmade before? Handle one, and your perception might change.
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Well said.

I own a CRKT m21 and a BM42. It's hard to explain. A lot of little details. You have to handle a 50$ knife and a 100$ knife to understand.
 
I'm not sure what you mean by "LESS steel"... do you mean steel of a lower quality? I don't think I'd agree, in that case. Design, fit and finish are all factors that play into the price. The Axis lock is a beautiful piece of design, and well worth the price IMHO. (I EDC a Mini-Rukus, so I may be prejudiced.)
 
SharpOne said:
Really, benchmade's prices aren't that outrageous compared to some other companies out there, say Microtech that sells OTF knives from $200 and up. The CRKT m16 and m21 are good choices, but you do get what you pay for. Have you handled a Benchmade before? Handle one, and your perception might change.
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that all depends on your personal preference.

I held the Rukus a lil while back and i wasnt that impressed. personally i thought it felt cheap. the Osborne however is a really nice knife and deserves its price tag. it is a small knife, however, compared to the Rukus. if a knife is going to be as large as the Rukus, i would like it to have some heft to it. the Osborne is the perfect weight for a knife of its build.

like i said, its all personal preferance. I wouldn't pay for alot of BM's knives.

as for my opinions on Spyderco? i hate the look on 99% of their knives, and am not impressed by anything they make, except the Salt series. the abuse that those can take in the water is amazing.

just my opinions. i edc a S30V Kershaw Blur, and its a nice knife. check out Kershaw, Midwest Ninja. they are affordable and are coming out with more and more knives that are easily on par with BM and Spyderco. (In my opnion better :D ).

just plat around with various knives and see what you like for what you can afford and what you need it for
 
Kershaw and Benchmade were my two top choices when I was choosing my first knife. I went with the Benchmade because I had a medium budget and the Osborne I handled was very nice. But the Kershaw Blur is a very nice knife as well.
 
I have handled a couple BM's-one was a small automatic (I mean SMALL- no more than 2 1/4 inches of blade), as well as the balisong...and THAT is a product worth the money. I spent literally a half hour just looking at it.

As for Kershaw, i like the size and design of their products, but they use a lot of 440A. That makes me a bit leery. Opinions?
 
Midwest Ninja said:
I have handled a couple BM's-one was a small automatic (I mean SMALL- no more than 2 1/4 inches of blade), as well as the balisong...and THAT is a product worth the money. I spent literally a half hour just looking at it.

As for Kershaw, i like the size and design of their products, but they use a lot of 440A. That makes me a bit leery. Opinions?
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Kershaw is making the transition over to S30V and 13c26. so dont be leery about it. the change is coming. lol. it will be throughout this year that the change is made.
 
Midwest Ninja said:
I've been browsing through the various models foralmost every major knife maker out there (save customs, since i can't afford one right now). The thing that bothers me is one manufacterer *cough*Benchmade*cough* can charge literally twice the price for LESS steel compared to, say, Ka-Bar, CRKT, et cetera. I was looking at a new EDC, with the CRKT M-16 or M-21 in mind. I had heard a lot of good things about Benchmade, but their prices made me stagger- And products from both companies that would serve my needs were using AUS-8 most of the time. I could understand a moderate premuim for a better heat treat, superior handle materials, ect...but STILL. What gives Benchmade, Spyderco, ect such a rep when they don't appear to have any measurable advantage.
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The cost of materials is a small fraction of the cost of a knife. The labor involved in the design and manufacture of a knife cost far more than the mere materials. The better ergonomics of a high end knife make the knife more expensive, because it takes time to work out those factors and engineering time is expensive. The better fit and finish of a more expensive knife also make it a more expensive knife. The more precise the fit, the more the knife costs, because precision parts take more time to make and assemble than loose fitting parts.

I find you well named.
 
I am pretty impressed with Kershaw's knives, though I currently don't own any. Benchmade makes nice knives, but there's only a few models that appeal to me. Spyderco... quite frankly I didn't like the designs but after getting one, I'm sold on the solid ergos and premium blade steels. There isn't a day when you won't find me with one of my trusty Spydies. Tough, priced well, and with incredible designs.
 
The thing that bothers me is one manufacterer *cough*Benchmade*cough* can charge literally twice the price for LESS steel compared to, say, Ka-Bar, CRKT, et cetera.
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Specifically, which models were you comparing?
Which Ka-bar were you comparing to which Benchmade?
Which CRKT were you comparing to which Benchmade?


What gives Benchmade, Spyderco, ect such a rep when they don't appear to have any measurable advantage.
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The key term here seems to be MEASURABLE ADVANTAGE.
I don't think that anyone can make a blanket statement saying that "Spyderco, or Benchmade, always performs better than brand XYZ".
But I can say that Spyderco has certain models that perform much better than the average knife in certain categories.
For example:

When it comes to unlined plastic/nylon-handled single-blade locking folders...Spyderco simply cannot be beat.

And when it comes to dual-lined, G-10 scaled, lockback folders...does Spyderco have ANY competition???


And Benchmade has some superior models as well...
I think that the Griptilian is one of the best production knives ever.
The same goes for the 710.


This does not mean that other companies cannot compete at all...they just need to be better in other categories.
For example:

The humble Buck 110.
When it comes to the traditional pouch carried, American made, wood and brass, lockback hunter, that is affordable to the average Joe...who can compete with the legendary Buck 110???

And NOBODY makes a better multi-functional slip-joint than Victorinox!

CRKT also has some excellent products...
Kit Carson's M16, M18, and M21 lines are all very nice...if you like liner-locks (which I don't).
But if I was looking for a strong inexpensive liner-lock, I would definitely consider them.

As someone once said:

Use what you like.
Like what you use.
 
You get what you pay for.
Benchmades, CRKT, kershaw, Spyderco are all nice knives. If you don't find them to be worth the price then dont buy them.
I appreciate the finer quality of the benchmade knives compared to the other lower priced offerings, so I carry a benchmade.
 
Spyderco has always been leading the pack with trying new steel. Benchmade, well are pretty nice if you ever put your hands on one.

CRKT, while looks good, and are decent users, don't compare.
 
offsetlover said:
I held the Rukus a lil while back and i wasnt that impressed. personally i thought it felt cheap. the Osborne however is a really nice knife and deserves its price tag. it is a small knife, however, compared to the Rukus. if a knife is going to be as large as the Rukus, i would like it to have some heft to it. the Osborne is the perfect weight for a knife of its build.
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I can understand you not liking the ergonomics of the Rukus as everyone's hand is different, but I used a Rukus for a week and I would hardly say a nearly 8 oz. has no heft to it. Granted, the handle isn't as wide from front to back as my Manix (I really like the ergos on the Manix), but the Rukus is actually substantially thicker in the handle, as well as substantially longer and heavier than my Manix, which itself is a knife the gets put into the "too big and heavy for EDC" category.

Mike
 
gunmike1 said:
I can understand you not liking the ergonomics of the Rukus as everyone's hand is different, but I used a Rukus for a week and I would hardly say a nearly 8 oz. has no heft to it. Granted, the handle isn't as wide from front to back as my Manix (I really like the ergos on the Manix), but the Rukus is actually substantially thicker in the handle, as well as substantially longer and heavier than my Manix, which itself is a knife the gets put into the "too big and heavy for EDC" category.

Mike
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i have larger than normal hands and alot of knives, be it fixed blades or large folders, seem to be really light to me. yeah, 8oz isn't light by knife standards. wont disagree. the handle material didn't help matters to me. just personal preferance for all of us.
 
Well when it comes to "Manufacturer Reputation" you just can't overlook SPYDERCO.. The Great Spyder Factory is the best production knife company that I have personally ever dealt with.

I also have some Benchmade blades and I have dealt with them. They are good and friendly people but it is hard to make contact with them sometimes. And believe it or not there is an old mainline knife company that I can also say nothing but good about and that is BUCK knife CO. All 3 of them offer knives made here in the USA even though all 3 of them also have a line of inexpensive foreign made knives as well.

But Spyderco is the epitome of American entreprenuerism :cool:
 
offsetlover said:
i have larger than normal hands and alot of knives, be it fixed blades or large folders, seem to be really light to me. yeah, 8oz isn't light by knife standards. wont disagree. the handle material didn't help matters to me. just personal preferance for all of us.
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I can understand that, as my mitts are on the large end and I don't even notice the Manix or Rukus in my pocket. I was just wondering what knives you have used that you consider having heft to them when a nearly 8 oz. knife seems light! I haven't seen a Kershaw yet that comes up to that range, though the Cyclone I have used is in the 6.5 oz. range.

Mike
 
And don't forget that where the knives are actually manufactured can make a big difference in price as well... all Benchmade knives (excluding their Red Class) are made here in the United States just like some of the Spyderco line.
 
Sadly, I've more problems with some of my American made knives than the ones I've had that were made in Japan or Switzerland.:(
 
gunmike1 said:
I can understand that, as my mitts are on the large end and I don't even notice the Manix or Rukus in my pocket. I was just wondering what knives you have used that you consider having heft to them when a nearly 8 oz. knife seems light! I haven't seen a Kershaw yet that comes up to that range, though the Cyclone I have used is in the 6.5 oz. range.

Mike
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The Kershw Offset is about 8.5 oz or so. it takes a bowie knife or a large, heavy lockback folder for me to notice most of the time. in short, no modern production folders that I know of.

kind of a weird feeling when a friend holds the Rukus or Offset and says, "thats a large heavy knife" then you hold it and think otherwise.
 
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