Benchmade=Dull, Why?!

I don't even post to these topics anymore but you can search my earlier posts and see the issues I've had (even with LE stuff). I just quit buying them and went elsewhere (Spyderco).
 
Shotgun said:
BS. What you can do is not buy their products. Vote with your cash.
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Obviously.

But that doesn't put a Benchmade knife in your hands. This issue can be distilled down to how much importance you place in factory-sharp edges. So, your current options if you're interested in one of Benchmade's designs are:

1. "Not buy their products. Vote with your cash." (and possibly wait until some arbitrary point when you've somehow determined that company-wide sharpness has improved. Proceed to buy.)

2. Buy their products, hope for the best, sharpen as needed.
 
My mini-grip (154 CM) was pretty sharp out of the box, would slice paper well. The grind was even (~40 degress inclusive) except for a small spot near the heel where they missed, which was easily corrected on an 800 grit waterstone- no big deal. My Spyderco PM2 was about the same sharpness, but the grind was perfect from heel to tip. Both edges were too toothy to do things like pushcut newsprint vertically, or pop hairs. Nothing unusual.
 
paper hat said:
you should learn to sharpen your knifes. that way, when you actually use your knife and it get's dull, you can just resharpen it. no matter how sharp a knife comes, it aint gonna stay that way. learn to sharpen!
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Generally I would agree. But the problem is when you buy a knife knowing that you will eventually sell it one day. This is pretty common with Benchmade collectors, given all of the gold class and limited edition knives they produce. If you are interested in retaining that knife's value, or even increasing the value, then you generally shouldn't sharpen it.
So now what.
 
I received my Barrage 580 on Friday. This is what it says on the box...
photo1.jpg


Now, this is my Barrage 580 next to my little girl's preschool, safety scissors...

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Guess which one is sharper?

I'll give you a hint, it's not the Barrage

photo3.jpg


This thing is going back...I'm going to try my luck with a Buck Vantage Pro in S30V
 
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Hilarious! THAT us exactly my point. Put my mini Barrage on my Sharpmaker the other day. Way better. Also dull out of box. What's better doing the 40 degree angle first, then the 30 for the bevel? Or?? It's hard to reprofile a Benchmade with the factory edge. Trying to sharpen the same way a Spyderco is suggested for the mirror polished edge.
 
Sorry to hear of your experiences. The 950 Rift I just got came as sharp or sharper than anything else I've ever owned. Could even do some of the stunts like push-cutting tissue paper and whittling hairs that I haven't been able to do before.

That being said, I got mine direct from the factory. I've definitely seen some stores that are unscrupulous, and sell used knives as new. Had a couple Benchmades I picked up in person at a local store, and both were pretty dull in comparison to the ones I've purchased from reputable sellers or direct from the factory. Sent them in for Life Sharp (before I learned how to sharpen myself), and they came back shaving sharp. Not saying that's the case here, but you often can't be sure who's responsible for the dullness. Could be Benchmade, could be the reseller. Had similar issues with some of my Spyderco knives. It's kinda sad, but I'd rather purchase online from a reputable seller than purchase from a place where I can handle the knife, because so many of the local stores will let anyone handle the knife, and even use it, but still sell it at new prices, after the edge has been dulled, even chipped.
 
I bought my BM online, but I verified the seller through BM's website before the purchase and they're a "Premier Dealer"
 
Well the 790, 150, and 141 that came in last week are all very sharp, have no problem shaving my arm, been using the 790 a bit and it will still take hair off pretty easily so maybe I just got super lucky or something.

Frenchmade to keep its value you could always send it back to have it resharpened by benchmade.
 
That is a black eye for Benchmade what a shame. I was going to take pic next to a bar of butter but the butter was frozen and could not cut the butter.
 
I got a new 755 MPR and it was dull; would not cut my hand if I pulled the blade across it with pressure. I sent it back; they sharpened it; it's fine now.
I think they are getting better.
I've NEVER had a problem with Spyderco; those things always cut me when I play with them.
Sonny
 
miltmaldo said:
That is a black eye for Benchmade what a shame. I was going to take pic next to a bar of butter but the butter was frozen and could not cut the butter.
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LOL! Coffee came out of my nose! There's no way that Benchmade is getting through that stick of butter!
 
Hm, my Griptilian from REI came significantly sharper than my ZT 0350. Both came very sharp, though.
 
Hmmm my 585 mini barrage and 580 barrage both came out of the box, bought the 585 2 months ago and the 580 2 weeks ago, sharp enough to shave the hair off my arm. They were both able to cut phone book paper but I was not satisfied, I like a polished and ultra sharp blade, so I used my Lansky system and strop to achieve the edge I prefer.
I'd not expect any knife from any knife maker to come as sharp and polished as I prefer.
 
I have couple Benchmade folders, and was not satisfied with their out of box sharpeness or edges that were uneven and very thick!For price I paid they should be sharp..and edge geometry(primary grind) sucked!!!For me Spyderco and Cold Steel are the way to go..........their grinds just cut better IMO!!!!!!!!!!And one more thing the more I use cold steel the more I like the performance , outcuts most benchmade folders easily for half price!
 
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