Thursday, April 14, 2011

Benchmade VS Spyderco

People ask, “What should I buy?  Spyderco Delica or Benchmade Mini-Griptilian?”

Good question, and as of now I don’t know which I would recommend, the Delica or the Mini-Griptilian.

First let’s ignore price.  It isn’t that I don’t want to get embroiled with deutschmarks, yen or dollars, but really,  the difference in money isn’t that much.

Also let’s ignore the stud option on the Griptilian.  That’s one less factor to compare.


Delica
Mini-Griptilian
Handle
Flat, easy to nestle in pocket
Round, more natural feel
Lock
Spine, requires changing grip
Axis, just needs a free thumb
Clip
Movable to all 4 positions
Movable, left or right only
Steel
VG-10
154 CM, option of 440C
Weight
2.5 oz
2.56 oz
Blade Length
2.87 in
2.9 in
Handle length
4.25 in
3.87in

Well, that certainly makes it easier, right?  

Benchmade Mini-Griptillian with the cool reptile shaped blade


Truthfully, no.  I like the natural feel of the Mini-Griptilian.  The handle swell fits my hand and my wife’s hand equally well.  I like the flat thin Delica as it fits my pockets better.  Both knives open well but the Mini-Griptilian has a slightly smoother opening and a much better closing.
I prefer tip-up carry and I match the knife to either right or left pocket.  Either knife works for me.

Blade length?  If I can’t get most of the jobs done with either blade length, then the job calls for a specialized knife.

Weight?  If you can tell the difference between the knives based on weight, you are one sensitive dude.

I’m not a steel junkie.  Yes, there are some very special steels that give you incrementally better performance, but could you tell in the double blind cutting test?  I’d wager you could with sophisticated testing equipment.  By hand?  Nope!

Spyderco Delica

So where does this leave me?  I gotta go Spyderco.  Mostly for emotional reasons, these knives are tied to me.  The Delica was my first tactical knife.  My first published article was about a Spyderco.  My favorite tactical teacher carried Spyderco.  The first knife I gave my wife was a Spyderco.  And most important, they are completely dependable.

Benchmade, it’s a great knife.  My wife carries them and loves them.  So it remains your choice.  If you can’t decide, well, that’s nature’s way of saying buy them both.

Mini-reptile, not Griptilian.   Hard to fit in pocket or open

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have chosen a slightly different route, the SPYDERCO Delica with the Emerson opening feature. All the pluses of the Delica, and much faster to deploy. I have carried a Delica since they started making them and the C11GYW is the BEST one yet.

Wedgehead30 said...

"Benchmade vs. Spyderco", that's like asking me which of my three kids I love the most. I love both Spydees and Benchies. My first duty knife was an Endura with the molded in pocket clip. That knife served me well for 10+ years. It cut quite a few seatbelts in it's time on duty. My EDC is a well worn Benchmade tanto. The blade has been sharpened so much that it's now a modified clip point! Great knife! My advice, GET BOTH!

knife said...

I can't disagree with either statements. You really can't go wrong with either knife. The prices aren't that different and both will serve you well.

Thanks guys!
The Knife guy

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