Rift or Commander?

C

canook

Joined
Jul 12, 2009
Messages
490
Yey all,
I'm looking for a new largish folder for the outdoors, mainly hiking, mountain biking and some bushcraft.

I think I've narrowed my choices down to the Benchmade Rift and the Emerson Commander or Mini Commander.

I currently use an Enzo Trapper but I prefer folders to fixed blades as I like having them in my pocket and not on my belt.

I own four other Benchmades and I'm really happy with the quality but I'd like to try an Emerson. If anyone can share thier thoughts or opinions on these knives that would be very helpful.

Thanks.

Oh yeah, I'm not interested in a Milli!
 
Sebenza!!!





:D just kidding.

Aren't all the commanders chisel ground? Between that and the fact it is a liner lock I would pick the other knife. And since the other knife also happens to be my favorite knife of all time and has what I consider the best lock there is on it, my vote is for the RIFT!!!

:D:D

I'm sure either would be a good knife, but the Rift will be a great knife, at least for me and my uses.
 
I would definitely go with the Rift. I have one that I carry in a back jean pocket and use constantly. Great edge geometry and hold that edge very well too. You can't go wrong nor will you be disapointed with the 950.
 
Rift has the better lock and a good general use blade shape. Commander has the Wave and a great handle. Rift is probably a little less expensive. Both have good warantees. I'd have to give it to the Rift overall, and for your needs.
 
Get the Rift, catch my drift :p It's a great all around user.
 
I love emersons and i do like the commander lots...its personal preference and my personal preference is the commander...its ergos are great, the blade is very effective at cutting due to the recurve, can be hard to sharpen, but it really just bites right into what ever your cutting and slices right through it...Both are good knives, but i like the commander...
 
I dont know if the Commander is the right choice for that type of action..... out of the Emersons I would consider the CQC-10.

Have you looked at the new BM Bone Collector? Sounds like a good choice for what you want. Similar to the Rift, but different. ;)
 
If you own four benchmades and find your attention drifting, then try that emerson. its what you are naturally doing it seems.

But i vote for the RIFT, i use it all the time, carry it everyday, everywhere (legally) and i love it. there have been no problems.

I also agree with buffalo hump. If bushcraft i prefer a fixed, if mountain biking i think tools would be better. Hard to say what size square peg fits best in the round hole. :D
 
ron_m80 said:
If you own four benchmades and find your attention drifting, then try that emerson. its what you are naturally doing it seems.

But i vote for the RIFT, i use it all the time, carry it everyday, everywhere (legally) and i love it. there have been no problems.

I also agree with buffalo hump. If bushcraft i prefer a fixed, if mountain biking i think tools would be better. Hard to say what size square peg fits best in the round hole. :D
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I think that's actually good advice (all of it). Be advised, the Commander is a pretty big knife. You might prefer the Mini size. Also, if you can find the semi-tanto Mini CQC 15 (I think KCI currently has them in stock), that might be a better choice than the regular Commander-style blade.
 
Buffalohump said:
Have you looked at the new BM Bone Collector? Sounds like a good choice for what you want. Similar to the Rift, but different. ;)
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I have a Presidio and like the ergos but just want something with a little more reach.

ron_m80 said:
If you own four benchmades and find your attention drifting, then try that emerson. its what you are naturally doing it seems.
Click to expand...
My first choice has been the Rift all along. I'm a huge fan of the Axis lock and have had good expiriences dealing with the Benchmade staff. I would need to be talked into the Emerson as I've never actually held one and don't know much about them. I dig the wave though and don't mind the liner lock. If it was a frame lock I'd be all over it. :D

JNewell said:
Be advised, the Commander is a pretty big knife. You might prefer the Mini size.
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I had been leaning towards the Mini I think. The Rift is about as big as I'd want to go.

Sounds like the Rift is the favorite here. I think I'll hold off on an Emerson till I get back to the States and can hold one.

Thanks everyone.
 
The Rift is a really good, strong folder. It's only possible "fault" (in my opinion) is the same "fault" that the Spyderco Manix 2 has: they're both a little "tall" when closed. However, the grip and blade ergos are excellent, and it is a bull of a knife without feeling like a bull. Good choice. :thumbup:
 
JNewell said:
The Rift is a really good, strong folder. It's only possible "fault" (in my opinion) is the same "fault" that the Spyderco Manix 2 has: they're both a little "tall" when closed. However, the grip and blade ergos are excellent, and it is a bull of a knife without feeling like a bull. Good choice. :thumbup:
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I have seen you say this before (at least I think it was you) and I'm not trying to be argumentative, I am just curious. What other knives in that range are that much more narrow (or less tall unless we are talking about a different dimension) than the Rift? I don't find it to be that wide in the handle area when the knife is closed and every knife I just picked up was roughly the same size or bigger. Mini-grip, 14205, Delica, Kershaw RAM, Kershaw Cyclone, Caly 3, Lahar. The only knife I think that would be more narrow would be my OD1 which I can't find right now.

I guess basically I'm just saying I don't see it as a problem and it seems to be normal in that dimension from other knives close to it's size. Just curious what you are comparing the Rift to when you make that comment. Like I said not trying to start anything just curious. Thanks!

Ryan
 
I should never have started reading this thread. I just pulled the trigger on one of these -

Rift.jpg
 
Never owned an Emerson, but I do have a Rift.

The Rift has ridiculously fast deployment and a ton of cutting edge. the knife is light and thin for it's size imo and carries well.

+1 for Rift
 
My vote is for the rift. I saw a article in a magazine where they tested the lock strength of the rift and the blade completely broke without the lock ever failing. I have been looking for the article ever since and I can't find it.
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
I have seen you say this before (at least I think it was you) and I'm not trying to be argumentative, I am just curious. What other knives in that range are that much more narrow (or less tall unless we are talking about a different dimension) than the Rift? I don't find it to be that wide in the handle area when the knife is closed and every knife I just picked up was roughly the same size or bigger. Mini-grip, 14205, Delica, Kershaw RAM, Kershaw Cyclone, Caly 3, Lahar. The only knife I think that would be more narrow would be my OD1 which I can't find right now.

I guess basically I'm just saying I don't see it as a problem and it seems to be normal in that dimension from other knives close to it's size. Just curious what you are comparing the Rift to when you make that comment. Like I said not trying to start anything just curious. Thanks!

Ryan
Click to expand...

I think we are talking about different dimensions and it's probably my fault. ;) What I mean is the dimension from spine to back of handle when closed, not the width of the handle. I'm very open to suggestions about better words. Maybe "height"? The Manix 2 is the comparable knife I am thinking of here.
 
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