Benchmade cuts up guns now?

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Hey all.

I am a long time gun owner and as a prospective Benchmade customer would like to offer my 2c.

From the moment a civilian-owned firearm is discharged at another human being in the US it is typically doomed. Guns used in any crime - robbery, assault, murder, etc. - are destroyed once investigations and court proceedings have ended. Quite often, guns used in licit self defense also end up destroyed, either because it is state policy to destroy 'blooded' firearms or because the owner no longer wants a gun that reminds them of a grim scenario. This is standard fare, and it is also standard fare for local companies to help process these firearms. Particularly valuable, rare, or antique guns sometimes manage to survive this process - there's a lot of paperwork involved for a police department to not destroy a gun that's on the chopping block, and the guns shown in the PR photos are certainly not worth the trouble, especially considering that they may have any number of illegal alterations (most likely, serial numbers filed off).

So that's fine. It's unfortunate, because someone out there would certainly like to give these weapons a home (particularly, I imagine, that SKS), but it's standard fare and it's fine. I don't blame Benchmade for helping out their local law enforcement, especially considering they probably have a business relationship with them (tactical knives for officers). They're inanimate objects, not puppies, and there's plenty more out there.

I don't like that they tried to make it a PR move. They were clearly expecting to win points from the anti-gun crowd (I will refrain from using the terms left/liberals since not everyone on that side of the fence is actually anti-gun) without cost from the pro-gun crowd by capitalizing on the optics of destroying firearms. That's not great, but wouldn't put me off from buying a Benchmade knife.

What does put me off is their political donations. Quietly slipping cash, not just to democrats - because let's be honest, it's Oregon, they're gonna be democrats, that's fine, this country guarantees you the right to political opinions - but to staunchly, openly, and aggressively anti-gun democrats in Oregon and elsewhere while outwardly trying to appear pro-gun for sales purposes strikes me as very two-faced and dishonest. While I am forced to deal with a lot of two-faced, dishonest corporations from Microsoft to Colt due to a lack of options, in the knife world I have choices, and Benchmade isn't on the list. I will stick with my Kershaw.

If you aren't put off by this mess, fine by me. Your money, your right to spend it where you want.
 
mylest said:
I don’t think people realize that it’s not the goal of the Democratic Party to disarm people.
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There isn't one solitary democrat running for office that doesn't have gun control as a central tenant of their platform. To suggest otherwise would be like a knife company professing to support the 2A and simultaneously cutting up guns (and skip the 'court order' bovine fecal matter, that is a farce).
 
lzeplin said:
Exactly I couldn't have said it better! The democrats have been trying to disarm us for years then they can finally get full communist control. There calling their self socialist right now. Hitler started out as a socialist too.
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Progressives/socialists/communist/themob/nazis,

Generally anyone who wants to tell other people what to do while holding themselves sinless.
 
Benchmade didn't donate to Occasio Cortez did they? I would sell every last knife of theirs I have if thats the case. I'm glad I got my first Buck knife the other day.
 
CookieRawwr said:
Benchmade didn't donate to Occasio Cortez did they? I would sell every last knife of theirs I have if thats the case. I'm glad I got my first Buck knife the other day.
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I recently starting buying Bucks as well. The 110 is heavy but there is just something really cool about the design.
 
bossbrigand said:
Hey all.

I am a long time gun owner and as a prospective Benchmade customer would like to offer my 2c.

From the moment a civilian-owned firearm is discharged at another human being in the US it is typically doomed. Guns used in any crime - robbery, assault, murder, etc. - are destroyed once investigations and court proceedings have ended. Quite often, guns used in licit self defense also end up destroyed, either because it is state policy to destroy 'blooded' firearms or because the owner no longer wants a gun that reminds them of a grim scenario. This is standard fare, and it is also standard fare for local companies to help process these firearms. Particularly valuable, rare, or antique guns sometimes manage to survive this process - there's a lot of paperwork involved for a police department to not destroy a gun that's on the chopping block, and the guns shown in the PR photos are certainly not worth the trouble, especially considering that they may have any number of illegal alterations (most likely, serial numbers filed off).

So that's fine. It's unfortunate, because someone out there would certainly like to give these weapons a home (particularly, I imagine, that SKS), but it's standard fare and it's fine. I don't blame Benchmade for helping out their local law enforcement, especially considering they probably have a business relationship with them (tactical knives for officers). They're inanimate objects, not puppies, and there's plenty more out there.

I don't like that they tried to make it a PR move. They were clearly expecting to win points from the anti-gun crowd (I will refrain from using the terms left/liberals since not everyone on that side of the fence is actually anti-gun) without cost from the pro-gun crowd by capitalizing on the optics of destroying firearms. That's not great, but wouldn't put me off from buying a Benchmade knife.

What does put me off is their political donations. Quietly slipping cash, not just to democrats - because let's be honest, it's Oregon, they're gonna be democrats, that's fine, this country guarantees you the right to political opinions - but to staunchly, openly, and aggressively anti-gun democrats in Oregon and elsewhere while outwardly trying to appear pro-gun for sales purposes strikes me as very two-faced and dishonest. While I am forced to deal with a lot of two-faced, dishonest corporations from Microsoft to Colt due to a lack of options, in the knife world I have choices, and Benchmade isn't on the list. I will stick with my Kershaw.

If you aren't put off by this mess, fine by me. Your money, your right to spend it where you want.
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Sorry but that’s simply not true. Plenty of guns used in crimes are sold or auctioned off after the case is over. It’s not even a law in oregon that they be destroyed. Just because a gun has shot at someone doesn’t doom it, nor should it. Hell I’d be quite a few milsurp rifles in my collection have killed someone. That doesn’t make the gun evil or less palitable for me or anyone who would be interested in purchasing it.
 
00ChevyScott said:
Sorry but that’s simply not true. Plenty of guns used in crimes are sold or auctioned off after the case is over. Just because a gun has shot at someone doesn’t doom it, nor should it. Hell I’d be quite a few milsurp rifles in my collection have killed someone. That doesn’t make the gun evil or less palitable for me or anyone who would be interested in purchasing it.
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I own twenty firearms, of which half have documented combat history back to the 1860s and several are auctioned murder weapons. It doesn't bother me, but I get why it bothers some people. It is policy in a number of states and the individual policy of many departments (such as my local department here in redneck-ass Texas) to destroy blooded firearms. Sometimes that's because it gives the people calling the shots the heebie jeebies and sometimes it's because there's a ton of time and paperwork involved in releasing a firearm for sale from PD inventory and it isn't worth the trouble for a gun that's worth $200 on a good day like a beat up old 870.

Ultimately, I don't blame Benchmade, who probably builds the PD's knives, for maintaining a positive business relationship with them. Benchmade didn't decide that the guns needed to be cut up nor did they have the ability to save them.

I blame them for backing grabbers while trying to court gun owners for sales.
 
Bad Ninja said:
Here in GA, we remove the inoperable/damaged receiver and sell the parts. Money goes to the local LE. to buy equipment.

Benchmade and OCPD worked together and thought the photo of then chopping guns would be a good publicity stunt, and it backfired.
Even made sure the employee was wearing BM gear.

They made the choice.
Now they get to see the consequences of alienating your customer base.

On a lighter note, Kerahaw saw an opportunity and took it.
;)
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Yep. Thats exactly why they posted the photos. :) Otherwise, why did anyone have to see them destroying the guns?

I wonder how many of those they were trying to impress (that already hate guns and knives) went out and bought a benchmade? While many on the other side stopped?
 
Boxer .45 said:
Yep. Thats exactly why they posted the photos. :) Otherwise, why did anyone have to see them destroying the guns?

I wonder how many of those they were trying to impress (that already hate guns and knives) went out and bought a benchmade? While many on the other side stopped?
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Quite frankly this was beyond stupid from a business perspective. But hindsight is 20/20 right?
 
Well there's an hour I won't get back. Since when did the Benchmade sub become the PA?

Two quick points. Police departments destroy guns all the time. Where is the outrage there? Do you not support leos? Citizens can chose to hand in their guns to be destroyed. Do you not support citizens to be able to do what they want with their own property?

Last, some posters here live in the worst 2A areas in the country. Clean your own house before you judge other's.
Lapedog said:
It might be a “spare us for now and look elsewhere” donation..
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Lapedog said:
If Benchmade was only paying these donations to avoid the “evil eye” of their state’s Dems that might be an even bigger issue in itself.

Benchmade might have been caught handing their lunch money to the bully, but we won’t know until they say something.
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Lapedog said:
but people work for that company and support their families with that pay. Let’s hold off a second to see what they say before calling for national boycott.

Benchmade probably is getting shaken down by the democrats in its state.
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This. People who do not understand the environment of the North Willamette valley should stay out of discussing it. There is only one party to donate to there. And for a business, guess who runs the town.

sheepborg said:
With regard to donations, a quick read of the methodology section of 'opensecrets' will net you this block text with 2 key points:

1) Benchmade the company did not make any of the donations.
2) Even if they had, the donations shown are only for the local winners, which in Oregon is only democrats obviously. Any republican donations are hidden

"""""
METHODOLOGY: The numbers on this page are based on contributions from PACs and individuals giving $200 or more. All donations were made during the 2018 election cycle and were released by the Federal Election Commission. Figures for the current election cycle are based on data released on February 01, 2019.

This table lists candidates receiving money from this organization in 2017-2018. The organizations themselves did not donate, rather the money came from the organizations' PACs, their individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate families. Organization totals may include subsidiaries and affiliates.

The first chart shows money given to congressional candidates. The second and third charts show contributions only to candidates who won election in November of the cycle displayed.
""""

If you want to be upset about the guns being cut that's one thing, but on the political side at least read where your info is coming from and how it was created.
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Don't bring logic and reason into this discussion.
 
OMCHamlin said:
Indeed I do, appearing to address a similar argument, when in fact the comparison you chose is not similar, such as this one:
"Although unpopular with the mob, destroying firearms is not necessarily anti-gun.


For example, manufacturer FFLs often destroy firearms that don’t meet quality control standards. Clearly, firearm manufacturers aren’t anti-gun."

That, in the above statement, is a clear example of a straw man argument, in that "gun manufacturers destroy firearms all the time" is not comparable to "non-firearms related companies chop firearms up to help local LE take firearms out of the hands of citizens". Is that what you are looking for? Jackass?
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Nope.
 
craytab said:
This. People who do not understand the environment of the North Willamette valley should stay out of discussing it. There is only one party to donate to there. And for a business, guess who runs the town.


Don't bring logic and reason into this discussion.
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Great idea! Let’s keep giving money to political parties that hate us and oppress us!

Is that what logic and reason is these days? What about backbone and principles?
 
Still no official response from Benchmade about their anti - 2A Dem donations? This is not looking good for them....:thumbsdown:
 
Look at all the people crying over a few guns being destroyed. Where are all those tears for the victims of our uniquely American gun problems?
 
mylest said:
Only response. Figures. It’s the right wing way to dodge.
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I'm not going to engage you aggressively. Instead, I'm going to offer you a platform. What do you think the problem is? What do you think the solutions are?

I'm not sure this is the right place to have this conversation, but let's give it a go.
 
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