Which Spydie or Benchmade do you prefer?

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seanuhthin

Joined
Aug 17, 2009
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I want to invest in a good EDC knife and the most popular choices seem to be Mini Grips, Delicas, and Enduras. As for what I am looking for in the knife, well, pretty much whatever EDC is.

Also, for those of you who own the Pacific salt, what do you think of it? I live in Florida so everything is always wet and I heard that was perfect for the conditions... Although if the knife really is ALL ABOUT WATER RESISTANCE and no other qualities I won't get it.

Just tell me what you think, please no SAK, I like them, I'm just in the market for folders.

Oh... and if your going to tell me to research, I already have, I have spent a lot of time figuring out which one I want and when there are this many possibilities its impossible....
 
My favorite from each company:

Spyderco Endura
Benchmade Griptilian

These two just seem to me to be the best of each company for general EDC in quality and price.
 
If humidity is an issue, then I would recommend a Salt 1. It's very light, comes in yellow or black FRN and is made from H1 rust-proof steel. It's got good ergonomics and jimping and is easy to clean. If you're turned off by the blunted tip or hollow grind, you can always send it to Krein.
 
my favorite from each company:
spyderco military
benchmade mini-grip
 
I love the Pacific Salt for pocket clipped carry. It's light-weight, has a long enough handle to chop with, a great feel to grip, strong for it's build, takes a very sharp edge fast and keeps it darn well. It has a strong back-lock, too and I've never felt it would give when used as I use it. Plus it will not rust. I've put this one up covered in sap and water. Here it is after I got my Brother (who is pretty damn strong) to hammer-fist it hard as he could into a hard chestnut tree. It suffered no damage and besides I've chopped some big locust branches with it and it's edge had no damage. Can't say the same for other knives I've used in it's price range. I highly recommend it!
r1e6fc.jpg
 
seanuhthin said:
Oh... and if your going to tell me to research, I already have, I have spent a lot of time figuring out which one I want and when there are this many possibilities its impossible....
Click to expand...

Nobody here is going to be able to read your mind and figure out what the best knife for YOU is. Pick some out that you like and we can maybe give you the pros and cons or some first hand experience, but you're really going to have to narrow it down a bit first on your own.

Otherwise if this thread goes on long enough, every single Spyderco and Benchmade product will eventually get recommended, and you will be right back where you started.

Since everybody is posting their favourites, I will too:

Spyderco Sage
Benchmade 940
 
Here's the edge on my Salt after cutting hundreds of briars and green tree branches off hiking trails. I've used it daily for about 8 months now. It seems to wear really well and it's never rolled. This one I got off EBay NIB for forty something bucks and I can use it hard and not worry too much about it for that price. Turns out it can take it anyway.
sn1oc9.jpg
 
i have grip 550hg & love it.also has axis lock witch just about anyone will agree is superior & key selling point.about $20 more than endura but worth it. endura also great knife.bought two.
 
My first suggestion to you is buy the best knife you can afford. Look at it this way, a good knife will last for the rest of your life, so what's a few dollars over that time.

That being said, everyone has their upper limit, so you have to determine that. For many people that's around $100, so I'll base my recommendation on that level.

The Spyderco Sage is an excellent fairly new model that in my opinion, is in the top ten folders out there now in its price range.

Every aspect is designed to be an excellent EDC. It's light and has a relatively slim handle made textured carbon fiber for good grip. The steel is excellent CPMS30V which retains an edge well. It's a slick opener and the thumbhole works as well or better than most thumbstuds.

The wire clip is unusual but it serves it's purpose, to allow pocket carry without being too noticeable.

Although CPM S30V isn't "rust proof", it is more resistant to corrosion than either 154CM or 440HC. Even these steels won't rust unless you leave them exposed to the elements and never wipe them down.

What I've learned in buying knives is don't skimp on a small price difference of say $20-$30. Get the knife you really want, instead of settling.
 
I have an orange griptilian and a waved endura and a delica 4. They all get rotated into the EDC, sometimes together (usually 2 knives per day) and I love all of them. They are great knives and you can't go wrong with either. The griptilian is the most heavy duty, hands down.
 
My favourite Spyderco is the ZDP-189 Caly Jr. If you have the tools necessary to sharpen (read: diamond stones) ZDP-189, it's an absolutely magnificent slicer.

I do have a serrated Paramilitary that can stand up to much more hard use though, but for EDC purpoess, Caly Jr is awesome.
 
Favorite Spyderco: Military
Favorite Benchmade: 520 (and I just sold it, tells you how attached to the thing I was)

For Florida conditions, I would lean heavily towards the Pacific Salt. I don't know of any other company making rust proof folders other then Spyderco. Light weight and slim, but very strong and durable. Jill I see has posted her pictures.
 
I have a Salt 1 that I now use as a boat knife in the Gulf of Mexico. That being said, I don't find it holds an edge all that well. It will get shaving sharp and I open a couple envelops or cut the tape on a few packages and it will barely shave anymore. It might be able to be usable for awhile but I like my knives to be shaving sharp.

I really like the AXIS lock and 154CM steel seems to hold an edge quite a bit better than the H1. The griptilian would get my pick. Although I think I would upgrade and get a Benchmade Rift but thats just me. For spyderco you might find the endura to be pretty big. The caly3 is a great EDC knife and the Stretch is a little bigger and about to come out in FRN and ZDP.

Just some thoughts and experiences.
 
The Spyderco Military is hands down the best folder of either maker. I wish they would make something with the exact same lock, fit and finish, and svelte closed package... it would be a real winner. The Millie is my fav, but with such grey (and total BS) laws it could cause some unwanted attention. When I go back to TX for the winter/spring I will most likely pick up another one... SUCH a great piece. I LOVE my Sebenza and all... but as far as a knife that costs well less than half of probably the best knife ever made (seb) ...the Millie sure is close!

The Para matches the Millie in many ways, but is missing a KEY factor for me... the closed package. The main reason for the folding design is to make the knife a more easily carried package. The Para cannot compare with the Millie in this way.
 
My waved and double edged Spyderco Police G10.

l_b0163a9d99df4805b6da73a67a7e94de.jpg


Carrying it today. My wife had me make a $2200 deposit at her bank down the road. I was on foot with all that in $50's so I carried something nasty. BTW, the knife's name is "Something Nasty".
 
archieblue said:
The Para matches the Millie in many ways, but is missing a KEY factor for me... the closed package. The main reason for the folding design is to make the knife a more easily carried package. The Para cannot compare with the Millie in this way.
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I don't own either knife yet,but have a para on the way :).So I'm just wondering why/how the para is missing a key factor in the closed package,and how it can't compare with the millie in that way?
Other then the tang that some people say is a pain,when reaching into the pocket.

I figure that with the para being smaller it would be easier to carry?
 
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