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Spyderco vs Benchmade

Do you want me to name just one? First on the list would be the Wegner, excellent ergonomics; my favorite Spyderco. The Military, Starmate, and Lum are also on par or superior to most Benchmades. Spyderco's new Gunting with the compression lock looks promising as well.

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Dennis Bible
 
I have a Starmate, (well, Spyderco has mine since the lock wasn't adjusted right the first time around and they are fixing it now...) I love this knife. Spyderco kicks the hell out of Benchmade et al. in fit, finish and quality, period. I say this even though I had to return the Starmate for warranty service. The machining and tolerances of the G-10 handle are exponentially better than either my BM Mini-Stryker or Emerson CQC-7B.

My Spyderco Viele arrived the day after I sent the Starmate out, and believe me, it is in a whole 'nother league than the Stryker or CQC (both of which I paid _more_ for!) The parts of the Viele match up so well that they appear to be one, where the BM you can see that the pieces of G-10 and titanium were not held to very high tolerances at all. It is as if they were fabricated separately, assembled, and then just left that way. How hard would it be to true up this kind of sloppiness on a square wheel grinder or something as a final step for the completed handle?

The Military is nice, but there is something that annoys me about the engraving on the blade. In fact, this is keeping me on the fence re: buying one. They should just make it sterile like the Enduras, etc.
 
I am suprised at all the answers here because no one has mentioned the Spyderco Renegade. It is perhaps the CLOSEST thing to an AFCK that Spyderco ever produced. Other than the Renegade having a back lock, the knives could have fallen off of the same tree.

While I agree that the Military and Wegner are fantastic knives in their own right, a true "Apples to apples" comparison would ONLY include Renegade.
 
I have the Military and the Starmate and am thrilled with the locking and edge retention on both. The Starmate with its straighter handle is more comfortable to me; that is not to say the Military is uncomfortable. I like the Military for camping b/c of it's flat grind and slicing capability, the Starmate for general carry/utility b/c of its brute construction. I strop on cardboard "memo" pads and the edges stay frightening.
Since you are new here (as am I), take a look at The Knowledge Base section in the site here and Marion Poff's "best of" indexed topics.
 
I still have money to burn, so maybe I'll have to get ahold of a Sebenza that I hear such good things about. The handles don't look like they would be comfortable, but they must be if everyone praises them so much.

Can anyone recommend your favorite Sebenza model, and why they are better than the Spyderco's and BMs?

Thanks,
Wade
 
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I've looked at Sebenzas and I do not see that they are worth some three times what I paid for my StarMate. I much prefer the 440V steel in the StarMate, I have never had a problem with Spyderco's liner locks, and I have never noticed any lack torsional rigidity in the linerless G-10 scales. Where the Sebenza is better is fanatic attention to detail in the finish, but I do not believe that it is worth the price differential.

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
 
Whether the Sebenza represents good value or not I suppose is a (valid) personal question and fairly subjective.

I own a large Sebenza, but I also own the Military, Starmate, Rekat Pioneer, M2 AFCK, BM 710 Axis, 720 Axis, M2 Stryker, Emerson Commander etc.

If I were going to into "survival mode" tomorrow and I could only take one (factory/semi-custom)folder with me for the duration, the Sebenza would be the one. It is rock solid, reliable, and a very sharp cutting tool.

Don't get me wrong, I love all my other knives, but in my heart, I know who the toughest on the block is when all things are considered.

That makes the price more palatable imho.

YMMV.

Blues

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Live Free or Die

Some Knife Pix
 
** YA NO I'TS funny you ask That question.
I have a 7 Benchmades. And 1 Spyderco
liner lock. a small centofante full
serate. Thats The one I've carried now
everyday for 3 yrs. I love that knife.

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Thats a Good ONE
 
I own a few BM's...An old AFCK, an older mini-AFCK, and a M-2 710...I won't buy any more BM liner locks because they aren't made correctly (the washers are too thick, the the blade tang angles are usually off).

My AFCK is about 5 yrs. old, and has survived all sorts of mishaps and experimentations. It was made before BM became too big to handle demand, and QC suffered...it's a fantastic knife.

I really favor the Starmate and Military, though the Military is a BIG knife. I also really liked the mini-Wegner, but it's been discontinued.

I liked the EDI stuff, but that company is fading fast.

--dan
 
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