Manufacturer Reputation

Okay...I'll clear things up as best i can here.
1. When I said LESS steel, i meant a smaller quantity, as far as blade size, ect. not quality.
2. I did a little digging on Kershaw, and i found some stuff that isn't 440A that was very impressive. I think i've picked my next EDC.
3. I HATE lockbacks. Its a personal pet peeve. Linerlock is my fav.
4. Spyderco may be quality, but i can't get past the looks. Nasty.
 
I HATE lockbacks. Its a personal pet peeve. Linerlock is my fav.
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To each his own, but a lockback will never let you down.
Linerlocks...you just can't trust them.


Spyderco may be quality, but i can't get past the looks. Nasty.
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What???
How can you find this to be nasty?

knives068.jpg


Or this?

knives027.jpg
 
There are a lot of things to consider when getting a knife, depending on what you are using it for. I own several Benchmade, Spyderco, and Kershaw knives, and I like them all. For the price, consider a Benchmade Mini-Griptillian. I got mine for $56, though I've seen it sell for as high as $85, and it is a GREAT knife, with an Axis lock and 154CM steel. I also own a Kershaw Leek, which for about $45 is a decent knife. I'd rather spend a little more upfront, and have a quality knife that will last much longer than something slightly cheaper. On the other hand, it's easy to spend upwards of $150, and above that, what you're paying for is mostly steel type and handle componets, such as my Benchmade Osborne 960-with G-10 inlay, titanium spine, D2 steel, etc. But above all, get what appeals to you. Knives are a lot like girls, some like blones, others like brunettes. I like them all!
 
carrot said:
Ahh, saying a Spydie is ugly is almost a compliment!
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Not all are that bad, and, remember, Spyderco knives are working knives. Not-sit-on-your-shelf-designed-to-look-good knives. But yeah, some aren't that great looking. :barf:
 
The only thumb stud I like are the ones on the Sebenzas, and only the classic model due to the cutout. You can't beat the spydie hole for ease of opening.
 
If you shop around on the internet you will be suprised at how cheap you can find a benchmade. I have some benchmades I love, like the griptilian, or sequel. There are other benchmades I hate and I think feel cheap. It just depends on your preference.

If you like the linerlock then id suggest the new dejavu or mini dejavu. S30V, liner lock and its just beautiful (well in my opinion). I got mine for about $100.
Another option is the discontinued 690. They can still be found on ebay sometimes but are a little more expensive.

bestmemory_1955_3552555
 
To me, the best reputations seem to be Spyderco, and Kershaw. They are also producing better and better knives all the time. No stagnation there, instead a dynamic and always improving line up.. No surprise with Sal Glessar at Spyderco, and Thomas W. at Kershaw. Both knife guys first, salesmen second.

Honor and integrity are not just words with either of these men. Joe
 
I don't have much experience with Kershaw, but I don't know how you could possibly consider a Spyderco knife to cost more than what it's worth. Spyderco uses superior materials, has AMAZING customer service (Sal, the owner of Spyderco, will address what few problems people have had with their knives personally and individually), top of the line fit and finish, and very affordable. The designs also grow on you. I used to think that their knives were ugly as sin, but most of the knives appeal to me aesthetically more than Benchmades do anymore.

Spyderco:
-Superior Materials
-Superior Customer Service
-Best Price among competing manufacturers
-Ergonomic
-Amazing F&F

Infact, Spyderco's Delica and Endura are CHEAPER than much of Columbia River's offerings, yet are generally far better knives. There actually does seem to be an easily measurable advantage.
 
My Dad has let me carry, use and admire all his many knives since I was small. Benchmade, Spyderco, Kershaw just about any brand under the sun.

This brand was one I'd never handled before so when he gave me one to for my 20th B/D recently I was very impressed. It's a Blade-Tech RIJBAK, Plain Edge, Black G-10 with cutouts in the overlays, S30V blade, Titanium handles, frame lock,Deep carry ambidextrous pocket clip. Lanyard hole. Made in USA.
Its just so perfect, the lockup, the fit and finish, heavy spear point blade with a very keen edge. Well worth its 170 dollar price IMO.
 
looks and price are subjective, but when it comes to customer service quality and overall build, both Spyderco and Benchmade are two of the best if not best in the business. With both lines you can find knives that might or might not be built with materials and styles you like, but I can promise you, if you ever have a quality issue both companies will bend over backwards to make you happy. That is priceless to me as a consumer.
 
Spyderco makes great working knives - some are pretty.
Benchmade makes fantastic, beautiful blades. Many are great workers.

The engineering behind both are impeccable.

I've owned several from each company - I wish the Spyderco's had the axis lock and I wish some of the axis lock benchmades had some of my favorite Spyderco blade shapes like the Calypso Jr.

Honestly, I've been carrying some Kershaws lately that have become my standard EDCs: The Cyclone, JYDII with 13c26 and the S30V/G10 Leek. I wasn't a fan of the "Kershaw of the past" but that is all changing.

They do have a line of more inexpensive knives, not unlike BM and Spyderco/Byrd, but I think you'll be impressed if you examine some of the new offerings closely.

I've owned a couple of CRKT. To say I wasn't impressed would be an understatement though I suppose they do compete with the "budget" lines of SP/Byrd, KAI and BM. All in all, I would spend $20 on a Byrd before I bought another folding CRKT.
 
physh said:
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.
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All of these makers have strengths and weaknesses. I have a couple CRKT M-16s that I've carried for years with no problems, but I also have a KISS that I keep in my truck that had the liner snap off. I used to have a Spyderco cricket that I loved to take climbing because it could cut rope like butter. I gave it to a friend and still miss it. The fit and finish or Spyderco and high end Benchmades IMHO blows away CRKT and Kershaw.
 
allenC said:
To each his own, but a lockback will never let you down.
Linerlocks...you just can't trust them.



What???
How can you find this to be nasty?

knives068.jpg
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Wow Allen, admirers of the Toad are few and far between. :thumbup:
 
From a perspective of someone with a picky budget, I'd have to say that Kershaw appeals to me the most. And I have to agree with offsetlover and say that I can stand the vast majority Spyderco's designs. This bothers me greatly because I want to like them but about the only model that appeals to me is the Police as it's slender and as about as close as Spyderco gets to symmetry. I will admit though that browsing through countless pages of catalogs and webpages in search of the perfect knife, Spyderco does seem to be the ultimate working-man's knife.

I've owned a CRKT M16-13M model and it was the best EDC I've carried to date just because I didn't have to worry about beating up a $50 knife compared to my Benchmade auto-stryker at $180. I have a Kershaw ZDP-189 Leek coming in the mail though that I'm excited as all get-out to carry. I think that will be great as it's so thin and light. I was debating between that or the S30V Random Leek that they offer (which I might buy anyways later on).

My next purchase though will probably be the knife that first caught my eye and got me into knives which was BM's Osborne 940. That is a beautiful knife that I've always wanted. But for now, with what I have until I want to sacrifice some more Washingtons on my addictions... knives and flashlights... wew...

Until then... my Leatherman Charge TTi is AMAZING and if I had to carry one thing it would probably fit the bill.
 
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