2023 Catalog

Silent H said:
They did that in last year's catalog too. I think they met less than 50% of those goals. The OM and Immunity families were supposed to be released this past summer, now they're part of the 2023 collection.
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And the prices were increased. 2950BK from 260 to 325, the 2900 from 270 to 325 and the 290 from 250 to 300.
It seems that Benchmade had problems with the anodizing. The gray is now missing as a color and the green also looks different from the 2022 versions.




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Silent H said:
Meh, I still don't understand why they put a non-stainless steel in an OTF. And why change the taggedout from a thumb hole to a thumbstud?

How is it that a company that had the exclusive rights to the Axis lock for so long couldn't figure out how to make a functional manual flipper in 20+ years, but now multiple companies have figured it out in the past few years?
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If I wanted a flipper, I wouldn’t buy a Benchmade. I don’t really want a flipper, so BM not having them is no biggie to me.
 
Some nice designs but BM's prices have gotten insane. The number of BM folders over $250 street price now still using S30v steel is impressive and not in a good way. Almost $550 for the Narrows, that's mid-tech pricing.

Taggedout 154CM for $340
Raghorn $280 for S30 in a small fixed blade
Meatcrafter what is essentially a 6" stiff fillet knife for $410 with S45
Crooked River, $290 for S30v
Bushcrafter $290 S30v

There's so many good knife options now with premium steel, G10, Ti handles etc. at those prices and less that at some point they will price themselves out of the market. This isn't 2005 anymore where the big boys were the only ones with high quality and premium materials. They are making ZT's look like bargains now that almost every one of those have 20CV steel.

I value American made but there is a limit to the price increase I'll pay for it, esp. when you can say get Spyderco US made knives better steel under $200, like the Para2/3 etc.

That said as long as people keep paying the price increases, you can hardly blame BM for increasing them until consumers put the brakes on.
 
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ToddM said:
Some nice designs but BM's prices have gotten insane. The number of BM folders over $250 now still using S30v steel is impressive and not in a good way. Almost $550 for the Narrows, that's mid-tech pricing.

Taggedout 154CM for $340
Raghorn $280 for S30 in a small fixed blade
Meatcrafter what is essentially a 6" fixed fillet knife for $410 with S45
Crooked River, $290 for S30v
Bushcrafter $290 S30v

There's so many good knife options now with premium steel, G10, Ti handles etc. at those prices and less that at some point they will price themselves out of the market. This isn't 2005 anymore where the big boys were the only ones with high quality and premium materials. They are making ZT's look like bargains now that almost every one of those have 20CV steel.

I value American made but there is a limit to the price increase I'll pay for it, esp. when you can say get Spyderco US made knives better steel under $200, like the Para2/3 etc.

That said as long as people keep paying the price increases, you can hardly blame BM for increasing them until consumers put the brakes on.
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Unfortunately, I agree with you. I love Benchmade and it was my first high end knife I can't justify the price for these knives and the quality that they are.
 
Me too back in the 90's BM got me started in good knives, still wish I had my 700, and pretty sure somewhere I still have a 975 and Stryker.
 
Another post about my love for Benchmade but confusion/disappointment about their prices, blah blah blah. Still very pretty knives…..will definitely be keeping an eye out on the secondary market ;)
 
ToddM said:
Taggedout 154CM for $340
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The base Taggedout with CPM154 is listed at $200 MSRP, the more expensive ones have S45VN and Magnacut. I don't necessarily disagree with your point, but you got this price wrong.
 
I think Mrs. McGee is right. I really do have Champagne Tastes and a Beer Budget. I sure do like the looks of The Narrows, but the price tag is higher than I am willing to pay.
 
I love the look of the full immunity but am disappointed because of the size, I wish they made it over 3 inches. 2.49" sounds like a mini not a regular size but the "mini" is only 1.9" and the same price, cant imagine paying $300 for a knife that can only slice a cherry tomato.

Its basically a mini bailout with an upside down blade, same materials and everything, including price
 
As a Benchmade fanboy and modest collector, this new catalog is both exciting and disappointing. After processing this catalog for a little while now, i have a number of disjointed and somewhat chaotic ramblings.

The listed prices are, of course, higher than most of us would probably prefer. On top of that, two of the four new models were previously announced but never released (Immunity and Om). Of the other two, the SOCP Fixed is not anything in interested in and the Narrows, while interesting, is priced at quite the premium level. With that said, I'll still be interested in picking up and trying the Narrows once it hits brick and mortars before I decide whether or not it's worth it.

All the new colors for existing models are also fun and exciting, but many are not for me. Alpine Glow and Sea Foam look specifically suited to Sunday Easter carry, not something I would want on me every day. The Crater Blue with FDE hardware is probably my favorite cross-product new color offering and it might just get me to finally buy a Shootout.

The Ivory and OD green on the CLA are nice, but I strongly prefer the textured black and green scales of the 4300-1. Likewise, the Burgundy scales of the new Weekender likely won't get me to buy it or carry it over my 317-1. Of the two new offerings for the Taggedout, the OD green model with orange accents is the more desirable to me, though the thumb studs feel misplaced. Truthfully, I don't know who wants a Tanto or Mini Claymore, but these really don't do anything for me.

With all that said, I will absolutely be buying the new Mini Adamas and Mini Barrage models. The flip flop designs of the Freek and Mini Freek will also likely end up in my collection. The orange accents on the new Grizzly Creek make that knife much more interesting to me and I could really see myself carrying it alongside a Crooked River. And I'll more than likely pick up an Immunity and Narrows after I check them out in person.

I'm surprised at the lack of a new offering for the Redoubt. I really feel like it would greatly benefit from an upgrade to G10 scales. Additionally, I know the Crooked River and Mini Crooked River have plenty of options in the Benchmade Custom Shop, but I would have loved to see a new 2023 exclusive color / material offering.

What I would really love to see Benchmade do in the future is establish a premium color and materials combination - comparable to the new Mini Adamas - for limited runs of fan favorite discontinued models. Offer up the Rukus, 710, Onslaught, Rift, Sequel, 943, Skirmish, Contego, and more as limited runs in a premium steel with exclusive materials and colorings and they will sell out before they hit store shelves.
 
I am happy with the BM folders that I have (710-1401, 535-3, Super Freek, and Presidio 2 which is kind of redundant to me) and do not plan to buy more especially given the price jumps, well maybe a full-size Griptilian with better materials down the road but that's about it.
 
Can we get a 710 in 3v or something cool ???? All I want is a modernized 710 and I would never ask the knife gods for anything else.
 
Fletcher.357 said:
Can we get a 710 in 3v or something cool ???? All I want is a modernized 710 and I would never ask the knife gods for anything else.
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The 710-1401 sported M390, which I would argue is cooler than the 154CM (early) or D2 (later) the original came with. I believe there was also a 710 variant that had M4 at one point.
 
MadeOnABench said:
The 710-1401 sported M390, which I would argue is cooler than the 154CM (early) or D2 (later) the original came with. I believe there was also a 710 variant that had M4 at one
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But I want more of them now. A partially serrated 710 in 3v would be something I would pay whatever for.
 
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