Spyderco OR Benchmade?!

i wouldnt be able to decide on which brand i like more due to the fact i enjoy knives from both companies... i can say however that benchmade has provided me with far superior customer service than spyderco has. ymmv :)
 
I like both brands, as well as Kershaw, and I will continue to buy from all of them.

I was a Benchmade fan before I was a Spyderco fan, and owned more of them until recently. I have bought more Spyderco's this past year so the numbers are becoming more equal. Right now there are more Spydercos on my wish list than there are Benchmades, and there are a few Kershaws on there too.
 
Most my production knives used to be Benchmade and Kershaw/ZT. When the Native III came out (2003?) it started to shift towards Spyderco. In recent years my Spyderco want list has been so long it hasn't left much room on my list for many other production knives, much less the actual room in my safe or knife budget. The FFG blades, the Sprints, the Mule Teams, the collaborations, the excellent customer service, the company philosophy, Sal's interaction with the community, etc. has for the most part kept me too happy to stray elsewhere. There is a lot I like about Benchmade, most of all the Axis lock, and I have nothing bad to say about their products. Spyderco simply has been producing more knives that appeal to me.
 
I have similar quantities of Kershaw, Benchmade and Spyderco but leaning more towards Spyderco now as there are a few more designs that I'm interested in currently.
 
I'm currently looking for a hard use folder. In the process I've view a bunch of videos, and looked through broken knievs threads to see what is listed and how the broke. I've also look through various govenrment test, manufacture test, etc.

I've see far more Spydies broken than Benchmades. A few the manufacture fessed up to manufacturing issues, the Bushcrafter is an example. They redesigned it to try to keep them from breaking. I had a few Spydies on my list until I did the research, now not so much. Too bad, I was just getting over their reputation from when they first came out. Such is life.

If you're never going to use the blade hard, or do more then open packages, mail, or other normal knife things then either would be great. I still might pick up a spyder to fill that roll, but I'll want a back up on or need by when I do.

So far only two folding blades have made it though the test of things I might need to do with a blade, and to be perfectly honest about it Benchmade isn't one of them either. :) Folders are just never going to hold up to the things some need to do with blades and that's why we still have fixed blades for many task.

If a spyder craws on market that does 90% of what I want my knives to do I will be all over it like a can of Raid. I'm warming up the the impratical blade designs...A little.
 
I love the Spydiehole, and much prefer it to a thumbstud. Like an earlier poster, I like Spyderco's larger blades like the Military and Manix 2XL for large weekend carry folders, and prefer the Benchmade mini Bone Collector for my EDC. Who am I trying to kid, on the weekends, I carry 'em all. :)
 
I was liking the Manix too until I seen how easy the lock failed. Too bad, it's a cool looking knife.
 
I have, carry and use knives from both.
There are differences between them, but I just cant call one better than the other overall.

For a first BM, I would highly recommend an Osbourne 940. Fantastic and well proven EDC knife.
If you would prefer something a little more substantial with assisted opening, the Barrage 581 is awesome.
 
One of the first good pocket knives purchased was a Benchmade 690 limited addition - carbon fiber, cpm 154 blade steel - really nice knife. I then purchase a Caly 3 ZDP189 and haven't looked at another Benchmade since.
 
I love my BM onslaught and the 710 as well, but lately I have been carrying the Spydie Sage 2 and Chokwe.. Now I really like ti framelocks, and I must say, I love Spyderco's wire clip, I have a UKPK in foliage green g10 and s30v (the old one) and the sage 2 and they just carry incredibly comfortably. With the UKPK sometimes I grab a knife before I head for the door because I forget it is there. But if I wear shorts, the Onsalught pulls them down:D... what kind of a question is this.... don't make me choose. but for the next model year, there are certainly more spydies on my wishlist than there are Benchmades...
 
I like the design and ergos on several Spyderco models. Almost bought a couple of Benchmade's but never got enough momentum going. Not a big fan of the Axis lock (or the Spyderco Ball lock for that matter).
 
I have only owned one Benchmade, which was a 930
I liked it quite a bit, though it didn't come very sharp and had a bit of blade play.
Spyderco's on the other hand, I have had a lot of, I like their designs more.
The Benchmade 710 is a knife I really need to try out though.
If I could only pick one, it would be Spyderco hands down.
 
I have had several BM's; good knives. I have and have had many Spydercos (maybe 50?)...from tiny to huge (TUFF). A marvelous company and knife selection with an outstanding array of blade-steels, locking systems and innovation to pick from.
Sal is my man; he makes it happen.
Sonnydaze
 
Jaiofspam said:
i wouldnt be able to decide on which brand i like more due to the fact i enjoy knives from both companies... i can say however that benchmade has provided me with far superior customer service than spyderco has. ymmv :)
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more!
I've been a Spyderco fanboy until recently. I've had q couple of folders fail on me, and the customer service has been absoluteky horrible!
Yes, I said it! HORRIBLE.
I've sent more than a few knives for warranty work. Some were from Benchmade, some from Ka-Bar, other from Spyderco and CRK.
All the manufacturers, aside from Spyderco have provided great follow up, nearly immediate response and great communication overall. The turn-around periods were by far more superior, too.
Now, given I only sent a couple of knives to Spyderco for warranty, and more Benchmades (omega springs), it might not be enough data-point for most people, and YMMV. However, I am very unpleased with my personal experience. Not trying to impose the same conclusion on anybody, and I know I'll probably get some heat from some fanboys, but whatever.

As far as Spyderco vs. Benchmade goes for me, Benchmade over Spyderco any day of the week!
 
I'm sending one of my SB Caly 3.5 out for warranty repair today. Lockswitch bites when I disengage it because the lock doesn't seem to mate properly. Its a perfect knife otherwise and this slight imperfection is annoying. My other SB 3.5 and Spyderco lockbacks dont have this issue, disengage is smooth and easy. I'll share my experience when its complete.

I requested for arrow black oxide clips from BM once as I prefer it over the painted standard once. Received them pretty fast. That is my only experience with BM CS, entirely positive. I also like their blade replacement program. Never used it, but its a great service to offer.

As far as the knives go, both produce a great product, Im sure we can all agree.
 
I own a couple Benchmade knives and at least a half dozen Spyderco knives, and I've been much more satisfied with the Spydercos.
 
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