Please help me decide: BM730 or Wegner or Starmate

Greetings from Croatia!

This is my fist post here although I've been reading regularly for several months now. Your forum has quicky become one of my favorite places on the net, and I've learned a lot. Thanks guys!

Of course, I've always loved knives and owned several SAKs, but I simply had to buy my first "quality piece". And I bought Spyderco Dyad Jr. It's a really great knife! Fits perfectly in my small right pocket.

Now, I would like something bigger (3.5" - 4"), heavy-duty workhorse fit for any use imaginable.
I have three candidates and can't decide:

1. BM 730 Ares
2. Spyderco Wegner
3. Spyderco Starmate

They cost around 110$ at bestknives.com, and you can suggest any other in the same price range.

Thanks in advance!

 
Buy the large plain-blade Wegner.

PS...See "Knife Reviews & Testing" Forum for a "review" of this knife.
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Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663

[This message has been edited by glockman99 (edited 10-15-2000).]
 
I vouch for the Starmate. Very light, a bit bigger than the Wegner, beautiful blade shape, great all-around blade for tactical or utility purposes, solid liner-lock, etc. I'm sure the Wegner meets most of these qualifications, but I prefer the Starmate. You really can;t go wrong with either. Don't know much about the BM 730, but there have been numerous posts criticizing that company's poor attention to QC and sharpening of the blade. Good luck with your shopping!

-Flood

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-It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a Grue.
 
T

Tommi

Joined
Jul 1, 1999
Messages
707
Nice to see more Europeans here!

I have only the spydercos you mention...

I'd pick starmate over the other two of your alternatives. I've done this same decision between these tree and I have spyders. One day I'll have them all
smile.gif
. My guess is that wenger is going to have most votes because of steel liner or better ergonomics. I for one am not very comfortable with Wengers banana shaped handles and actually find wenger uncomfortabe in all but short chores(wenger jr is more comfortable but it is smaller than knife you are aquiring). I like starmate because it feels(I don't mean cutting ability) somewhat like a puukko in MY hand - staight hande with no angle(or wery small) between handle and blade. I do belive that wenger and starmate are both strong enough although wengers greater mass feels assuring.

Whichever of these knives you end buying will certainly be a good choice

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"Good tools to sustain life, or at least make life more convenient"
-James Mattis
 
I'd go with the Starmate for every day carry with a more "tactical" slant....The Wegner for more "utility" or hunting purposes..although with either of these you will be getting a rock solid knife that will last you many years.
 
Originally posted by sepp:
Now, I would like something bigger (3.5" - 4"), heavy-duty workhorse fit for any use imaginable.
Click to expand...
Then I'd like to recommend not to choose the Starmate.
You can read my reasoning <a href="http://www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/knives/spc/spct.html">here</a>.

It's fit for some tasks and some like it a lot, but a "workhorse" it isn't. I haven't used either of the others and only handled the Wegner (which has lots of people like it, often for its utility value), so I can't comment on them. But I would recommend you to not hurry and be prepared to consider other candidates as well. If you like Spyderco for example Endura and Goddard.



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Urban Fredriksson www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/
Latest updates:
EKA Nordic W11, Schrade Lake & Walker, Calypso Jr Lightweight

"I've always been fascinated by Scandinavian knives [...] they're simple, in an advanced way". - Bob Loveless
 
I would definitely go for the 730. Full SS liners, colorful enough G-10 scales that it doesn't look as "scary" as black handled knives. And you just can't beat the Axis lock. I have a 710 and 940 and carry them both everywhere I go, and I want a 730, 722, & 705. Axis locks are great. 730 is a nice knife.

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Jason aka medusaoblongata
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"I have often laughed at the weaklings who call themselves kind because they have no claws"

- Zarathustra
 
I have all three, but I think I would go with the BM 730's axis lock for the most strength, but I do like that Wegner a lot too, it really feels good in my hand. I just use the Starmate as a neck knife when I feel the need for one.

Jake
 
Welcome to BladeForums, sepp. Glad you decided to post. Afraid I can't help you too much in your choice. The only knife I have on your list is the Wegner and that's a pretty fine knife. But I'm also very fond of the axis locking mechanism. Probably my favorite.

You never mentioned what you planned to do with your knife. The blades on the knives you picked are all ground differently and you might want to consider how you plan on putting your knife to use.


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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
730 is my pick.Not scary looking.Keeps the sheeple happy ;0

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have a"knife"day
 
Starmate...no need to say what's been said.

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"Anything worth fighting for is worth fighting dirty for."
"First you get the sugar, then you get the power. And then, you get the women."
"Will act for food."
 
Sepp,
Welcome to the Forums
smile.gif

I have shared my impressions on Starmate here and on BM Ares here. I have also Wegner and I like it a lot.
Man, you are really in hard situation and I think the best you could do is to buy them all
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I could advise you a bunch of very decent knives in this price category but I don't want to make your choice even harder
biggrin.gif


Please visit also these threads for more comparisons: http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/001513.html http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum52/HTML/000630.html http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/001513.html http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum32/HTML/002483.html
 
Welcome to the forum's!! I would go with the Wegner. These are great knives and the blade shape lends itself to many different things. The fit and feel of the Wegner is very impressive. What impressed me the most was the heft of the knife. At 6 oz. it is a heavy duty cutter. Only thing I would like to see Spyderco do with this knife is to add a second liner. Even with one this is a heavy duty cutter!
Now as to the other question about OTHER recommendations. Have only one thing to say,
MICROTECH LCC. A custom like knife for a little more than the others mentioned and well worth it! If you are seeking a heavy duty workhorse of a knife, then the LCC fills that order.
Great to "see" you on the forums and hope to see you around!

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Art Sigmon
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
Php. 4:13
 
Any one of the knives you are choosing from would be a great choice, but having owned many Spyderco knives I would go for the Starmate. Just a personal choice over the Wegner because I like CPM 440V.
 
Gotta be the Wegner, plainedge. This is the quintessential do-it-all knife. And it does it all very well. One of the toughest, most ergonomic folders around. Quite a bargain. I do like the axis lock better than liner locks, but the liner on the Wegner and Starmate are top rate so I wouldn't let that bother me. The Starmate is nice, but it isn't as versatile as the Wegner and the Wegner is much more comfortable.

The Wegner is a jack of all trades and master of many.

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Dennis Bible

[This message has been edited by shootist16 (edited 10-15-2000).]
 
Sepp,

You'll see that you're going to get a lot of different responses. All three are great knives and which one you should get depends on your needs.

Read Sergiusz Mitin's reviews. They are always really detailed and you'll be able to see if the knife fits your needs.

BASED ON MY PERSONAL NEEDS/WANTS (not yours): I'd lean towards the 730 Ares just by a hair of the Starmate. I'm tired of black handled knives and the 730 is a standout. Besides, you can't go wrong combining a Elishewitz design and an Axis lock.

I'm also dying of anticipation for Spyderco's new COMPRESSION LOCK knives. If they were out now, I'd buy them over anything else!
 
Sepp,

Welcome. I have only experience with the 730 which I've had now for about 2 months. I was and have been really pleased with this knife. I like the looks, size, lock, blade shape (utility), etc. Good luck.

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Jay
 
Hi Sepp -

Count me as another vote for the Wegner. I find it's rounded contours to be considerably more comfortable than the Starmate's straight lines and corners, and the stainless backspacer makes it much more amenable to light hammering. I also know that Spyderco has softened up their 440V a bit, but my Starmate has had chipping, and lost the tip.

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AKTI Member #A000832

"Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes, the bear eats you."
 
I have a BM 750 and I love it, so you can't go wrong with the 730, the Axis lock is even better. I've had a couple of Starmates and the fit and finish wasn't that good, and the balance seems wrong to me, the handle is extremely light, so it seems blade heavy. Looks cool though, and the 440v steel is great from what I've read. I've haven't tried a large Wegner, but from what I've read, it is a great knife. Hope this helps.

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A knife is by default a tool, it's only a weapon when a human chooses to make it so.

 
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