Benchmade customer service issue

freq18hz

freq18hz

Joined
Mar 4, 2010
Messages
1,093
Folks,

I need a bit of advice here...


A couple months ago, I sent my newly purchased D2 Mini Griptilian back to benchmade because it came absolutely dull from the factory.

I recently threw my absolutely hated (yet extremely used and dependable) CRKT M16-0kz in the drawer for good, and grabbed the mini grip as my new EDC.


Upon further examination, the OD green/black bladed Mini-Grip that they sent me, no longer has a D2 blade on it. I literally just examined it for the first time after having it in my pocket for a few days while pondering a Sebenza, and it says:

154cm !!!!!

I didn't know benchmade even made OD green black blade straight edge mini grips in 154cm...

Is this a one off collectors item? Or perhaps an error with the wrong steel type printed on the blade?


I found the D2 insanely hard to sharpen...yet isn't D2 a better steel?

What should I do? Do I want the D2, or the 154cm?


-Freq
 
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What are you looking for in your blade? Is rust resistance important? Ease of sharpening? Edge holding?

I find 154CM is easy to get sharp and holds a pretty good edge. It is also fairly stainless and I haven't had it rust on me even though I am around the salt water quite often.

D2 is harder to get sharp and I can't get it as sharp as a lot of the other steels. I don't have much D2 though and I don't think I have used my diamond loaded strop on it yet so I might be able to get that super sharp edge with it? But all my other fancy sharpeners including an edge pro and paper wheels don't get it as sharp as other steels.

Even though the D2 is pretty stain resistant and it has a coating, the very edge is not coated and corrosion can cause the edge to get dull. So if you were to say clean an animal and not wash the blood off right away, you might have a corrosion issue.
 
in a folder, i'd probably prefer the 154CM. my BM710 was bought the first year they were ever offered, the very first Axis lock (afaik) and it came with the old ATS-34 which has served me well... even though it never really gets "HOLY CRAP" sharp like my 154CM Nimravus does.

that said, i would NOT appreciate someone taking it upon themself to change my blade steel w/o consulting me, first. that's comparable to them just sending you a different folder, all together.

Benchmade customer service is great. i had some issues, in the past, but once i found the right person, they MORE THAN made it up to me.

to anybody attempting to utilize BM's customer service, CALL THEM. they've had problems receiving emails sent through their website, in the past.
 
If I sent in a D2 blade for work I would expect to get a D2 blade still on the knife when the knife is returned - Maybe I expect too much :)
 
Why does benchmade think 154 to D2 is an upgrade? From what I take of CPM's website they list 154 as having the same toughness and greater edge retention than D2, and it's stainless vs non-stainless. And CPM makes both D2 and 154CM so I wouldn't imagine there's some conflict of interest in the data.
 
It would be like comparing apples to oranges. Some prefer oranges, others apples. I believe if you did a poll, 50 % would say it was an upgrade, and 50% would say that it was a downgrade. I agree that BM should have let the OP know what they were doing. I like both steels, for different reasons. I would not ever send a knife back for not being sharp even if it was factory sent. I really think that is not worth the down time, and shipping cost. Sharpen it up already! I put what profile I want on them anyways. I appreciate a factory sharp edge, but care more about fit and finish that would be difficult for me to repair. I would not hesitate to send a knife in for this, but, a dull or uneven bevel is not a big issue for me.
 
if you want the D2 then call benchmade and explain what happened. they will swap the blade back for you.
 
I am sure that BM would take care of you and get you the blade back on there for you. My guess is that whoever was working on your knife decided to swap to a new blade, but didn't realize that yours had a D2 blade, but I could be wrong.
 
Benchmade used to make a black-coated blade for the mini-griptilian, in 154cm. Maybe someone there just thought your cabellas d2 mini-grip was one of those.

I'd keep the 154cm, though. Since it's an EDC blade, being easier to sharpen is a pretty big benefit.
 
The two steels are very comparable in terms of strength -- 154CM is more stain resistant... It's really up to you.

I'm sure if you wanted a D2 blade back, they'd make it right.
 
I have a D2 710 and a 154cm mini grip. To me the two steels have benefits and draw backs. One is easy to sharpen and holds an edge well, the other is harder to sharpen and holds an edge for what seems like forever, or you do something stupid with it. The real issue I see here is that the D2 blade on a mini grip comes in at a higher price then a 154cm blade. I would lean towards the 154cm blade on an EDC knife, but I would be upset with the fact that they swapped out the blade I had payed more for without informing me or giving me the option to choose the lower priced blade with some sort of reimbursement. Call them up and let them know what has happened, be polite with the person you are talking to and I am sure they will help get this solved. My one experience with customer service at BM was good, I called for a friend that had bent the pocket clip on his Dejavoo and they had a new one out to him in 2 weeks, no charge, even though I told them it was my friends fault and he was willing to pay for a new clip.
 
I would be surprised if the the original blade was CPM D-2 as suggested above. CPM D-2 is virtually stainless because of the extra free Chrome that is developed by CPM process. If you can get CPM D-2, I would jump at the chance. Otherwise I would prefer CM 154. Plain D-2 blades turn to dust in my pocket in the summertime.
 
tiguy7 said:
I would be surprised if the the original blade was CPM D-2 as suggested above. CPM D-2 is virtually stainless because of the extra free Chrome that is developed by CPM process. If you can get CPM D-2, I would jump at the chance. Otherwise I would prefer CM 154. Plain D-2 blades turn to dust in my pocket in the summertime.
Click to expand...

The Cabelas edition 556 is the only one that is available in a black-coated blade and OD handle, aside from the SBKOD, which is OD/Black with a combo-edge blade. The BKODD2 and SBKODD2 are available in OD/Black, in D2, and are available exclusively at Cabelas.
 
John E Woven said:
The Cabelas edition 556 is the only one that is available in a black-coated blade and OD handle, aside from the SBKOD, which is OD/Black with a combo-edge blade. The BKODD2 and SBKODD2 are available in OD/Black, in D2, and are available exclusively at Cabelas.
Click to expand...

It was originally a Cabelas exclusive, but there is at least one major online Benchmade dealer who is selling that knife now.
 
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