Seeing double? Not fairly. Nevertheless, the MKC Sharptailed appears suspiciously like one in all our favourite knives ever, the Benchmade Flyway. What we now have listed below are two upland knives with related builds and really related appears, tasked with the identical specialty.
Certain, I might offer you a straight-up assessment of the Sharptailed and skirt across the elephant within the room, however I don’t prefer to function that approach. To an untrained eye, these appear to be the very same knife. Although they’re extremely related, there are some variations that even took me a bit to determine.
So, who comes out on prime of the battle between our favourite upland/paring knife, the Benchmade Flyway ($200), and the brand new child on the block, MKC Sharptailed ($275)?
In brief: With out gifting away the winner proper up entrance, Benchmade Flyway and MKC Sharptailed are each actually high quality upland knives. There are some value and materials variations, some hand really feel preferences, and little particulars which may simply set one over the opposite. So, who takes dwelling the highest prize?
The Specs: MKC Sharptailed vs. Benchmade Flyway
-
Design
Full tang mounted blade -
Metal
MagnaCut Stainless Metal -
Deal with
G10 -
Blade size
2.875″ -
Blade thickness
0.110″ -
Total size
7.125″ -
Weight
1.87 oz.
-
Design
Full tang mounted blade -
Metal
CPM-154 -
Deal with
G10 -
Blade size
2.70″ -
Blade thickness
0.09″ -
Size
6.96″ -
Weight
2.10 oz.
At First Look
Proper off the bat, you possibly can see the similarities between the knives. With out trying up specs, seeing the 2 on the shelf would doubtless lead most of us to seize the one that gives a $75 financial savings over the opposite (the Benchmade). I imply, in the true world, that $75 financial savings might purchase you a second knife altogether.
Nevertheless, the reply to that is likely to be so simple as materials composition and firm dimension. MKC remains to be a comparatively small firm, with all knives made in Montana and the entire supplies 100% sourced within the U.S.
Benchmade is clearly a bigger firm, with knives made in Oregon. The metal used within the Flyway can also be American metal.
The particular metal materials used is probably going the largest reply to the value distinction. Extra on that to comply with.
Sheath Variations
The Flyway comes with a Boltaron sheath, whereas the Sharptailed comes with a Kydex sheath. Should you don’t dig into the minuscule variations between the 2 supplies, you’ll by no means be capable of inform the distinction.
They’re each thermo-molded plastic. I’ll say that I just like the flare of the Benchmade sheath barely extra. It provides you a basis to pop your knife out with out doing the total hand seize.
The MKC sheath does have a clip that’s virtually as huge because the sheath itself, although.
Hand Really feel
In hand, the MKC Sharptailed feels a bit lighter, has a a lot slimmer deal with, and has a slight edge in whole size. The Benchmade Flyway boasts extra heft, with a bigger-bellied deal with, giving it a fuller palm really feel.
There’s some historic bias to this preliminary hand really feel. Partly as a result of I’ve a number of of those knives, the Benchmade Flyway felt extra comfy in my hand. I exploit them within the discipline and as paring knives in my kitchen, as does GearJunkie’s Editorial Director, Sean McCoy.
They’re in my hand usually and have that acquainted match I’m simply used to at this level. Nevertheless, that consolation shifted a bit the extra I had the Sharptailed in hand. The longer, slimmer deal with, grippy ridges, and extra aggressive handle-to-blade transition groove felt a bit safer within the hand.
Satan within the Particulars
Now, a have a look at the small print to interrupt it down past the primary date.
Supplies: Winner MKC Sharptailed
Each knives have G10 handles accessible in quite a lot of shades. Each knives have full-tang stonewash, chrome steel building. However that’s the place the fabric similarities finish.
The largest distinction between these two knives comes all the way down to metal. The Benchmade Flyway is constructed with CMP-154 chrome steel, whereas the MKC Sharptailed is constructed with MagnaCut chrome steel. Each are nice supplies, however MagnaCut has a transparent edge (pun meant) over CPM-154.
It’s tougher, and it has higher edge retention and better corrosion resistance. It is likely to be a bit more durable to sharpen, however that’s its solely downfall when in comparison with CPM-154 (apart from value).
Construct, Form, Particulars: Toss Up
I hate not giving a tough win right here, however pay attention: all of it comes all the way down to desire. The MKC might need a little bit of an higher hand, however that’s simply my very slight opinion. Each knives have a tie/clip gap for attachment and G10 deal with supplies.
Other than that, there are some notable variations.
MKC Sharptailed: Longer, Lighter, Thicker, Extra Aggressive Blade
The extra I exploit the MKC Sharptailed, the extra I desire the texture in my hand to the Flyway. That being mentioned, I’ve small arms and like the lengthy, slender deal with. It’s longer and lighter (each by a tiny margin) and has a thicker blade.
The tip is a little more pronounced than the Flyway, giving extra precision when doing the element work that usually comes together with breasting out upland birds. The extra pronounced finger pocket between the heel of the blade and the deal with provides a way of safety that I’m not going to slide as simply and find yourself slicing my finger.
Ridging towards the butt of the deal with is surprisingly grippy, even when moist. It’s not only for appears. These ridges seize.
Benchmade Flyway: Full Hand Really feel, Severe Jimping, a Bit Extra Heft
The Flyway feels heftier, which is likely to be far preferable to these utilizing a dainty knife. It’s only a hair shorter and has a barely thinner blade than the Sharptailed.
Actually, it’s all concerning the jimping on the subject of the Flyway. The fingertip jimping on the blade’s backbone affords a safe spot for the index finger when doing element work, whereas the full-length deal with part jimping provides you a greater thumb grip when shifting the knife for the extra aggressive cuts.
The backbone form, at first look, seems completely straight, however it does really drop towards the tip ever so barely.
The total stomach of the deal with is probably going an enormous bonus to these with larger arms who need that fullness for safety in hand. The deal with midsection even has a little bit of a peak ridge that catches the thumb and feels substantial, in a great way.
What Every Knife Might Do Higher
Each of those knives are superior. I’ve liked the Benchmade Flyway since day one and nonetheless do. There are two in my kitchen as proper now and one in my hen vest. I pulled the clip off the Sharptailed sheath (it was simply an excessive amount of), and it joined my Flyway in my upland equipment.
Now, so far as what every knife might do higher — in an ideal world, I’d mix the 2.
I’d find it irresistible if the Flyway had a bit higher edge retention. I discover myself having to sharpen it usually. My orange Flyway has seen dings within the blade tip that I want didn’t occur so usually with common use. I additionally want to see that transition from deal with to blade have a sharper transition angle to forestall unfavourable blade/finger interactions.
On the opposite facet, I want the Sharptailed had backbone jimping for a greater grip. I additionally would additionally prefer to see the ridge particulars discovered towards the butt finish of the hand additionally included towards the blade finish of the deal with. This could give a bit extra traction when actually “getting in there” in slippery conditions.
MKC Sharptailed vs. Benchmade Flyway: Verdict
Each corporations provide lifetime sharpening on American-made knives which are each rad so as to add to any assortment.
In the case of availability, you possibly can virtually at all times discover the Benchmade Flyway in inventory. With MKC, you might need a tougher time getting your arms on a Sharptailed. The model is understood for not at all times having knives in inventory.
In the case of value, you’ll get monetary savings on the Flyway, however you get better-quality metal with the Sharptailed.
In the long run, as a lot because it virtually pains me to say this as a result of the Benchmade Flyway is one in all my favourite knives, I’d spend the additional $75 on the Sharptailed. The elevated edge retention and the little particulars within the deal with construct give it simply the slightest edge over the Flyway.
That mentioned, in the event you want that additional money in your pocket and also you don’t thoughts extra frequent sharpenings, the Flyway remains to be an superior knife that I’ll nonetheless favor in my kitchen darn close to daily.
