bad benchmade first impression

[Quiet]

I never claimed to be the paragon of maturity.
Or the arbiter of what opinions may be stated.
You see, I don't get ruffled by your opinions, as they don't really matter more or less than anyone else's.

Except for mine...the only opinions I actually care deeply about are my own.

I'm not ruffled, myself. I'm amused if nothing else, because in my opinion* disputing my assertion, you are essentially agreeing with the claim that Benchmade makes the best knives. If you don't agree, because you're using objective common sense, then we have nothing further to be debating.

My statement however, is factual, because there is no objective way to prove that Benchmade makes the best knives for $200. That's all. I don't even hate Benchmades! I never said they're terrible knives, but apparently according to some folks, I merely hate Benchmades and that's the source of my comments in this thread. Yeah, no. I have several BM products. They're decent. The best? LOL

No.


If nothing else, this whole thread remains proof that people will argue over anything at all. I make one throwaway comment, and it inspires pages of snark. The Innarwebz: it's the best. :thumbup:

*thus signifying that what follows is an opinion. That's how that works.

 

[mrdabble]

You already know the answer

Didn't mean to stir shit up, I was more or less expressing my extreme dissatisfaction towards my first benchmade purchase...

Rajincagin provided the best answer.

My overall goal was not to send it out so I tinkered with it and it works better anyway, I think I just about got it.

 

[John Moran]

mrdabble, I contacted Benchmade's quality department 2 days ago asking for specific information about their quality system. They replied shortly thereafter with a note that said due to the nature of my request it make take some extra time to respond with the information. I'll post an update when it arrives.

 

[jfalkos]

The poor logic and the absolute butthurt has cracked me up. "The guy said he was leaving, so let's continue to denigrate him, thus proving that we are butthurt BM fanboys who don't like people saying anything about BM we perceive as negative."

Stab, maturity? You're one to talk.

Again, my point is that it's a bit convoluted to apologize and then proceed to bash everyone else in the thread. I couldn't care less if you leave! As for the "fanboy" aspect, all anyone is saying is that BM makes some good products. NO ONE likes their QC problems or their MAP. I sure wish I could pick up all the items on my wish list for the prices they were at last year. I like some of their designs, doesn't make me a fanboy.

 

[jfalkos]

Didn't mean to stir shit up, I was more or less expressing my extreme dissatisfaction towards my first benchmade purchase...

Rajincagin provided the best answer.

My overall goal was not to send it out so I tinkered with it and it works better anyway, I think I just about got it.

Sorry for us stealing your thread...from my experience they are fast and good communicators, but let us know what you end up doing!

 

[Quiet]

Again, my point is that it's a bit convoluted to apologize and then proceed to bash everyone else in the thread. I couldn't care less if you leave! As for the "fanboy" aspect, all anyone is saying is that BM makes some good products. NO ONE likes their QC problems or their MAP. I sure wish I could pick up all the items on my wish list for the prices they were at last year. I like some of their designs, doesn't make me a fanboy.

I would have thought the heavy sarcasm I used would have made it clear that I wasn't actually apologizing. That's generally my reaction when people start attributing viewpoints to me that I don't have. In this case, multiple people read my comments and came to the conclusion that I am somehow anti-Benchmade or that I hate the company. I don't. I don't have any issues with Benchmade, but are they the best? No, they aren't. I continue to state that in a factual sense, because it absolutely cannot be objectively proven that Benchmade makes the best product at the price point. That's my only point. And again, I made a simple comment, and then people, for some reason deciding to defend Benchmade and/or Tanto's comment, decide to claim that my statement is merely an opinion. By the way? I'd have said the same thing if Tanto had said it was Spyderco, or Kershaw, or whoever else.

When someone can make an objective, compelling argument that Benchmade knives are the best at the $200 and under pricepoint, I'll retract my statement.

Now, if you want my opinion*, it would be that there isn't any objective way to state that any one company is the "best". Ask ten different people which knife has the best ergos, or blade shape, or steel, or, or, or, and what will you get?

Well, you know what you'll get. Ten different answers.

Lord, anyway, moving on. On-topic, hopefully BM's CS folks will take care of the OP.



*Even though who really cares?

 

[FoundingFather]

Benchmade is a solid American made knife. Is it the best? Who's to say. I like them enough to own two. ZT, Spyderco, KaBar, Ontario and Gerber are also in my collection.

 

[John Moran]

There may be no way to determine who is "the best" that will always be a personal opinion. But there are ways to quantify how good you are. Benchmade claims to have patterned their quality system (how good they are) after ISO 9000:2008 standards. If that is true, and I don't have any reason not to believe it, then they will have statistics, principally CPKs to demonstrate it, and should be happy to share them with us. I asked them for these numbers.

 

[Argo_Fuk_Yourself]

My experience with benchmade on quality depends on who the designer is (Osborne, h&k, or Henry McWilliams, etc)

All but the h&k are superb

The other knives,blade quality, sharpness, and durability are the best I have seen.

I am returning my h&k benchmade entourage drop point due to the gritty feeling non smooth push button opening and odd lock on mechanism

It's a brand new knife and just dont see the same quality as the axis locking or Axis assist systems.

Anyone have the same issues on their H&K knives?

 

[DarkPatriot]

Benchmade was the first decent knife manufacturer I bought from, I've owned close to a hundred. Having said that my last two purchases had some issues. My 581 had vertical blade play, and my 551 special edition's blade was pretty off center. I took both of them apart (voiding the warranty) and fixed them. I'd just send them in to benchmade's warranty department and get them fixed up. Benchmades can be somewhat difficult to reassemble the first go around. Hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come from an excellent knife company, I wish you the best of luck. On a related note, is it just me, or are Benchmade screws stripping a lot more easily lately?

 

[bodog]

I wonder if anyone from Benchmade has read this thread.

 

[PURPLEDC]

I would have thought the heavy sarcasm I used would have made it clear that I wasn't actually apologizing. That's generally my reaction when people start attributing viewpoints to me that I don't have. In this case, multiple people read my comments and came to the conclusion that I am somehow anti-Benchmade or that I hate the company. I don't. I don't have any issues with Benchmade, but are they the best? No, they aren't. I continue to state that in a factual sense, because it absolutely cannot be objectively proven that Benchmade makes the best product at the price point. That's my only point. And again, I made a simple comment, and then people, for some reason deciding to defend Benchmade and/or Tanto's comment, decide to claim that my statement is merely an opinion. By the way? I'd have said the same thing if Tanto had said it was Spyderco, or Kershaw, or whoever else.

When someone can make an objective, compelling argument that Benchmade knives are the best at the $200 and under pricepoint, I'll retract my statement.

Now, if you want my opinion*, it would be that there isn't any objective way to state that any one company is the "best". Ask ten different people which knife has the best ergos, or blade shape, or steel, or, or, or, and what will you get?

Well, you know what you'll get. Ten different answers.

Lord, anyway, moving on. On-topic, hopefully BM's CS folks will take care of the OP.



*Even though who really cares?

Your apology was in reference to my post. My post had everything to do with you defining ironic hypocritical behavior by asking demanding another member stop stating opinion as fact while you in the following sentence exhibit the very behavior your speaking against. I never defended benchmade nor called into question your devotion or lack thereof to them as a company. The fact of the matter is that any statement by anyone on this forum in regards to ANY company being "the best" should be viewed as an opinion as that all it is. Whether you agree with it or not people are allowed to believe what they wish. And just because your opinion is different doesnt mean it automatically invalidates someone else. If you dont feel benchmade makes the best folder in sub $200 pricing fine. But considering ALL of this is opinion based there is no way for anyone to prove that benchmade is the best, that also means there is no proof you can provide that they arent. And even more irony is that you again are doing exactly what you claim to dislike. You are professing a certain amount of discontent that people are thinking of you as a BM hater while calling everyone BM water carriers again that is pretty hypocritical especially since NO ONE took issue and called you a benchmade hater nor defended benchmade. You took it as that. But really everyone had a problem with you complaining about opinions being declared as fact while not being able to admit that you are only stating your opinion. And your opinion doenst automatically qualify as a fact just becuase your opinion is not the same as someone else. The point is, no one can prove any company is the best. You cant, I cant no one can. So if you cant prove that they are then you cant prove that they arent. Its ALL opinion. Now, you all ready threatened to take your ball and go home so I dont know why you keep trying to join the game.

 

[Echols Made Knives]

And you know what's funny? Guys who know TRUE quality, master bladesmiths and men who've carried multiple knives made by master bladesmiths look at this argument and think the same thing about guys who like kershaw and spyderco and boker, etc and think our argument is really stupid because if you can spend 250 bucks on a knife, you can spend 350-500 and get a true hard use piece of art from a legitimate master. And all of us production knife company fanboys look like douchebags because if we wanted to go for a cheap knife, we'd get a box cutter, and if we wanted a real knife, we'd look to a master smith.

How true!

 

[rajincagin]

Rajincagin provided the best answer.

Quoted for Truth:thumbup:

 

[winguy7]

I just got my first benchmade today, its the contego. I'm sorry to hear that your experience was not a good one, and even more sorry to see people question your observations (problems) with the knife. I could not be happier with my purchase. Mines not perfect, it is more than satisfactory though. It has a small amount of side to side play and came slightly off center. It has straightened out by just flicking it open a lot. Almost perfect now with maybe .003-.005 difference side to side. Side to side blade play is still the same, again .003-.005 wiggle in it. I'm not talking about grabbing the knife at both ends either and getting that amount of play. I'm holding at the pivot and under the thumb studs and getting that. Not a big deal at all to me. Now just so my observations don't get questioned let me just state that I've been working in production factories for the past 12 years. I've made the water pumps for your cars and boats, truck caps, and commercial garage doors. Currently I work at the largest screw house in my state as a machinist, running old b&s screw machines. Every single day I move tooling and make adjustments by hand of .001 or more. Running hundreds or thousands of parts every day. Holding tolerances of .0005 all the time. With tooling that I often grind. Bad stuff gets out of every factory in the world, so for some one to doubt that you got a lemon is absurd. I don't know what world they live in but it sounds like the one where a fat check book buys you lots of experience and know how. I wouldn't worry about buying another if I was you though. From everything I've read they are a good company and will make good on their mistakes. I hope if you do that your next experience is a good one. Good luck.

 

[GaryC]

Sorry, didn't read the post but in my opinion BM has one of the best service, among Spyderco. What ever problems you have they back it up. unless you giving them an attitude. I never had any problems. Again I didn't read the post, but I stand by my words. Thanks Gary

 

[GaryC]

Not looking for problems, like I said I never had any issues with BM or Spyderco. Gary

 

[jkarp_53]

All but the h&k are superb...I am returning my h&k benchmade entourage drop point due to the gritty feeling non smooth push button opening and odd lock on mechanism.

It's a brand new knife and just dont see the same quality as the axis locking or Axis assist systems.

Anyone have the same issues on their H&K knives?

I don't understand why Benchmade decided to go the quick and dirty route by making knives like the untra-cheap Soldat or Entourage models. Originally, the HK line had some amazing model offerings, the Snody designed 14205, 14200, 14210 models were among the best ever made, IMO, and when they were discontinued the community lost some great knives. These days, the only knife worth considering in the mix is the older Nitrous Blitz design. I think the HK line is next to go along with this year's loss of the Bone Collector and re-branded Lone Wolf offerings.

 

[loonybin]

I don't understand why Benchmade decided to go the quick and dirty route by making knives like the untra-cheap Soldat or Entourage models. Originally, the HK line had some amazing model offerings, the Snody designed 14205, 14200, 14210 models were among the best ever made, IMO, and when they were discontinued the community lost some great knives. These days, the only knife worth considering in the mix is the older Nitrous Blitz design. I think the HK line is next to go along with this year's loss of the Bone Collector and re-branded Lone Wolf offerings.

For the most part, I think you're right. The HK Axis lock knife, however, makes me wonder if they're beginning to take another look at making it a higher-end line again.

 

[DarkPatriot]

Bought a 810 contego today since they were on sale at one of the local sporting good stores. Took it home and it had vertical blade play AND the blade was off center so bad it touched the liner. I took it apart and reassembled it, now it's perfect. It sucks since the up until now all my benchmades were great, now the last three have had fit and finish problems. Guess spyderco and zt will be seeing more of my money in the future.