Spyder Advice for a Benchmade guy

theonew

theonew

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May 16, 2006
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OK I really love Benchmade knives and my two favorites are the 710 and the 530. But primarily due to all the passion people here have for Spyderco and after having read Sal Glesser's gentlemanly and honest post in that festering thread 'Is Spyderco behind now', I want my next purchase to be a Spyderco.

So help me out and fill in the blank, if you like the BM 710 you'll like the Spyderco ________?
If you like the BM 530 you'll like the Spyderco _________?
 
If you like the 710 you will love the Spyderco Military. I prefer the military myself. Big, light, flat grind, no recurve and S30V
 
So help me out and fill in the blank, if you like the BM 710 you'll like the Spyderco Military.
If you like the BM 530 you'll like the Spyderco Delica waved.

The Military and 710 pair up very well. Size and blade shape are very comparable.

The blade on the Delica might be slightly shorter than the 530, but they share the same slim profile for easy carry.
 
Ludwig said:
So help me out and fill in the blank, if you like the BM 710 you'll like the Spyderco Military.
If you like the BM 530 you'll like the Spyderco Delica waved.

The Military and 710 pair up very well. Size and blade shape are very comparable.

The blade on the Delica might be slightly shorter than the 530, but they share the same slim profile for easy carry.
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Agreed that the 710 and Military are interestingly comparable.

But I don't think the 530 and Delica 4 are comparable.
The 530 is pretty unique; I'm not sure if Spyderco has any knife that's really comparable.

The only knife I can think of that's roughly comparable to the 530 today is the A.G. Russell Featherlight. In Spyderco, perhaps the Delica 3 was.
 
rifon2 said:
The only knife I can think of that's roughly comparable to the 530 today is the A.G. Russell Featherlight. In Spyderco, perhaps the Delica 3 was.
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I had an A.G. Russell Featherlight but it just didn't feel right to me. A.G. Russell being a great company let me return it towards an Al Mar Falcon Ultralight Talon. I really like the Al Mar its ridiculously light and has a 3+ inch blade, it just doesn't seem sturdy enough for tasks like removing the plastic packaging from your new electronic device. Whereas the 530 just seems ready to go.
 
If you like the 710 you might also want to check out the Police, which was designed to fit the most blade in the handle, and better fits the slim profile that many people appreciate on the 710.
Note that the G-10 flat ground Police would be ideal here, but that only made it into a small sprint run.

As for the 530, I would suggest the FRN Dragonfly. At 1.2 ounces it's one of the lightest knives out there (if a bit short).
 
theonew said:
I had an A.G. Russell Featherlight but it just didn't feel right to me. A.G. Russell being a great company let me return it towards an Al Mar Falcon Ultralight Talon. I really like the Al Mar its ridiculously light and has a 3+ inch blade, it just doesn't seem sturdy enough for tasks like removing the plastic packaging from your new electronic device. Whereas the 530 just seems ready to go.
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I've always liked the Al Mar Ultralights; I just wish they'd upgrade the blade steel.
 
If you have two favorite knives from Brand X, why you go to Brand Y and try to find a similar tool?

I would scan the online catalog pdf over on spyderco.com and pick one that caught my fancy.

But then again maybe you would only be attracted to the Military and the Delica, they are great knives.

I guess I'm just saying don't be afraid to expand your horizons.
 
i agree with zenheritic browse spyderco.com or other knife sales places and find a spyderco that you like. If you have a 710 and 530 and are pleased with them dont try and find their replacements find a knife style/design that you like from spyderco that benchmade may not offer.

Im a fan of both spyderco and benchmade but I dont look for a similar knife from the two companies ... i just get what i like from either company and almost without fail im not let down by either company.

If i were in your shoes id be looking for something from spyderco that benchmade did not offer like a knife with a blade of zdp-189 or i might try and find one of the best spydercos ever made in the carbon fiber bg-42 military. but that is just me
 
Spyderco's Military model is now available in CPM D2. If your 710 is a D2 model, that will give you a good comparison between the two companies' steel performance.

Also, you might look at the Paramilitary. It's a 3.5" blade instead of 4", but it gives you a chance to check out Spyderco's compression lock.

The Spyderco Native 1 or 3 might be a good comparison to the BM 530. The Native series is a thin, rugged knife with an S30V spearpoint blade. Lotsa Spydie fans like the Natives and they're reasonably priced.
 
theonew said:
OK I really love Benchmade knives and my two favorites are the 710 and the 530. But primarily due to all the passion people here have for Spyderco and after having read Sal Glesser's gentlemanly and honest post in that festering thread 'Is Spyderco behind now', I want my next purchase to be a Spyderco.

So help me out and fill in the blank, if you like the BM 710 you'll like the Spyderco ________?
If you like the BM 530 you'll like the Spyderco _________?
Click to expand...

If you like the 710, you'll love the Military or Endura.
 
I second the Native. Even if it isn't one of your two choices, get one anyway. The price is right and it has a good steel. Some Walmarts have them and they are available on their website with free shipping available.
 
I will say I do really like the design of the Native. I think it may be my first Spyderco.
 
I second the vote for trying the Caly 3.

Using it just seems natural after having one for a while. Great ergonomics.
If you want something fancy and high tech the carbon fiber ZDP-189 version is perfect.
 
I think you should try to find a place to actually hold the designs in your hands. The Manix/Mini Manix was never aesthetically appealing to me, until I held it, now it's one of my all time favorite designs in all price ranges.

When I first was looking at knives, a lot of the Benchmade models appealed to me over others, mainly because I could only see their pictures on the internet. The real difference that I believe Spyderco brings to the table (aside from quality, price point and company ethos) is the ergos and practical design. After playing with SPydies, most of the aesthetic appeal that BM gave me, pretty much disappeared when I put them in my hand. I'm do like BM's quality and am absolutely NOT bashing them, but I really only like one of their designs, the 615. The 615 is also one of my favorite all time designs in the price range.
 
theonew said:
I will say I do really like the design of the Native. I think it may be my first Spyderco.
Click to expand...

The Native is a great knife, and I would not attempt to dissuade you from getting one.

But be aware that it's a bit thick; IIRC thicker than the Delica.
 
ignoramus said:
When I first was looking at knives, a lot of the Benchmade models appealed to me over others, mainly because I could only see their pictures on the internet. The real difference that I believe Spyderco brings to the table (aside from quality, price point and company ethos) is the ergos and practical design. After playing with SPydies, most of the aesthetic appeal that BM gave me, pretty much disappeared when I put them in my hand. I'm do like BM's quality and am absolutely NOT bashing them, but I really only like one of their designs, the 615. The 615 is also one of my favorite all time designs in the price range.
Click to expand...

That's a really good point. I think I may need to visit a local retailer and hold some Spydies in my hand. Now I'm getting really excited to start exploring the world of Spydies.
 
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