Spyderco vs Benchmade

A lot of what Benchmade has going for them is their use of the Axis Lock. Now that this isn't covered under patent, I am sure other brands will start to use it as well.

On the flip side, they have QC issues that plague them, and they use this to "look like" they have a good warranty. The reason I say that they "look like" they have a good warranty and not that they "do" have a good warranty, is the Mini rant below. If this is too long, skip it now...
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Now, I am going to pick this number out of thin air, but say 1 out of every 100 have a flaw significant enough that ZT, Spyderco, (insert brand here) does mark them as such, and prices them accordingly to cover manufacturing costs, and make their profit from the "correct" models.

Which means that a few things are possible, regarding Benchmade, they include things like they;
A) are some form of mass production mega-machine that the likes of which has not been seen, within the confines of the knife industry. And they just don't have the employee volume to check the massive volume they produce.
B) have a smaller second production plant or at the very least, a productions shift worth of personnel thats entire job revolves around the disassembly and reassembly of QC rejected knives and the knives that get passed are the lesser damaged, or better knives.
(If "B" is the case, they are incredibly poor at building knives.)
--The next one is (hopefully) less likely, though it does have the most circumstantial evidence backing it--
C) QC was directly told to be more lenient with what passes their standards.
D) Item "C" would be backed up by a higher warranty likelihood, and would result in the company being more lax when it comes to denials of warranty replacment/repair due to acknowledgement of "C" and their requirement to do so, otherwise risk reputation.
E) Item "D" would then make the company look better in the publics eye; since the general public would view this as the company having a "Good Warranty" when all it Could Be is (not definitive) the company hoping that knives with issues are bought by customers that;
F1) don't know better
F2) don't care enough
F3) care but don't want the hassle
F4) are willing to accept the knife as QC Passed, therefore it must be OK.
F5) won't purchase from the brand again.
G) this would result in more knives making it out of the plant that are sub-par by our standards, and (unfortunately) considered OK by company standards.
E) All of this second portion would result in us knife nuts saying that Benchmade has to make up ground for a lesser than expected (at this price point) F&F standard.
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I know that this is all conjecture, but it all seems to be a bit too convenient...


Due to these points above, I will skip Benchmade for Just about any other brand. Sure, I like the lock, but I like good QC measures, as well.
 
NJBillK said:
A lot of what Benchmade has going for them is their use of the Axis Lock. Now that this isn't covered under patent, I am sure other brands will start to use it as well.

On the flip side, they have QC issues that plague them, and they use this to "look like" they have a good warranty. The reason I say that they "look like" they have a good warranty and not that they "do" have a good warranty, is the Mini rant below. If this is too long, skip it now...
-----------
Now, I am going to pick this number out of thin air, but say 1 out of every 100 have a flaw significant enough that ZT, Spyderco, (insert brand here) does mark them as such, and prices them accordingly to cover manufacturing costs, and make their profit from the "correct" models.

Which means that a few things are possible, regarding Benchmade, they include things like they;
A) are some form of mass production mega-machine that the likes of which has not been seen, within the confines of the knife industry. And they just don't have the employee volume to check the massive volume they produce.
B) have a smaller second production plant or at the very least, a productions shift worth of personnel thats entire job revolves around the disassembly and reassembly of QC rejected knives and the knives that get passed are the lesser damaged, or better knives.
(If "B" is the case, they are incredibly poor at building knives.)
--The next one is (hopefully) less likely, though it does have the most circumstantial evidence backing it--
C) QC was directly told to be more lenient with what passes their standards.
D) Item "C" would be backed up by a higher warranty likelihood, and would result in the company being more lax when it comes to denials of warranty replacment/repair due to acknowledgement of "C" and their requirement to do so, otherwise risk reputation.
E) Item "D" would then make the company look better in the publics eye; since the general public would view this as the company having a "Good Warranty" when all it Could Be is (not definitive) the company hoping that knives with issues are bought by customers that;
F1) don't know better
F2) don't care enough
F3) care but don't want the hassle
F4) are willing to accept the knife as QC Passed, therefore it must be OK.
F5) won't purchase from the brand again.
G) this would result in more knives making it out of the plant that are sub-par by our standards, and (unfortunately) considered OK by company standards.
E) All of this second portion would result in us knife nuts saying that Benchmade has to make up ground for a lesser than expected (at this price point) F&F standard.
------
I know that this is all conjecture, but it all seems to be a bit too convenient...


Due to these points above, I will skip Benchmade for Just about any other brand. Sure, I like the lock, but I like good QC measures, as well.
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Excellent post with excellent points. I tip my hat to you , sir.
 
I find Benchmade is more expensive that Spyderco in general so I own more Spydercos. I love my Bugout and Griptilian, but have over a dozen Spydercos.

Neither brand is “better” IMO quality wise (no BM quality issues for me so far), but just different.

In a nutshell, I find BM knives open much better bit Spydercos have better blade centering, factory grinds, etc.
 
As a long-time knife collector who has owned a bunch of various models I obviously like both of these highly respected knife manufacturers' products. That being said, my EDC is a Spyderco Gayle Bradley first generation for use around my home and shop. I think both Benchmade and Spyderco function very well as the tip of the spear, or knife!

My son who was deployed as an Army Recon platoon captain for three years in Iraq and Afghanistan used a Benchmade Auto Stryker auto. I have an auto, a Spyderco Citadel which I like but don't EDC. We are always arguing which is better, sort of like the posters on this forum topic.


 
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They’re very different companies, which is one reason why you see people who are more supportive of one than the other. Both have expansive catalogs that attempt to cover all the different potential markets, but with their own distinct styles. Some will be more pulled to Spyderco over Benchmade and vice versa. There’s no singular reason to choose one over the other, because it’s all a matter of personal taste.

- - -

Spyderco, as far as I’m concerned, is more focused on the cutting tool aspect of knife ownership. Their products are usually extremely well designed for maximized cutting performance, and they like to experiment with relatively unknown steels and take their heat treatments very seriously. If you want to get the most out of a production knife with a supersteel, Spyderco is your brand.

Benchmade is arguably much more focused on style. Their designs are usually perfectly functional cutting tools, but that aspect almost seems like an afterthought. Most of their knives are desgined to have a distinct and interesting look, while utilizing fairly standard steels (S30V, 154CM) for the majority of their models and their heat treatment is good but not exceptional. If there’s a look you’re going for, Benchmade probably has the knife somewhere in their catalog - and you won’t be disappointed or likely even notice a real difference in your typical EDC cutting tasks.

As a counterpoint to my own statement about the focus on style, Spyderco is definitely more keen to try experimental designs (see: Hundred Pacer, Schempp Bowie, Ouroboros, Kris) that don’t seem like they have any place but in a collection. Benchmade will break out the occasional $1000+ Gold Class knife on a limited release, but Spyderco goes all in on a full production model just in case it somehow catches on.

- - -

Spyderco likes to listen to the community, and, as should be expected of any niche community that is further narrowed down to people who go to a dedicated forum, they end up on the nerdier side of things. I personally greatly appreciate this, and I like that Spyderco will crank out a knife with experimental steel and do it right the first time.

Benchmade is more focused on building their own brand and then selling that to consumers, without seeming to take much of their input aside from market research. Traditionals are doing well? People like sheepsfoot and clip point knives? Let’s roll out the Proper in canvas micarta. Autos are picking up traction? Let’s release a bunch of new autos. They all look good, and they all function well, but you are definitely paying for style over cutting performance and consistent quality control.

- - -

If this post seems to favor Spyderco, well, yeah - I have a bit of a personal bias towards them. They tend to do more stuff that I like than Benchmade. I like newer steels, I like designs that put function over form, and I like that they release budget-friendly knives with those same crazy steels. The Manix LW 110V is still, in my opinion, one of the finest cutting tools ever produced.
 
NJBillK said:
On the flip side, they have QC issues that plague them, and they use this to "look like" they have a good warranty. The reason I say that they "look like" they have a good warranty and not that they "do" have a good warranty, is the Mini rant below.
----------
Due to these points above, I will skip Benchmade for Just about any other brand. Sure, I like the lock, but I like good QC measures, as well.
Click to expand...

I currently own seven Benchmades and eleven Spydercos, and I've owned and sold or traded several more of each brand.

I must be the luckiest guy in the world, I've never had any significant issues with either brand! QC or otherwise. I just picked up a Crooked River and I love it! One of my favorite EDC knives is my full size Grip 550HG with G10 scales - not a fan of the other cheap feeling scales on some of them. Love my Spydercos, too, especially my GB1 and Yojimbo 2.

I'm very lucky because I've never had the first issue with either brand.
 
Both companies make models I like. Both make models I dislike.

I’m retired now, but I’ve carried both Spyderco and Benchmade in war zones over my 22 year Army career.

Both brands are top notch IMO and would have zero issue with either one.

I personally have more Spyderco.
 
SharpieB said:
I find Benchmade is more expensive that Spyderco in general so I own more Spydercos. I love my Bugout and Griptilian, but have over a dozen Spydercos.

Neither brand is “better” IMO quality wise (no BM quality issues for me so far), but just different.

In a nutshell, I find BM knives open much better bit Spydercos have better blade centering, factory grinds, etc.
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This. I think they are both great knife makers, but on a whole, i think the price/performance ratio gives a slight edge to Spyderco.
As an example, the Spyderco Delica and Endura are roughly comparable to the Benchmade Griptilian. VG10 vs. 154cm are very similar in performance and in the same class. Both have FRN scales. Yet the Spydercos run roughly $20 less. the Griptilians with 154cm and FRN scales run all the way into the $110-120 range, at which point you could have a Spyderco Manix 2 with S30v and FRN scales. The Spyderco offers a significant upgrade in materials for the same price.

Once you hit $120 you could get the BM Free with S30v and FRN scales, but the Spyderco Endura in ZDP-189 has the same scale material but upgraded steel and for about $4-5 cheaper...

Let's jump a little bit to the $140 mark. At that point you get the BM North Fork where we finally get S30v and FRN (remember.. the same combo you got from the Manix 2 thirty dollars ago...) Now I admit at this point things have level off a bit, but for the same $140 price point +/- a couple dollars, you can get the Manix 2 XL which is a really nice ig hunk of S30v and G10, or the Sage, with S30v and carbon fiber. Of course, for a whopping $10 more, you're into the blurple G10 and S110v M2 from Spyderco and for $15 more (at $155), you've got the Gayle Bradley 2 in M4, which I have not yet had the pleasure of experiencing but everyone who has beheld one rants, raves, and swoons. For $165, bechmade has the Volli where we are back to G10 and S30v but this is assisted, for whatever that is worth... I'd rather have the M4 GB2 for ten dollars less...)

I could go on, but you get the idea. I think that once you hit roughly the $150-200 mark, things do start to level off between the two companies. But between $75 and $150, Spyderco has BM beat on price/materials at every turn.

The exceptions in the Spyderco lineup are Japanese knives with G10 scales. For whatever reason, those are priced way out of whack with the materials. Dunno why.
 
19-3ben said:
The exceptions in the Spyderco lineup are Japanese knives with G10 scales. For whatever reason, those are priced way out of whack with the materials. Dunno why.
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Probably something relating to import/export fees and outsourcing costs combined with still needing to make a profit. When a company goes outside of China and Taiwan to have something made overseas, I imagine the overall price goes up - even if the materials and production facilities are already geared towards mass production.
 
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Planterz said:
Camaro or Mustang?
Coke or Pepsi?
McDonalds or Burger King?
Mac or PC?
DC or Marvel?
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Shelby Mustang GT500
Cane Sugar Pepsi
Wendy's
A Mac is a PC (Personal Computer)
Image


Now on to the OP topic

I currently own 2 Spyderco and no Benchmade but this is just that the models I have been more drawn to or were more affordable have been from the Spyderco catalog I find them relatively equal. Spyderco has better QC from what I have seen and heard while Benchmade has a more lax/forgiving CS/Warranty. It is a small trade one product you almost never need CS/Warranty for vs another that will almost always make right with the CS/Warranty.
 
Both companies make nice knives.

If you prefer one over the other, then buy that brand.

As a matter of preference, I have a slew of Spyderco knives.

That doesnt mean, that I wouldnt ever buy a Benchmade.
 
Both make nice knives. I own several spyderco knives and only one benchmade. The knife I want the most right now and don't own is a Benchmade (bugout).

The axis lock is my favorite lock to play with. Spyderco knives tend to slice better and use better steel. I love my M4 and H1 steel spyderco's. Spyderco tends to be a better value IMO even though their prices are climbing.

Really can't go wrong with either.
 
Quite honestly, like spydercos designs better overall, Buttttt...., Benchmade has much better warranty and cs in my experience. Only about 1/4 of Benchmade designs excite me, that said I own 5 Benchmades and 0 Spydercos atm. Why?, mainly because if I break a $200+ spyderco blade I'm unable to get the blade replaced for a minimal fee, like Benchmade does. Being able to get a blade replacement for $35 on a $200+ knife makes that knife so much more desirable, can use it aggressively without worry and if something happens your covered. Benchmade will ship to you free replacement clips and screws, and thats great cause I really don't like sending knives off to a factory and it's ALWAYS great to have an extra clip and screws around so can just swap them out if need be. Anyways, if you haven't tried a knife from either company, I would try some knives from both companies and come to your own conclusions. They're both good.
 
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Dallas T said:
Benchmade has a stellar warranty and customer service if that concerns u. They’ll fix or repair just about anything without most of the time any charge, free pocket clips. I’ve had blades replaced that I broke from negligence and replaced at no cost to me. Butt spyderco does make great knives as well just not as great in the warranty or cs aspect
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Yes, warranty and CS are important. But that's like saying "Oh yeah I brought my new car in the 5th time for a recall/repair, but I got a loaner, coffee and donuts each time, it's awesome, I love that new car."
 
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