The Ultimate Thread. Spyderco Vs. Benchmade

X2.... I have a lot of Benchmade knives but I never carry them. Either my M390 PM2 or Strider SJ-75 are my exclusive EDC knives. I am very picky with weight, ergos and slicing performance. Al to of knife companies can get two out of three but very few can do all 3 well.
ssblood said:
I have my blue Para2 in my pocket again today. The rift is at home again, with my kershaws,etc. :-)
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timberweasel said:
Both companies make some nice knives.

I know Sal Glesser is at the helm of Spyderco because he personally interacts with his customer base which is outstanding. I like how Sal does business and have a lot of respect for the man. Most of my collection is Spyderco: great knives made by a great company and I like to support them.

I have no idea who runs the show over at Benchmade. Not sure if I care either. I own two Benchmades and they are very nice.
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+1 on this post and Horusfour's. I have a few of each brand, have used Customer Service for each, and cannot think of one complaint for either company. Yes, they're both great...and we're lucky.
Sonny
 
I own both and love both. My top EDC knives are Benchmade mini reflex 2550, Benchmade Osborn 944, Spyderco Sage 1, spyderco caly 3.5. I will say this though. Spyderco knives come from factory always sharp where as some benchmades I had to sharpen because they edge sucked. I will say that the mini reflex 2550 has always been crazy sharp because I bought two and they both came sharp as well. Both companies have a lot to offer the knife community. Saying one is better then the other is just flat out stupid and shows someones total lack of experience with both. I will also throw Kershaw in the mix. One of my other favorite EDC knives are Kershaw scalion and kershaw leek. I just bought a Zero Tolerence 0550 and I am blown away with this knife. I consider Spyderco, Benchmade, Kershaw on the same par and all 3 produce killer knives that are meant for the same demographic. If you want to move up the food chain then you get into Chris Reeve, Rick Hinderer, Strider and a few others. These are amazing knives as well but you are going to pay a hell of a lot more money. If you got the cash why not? I owned a Chris Reeve Sebenza and a strider SNG at one time and sold them both. I just couldn't see the justification in price for the value. some people do but I didn't. Just my opinion folks.
 
Typically you're going to Benchmade for the axis lock - which is probably the best EDC lock IMO, but I personally find them a little too easy to disengage.

They need to start pumping out the AFCK in S30V as a regular production, I think it's their best folder design, but they choose to keep it rare. It's like if Spyderco was only offering Paramilitary 2 sprint runs.
 
I started out liking Benchmade, and not really liking the designs of spyderco. But ive come to love the designs of spyderco, and now I dont really like many of benchmades designs.

Benchmade apparently likes to discontinue its best models. Whereas spyderco tends to improve their best models.
Spyderco also wins in the sprint run and quality of materials area. Though Benchmade has been getting better.
Benchmade makes all their main lines in the USA, and Spyderco outsources a lot of their best designs which is a deal breaker for me.
 
Neither company makes the large lefty 21 that's in my pocket so piss on both of them.
JK! I Own a couple Benchmades and even more Spydercos. I like both but for the money spent on any Benchmade I can usually find a Spyderco that I like more. I have Striders, CRK's, ZT, some semi custom whatever you want to call them titanium framelocks but my most carried and used is a $60 plastic handled serrated Tasman salt.
IMO Spyderco makes a larger variety of user/task specific knives rather than just knives with different blade shapes.
 
My two favorite knives are the PM2 and the BM 710.. so it's a hard call. I'd have to go with Spyderco. I love the ethics, and the fact that Sal seems like I could chill with and just talk knives.. not some corporate CEO. The more companies that can try to be like Spyderco the better. Can't really say that about BM.. they do make some killer knives tho..
Oh yah.. and I prefer the SpyderHole..especially when Spyderco does it. :p
 
I am more a Spyderco guy - much more consistent design philosophy, and I vastly prefer the Spydie hole over the thumb stud. They are both solid companies in any event.
 
'Better' is such a subjective term as to make it useless for comparison purposes. Which is 'better', an apple or a potato? Both are food stuffs, but one roasted goes so much 'better' for dessert. As for Spyderco and Benchmade, both companies have provided me with dull or off center blades at times. Curiously, the company that I have the least problems with is Cold Steel - go figure.

Benchmade and Spyderco turn out some fantastic knives and both are 'stand-up' companies and I am pleased to own knives from them both. What could be 'better' than that?
 
I happen to have a Benchmade in one pocket and a Spyderco in another as i read this thread. Spyderco is clearly superior IMO.
 
From my experience so far, I will say Spyderco wins. I love how Sal is actively listening to his customers. Furthermore, I have had one issue with a Chinook 2. I posted about it and Sal himself asked me to send it in through the forum. Spyderco sent me a brand new Chinook 3. Recently, I have had a benchmade pen become half-way unscrewed in my pocket. This caused the bottom have of the pen to fall to the bottom of my pocket and when I sat down snapped the ink cartridge in half. When I called BM warranty I explained to them what happened and asked for another ink cartridge. I wasn't given one... I'm going to be calling back tomorrow to see if they can fix the issue. All I'm saying is that so far, I am leaning more towards Spyderco.
 
I mean Ive only had one bm (the 530) and several spydies but i love the axis lock better than liner,frame and lockback. I think the main reason i dont have more benchmades is the price.

but what i really want is a collaboration between Kershaw, Spyderco and Benchmade. that not with standing a spyderco/benchmade collab would be sweet. and a cold steel benchmade collab would be equal parts awesome and hilarious
 
I agree with your last sentence....and a lot of other companies make great knives, too...so the thread isn't going to prove much other than to kill alot of innocent electrons... :rolleyes:

EDCdude said:
I love spyderco and I’m starting to go towards benchmade due do the fact they have thumbstud. Spydercos are a lot cheaper though and can still face benchmade. I think spyderco is the winner. Both companies make great Made in usa knives.
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