I talked a little bit already about the Benchmade balisongs (the BM42 and BM32 Morpho), but Benchmade’s main competitor Spyderco also makes some balisongs or “butterfly” knives.

The first that Spyderco made was the Spyderfly.

The Spyderfly has stainless steel handles which give it a heavier feel than the BM42 and BM32 Morpho. The BM42 has titanium handles, which are very light. The BM32 Morpho has G-10 scales on titanium liners, and are also very light. That makes for easy flipping and very little hand pain. However, it is harder to generate speed and momentum with lighter handles. The heavier stainless steel handles of the Spyderfly are great for fast flipping. However, they can wear down on the hand a bit.

Many butterfly knives or “balisongs” are made to be flipped or for self defense. They have long blades and therefore long handles to fit the long blades. However, these long, skinny, often clippless knives are not always the best for EDC, or for utility work. The Benchmade Morpho is a unique take on the balisong that takes a more EDC-oriented utility slant on the design, and uses some of the trendy materials from tactical folders.

The Benchmade BM42 is considered by many to the the standard balisong or “butterfly knife” comercially available. Benchmade used to be called Pacific Cutlery and their logo said “Bali-Song”. The logo itself was even a butterfly. So it is easy to see why, in the world of production knives, the venerable Benchmade is the standard.

The Benchmade BM42 has a 154CM blade (formally 440C), and titanium handles. The titanium handles are very light, which is a plus in many mind’s, however, some prefer heavier handles for flipping.

This is a topic that comes up often on various knife forums. Which company is better, Benchmade or Spyderco? It is one of those questions that cannot really be answered because it comes down to personal preference, but it is fun to talk about.

A classic Spyderco and a classic Benchmade:

Benchmade and Spyderco have different things goes for them. Spyderco is all about spartan designs that are practical and ergonomic above being styish. Many Spyderco knives are traditionally ugly, but extremely functional and inexpensive. This makes them beautiful to the trained eye. Benchmade knives are functional and well-made, but tend to be a little more impressive visually. For example, look at the stunning Benchmade Skirmish (designed by Neil Blackwood):