Review: Benchmade Vex

BJE

BJE

Joined
Apr 12, 2006
Messages
3,079
I just picked up a Benchmade Vex today at a local sporting goods store for $42 without tax. I know that people are reluctant to buy the Vex because of the Spyder hole controversy and they say they can get a better knife from Spyderco for the same or less amount of money, I dissagree, but that is just my oppinion. First impression: the knife is very solid and a little heavy, almost as heavy as my G-10 Byrd Cara Cara, it has a very strong feeling lock which opens with a firm snap! The blade is centered and the fit and finish is excellent, the blade coating is very smooth and it has blued steel feeling. The pocket clip is very strong and it has finger grooves in it, it has an ambi. tip-down pocket clip which is coated like the blade. The ergos. are comfortable and the G-10 is nicely done. I really like the design of the knife and would pay twice what I did for it (if I had to). The blade sharpened very easily on my Sharpmaker and the shape of the blade cuts very well. I may add more later, but I am pressed for time right now, and I have not had much time to test it. It will be my new edc (untill I get a knife I like better). Any questions about the knife?
 
I'd like to see a shot of the Cara Cara and Vex side by side, and another comparing the spines of the knife. An in-hand photo of the Vex would be nice too, as well as one showing the thickness of the liner. Thanks.
 
Vivi said:
I'd like to see a shot of the Cara Cara and Vex side by side, and another comparing the spines of the knife. An in-hand photo of the Vex would be nice too, as well as one showing the thickness of the liner. Thanks.
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I don't have a digital camera, but I will try to get some pics off of the internet.
 
If you don't have a camera than don't worry about it. I found the blade thickness measurements on the BM site, only thing I really want to see on the Vex is the liner thickness.
 
The liner is about twice as thick as an Emersons cqc-7's liner is.
 
I forgot to mention that I got a first production run piece, it says 0172/1000 on the blade.
 
The handle looks kind of boxy, how are the ergonomics. How much steel is over the opening hole.

-Cliff
 
BJE said:
Worse, China, but it is still an excellent knife for under $50 that is becoming my favorite (but not quite yet).
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Wow! Benchmade manufacturing in China.
I really didn't think I'd see that...

I don't mind Taiwanese knives, some of them are quite good, and very good values

But I've not yet seen a Chinese-made knife I'd want to own
 
BJE, since you also own the G-10 Cara Cara, I'd like to know how the edge retention compares between the steels. I know the Byrd is listed 3-4 points harder on the Rockwell scale, which would make you think it would hold an edge longer and be easier to sharpen. They will probably be similar enough to not have a noticable difference, though, at least to the average user.

Cliff, if I sent you a new G-10 Cara Cara and we could get some others to chip in for a vex would you be interested in doing a comparison between the two? It would be real interesting considering the controversy around the vex, and as a way of testing similar steels at differing hardness levels. Not to mention how each knife stands up to really heavy use.

Edit to add: Cliff, I know you're probably too busy for this, but I really like your reviews, and I think a lot of people would be interested in the results.
 
I havn't had it very long, but I will use them and see which holds an edge longer, I will post my results when I think I have tested them enough and when I get consistant results.
 
Cliff Stamp said:
The handle looks kind of boxy, how are the ergonomics. How much steel is over the opening hole.

-Cliff
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The ergos are pretty comfortable in sabre grip and they are really comfortable in reverse grip (ice pick grip only turned around I think, correct me if I am wrong). There is one spot on the back of the handle that is uncomfortable in the sabre grip but it isn't bad. The finger grooves in the clip are pretty neat and add some comfort to the pocket clip. I am not sure what you mean by steel over the opening hole, could you explain?
 
FlyingMuskrat said:
If you happen to own or have handled any round hole Spyderco knives I would like a comparison of the holes. thanks
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I have a Native, an Endura, and a Cara Cara (although it has a comet shaped hole) and the hole is very similar, but the Vex hole is a little smoother and slightly rounded (it is not chamfered, just very slightly rounded and it gives plenty of purchase for opening the blade unlike the Pika hole).
 
I actually like the Spyder hole on my Native better than the one on my Vex, but I also like it better than my Endura which is made by spyderco. The differences are very minute and if you felt the Vex hole, you would think it was made by Spyderco.
 
I believe Benchmade will have more knives made in China. It is becoming interesting to keep watching how those who hate Chinese knives react.
 
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