The Difference Between An Expensive Knife vs Cheap Knockoff: Spyderco vs Ganzo

Have you ever wanted to know the difference between a cheap knife and an expensive one? Are cheap knives any good? A clone knife versus the original design? This is the ultimate comparison, between a nice Spyderco Para Military 2 and a Ganzo G732 clone. I compare ergonomics, blade steel, deployment, and more. I hope this helps decide if buying the real deal is worth the money. The Ganzo G732 isn’t a perfect copy, as the differences are mostly cosmetic- but the overall design and care to the details of the Spyderco Para Military 2 as soon as you hold both. And after you're done watching, go check out the orignal reviews I did of both of these knives.

Spyderco Para Military 2 review:

Ganzo G732 review:

And yes The Spyderco is much nicer than it's cheap clone.

Update/Correction: The Ganzo G729 might be a bit more similar to the PM2 as a clone than the G732 in this video. But the G729 still has just about as heavy as this Ganzo. It also doesn't have a compression lock, the the jimping near the blade is also similar to this, and the liner still isn't recessed or skeletonized. There are still quite a few difference between the G729 and the PM2. Thanks to subscribers for pointing this out.

[scrubking]

the issue isn't if the expensive knives are better. we know that, for the most part, they are. the question is if the quality difference justifies paying 9x more. for the most part i would say no.

[metalkingconqueror]

The Ganzo G732 is an Endura clone, not a PM2 clone. The Ganzo G729/30 is the PM2 clone (axis/liner lock)

[olafkliemt]

most people never push their blades to the edge, so Ganzo's 440C is well tempered and doing a decent enough job for most of us. the price difference doesn't justify the small super-steel benefit for me.

[thenob]

Actually prefer the ganzo because of the price. 180€ vs 16€. If spyderco were like 80€ then it would be awesome knife for its price.

[josephpardue]

I have several Spyderco knives and several Ganzo knives. I have the Ganzo G729 in the camo. Big difference is the axis lock on the Ganzo actually works well. The other differences are minimal in consideration. The 440C blade steel is fine for what I need. The shape and size of the blade are very similar to my PM2. The blade grind are the same flat grind and both are great slicers. I paid $17 bucks for the Ganzo and $125 for the PM2. If I lose or break Ganzo, no big deal, Not so with the PM2. Ganzo will be carried more because of that one fact.

[ComUnSas]

Personally, I'm not convinced that the cost of supersteels adds as much to the production cost of knives as the manufacturers would have us think. As for the Ganzos getting dull quicker, yes usually, but a few seconds stropping on the back of a belt or a very fine stone, rather than sharpening, usually does the trick. Not a great effort in the scheme of things.

[jesseyules]

Why would anyone dislike a video in this series? This channel needs less knife fans and more comedy fans.

[misteragb]

Just the fact they are comparable says enough to me

[evildead]

I like spyderco, but I just cant support them anymore they charge way to much for basic bitch g10 and s30v, just super overpriced. Great comparions by the way.

[ATechReviewsKnives]

The real question is if PM2 will hold it's edge longer than 10 Ganzos.
That's a video I'd like to see :)
Thanks Bro, awesome content!

[MrLewisTan]

Great vid. Thank you for spending the money and doing an honest comparison. I find the comments on this video pretty interesting. More of a split than i expected. The pm2 is an expesive knife and the ganzo seems to be a great cheap alternative.

I think if someone can afford the pm2, that is definitely the one they should get. The reason for the cost is mainly the cost to spyderco to produce. The pm2, being one of their flagship models, is american made. And the quality is unquestioned. It cost a company good money to retain skilled american workers. For cheap mass production style knives, it requires a lot less training from a manufacturer point and i bet the quality guidelines are a lot looser. This isnt a "support american jobs" argument. This is a support quality and skill argument. For example i love Reate knives which is a chinese owned and made knife company. Their prices are just as high as spyderco.

The ganzo clone is objectively a better value. No question on the usability and servicable nature of it. But all that doesnt mean the pm2 isnt worth its price in a head to head comparison.

[BirdShotIV]

Excellent comparison and another quality video! Headed over to your Instagram, keep up the good work.

[Airikbibles]

Its funny cause Ganzo could just make a few adjustments and have a much better knife. They are amazing for $17 Esp for guys who just dont give a crap about flippers, like myself😉

[desnd]

I’ll take the Ganzo all day! Can’t stand paying hundreds on a damn knife.

[rangerbravo]

Big bias here. I have both. Which do i use more? Ganzo. Why? It's cheap enough that I would use it to do things you shouldn't use knives for. Any it does NOT break. It's easy to sharpen and costs 10 times less than a PM2. It takes no time to sharpen 440c but quite some time with the PM2.

[SirWalterSansRien]

Ultimately I think high quality knives are a luxury good just like luxury cars. If you are trying to do the math on a knife then just don't get one. No it will never be "10x better" than a cheap knife in almost any quantitative, measurable dimension. And if you are someone that is losing or destroying their knife all the time then obviously you shouldn't get one either. However if you can have a nice thing without destroying your finances, well, maybe get the nice thing. People with nice knives or nice cars tend to have some artistic passion for them. They aren't doing it because they last "10x longer" or drive "10x faster". I think you agree with me here but I am just ranting. The exception of course is products that literally fall apart in your hands because they are such defective pieces of garbage, but that is generally a low bar to surpass before you can find more reliable stuff.

[jeffk]

So, the question would be: Is the Spyderco better? Sure!

Is it 10 times better, though? Doubtful.

[dfcvda]

Ganzo knives are awesome, spyderco knives are awesome...just over priced.

[ComUnSas]

Ganzo has started putting out knives with milled liners. They're catching up. And this probably isn't news but the price differential is nearer 15 times outside of the US.

[DinnerForkTongue]

That still doesn't discourage me from purchasing a few Ganzos. For how much I'd pay for a Spyderco, not being american and all, I certainly don't mind the lesser ergonomics and grounds to practice my sharpening.

Hell, for how much a Spyderco folder goes, I'd much rather get a fixed blade knife. I'm not paying over 100 dollars on a folder of all blades.