bad benchmade first impression

[Blade-fiend]

All of my benchmades have a slight rattle to them but its not the blade at all its the not fully tightened axis lock. Hold the lock bar and shake to check. If the axis is a tad loose its not big deal it will not change the function.

As for the pivot itself being loose its takes some blue loctite and alot of fine tuning to get it perfect where its still smooth and flick-able yet tight and no play. Micro turns are key.

 

[cutter17]

simply read the paper work or warranty in most knives. Most knives are coated for stg and shipping, as well as in store handeling. Your best knives come with wrenches, cleaning rag,, lockdown , and lube. It is a shame I'm told to not stress this. this is a very simple standard fact about knives. Why do even a lot of vintage knives ship extra bushings. I must seek the treasure.

In my lifetime I've paid $1000-$1200 a few times for knives, and I've paid as little as $30 a few times, and the small collection I currently have are between $100 to $500, and NONE of them have ever come with lube, wrenches, cleaning rags, or lockdowns(?, not familiar with this), with the exception of my Lionsteel SR-1's which do come with a wrench. What knives have you bought that include these items?

The op did not sound like he was bashing Benchmade knives, rather it sounds like a disappointment in one single model he purchased. And WHY can he not post here next month about having a dull blade?

Bladeforums is the place to come if/when you have problems with a knife. That is why we are here. Mrdabble is a new member with 3 posts, to "jump" him as you did is wrong.

Mrdabble welcome to BF! I hope you get the problems with your knife worked out and I hope you come here frequently to get information and to give information. We are a community of knife lovers and I hope you will feel welcomed!!

 

[loonybin]

mrdabble,

Turnaround time for Benchmade is around 3wks. If fine tuning the pivot in tiny increments doesn't work, they will take care of you when you send it in.

I've yet to notice a lack in QC or any supposed price hike.

The price increase is real. Benchmade has a MAP policy, but dealers have been free to offer unadvertised discounts (Knifeworks' BR549 code, for example). Now, Benchmade is enforcing the MAP policy by not allowing dealers to offer any discount at all. Minimum Advertised Price has now become Minimum Selling Price. For many models this amounts to a 25-30% increase in the cost of the knife even though dealer cost has not increased. The 950 Rift used to be available for around $125 when the discount was applied, but now that the discount codes are not allowed, the Rift costs $165. That's a 32% increase to the end consumer (us), and the dealer's cost hasn't gone up. It hurts the end consumer, and in the long run may hurt the dealer if their volume drops more than the price increase can absorb. The dealers I've heard from who used to offer the code are not happy about losing the ability to offer it.

As for QC, Benchmade has had an issue with uneven bevels for years. I think I've received one new Benchmade that had even bevels. All the others have had uneven grinds that required me to reprofile them. I bought a brand new first production 586 back when they first came out. Sharp as all get-out, but the bevels are not even. Sharpening it becomes more than just maintaining the edge. Now I have to reprofile the edge to get both bevels even for future maintenance (fortunately I own an Edge Pro and can do this). Most of my Benchmades have been awesome right out of the box, but not all. I've had the occasional knife with a blade that wasn't centered, and I even had a mini-Grip that had a small bit of flashing on the Valox/Noryl handle as well. These are things I took care of myself, but for a knife that suddenly jumped 30% in price, these things are unacceptable. At the previous price point, folks were often willing to overlook these flaws. Now that they cost more and the value isn't as good, people expect the quality to increase with the price. They want more for their money and voice their displeasure when they don't get it.

first I never started this argument, so if someone needs to stop it, pls speak to the correct parties

You were the first one to be confrontational in your response to the OP. Go back and read the other responses before yours. Far more polite.

I own over 100 benchmades. PM xpressblade here and ask him. I always pay 6/12. Sent back a 100% trashed 9500 and they gave me a new model for $35.00.. You can talk all the talk you wish. If you did not find it strange, buys knife 2 days prior, no recp, they will not take back strange, then bless you. so far I am the only one who told him what to do and how to return knife and even told him about phone # and the fact they would speak directly with him. I said call is free , unless you work for other brand, It's humor sir.

You told him nothing he can't figure out on his own -- and I'm willing to bet he's smart enough to figure it out. I've lost a receipt two days after buying something, so that does not seem strange to me. It's usually my wife or one of the kids throwing trash away and tossing the receipt with it, so it's very realistic to see that happen to someone else. Should he still try to exchange it? No reason not to try, but the knife should have been assembled better at the factory -- either the pivot should have been tightened better to start with, or QC should have caught a knife that wasn't functioning properly, whichever his case may be. If it's just the pivot tension, then he now has the information he needs to adjust it himself (and I didn't see any of that info come from you).

If that first post of yours was your idea of humor, then you would benefit from learning the proper use of the smilies to get your "humor" across. There's a difference between
"Finally before posting here, I would read the warrenty, the call is free. Unless you work for another brand ?" and
"Finally before posting here, I would read the warrenty, the call is free. Unless you work for another brand? "

What have you added ? just your jibber.

So explaining how to fine tune the pivot screw in is just jibber? Funny... in the rest of the world that would be called "helping someone."

I own over 50 Kershaw and ZT's including the one off pictured in my photo. Been to the plants many times. I get free bags, free boxes, free lube, free sharpening.

Good for you. Irrelevant to the topic at hand, but good for you.

Maybe because I help and don't judge like you. Don't use a quote from God when you spew hate.

Hate? Puh-leeze. Quote the hate. And while you're at it, show the judgement. I can easily show the judgement in your own post. You would do well to get a thicker skin when posting on the interwebs, and quit throwing around buzzwords like "hate" and "judge." That's a tactic for those who have no real defense for their position or the words they post.

 

[mrdabble]

Thank you all for the support. The blade is definitely off center

And I wasn't giving it a full twist c'mon now
But as soon as I got it to twist just a smidgeon, the screw like, broke loose like it was too tight yet the blade was all over before I even loosened it.

What's funny is I own >25 knives probably and the vast majority (all but 2) were purchased online w/o issue. My first bench made from a physical store and voila!

I grabbed it from Mega Sports in the Chicago area, I think they r a smaller biz but not sure, like I nsaid I'm an online guy. Its over a half hour away though but I guess that beats waiting 2 weeks. But without a reciept in my experience bring your luck factor into the negative -_-

 

[mrdabble]

Loony you seem to know much more than me but in my intermediate experience I must agree in that I've purchased many many Kershaws in my time, I currently own 8 (I think) and I have never had the issues I've experienced with this knife.

Thus definitely seems like something that should have been caught by quality control, isn't that where my money is going?

Well I ordered a grip before I went and got that one, let's hope it arrives in superb condition so that my trust in Bench made isn't totally lost.

Blade fiend, my axis lock is indeed loose, but it was my looking into that when I discovered the blade play. You can see the blade off to one side because the blue spine outlines the center. You can jiggle the blade a decent amount when closed, even see the other side of the pivot screw jiggle the other way.

Either way quite dissapointing but thanks again all. In 2 hours its off the the store, maybe ill go freeze looking for that receipt in my car a bit more.

 

[d0nut]

When the OP bought the knife in store, did he bother to inspect the knife and play with it before purchasing?

 

[mrdabble]

Mrdabble welcome to BF! I hope you get the problems with your knife worked out and I hope you come here frequently to get information and to give information. We are a community of knife lovers and I hope you will feel welcomed!!

Thank you cutter! I been watching then EDC thread, well just trying to make my way through it lol and was hoping to come in strong with a fresh bench, not reppin Kershaw like i usually will do.

Its funny younmentuion sharpening so I might as well thrown it out there that I've seen some one nthe edges you guys make and I am jealous.

If there is one thing I would like to gain from my time here, is to become badass at blade sharpening and find some good opinions and facts on full size sharpening systems.

They don't teach you to put an edge like that on a blade in boy scouts

 

[mrdabble]

When the OP bought the knife in store, did he bother to inspect the knife and play with it before purchasing?

Yes I did inspect said knife and the blade play while open was not very apparent at all, I didn't do as much inspecting when it was closed but hey that's not the business end of what I'm buying, right?

This was also my first bench made, I guess I was expecting superior quality since i paid $70 more than any other knife I've bought and the brand recognition is amazing.

I usually buy my knives online also, so when you are used to ordering and getting what you asked and paid for you don't go out of your way to look for flaws

My mistake

I'm not bashing benchmade at all, but my first impression has put a deep scar on my thoughts about them. If I wanted a knife with play, or one that rattled when shaking it while closed I would have bought shitty flea marketknife and used it for a week.

I tear up my s30v blur on the job site, and its held up just fine.

After this little tobaccle, I don't see the 943 standing up to the abuse I potentially may lay down on it whenever necessary. That's just my opinion though

 

[gpo1956]

mrdabble,

Turnaround time for Benchmade is around 3wks. If fine tuning the pivot in tiny increments doesn't work, they will take care of you when you send it in.



The price increase is real. Benchmade has a MAP policy, but dealers have been free to offer unadvertised discounts (Knifeworks' BR549 code, for example). Now, Benchmade is enforcing the MAP policy by not allowing dealers to offer any discount at all. Minimum Advertised Price has now become Minimum Selling Price. For many models this amounts to a 25-30% increase in the cost of the knife even though dealer cost has not increased. The 950 Rift used to be available for around $125 when the discount was applied, but now that the discount codes are not allowed, the Rift costs $165. That's a 32% increase to the end consumer (us), and the dealer's cost hasn't gone up. It hurts the end consumer, and in the long run may hurt the dealer if their volume drops more than the price increase can absorb. The dealers I've heard from who used to offer the code are not happy about losing the ability to offer it.

As for QC, Benchmade has had an issue with uneven bevels for years. I think I've received one new Benchmade that had even bevels. All the others have had uneven grinds that required me to reprofile them. I bought a brand new first production 586 back when they first came out. Sharp as all get-out, but the bevels are not even. Sharpening it becomes more than just maintaining the edge. Now I have to reprofile the edge to get both bevels even for future maintenance (fortunately I own an Edge Pro and can do this). Most of my Benchmades have been awesome right out of the box, but not all. I've had the occasional knife with a blade that wasn't centered, and I even had a mini-Grip that had a small bit of flashing on the Valox/Noryl handle as well. These are things I took care of myself, but for a knife that suddenly jumped 30% in price, these things are unacceptable. At the previous price point, folks were often willing to overlook these flaws. Now that they cost more and the value isn't as good, people expect the quality to increase with the price. They want more for their money and voice their displeasure when they don't get it.


You were the first one to be confrontational in your response to the OP. Go back and read the other responses before yours. Far more polite.


You told him nothing he can't figure out on his own -- and I'm willing to bet he's smart enough to figure it out. I've lost a receipt two days after buying something, so that does not seem strange to me. It's usually my wife or one of the kids throwing trash away and tossing the receipt with it, so it's very realistic to see that happen to someone else. Should he still try to exchange it? No reason not to try, but the knife should have been assembled better at the factory -- either the pivot should have been tightened better to start with, or QC should have caught a knife that wasn't functioning properly, whichever his case may be. If it's just the pivot tension, then he now has the information he needs to adjust it himself (and I didn't see any of that info come from you).

If that first post of yours was your idea of humor, then you would benefit from learning the proper use of the smilies to get your "humor" across. There's a difference between
"Finally before posting here, I would read the warrenty, the call is free. Unless you work for another brand ?" and
"Finally before posting here, I would read the warrenty, the call is free. Unless you work for another brand? "


So explaining how to fine tune the pivot screw in is just jibber? Funny... in the rest of the world that would be called "helping someone."


Good for you. Irrelevant to the topic at hand, but good for you.


Hate? Puh-leeze. Quote the hate. And while you're at it, show the judgement. I can easily show the judgement in your own post. You would do well to get a thicker skin when posting on the interwebs, and quit throwing around buzzwords like "hate" and "judge." That's a tactic for those who have no real defense for their position or the words they post.

Terrific post, sir. My compliments.

 

[bodog]

I've been happy with everything I've held or used from Kai. Sypyderco is also very good but I can't get over how ugly I feel they are. Everything I've held made by Benchmade has been a disappointment. Then again, everything I've held from Benchmade has been manufactured within this last year. Blade play being the worst and most consistent problem. Next is uneven grind lines. Axis lock not fully engaging is another. Benchmade may have made a good name for themselves over the years, but whatever they're doing now is crap compared to other companies in the same price range. Or maybe the production offerings in the past have been so limited or so terrible that a company like Benchmade earned a following by just giving a slightly better than crap product when none other was really available. Now that other companies are really stepping up and mass producing knives with actual quality control, innovative designs, unique and/or quality heat treated steels, and offering the same or better customer service, the faults of Benchmade are now apparent. The people that have followed Benchmade for years would understandably be hesitant to relinquish their loyalty.

 

[mrdabble]

I've been happy with everything I've held or used from Kai. Sypyderco is also very good but I can't get over how ugly I feel they are. Everything I've held made by Benchmade has been a disappointment. Then again, everything I've held from Benchmade has been manufactured within this last year. Blade play being the worst and most consistent problem. Next is uneven grind lines. Axis lock not fully engaging is another. Benchmade may have made a good name for themselves over the years, but whatever they're doing now is crap compared to other companies in the same price range. Or maybe the production offerings in the past have been so limited or so terrible that a company like Benchmade earned a following by just giving a slightly better than crap product when none other was really available. Now that other companies are really stepping up and mass producing knives with actual quality control, innovative designs, unique and/or quality heat treated steels, and offering the same or better customer service, the faults of Benchmade are now apparent. The people that have followed Benchmade for years would understandably be hesitant to relinquish their loyalty.

This is what I was afraid of, because every big brand company in every market looks for the cheapest way to make their products. The bigger the brand, the easier to slip in crappy work slap on the tag and make a buck.

This is only my first benchmade, but I think its fair to say I'll be sticking by my normal brands after thus stretch. Blade fiend mentioned axis locks being loose, and it being a common thing.

I, personally, don't want a damn thing loose on my blade, especially when closed.

I really hope that this is a one time instance, I guess when the griptillian comes next week the verdict will be in.

I feel the exact same way about spydercos, love everything about them but the look. I've got a Spyderco Endura 4 plain edge Emerson, and its been my non-work edc since i got it early December. I'm sure you've seen one, i like that the Emerson clip requires they grind into what would normally be the back of the blade and changes its shape to something I feel is more welcoming on my eyes.

 

[-NB-]

I just received a mini grip in s30v that I wasn't pleased with. I received it really tight/sticky and it wouldn't flip open at all. When I adjusted the pivot to the point I could flip it, blade play developed. And I can't find the sweet spot where it will flip( with relative easy) without play. This is also the first BM that I've had an issue with. I recently received a 940 that is perfect and my new EDC.

 

[mrdabble]

The store won't take it back w/o receipt (not a surprise) and its made me even more ticked. Enough that I'm definitely not going benchmade again.
A bit prejudicial? Maybe.

But risk going through this crap when a new knife should be nothing but pleasant? Hell no.

I see nothing but good things in the ZT line, except they are hard on the wallet. This was hard on the wallet and mind, I think I know which direction I'll go next time

Thanks again everyone

 

[Scurvy092]

How much did you pay for the 943? $180 bucks?

You can get most of the ZT line for under that to like $20 over...

 

[mrdabble]

Yep. This was my first step into the realm of >$100 knife purchases...I wish I had realized I had bridged that gap in price range before I stepped out of my comfort zone to purchase one that I am now unhappy with.

Learn from your mistakes, right?

In the end I'll get a replacement in a few weeks and my mind will be made up about future purchases. Someone said they were never dissapointed with KAI made. Nor have I, and I'll continue on that premise and probably pick up a ZT next time.

Its too bad there aren't any higher quality steel options for the new Emerson collabs. I know that's way off topic but that's kinda what ushered me to look into other brands more seriously.

 

[Scurvy092]

Yep. This was my first step into the realm of >$100 knife purchases...I wish I had realized I had bridged that gap in price range before I stepped out of my comfort zone to purchase one that I am now unhappy with.

Learn from your mistakes, right?

In the end I'll get a replacement in a few weeks and my mind will be made up about future purchases. Someone said they were never dissapointed with KAI made. Nor have I, and I'll continue on that premise and probably pick up a ZT next time.

Its too bad there aren't any higher quality steel options for the new Emerson collabs. I know that's way off topic but that's kinda what ushered me to look into other brands more seriously.

How much higher end do you want them to go?! Since when are M390 and Elmax not high quality steel options?

 

[bodog]

They're running M390 in one of the Emerson knives. You don't like that steel? Their slightly cheaper model runs with elmax, which has been generally considered a super steel, too.


I think it's cool that they're pretty much introducing Vanadis 4 Extra to the US market. That is definitely a must have.

 

[bodog]

Lol, beat me to it

 

[JPD1998]

As a few have already said, send it back to BM.

I had a similar experience with a different brand and yes I was aggravated at first too. But I sent it in for warranty work and the company fixed it or replaced it ( I cant tell). But the knife came back perfect.

 

[mrdabble]

I was specifically referring to the Emerson Kershaw collabs, and in the thread I saw there were people asking about other steel availability other than 8cr13Mov and people replied there wasn't. Has new news come to light since or was I just not specific enough.

If there is a Kershaw Emerson collab with higher quality steel please direct me so I can eagerly await it arrival.