Which knife to give for my cop dad - BM or Spyderco??

S

supertool200

Joined
Mar 5, 2005
Messages
26
Hi,
My dad who is a police officer lives in the Philippines, the problem in our home country is that its hard or even impossible to get any warranty claims (like repairs, etc). Which knife would you suggest, a BM or Spyderco for reliability & durability. I like to retire my dad's 15 year old local made balisong. Replies appreciated.

ST200
 
Either will likely satisfy your maintenance requirement. However, I like the frame locks due to less moving parts. Look at the BM Mini-Skirmish or, Skirmish. Real nice knives.
 
Having owned an old 1950's Filipino balisong, I don't know if I would trade it in for a benchmade or a spyderco. Those are tough knives that can take a mean edge but either would be a great knife.
 
Both are great knives.

Is there a certain blade length requirement or price range, that you are are trying to stay around - that might help narrow the choices somewhat, and some folks could throw you some pics.

If you go with BM, take a hard look at something with an ARC Lock. They lock up very well and are the fastest of the one hand open close folders.

You can flip open /close with your hand totally out of the way of the blade - Which may come in handy for him.

Spyderco has some Ball lock models that are very similar in that respect.

Don't know how hard he would use it, but You also might want to consider sometype of either Stainless/ Aluminium or TI handles if he may use it at somepoint as a possible breaking device.

Good luck with your decision - very thoughtful of you. I'm sure He'll appreciate whatever you choose.
 
I tend to like Spyderco designs the best. That said, I've had a couple minor bad experiences with Spyderco fit and finish, one in which actually slightly inhibited the function...but I've had maybe 8 now pass through my hands for any length of time, and the vast majority have been super great.

However, Benchmade, for me, has been 100% flawless. I do think that if I could only carry one knife, I'd rather have a compression lock than an axis lock simply for maintenance purposes. Benchmade stands alone on production quality in my opinion. I don't think they're quite as good as deals as Spyderco.

If I could have only one knife, it'd probably be the Spyderco paramilitary. Check that out.

If I were a cop, I'd get something cool and illegal (for me). I've always wanted an OTF or something, but never could justify it. Heck, I'd carry a katana for box and letter chores if they'd let me.

Maybe it's a good thing they don't let me.
 
Why not another balisong? That's as reliable a type of knife as you can get, and he's used to it. The Benchmade 42 that GarageBoy mentioned is a great working knife. Or would be if the law here didn't freak out over it.

If you want him to try something different, get a Benchmade Skirmish (or mini Skirmish if he has small hands) or a Spyderco Paramilitary. Two very different knives but each is very well made with reliable locks and strong frames.

Whatever you get, just try it out first to make sure you didn't get a lemon. :)
 
Slvgx said:
... Spyderco Paramilitary (if he's right handed).
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Why? I'm right-handed and had no problem with the Gunting's compression lock, and that's backwards from the Paramilitary's.
 
When I first saw this on the thread list, I immediately thought that you should ask your father what he would be most comfortable using while on duty. What does his job entail? What will he be using the knife for? If he used to carry a balisong, maybe he's comfortable with balis. But I would ask him what he would like to have. It takes away the surprise factor, but in the long run it would be better for him.
 
Either. If you have any issues it isn't that far to send them back to the factory in the U.S. Lots of flights between Manila and the west coast of the U.S.

Aren't their any good P.I. or Taiwanese knives available where you live. Benchmade and Spyderco are both making them in your neck of the world.
 
Shoot, if he likes balisongs, get him one of the many balisongs made by Benchmade! You can't go wrong... ever... with a Benchmade bali. They're top-notch, the industry standard.

Peace.
 
I have never owned a BM but I had a Spyderco Endura for 10 years until it was liberated from my by a fellow worker no doubt. But anyway it functioned flawlessly for me. The big question is what is he going to be using it for? If he uses it a pry bar etc. look into a heavy, bigger folder. But for everyday light use or self defense a Spyderco is inexpensive and reliable.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Why? I'm right-handed and had no problem with the Gunting's compression lock, and that's backwards from the Paramilitary's.
Click to expand...

I think that the Compression Lock is fairly ambi, but hanging out on the Spyderco factory forums you see a few lefties complain about it. I am just trying to cover that. Also, the clip is not reversible.

Overall I think it would be fine for a lefty but I think it is optimized for right handed carry.
 
I'm right handed and have no problems opening/closing and using the para in my left hand, so I can only imagine lefties find it even easier.
 
Benchmade Griptilian!

550, 551, or the 552 Ritter Grip.

The most knife you can get for the money.

Regular Grips are about $60 and the Ritter Grip is $100.

Strong knives with the Axis lock and great 440C steel.

I'm just not so sure you'd be happier with a more expensive knife. :D
 
Thanks for the replies guys, i will send my dad some pictures of the BM bali, mini-grip and endura from spyderco and i will go from then. Actually my dad is working with the Special Ops Group handling tactical entries.
 
supertool200 said:
Actually my dad is working with the Special Ops Group handling tactical entries.
Click to expand...

???

If he uses the knife for professional work, a Benchmade Nimravus fixed blade might be more along what he might need. No moving parts, fewer things to foul up.

Only caveat is if he needs to use this for prying as well. If that's the case I'd suggest a knife with a thicker blade and blunter tip.
 
If he is used to using a balisong all the time, and likes it, then its a total no-brainer.

Benchmade 42.
 
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