Benchmade Saddle Mountain Skinner compared to Chris Reeve Nyala

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ksmit123

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Jul 26, 2016
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Hi all,

I recently purchased a Benchmade Saddle Mountain Skinner. Which among a number of camping and bushcraft functions would primarily serve as a hunting knife. For skinning, quartering and butchering game animals. I'll clearly state now that I haven't used the Benchmade Skinner yet in a hunting scenario, predominately due to the fact that I may return the knife. For all intensive purposes, I like the knife, particularly the thin, comfortable handle and the double sections of fine jimping and the deep belly.

That being said, I'm having some second thoughts, primarily due to the Chris Reeve Nyala, and if I should have bought the Nyala instead?

I have not handled a CRK Nyala (hence posting this thread) and as such have a few questions pertaining to the Nyala.

What is the width of the handle, at it's widest point?

What is the length of the jimping on the spine?

Does anyone believe the jimping on the spine of the blade is too large?

What are the benefits of the Nyala having a stone washed finish? I know this knife has been on the market for several years now but is every Nyala blade stone washed? I've read some comments that imply that some Nyala blades are NOT stone washed and some are stone washed. Is this true and if so, are the current Nyala models stone washed?

How far out from and around the micarta handle does the tang protrude? Does anyone feel that it protrudes too far, that it's uncomfortable?

Is the Nyala blade heavy or handle heavy?


Those questions aside my primary question is simple; is the CRK Nyala a better hunting knife than the Benchmade Saddle Mountain Skinner and why? I'm well aware the question is very subjective but as a comparison, side by side which is more worthy of owning? Regardless of the price difference and the steel difference. I've read a number of comments that the Nyala quality and finish is very high. The Benchmade Skinner is a fine knife but I have found a number of imperfections.

Has anyone used the Nyala to skin, quarter and or butcher a game animal? Found any issues or concerns?

I would very much appreciate some real world experience and helpful advice.


Regards.
 
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I would bet my life that you will get 100% of responders saying the Nyala is far superior, even if they have never touched or maybe even seen either. That is simply because CRK is thought of MUCH more highly around here than Benchmade. I'm not saying they don't deserve the praise, but I AM saying that I doubt you're going to get the answers you seek, just a lot of "CRK is better, buy the Nyala". Maybe I'm just being negative. The CRK is slightly better steel, IMO, and maybe a little better fit and finish. I think the most important thing is how they fit your hand and how they feel. I would try to handle a Nyala.
 
I've only handled the Benchmade since my buddy got one .Seems like a good deal as it has good steel, nicely designed .The handle is small for my big hand though perfect for my friend. He'svery happy with it.
Stane washed ? Some steels are difficult to polish like S30V so makers went to stone wash. That became common . I hate high polish so any type of matt finish I like better.
 
Alfazulu said:
I would bet my life that you will get 100% of responders saying the Nyala is far superior, even if they have never touched or maybe even seen either. That is simply because CRK is thought of MUCH more highly around here than Benchmade. I'm not saying they don't deserve the praise, but I AM saying that I doubt you're going to get the answers you seek, just a lot of "CRK is better, buy the Nyala". Maybe I'm just being negative. The CRK is slightly better steel, IMO, and maybe a little better fit and finish. I think the most important thing is how they fit your hand and how they feel. I would try to handle a Nyala.
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Hi Alfazulu,

I thought that might be the case. Bias opinions, but I hope someone has owned and used both to give me a more in depth comparison and opinion. The only option for me to be able to handle a Nyala is to purchase one online and then if I don't like it returning it to the shop for a restocking fee. I may try and negotiate an agreement with the shop owner to avoid the restocking fee.
 
With game processing in mind, the Benchmade is the better choice in my opinion. I haven't used either of them extensively, but I've handled both.

The CRK would be my choice for an overall utility knife, but it really wasn't made for hunting. It's just too pointy.

Whereas the Benchmade has a nice, round belly for skinning and extra jimping toward the tip for choking up.

I'd take the money you saved by getting the BM and have a kydex sheath made for it. The Nyala is a great knife, but it's no skinner.
 
Where can you get sheaths for the BM? My son uses this knife for deer but is worried about losing the knife out of the sheath that came with it. By the way, he loves the knife.
 
The Nayala is a great knife, and would make for a great all around(from skinning to quartering) big game knife.

I've never handled the BM SMS, but it looks like it would be a great one too. I don't think you could go wrong with either.

Or you could go with a custom for not that much more. Bob Dozier, Gene Ingram, and Charles May are my favorite hunting knife makers.
 
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I'd say get the Nyala because CRK customer service is second to none. It'll last you a lifetime if taken care of.
 
WHT said:
Where can you get sheaths for the BM? My son uses this knife for deer but is worried about losing the knife out of the sheath that came with it. By the way, he loves the knife.
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Check the knife makers and craftsmen forum. I'm sure someone would be able to make a kydex sheath for it.
 
Ken44 said:
Someone said the Nayala is too pointy, and isn't a skinner. This is not true at all !
Maybe he was thinking of the Insingo Nayala:confused:

The Nayala is a great skinner, and a great all around big game knife(coming from an ex butcher and game processing business owner).
I've never handled the BM SMS, but it looks like it would be a great one too. I don't think you could go wrong with either.
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No, I was talking about the regular Nyala. Perhaps it's just a matter of personal taste, but I like more belly than the Nyala has. Suits my ineptitude better as I'm most certainly not a butcher.
 
T.L.E. Sharp said:
With game processing in mind, the Benchmade is the better choice in my opinion. I haven't used either of them extensively, but I've handled both.

The CRK would be my choice for an overall utility knife, but it really wasn't made for hunting. It's just too pointy.

Whereas the Benchmade has a nice, round belly for skinning and extra jimping toward the tip for choking up.

I'd take the money you saved by getting the BM and have a kydex sheath made for it. The Nyala is a great knife, but it's no skinner.
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Hi T.L.E. Sharp,

Thank you for your input. To be clear, I'm interested in/considering the standard Chris Reeve Nyala. Not the Nyala Insingo.

I do currently own the Benchmade Saddle Mountain Skinner. I do strongly agree regarding the nice round belly of the blade and the extra/second section of jimping is a great feature. Even if I decide to stay with the Saddle Mountain Skinner over the Nyala, I'll be returning this particular Saddle Mountain Skinner that I own as the blade edge is lopsided. An example (among a number) of the imperfections and of the finish not being of a high enough standard.

As I was implying in my inital post, it appears that the minor details, the 1 percenters of the CRK Nyala 'appear' to be brilliant. If the Nyala had the blade design, the nice round belly of the Saddle Mountain Skinner then I would not hesitate purchasing the Nyala. From my research and analysis a round belly design is what the Nyala is severely lacking. Particularly since that it is described as a hunting/skinning knife on the Chris Reeve website, but I'm willing to be proven otherwise. Hence my questions about real world use and feedback.

You wouldn't happen to know the width of the handle, at it's widest point?

Thank you regarding the suggestion for the Kydex sheath.
 
Ken44 said:
Someone said the Nayala is too pointy, and isn't a skinner. This is not true at all !
Maybe he was thinking of the Insingo Nayala:confused:

The Nayala is a great skinner, and a great all around big game knife(coming from an ex butcher and game processing business owner).
I've never handled the BM SMS, but it looks like it would be a great one too. I don't think you could go wrong with either.
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Hi Ken,

Do you own a CRK Nyala or are you just speculating?


Zookie said:
I'd say get the Nyala because CRK customer service is second to none. It'll last you a lifetime if taken care of.
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I agree, customer service and a warranty that a brand/company will actually stand behind is invaluable in today's day and age. Benchmade also have a comprehensive customer service and warranty policy. So it comes back to the knife.
 
I was talking about the regular Nyala as well. I don't know what the handle width is, but I can say that I didn't find it as comfortable as the BM. It was still very nice though and I doubt you'd experience any hot spots or fatigue.

A shame about the F&F on your BM. I didn't notice any real faults with the one I used, but it certainly wasn't a CRK either.

I think the BM is a better design for processing game, but the CRK is a much better knife overall. If you're unhappy with the BM you received and are OK with the higher price tag on the CRK, you're not going to be disappointed with it I assure you.

As a technical exercise though, I still maintain the BM is better suited for processing. Considering all aspects of the knives though, the CRK is a CRK after all. The brand has fanboys for a reason.
 
T.L.E. Sharp said:
I was talking about the regular Nyala as well. I don't know what the handle width is, but I can say that I didn't find it as comfortable as the BM. It was still very nice though and I doubt you'd experience any hot spots or fatigue.

A shame about the F&F on your BM. I didn't notice any real faults with the one I used, but it certainly wasn't a CRK either.

I think the BM is a better design for processing game, but the CRK is a much better knife overall. If you're unhappy with the BM you received and are OK with the higher price tag on the CRK, you're not going to be disappointed with it I assure you.

As a technical exercise though, I still maintain the BM is better suited for processing. Considering all aspects of the knives though, the CRK is a CRK after all. The brand has fanboys for a reason.
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Ok. The Saddle Mountain Skinner handle is very nice and comfortable. There is nothing worse than a hunting knife with a tree trunk for a handle. I have some serious contemplation and weighing up the pros and cons to do.
 
Of course, with all this said... I'd buy a Cold Steel Master Hunter in CPM-3V. Great knife, great handle, great steel, decent sheath, great price.

That or a custom from a maker here on the forum.

Good luck, lol.
 
I find it somewhat odd that you're interested in the Master Hunter. In your previous posts you stated that you didn't like that Nyala because it doesn't have a round enough belly compared to the Saddle Mountain Skinner. From my observations the Master Hunter appears to be less suited to hunting applications than the Nyala.

I'm also not taken by Cold Steel knives.
 
I've read on a few other threads that the Chris Reeve Nyala comes in a coated blade version. Is this correct? Does anyone have any pictures they could upload which would demonstrate the coated blade variant?

Is the coated blade version any more expensive than the standard Nyala?

How durable in the coating? Does it rub off easily or become marked through regular use such as other dark knife coatings?
 
To confound the matter even more, I wouldn't buy either of them. Get a fancy Buck Vanguard or a Bark River Gunny Hunter and be done with it. I use a Vanguard with a plain rubber grip. Under $50, and I doubt you can get a better hunting knife. A version with better steel and sheath will cost more.

Joe
 
Have you looked into a custom knife? For the price of the Nyala you could get a maker to make one to your specs.
 
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