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- Oct 5, 2006
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Schrade vs. Benchmade Tactical Pen Review
Introduction
I picked up the second generation of Schrade's Tactical Pen recently and was pleasantly surprised with the build quality. It originates from Taiwan and is very well made from CNC machined 6061 hard-anodized aluminum, just like my much more expensive Benchmade Tactical Pen. The Schrade has an MSRP of $39.99 and sells for about half that at our favorite online retailers. The US made Benchmade has an MSRP of $130 and sells online for about $110.
Fit & Finish
Unlike my Benchmade, however, the Schrade has a screw-on cap. It also has a rounded Kuboton style tip, rather than the tapered point on the Benchmade and looks less like a weapon. Where the Benchmade comes through, however, is in the fit and finish. Much more machining was put into the piece including extensive knurling on the cap and barrel and tapered grooves that run the length of the barrel. Even though the cap just snaps on and it weighs less than the Schrade (1.3 vs. 1.6 oz.), the Benchmade feels more solid. The perfectionists among us might also be disappointed to find that when the Schrade cap is snug, the flat clip doesn't line up with the flat part of the barrel. It is not aesthetically pleasing and I tend to think Benchmade would have nailed that detail.
In Use
The Schrade is the better pen. It is about 5.75" long, while the Benchmade is 5.25" long. The extra length helps make the Schrade the more comfortable. It's smooth surface is also more comfortable than the sharp-edged Benchmade. The Benchmade, however, ships with a pressurized Fisher cartridge, known for writing upside down and in difficult conditions. The Schrade ships with a Hauser ink cartridge that writes smoothly.
I'll leave it to others to decide which is the better self defense tool.
Conclusions
I think this is a comparison where you get what you pay for. The Schrade is a great $22 pen. The Benchmade is a great $110 pen. When I was looking at the Schrade in a brick-and-mortar store, I mentioned to the proprietor that I had a Benchmade pen. He said that he did too, but didn't carry it every day because he didn't want to lose something that expensive, so the Schrade was his every day carry. The choice is yours.
Introduction
I picked up the second generation of Schrade's Tactical Pen recently and was pleasantly surprised with the build quality. It originates from Taiwan and is very well made from CNC machined 6061 hard-anodized aluminum, just like my much more expensive Benchmade Tactical Pen. The Schrade has an MSRP of $39.99 and sells for about half that at our favorite online retailers. The US made Benchmade has an MSRP of $130 and sells online for about $110.
Fit & Finish
Unlike my Benchmade, however, the Schrade has a screw-on cap. It also has a rounded Kuboton style tip, rather than the tapered point on the Benchmade and looks less like a weapon. Where the Benchmade comes through, however, is in the fit and finish. Much more machining was put into the piece including extensive knurling on the cap and barrel and tapered grooves that run the length of the barrel. Even though the cap just snaps on and it weighs less than the Schrade (1.3 vs. 1.6 oz.), the Benchmade feels more solid. The perfectionists among us might also be disappointed to find that when the Schrade cap is snug, the flat clip doesn't line up with the flat part of the barrel. It is not aesthetically pleasing and I tend to think Benchmade would have nailed that detail.
In Use
The Schrade is the better pen. It is about 5.75" long, while the Benchmade is 5.25" long. The extra length helps make the Schrade the more comfortable. It's smooth surface is also more comfortable than the sharp-edged Benchmade. The Benchmade, however, ships with a pressurized Fisher cartridge, known for writing upside down and in difficult conditions. The Schrade ships with a Hauser ink cartridge that writes smoothly.
I'll leave it to others to decide which is the better self defense tool.
Conclusions
I think this is a comparison where you get what you pay for. The Schrade is a great $22 pen. The Benchmade is a great $110 pen. When I was looking at the Schrade in a brick-and-mortar store, I mentioned to the proprietor that I had a Benchmade pen. He said that he did too, but didn't carry it every day because he didn't want to lose something that expensive, so the Schrade was his every day carry. The choice is yours.
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