Chaparral LW vs. (new) BM Mini Bugout

[u.w.]

Another issue for me is that BM runs their steel soft.

Wow, that made me laugh out loud. I know they (Benchmade) have run SOME of their steels "soft", but their S30V? I have not ever heard that, nor have I experienced it with the few (yes, bugouts) Benchmade knives I own. In fact, I've experienced quite the opposite with Benchmade's S30V; that being either same hardness or slightly harder. For the knives I've had with that steel, Spyderco and Benchmades, I prefer Benchmades S30V. In my hand, my use, my sharpening, with the two examples of each I've had/have - the S30V on the Benchmades works/seems better.
That said, I like Spyderco knives more because of that thumb hole, but not their S30V steel in the two knives I've had in that steel (Ikutchi and Sage 5). I was.... underwhelmed by the S30V in those two that I had.
Worth stating here, I intend / mean no disrespect. Simply answering to your post with my own in hand experience. Benchmade S30V steel run soft? No, at least not in my experience, or any of the folks I know either.

I will be getting one of the orange mini bugouts - though I do wish it had a thumb hole. I've made a few posts inquiring about Spyderco making a "Hyker" model... A few folks have replied in agreements. Perhaps in time...
Seems it's about a two year turn around from idea and commit to for sale, so...

u.w.

[abbazaba]

Another issue for me is that BM runs their steel soft.

Benchmades S30v has been awesome for me as well, and their M4 was tested and confirmed to be spot on. The only complaint I've heard recently was their 3v being soft on the Bailout.

[Doc Dan]

Not dismissing BM as a bad company, but they ha e had the reputation for running their steels, including S30V, softer than other companies. It makes the knives easier to sharpen. I have quite a number of their knives in various steels and none are as hard as I get from other makers based on use and sharpening. They have their own philosophy for their knife steels, which is different than Spyderco.

[phaust]

For me the pros of each are:

Chap: Spydie hole, steel, slightly cheaper

Mini Bugout: No choil, Axis lock, edge to handle ratio, weight (even the full size Bugout beats the Chap in weight despite an extra inch of edge), deep carry clip (and free clip replacements), slightly thinner handle

[TomAiello]

I prefer the thumb hole and the finger choil by a wide margin. But I also prefer the bolt action locks by a wide margin. Decisions...

[kodai78]

I own several Benchmades, but I quit buying them because Spydies are better in the hand. I know that’s a very broad generalization, but ergos are better on my Spydies for me. I have handled a Bugout briefly and did not care for it because of the feel and the balance. The Chapparal is close to pocket perfection and the steel beats S30V. Any handle flex makes me nervous. If weight is not your primary priority the Chapparal wins in every other way.

[Wartstein]

....

So I guess my question is, should I go for the Chap in CTS-XHP or the Mini Bug in S30V?

Hope you´ll share which one you got in the end (and that it will be the Chap... :D ) and how you like it!

[dmcblade]

****, thanks for all the replies! Did not expect to get this kind of response. And thanks for the welcome Sal!

After much thought, I'm leaning towards the Chap. I love Spyderco and bought my first one (C26SBK Snap-it) decades ago. Since then I've owned a DF in G-10, and my current carry, a DF2 wharncliffe. I just love the Spyderco aesthetics and functionality. Granted, those I know who have a BM love them, but none of them have owned a Spyderco. The Mini BO may be a great knife, but I don't love the colors or the handle material (w/o liners no less). And I think their price is a bit high for what you get.

[ChrisinHove]

****, thanks for all the replies! Did not expect to get this kind of response. And thanks for the welcome Sal!

After much thought, I'm leaning towards the Chap. I love Spyderco and bought my first one (C26SBK Snap-it) decades ago. Since then I've owned a DF in G-10, and my current carry, a DF2 wharncliffe. I just love the Spyderco aesthetics and functionality. Granted, those I know who have a BM love them, but none of them have owned a Spyderco. The Mini BO may be a great knife, but I don't love the colors or the handle material (w/o liners no less). And I think their price is a bit high for what you get.

Did you ask the same question on the BM forum?

[SpyderNut]

I love the Axis lock and I like the looks of the Mini-Bugout. I’ll probably get one before too long. The regular Bugout is cool, but never spoke to me enough to actually buy it. I keep waiting for the day when I see a Spyderco with an Axis lock. That would be sweet. :D

Welcome to the forum, DMCBlades.

[dmcblade]

Chaparral LW has been ordered (KSF)! Thanks again everyone for the input.

As for the mini BO? I think I'll wait for the price to drop (if it ever will) and for them to offer more understated color combos.

[TomAiello]

I love the Axis lock and I like the looks of the Mini-Bugout. I’ll probably get one before too long. The regular Bugout is cool, but never spoke to me enough to actually buy it. I keep waiting for the day when I see a Spyderco with an Axis lock. That would be sweet. :D

I'm not convinced the Axis lock is any better than the original Bolt Action lock that is on the Sage. I feel like they're both a little smoother than the CBBL, but I actually like the CBBL better because it seems to have a stronger close bias for me. I've had a Benchmade Axis lock come open accidentally, but never a CBBL.

[phaust]

I love the Axis lock and I like the looks of the Mini-Bugout. I’ll probably get one before too long. The regular Bugout is cool, but never spoke to me enough to actually buy it. I keep waiting for the day when I see a Spyderco with an Axis lock. That would be sweet. :D

I'm not convinced the Axis lock is any better than the original Bolt Action lock that is on the Sage. I feel like they're both a little smoother than the CBBL, but I actually like the CBBL better because it seems to have a stronger close bias for me. I've had a Benchmade Axis lock come open accidentally, but never a CBBL.

I don't think the boss(late edit: typo, that should say "bias") is inherent to a lock style but the result of implementation in the spring.

There are people who've lightened their CBBL springs, and I bet the close bias is lessened as a result. I can say from first hand experience that if you make the Axis spring out of thicker wire that the close bias increases.

Just goes to show how much work Spyderco does towards getting those little things right :spyder:

[JuPaul]

****, thanks for all the replies! Did not expect to get this kind of response. And thanks for the welcome Sal!

After much thought, I'm leaning towards the Chap. I love Spyderco and bought my first one (C26SBK Snap-it) decades ago. Since then I've owned a DF in G-10, and my current carry, a DF2 wharncliffe. I just love the Spyderco aesthetics and functionality. Granted, those I know who have a BM love them, but none of them have owned a Spyderco. The Mini BO may be a great knife, but I don't love the colors or the handle material (w/o liners no less). And I think their price is a bit high for what you get.

Did you ask the same question on the BM forum?

Are you implying that we here might be biased???

[captnvegtble]

I've only ever bought one Benchmade; the Bugout. I love the blade, ergonomics, thin profile... but I will never buy another Benchmade. In the first 12-18 months of owning the Bugout I've had three warranty issues, including needing to send it in twice. Once for a bent clip and twice more for broken omega springs. That's with only light-moderate carry over that time. Compare that to the fact that I own a few dozen Spydercos and have never had to return one for warranty issues.

[VooDooChild]

Yeah. Omega springs have always seemed like the achiles heel of the design to me. Plenty of people have said they have never had a problem with them. But others have said they have and it puts me off. Plus I dont like that you need a cutout area to house those springs that can trap dirt and stuff.

[Wartstein]

I've only ever bought one Benchmade; the Bugout. I love the blade, ergonomics, thin profile... but I will never buy another Benchmade. In the first 12-18 months of owning the Bugout I've had three warranty issues, including needing to send it in twice. Once for a bent clip and twice more for broken omega springs. That's with only light-moderate carry over that time. Compare that to the fact that I own a few dozen Spydercos and have never had to return one for warranty issues.

Yeah. Omega springs have always seemed like the achiles heel of the design to me. Plenty of people have said they have never had a problem with them. But others have said they have and it puts me off. Plus I dont like that you need a cutout area to house those springs that can trap dirt and stuff.

Right, the Omega springs on my Minigrip (though seldom carried then, almost never nowadays) broke twice on me.

But I have to say BM has a really good customer service: They sent replacement springs to me (and I live in Europe) for free (twice), and it really was not too hard to install these springs.

[SpyderNut]

I love the Axis lock and I like the looks of the Mini-Bugout. I’ll probably get one before too long. The regular Bugout is cool, but never spoke to me enough to actually buy it. I keep waiting for the day when I see a Spyderco with an Axis lock. That would be sweet. :D

I'm not convinced the Axis lock is any better than the original Bolt Action lock that is on the Sage. I feel like they're both a little smoother than the CBBL, but I actually like the CBBL better because it seems to have a stronger close bias for me. I've had a Benchmade Axis lock come open accidentally, but never a CBBL.

Agreed. I wouldn’t say that the Axis is any better than the Bolt Action or CBBL, but I just like how easily it disengages. I also like the BBL, but it I always seem to have difficulty disengaging it with one hand.