Spyderco VS Benchmade

There really isn't an always true comment that can be made of entire companies...though in a few areas, you can get close...evaluate individual knives versus other individual knives. In any case, back to general trends with each company:

Every Spyderco I've ever had (probably 12) has shipped between very sharp and insanely unecessarily turbo sharp. Benchmade ranges from almost dull to extremely sharp...advantage, Spyderco

Spyderco's G10 is always rough (I believe...), and Benchmade's is almost always smooth...I prefer the grip of rough...I'd give it to spyderco. Also, more extensive use of G10 in their lineup.

Spyderco uses high end stainless far more often (VG10 and S30V) than Benchmade. I'd give this to Spyderco.

I prefer the ergonomics of Spydercos, but this could be subjective.

I tend to prefer spyderholes to thumbstuds, but I can go either way here, and again, subjective.

I find the fit and finish and overall quality look of Benchmades to be better.

Benchmade locks, liner locks and obviously the axis lock, I find preferable to any spyderco lock.

I prefer Benchmade balisongs to Spyderco balisongs, even though the Spyderfly is great.

I really like the look of Benchmades, but this is subjective.

Benchmade uses carbon steels.

Benchmade produces a much greater variety of knives....high end custom esque gold class balis for a couple thousand dollars, many more fixed blades, automatics, AOs....

Can't go wrong either way, but these are general trends.
 
I too prefer the benchmade balisong over the spyderfly. If i had enough id just get a balisong edc and be done with this picking and choosing crap!
 
Well, the Morpho is far and away my favorite Benchmade right now....I prefer it to my 41MC too...if it's what you really want, save a couple more months and get it...it's worth it to get what you like. I carry my morpho all the time...really, at 140ish dollars, it's not a bad price...that's only a little more than two griptillians, but you're getting G10, titanium and D2, plus a next gen latch. So compared to say...a 710, it's not reallythat bad a deal. In the long term, you will be happier you saved up...I outgrew all the cheaper knives I first got into (including griptillians, etc)...they're fine knives, but when I had access to 960s, Morphos and Gravitators, it made the low end wholly obsolete...so if you're a knife addict like most of us are, and will end up getting these anyway, save yourself the low end Benchmade and/or Spyderco and wait for the one you really want.

My favorites from each company:
Benchmade:
Morpho
41MC (doesn't really count since it's out of production)
960
Gravitator
Switchback
Mini Rukus

Spyderco:
Spyderfly
D`allara DP
Paramilitary
Dodo
Yojimbo

In regards to balisongs, weirdly enough, for flipping and SD, I prefer the Spyderfly to the Benchmade 4X line, but for actually using, I prefer the 4Xs. But the morpho blows me out of the water, I just love it, which ultimately results in me giving this one to Benchmade. Really, between the two, they're great, it comes down to a lot of preference...if you're into handles that are weighted at the ends (I think this makes a lot of tricks easier and more predictable) and flip a little slower, the Spyderfly is the one...but tricks are secondary to use for me, so Benchmade usually comes first. I'm thinking about picking up another 4x.
 
Yeah, i like the benchmade balis as well. I was looking at the edc or the regular bali. I dont think i came across the morpho? In CT shops wont order balisongs because they say we arent allowed to own them. Stupid huh. I can deploy an Assisted opening knife or my CRKT M-16 just as fast or faster.
 
The morpho is a smaller G10 bali...here are some pics of mine:

benchmades022.jpg


benchmades018.jpg


benchmades014.jpg


benchmades013.jpg


You can always just order it online.
 
I like to EDC a 3" blade. The Delica and Mini-Grp fit the bill nicely.

My first two BM's came almost dull out of the box. My latest BM - a D2 Mini-Grip - came as sharp as any of my Spydercos.

My disappointment with the Mini-Grip, however, is that my pinky finger hangs of the back. I Dremeled the handle so I could choke up on the handle and now I can get part of my pinky on the handle. Still - to my knowledge, BM does not make a 3" folder with the Axis lock with a full handle in the $70 range. I think that's a big gap in their product line IMO.

I recently picked up a Delica 4 in ZDP-189. This is an awesome EDC knife.

Funny thing - I always seem to come back to the Delica as my EDC.
 
I prefer Spyderco over Benchmade, for the many reasons that are listed! I also have the utmost respect for Sal. Sal REALLY listens to the folks that buy and use his knives. THAT goes a long way with me!
 
The best thing is to try knife before buy it.
There is a dealer with big selection of both brands at West-Farms. BM dealer in Norwalk. Spyderco dealer in Old Saybrook. All of them sell for MSRP or very close to it.
 
Agreed - nothing like picking up and seeing which one suits - both are good. I do have more Spydies than BM (I also have LOTS of "others"), but my two "goto" blades tend to be a Delica and a Mini-Grip:) I do tend to use my Delica harder, but use the Mini-Grip more often. I like Spyderco for it's innovation - those changes and new things is what keeps me buying them - granted I buy others as well, but still....:p I never really took a hard look at anything higher priced than the BM Grips, but not that long ago I started to boogey in the more expensive side of things (That's in the $130 - $300 CDN range) - actually, when I acquired my SERE 2K, and then I found a BM710/D2 and started to take a closer look at BM. Bottom line - happy with both.

- gord
 
I personally have more Bm than I do Spyderco. I recently purchased my first spyderco a week after I bought my Mini-grip. (I wanted to see what all the fuss was about s30v) No dout that the spyderco (Native in s30v) was super scary sharp out of the box. It was sharper than my Mini-grip which was scary sharp already. The BM would shave, where as the Spyderco would pop the hairs off and send them flying.

In the hands, the spyderco is nice because it fills up the whole hand if you will. It is more pleasent to grip. The Mini-Grip is nice because it is small, but has alot of Umph behind it. The disadvatage of the Spyderco is that I can not open it as fast as my mini-grip. Also, it will not close as fast as the mini-grip. Another disadvantage I see with the spyderco is that there is nothing I can do if the blade starts to become lose. Unlike my BM, I can just tighten it with a torx screwdrive, the Native has nothing to tighten.(This most likely might only be with my version of the Native)

Either way, I love them both and they are going to replace my old EDC which is a MOD CQD Mark II. I say, just go ahead and buy one of each around the same price range. Ie Mini-grip and delica/native. I can bet you that you will like both of them. If you can't decide which to carry, just carry both or you can just leave one in the car.

Hope this was some what helpful for you.
~Brian
 
I forgot to say that while I buy quite a few knives from both companies (as well as Kershaw), right now Benchmade is my favorite, merely because there are more designs I want to buy. I'll probably buy a Spyderco yojimbo this year, but I don't really see much else I'm interested in right now.
 
TheKnifeCollector said:
I prefer Spyderco over Benchmade, for the many reasons that are listed! I also have the utmost respect for Sal. Sal REALLY listens to the folks that buy and use his knives. THAT goes a long way with me!
Click to expand...

This is my exactly thoughts. Thank you.
A year ago ratio of Spyderco to BM in my possession was 2:3, now it is 21 to 1 and it is growing.
 
Aside from the Osborne designed Axis locks of the Benchmade line, I really don't buy all that many BMs. I buy at least 10 Spydercos for every one BM I buy.

I will say this, the 921 Switchback from Benchmade is one of the best work knives I have every had. It is nearly perfect. There is not another Spyderco that opens as quick or closes as quick. The Centofante 4 from Spyderco is about the same blade but it doesn't have the axis lock. It is about 1/3 the price though and you get 95% of the design of the 921 so it is a great knife for the cash.

That is one of the big advantages of Spyderco, you get great designs and great steel for less than most other companies charge. I used to think Spydercos were expensive but now I think most of them are good value for money based on what you get. With Spyderco, it is not like buying by the pound. You don't get much knife sometimes for the money but that is whole idea. You get a compact light knife that is strong but it costs you. Sometimes it is not what you get but what you don't get that costs money. Take the Carbon Fiber Military for example, show me a stronger, larger knife that preforms like it does and is as light and easy to carry and I will buy it.
 
Bm or Spyderco. I own some of both. I think Spyderco may have better gripping handles than BM. Spydercos not quite as thick as BM. Both good knives so it depends what you like on any given day.
 
You will eventually buy them all. Start with the one that best matches the car you'd like to drive, or the girlfriend. It's really that kind of emotional attachment that most of us try to satisfy - or compensate for.

Benchmade, Spyderco, et al, are nice middle of the road suburban mall knife makers. You get what you pay for, some exclusivity of design. But like Columbia skiwear, they're popping up everywhere in discount. No longer the exclusive domain of knife retailers only. So the market is moving. Arcteryx and others are the leading edge, Kershaw ZT, Strider, Chris Reeve, and Hinderer the hot high end topics.

Benchmade vs Spyderco is about the same as Buck vs Gerber in the 70's. Ho hum.

I guess I'm jaded now that I'm selling those mass produced brands. Shows what owning the high end will do.
 
I have yet to handle a spyderco that I wanted to keep. Not saying they're bad, just not my preference.

Phil
 
I seem to be more emotionally attached to Spyderco. Not all their designs grab me, but I feel like they tend to have knives that spark my interest more. They are almost more...organic or something in their designs with the sweeping curves and interesting lines. I own a couple of Spydies and only one Benchmade. When I first started out, I did not like or appreciate Spyderco designs much at all. My opinion has changed.

With that however, I have not found a lock I like better than the Axis lock by Benchmade. Fast, smooth and strong. Very nice.
 
i think spyderco knives are down right ugly with that huge hole it looks like somebody made a mistake on the blade. Without that hole i would love the look of the knives. I have been wanting to purchase a d'allara but theyre always out wherever i go! I am not a big fan of "plastic" (i know its not plastic but to me it mays well be) zytel or g-10 handles and like the metal handles better, wish they made it in that!
 
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