Benchmade Custom Shop PSA - Now (mostly) Available in Canada

[Chariotz4]

I checked the site of a large Western Canadian knife retailer as I often do; however, I was pleasantly surprised to see that this morning when I loaded up their website they had a new icon on their home page proudly advertising that starting now, they will offer select models (all the manual folders) from Benchmade's Custom Shop!

The Griptilian, Mini Griptilian, and Crooked River are all now available to order for us Canadians from Benchmade's Custom Shop through this retailer; I imagine that those of us who don't live close to the border or aren't willing to use a mail forwarding service will find this news to be rather welcome!

 

[colin.p]

That is good news, or maybe a "potential" issue. With all the talk of having totally legit knives getting stolen at our border, it would seem that W&W (as well as BM) don't foresee any problems getting knives across the border, especially spending a couple hundred bucks on a factory custom only to have it seized coming in. Maybe some sort of agreement has been reached allowing product to get through. If that's the case then there may be hope yet, as I have a 580 that needs a new blade.

 

[Chariotz4]

That is good news, or maybe a "potential" issue. With all the talk of having totally legit knives getting stolen at our border, it would seem that W&W (as well as BM) don't foresee any problems getting knives across the border, especially spending a couple hundred bucks on a factory custom only to have it seized coming in. Maybe some sort of agreement has been reached allowing product to get through. If that's the case then there may be hope yet, as I have a 580 that needs a new blade.

AFAIK, Most manual Benchmade's have been relatively problem free in crossing the border onto our (the Canadian) side. Excluding some of the manual knives they make that run on caged ball bearings, the manual folders that run on phosphor bronze washers just have the pivot tightened at the factory to satisfy the CBSA's new definition of a "legal" knife and make it into the country (this is why the 781 Anthem hasn't been readily available up here to my knowledge, the bearings contribute to a free action that isn't easily remedied by tightening the pivot, thus, the free action causes importation problems). However, again, to my knowledge, assisted-opening knives are still being subject to more scrutiny by the CBSA and having many more problems making it over the border. This is why it looks like the retailer is only importing the manual folders available through the Benchmade custom shop and not the Barrage or Mini Barrage.

To their credit, the retailer also mentions that if they are unable to fulfill the order due to unforseen circumstances, they cite manufacturing and customs issues as specific examples, then the order will be cancelled and a full refund will be issued.

Take from that what you will and good luck with getting your 580 re-bladed!