Spyderco taking a jab at Benchmade?

W

Wunderbar

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May 2, 2003
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I have always known Spyderco to be a professional and respectful company. I recently discovered a paragraph in the Spyderco catalog that has caught my attention. As you might know, both companys have a moderate priced import folder with a linerlock and G-10 scales. Benchmade has the Vex model and Spyderco has the Tenacious. Here is an excerpt from the Spyderco catalog descibing the Tenacious: "The knife industry seems to be leaning toward manufacturing inexpensive, avarage-made knives that are dressed up like high performance pieces, retailing under sixty dollars. Identifying and sidestepping these mid-class knives can be vexing to end-line-users. Rest assured, we've tenaciously adhered to Spyderco's manufacturing quality standards."
I like both companys, Benchmade being probably my favorite for many years. Having both knives, I didn't care for the Vex and traded it to another forum member. The Tenacious is one of my top favorites and currently my only Spyderco knife. So I'm pretty neutral on the comment. What do you think about this statement?
 
Sal has asked all of the Spyderknuts for "shiny footprints" in regards to Benchmade's use of the round hole, but that doesn't mean he has to lie down and take it. I read that line, but I had forgotten about it until this thread. Even the Spyderco catalog has Easter eggs in it, nowadays!

Good on Sal for a very subtle jab.
 
Wunderbar said:
I have always known Spyderco to be a professional and respectful company. I recently discovered a paragraph in the Spyderco catalog that has caught my attention. As you might know, both companys have a moderate priced import folder with a linerlock and G-10 scales. Benchmade has the Vex model and Spyderco has the Tenacious. Here is an excerpt from the Spyderco catalog descibing the Tenacious: "The knife industry seems to be leaning toward manufacturing inexpensive, avarage-made knives that are dressed up like high performance pieces, retailing under sixty dollars. Identifying and sidestepping these mid-class knives can be vexing to end-line-users. Rest assured, we've tenaciously adhered to Spyderco's manufacturing quality standards."
I like both companys, Benchmade being probably my favorite for many years. Having both knives, I didn't care for the Vex and traded it to another forum member. The Tenacious is one of my top favorites and currently my only Spyderco knife. So I'm pretty neutral on the comment. What do you think about this statement?
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Well, I will say it looks suspicious, but I've always found Spyderco to be a very professional company. Honest too. :thumbup:

Still, nice TIC play by whomever wrote that. :)
 
I think it's a sign of mutual respect and competition....I often enjoy two reputable companies going toe-to-toe with each other, as it often results in a better product for us, the consumer.
 
Thats hilarious. I bought a vex. What a piece! The blade was boring, handles were boring. I liked the over all feel of the knife but... the blade pivot had to be so loose the blade had play in order to get a smooth action. he linerlock sat so low in the handle i rubbed the skin on my thumb raw and to top it off the hole had a burr in it, easy fix but still...
 
"Easter Egg" is what came to mind too, an almost-hidden reference intended as an inside joke. It didn't come across as much of a 'jab' or insult.
 
Like CombatGrappler has mentioned, it's probably done as a little jab at BM for using the round Spyderco style hole. I remember there being a big stink in this very forum about the Vex using that hole. I also remember Sal handling that situation very respectful and professional towards BM. That said, no one should expect him to just sit down and take it. A little jab here and there to let them know he's not a pushover is more than justified and does not mean Spyderco is unprofessional in the least.
Plus it was quite creative, the way they did it. :cool:
 
It's a reference only a knifeknut could see. Sal did a good job playing on our knowledge, and doing it in a nice way. It's not a slam, it's cute.

Those Benchmade fanboys who find that kind of reference vexing simply aren't tenacious enough to suck it up and laugh along, too.


:D


How could someone not have said that yet?
 
Touche! I like that a lot. I love BM, but probably wont be getting anymore because of their new price policy.
 
Why does the Benchmade Skirmish get no attention for using the hole opener? Has it been around longer than Spyderco has been making knives? It's not like Benchmade even stole the idea entirely, they used it on just one knife, unless you include the Skirmish. Maybe if they were putting a hole-opener on every other knife they were making they could be labeled as stealing, but that's not the case. Would you call Spyderco idea-thieves if they used a thumbstud? Tell me Spyderco didn't draw inspiration from the Axis lock when they designed the Compression Lock. That would make any company that uses the liner lock a thief of the first company who made it. It's a little unfair that the vex grabs so much attention for being a rip-off.

btw I've never had experience with Benchmade or even owned one. I do have 2 spydercos though.
 
Squeezymo said:
Why does the Benchmade Skirmish get no attention for using the hole opener? Has it been around longer than Spyderco has been making knives? It's not like Benchmade even stole the idea entirely, they used it on just one knife, unless you include the Skirmish. Maybe if they were putting a hole-opener on every other knife they were making they could be labeled as stealing, but that's not the case. Would you call Spyderco idea-thieves if they used a thumbstud? Tell me Spyderco didn't draw inspiration from the Axis lock when they designed the Compression Lock. That would make any company that uses the liner lock a thief of the first company who made it. It's a little unfair that the vex grabs so much attention for being a rip-off.

btw I've never had experience with Benchmade or even owned one. I do have 2 spydercos though.
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the skirmish has not been around longer than spyderco has been making knives. spyderco has been making knives and/or sharpeners since 1978. benchmade was started in 1988 (pacific cutlery). if you are referring to the opening hole, then the answer to that is also no.

perhaps the ball lock draws inspiration from the axis lock, but i dont think the compression lock does.
 
Maybe the axis, arc, ball and others were inspired by the Gerber bolt action. :)

Maybe the Skirmish copied the opening hole -- there was some controversy at the time -- but no one seems to have noticed it copied the Emerson Commander handle.

Some of this technology is public. Who owns the rights to a knife with a blade that folds into the handle? :D
 
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