AFCK/M4 Ain't no collecter now

Use it HARD! :D

I haven't ever had a problem with Benchmade's factory edges, but I'd figure that any manufacturer can have a few slip through. It's not like they're sharpened by a machine, and it is only a production knife.
 
The benchmade knives produced in the last year or two have not only been disappointing edge wise to me, but fit and finish seems of lesser quality too. That includes a Rukus, and 3 different CPM M4 knives. The older benchmade knives I have seem to be finished better, including final sharpening. Some are amazing knives.

The older knives I got rid of recently getting ready to buy the new ones are ones that I'll always regret selling, having replaced them ultimately with well engineered but poorly finished knives.

The knives are engineered well, and built of good quality materials but when I get an expensive ( for me) knife that is out of alignment with the blade touching the liner, obtuse grinds of up too 50 to 60 degrees, and messed up G10 I have to wonder what's going on.

During this time I've bought a few Chinese made models like the Ti Pika and found them built very well, and sharper out of the box than blue and black box knives.

I still don't really care for their new sales policy either. The M4 806 is an example. I had gotten on a waiting list pretty early. Only one, not several. The dealer only was allotted a few knives and therefore I missed out.

Now I see guys trying to sell these knives for huge profits on the auction site.

It seems Benchmade is telling me to spend my limited money elsewhere. I'll keep what I have but find other knives to buy.
 
It seems to me that Benchmade is more keen on making knives for collectors, hence its strategy of hard-to-get limited editions priced way below market value, allowing a few lucky ones to make a quick buck. On the other hand, when they say Limited Edition, they mean it... I only buy Benchmade Limited Editions because I know that they will hold their value, for real-life use and superior out-of-the-box cutting performance, I choose Spyderco anytime.
 
The Mastiff said:
The benchmade knives produced in the last year or two have not only been disappointing edge wise to me, but fit and finish seems of lesser quality too...
Click to expand...

I'm beginning to see this, too.

Fit and finish issues are beginning to lower the brand's reputation.
 
Last edited:
LorenzoL said:
It seems to me that Benchmade is more keen on making knives for collectors, hence its strategy of hard-to-get limited editions priced way below market value, allowing a few lucky ones to make a quick buck. On the other hand, when they say Limited Edition, they mean it... I only buy Benchmade Limited Editions because I know that they will hold their value, for real-life use and superior out-of-the-box cutting performance, I choose Spyderco anytime.
Click to expand...
what would you say market value is? The 806BK-901 has an MSRP of $225, and people are saying F&F is falling off. Could they actually price them the same as a Sebenza or monosteel William Henry, because that's where the secondary market is placing them?
 
hardheart said:
what would you say market value is? The 806BK-901 has an MSRP of $225, and people are saying F&F is falling off. Could they actually price them the same as a Sebenza or monosteel William Henry, because that's where the secondary market is placing them?
Click to expand...

What I am saying is that many dealers did not have a clue about this LE until BM Forum members knowing about it started calling them to place an order. They then priced it at around 80% of MSRP like they would on a less sough-after model, allowing some to gain around 100-130$ instantly by selling them on eBay. At the same time, many who wanted to buy an M4 AFCK at MSRP could not. They could probably have sold a 1000 more PEs at the same MSRP, but then that release would not have been so valuable after market.
 
I can understand not using some collector knives -- high-art knives with rare materials and artisan-level fit and finish.

But the AFCK is not in that category. It's an incredibly well designed and engineered knife, now with extremely good steel. Benchmade could have sold a lot more, but chose to make this a collector's edition. The only thing that makes it a collector is the limited production.

If Chris Reeves had limited the Sebenza to 500 knives, you'd see its price going through the roof and no one would be actually using one. But the Sebenza is not a collector's knive, at least not the standard model. It's a user.

Turning our best user knives into collector knives that people don't use is not good for the knife business or for those of us who use knives.
 
I agree, but that is a decision that Benchmade took regarding the way it sells knives with premium steels, which are almost exclusively LEs. The M2 Ritter Grip is the perfect example, there was one that sold on this forum last week for over 300$.
 
The Mastiff said:
The benchmade knives produced in the last year or two have not only been disappointing edge wise to me, but fit and finish seems of lesser quality too. That includes a Rukus, and 3 different CPM M4 knives. The older benchmade knives I have seem to be finished better, including final sharpening. Some are amazing knives.

The older knives I got rid of recently getting ready to buy the new ones are ones that I'll always regret selling, having replaced them ultimately with well engineered but poorly finished knives.

The knives are engineered well, and built of good quality materials but when I get an expensive ( for me) knife that is out of alignment with the blade touching the liner, obtuse grinds of up too 50 to 60 degrees, and messed up G10 I have to wonder what's going on.

During this time I've bought a few Chinese made models like the Ti Pika and found them built very well, and sharper out of the box than blue and black box knives.

I still don't really care for their new sales policy either. The M4 806 is an example. I had gotten on a waiting list pretty early. Only one, not several. The dealer only was allotted a few knives and therefore I missed out.

Now I see guys trying to sell these knives for huge profits on the auction site.

It seems Benchmade is telling me to spend my limited money elsewhere. I'll keep what I have but find other knives to buy.
Click to expand...

I noticed this a few years back. Pretty much about the time they started with the HD line of knives and about when they discontinued the 420.

I said, about a year ago, that Benchmade is the new Gerber. I still believe it.
 
This knife was a result of a BM forum member asking for it. The thread got huge went on for 6 months, and was then lost. BM only sent a few to each prem. dealer, and notified the BM forum members who asked for it 1st.
This was how BM attempted to keep it fair, roll it out like a Gold class LE.

Note from BM on July 6th:
This is a pre-launch notice regarding the latest details on the model 806-901 AFCK limited edition. We will offer 250 units in both the SBK and BK version for a total of 500 units. It will be a Black G10 Handle and CPM-M4 Blade Steel. MSRP will be $225. This limited edition will be treated just like Gold Class and will only be available to our premium dealers. We recommend you contact your preferred premium dealer and let them know that you are interested in purchasing this knife so that they can contact their Benchmade Sales Rep and request to be part of the allocation. To find a premium dealer, visit our dealer locator at Benchmade.com. Premium dealers are listed in bold type. A final market launch date is to be determined, but we’d hope to have them available to ship in the coming weeks.


- Team Benchmade


The quality of the 806BK-901 is on par with my other D2 806's. 1ST Rate. Mine are all shaving sharp out of the box.
To me, the 806BK-901 is a special knife. My all time favorite from BM.
I will carry #79 & my son will carry #78 not counting the safe queens.
I can see how many would be up-set. But then they might not have spent months and months asking the co. to build this one. Or hours and hours on the phone for months trying to secure one either (and trying to explain to the dealers what it was, and what they needed to do to get them.) This was a much better roll out compared to the 806-701. I am still smarting for not getting one of those.... I paid MSRP for all but one. I would say 90% sold for the full price. I didn't buy mine to make $$$. I just really like this knife. I might sell or trade a couple down the road but for now am just happy owning Benchmade's finest folder to date.

Here are a couple........
DSC09980.jpg


DSC09981.jpg


DSC09985.jpg
 
LorenzoL said:
They could probably have sold a 1000 more PEs at the same MSRP, but then that release would not have been so valuable after market.
Click to expand...

If BM had made a 1000, you'd still be able to buy one 6-mos from now from a dealer.

Keeping production down, lower than potential demand, keeps demand up, with prices be commensurate.

Spyderco does this all the time with good results.
 
The round hole & open back spacers are an improvement as well.
I collect folders mainly from MT, BM, CR & Spyderco. Have about 300 folders.
This one fits my x large hands and is one of the most balanced I own. (Maybe the best balanced of the bunch)
#79 is in my pocket as I write this, smooth as silk (needed a drop of oil) perfectly centered blade with zero play.

I have not noticed a drop in quality, but have not purchased too many new BM's lately either. Just have not cared much for the new models. Last new ones were M4 710 and 615-2. Spyderco has been getting lots of my $$$ over the past couple yrs.

If someone sells an 806-901 for more than retail, so what!
I would, as I sold a few knifes at a loss to raise needed funds for mine.
Would trade (2) 806-901's for a 806-701 & they had an MSRP of like $300.00
Just part of the game.......
 
Agree with Mastiff about the fit and finish. My 760 had it's blade touching the handle with a 70 degree edge that was extremely dull. I had to get a Krein regrind just to make it cut decent, as the 30 degree edge I put on it had comically wide bevels before the regrind. It took lots of tweaking to get the blade near center. The older Rukus I bought had flawless fit and finish with a nice thin edge. When I checked out other Benchmades at the local store had thick looking edges and some QC issues. I don't mind a blade a bit off center or a few tooling marks as I buy knives to use them, but a blade hitting the handle and extremely thick edges are something I can't overlook, especially at $175 plus shipping. All of my Spydercos in that price range were pretty much flawless.

Mike
 
orthogonal1 said:
If BM had made a 1000, you'd still be able to buy one 6-mos from now from a dealer.

Keeping production down, lower than potential demand, keeps demand up, with prices be commensurate.

Spyderco does this all the time with good results.
Click to expand...

Please name me a single Spyderco that sells out in a week and that sells on eBay for 50% above MSRP right after retailers run out of stock. :rolleyes:

By releasing LEs the way they do, Benchmade is actually giving up on profits in favor of "specollectors".
 
Are people actually buying the knives at those prices or are they just being offered?
 
The combo edge ones seem to be harder to sell, but the plain edge ones are selling around 300$, both on eBay and on forums.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top