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Benchmade Fakes, knock-offs, counterfeits thread...
- Thread starter 338375
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2013
- Messages
- 1,026
We just rolled out a new packaging initiative. This is the new packaging moving forward. You are good.
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2025
- Messages
- 22
I am
Happy to see that! Hope it makes it harder for them to counterfeit.
mr.ko
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2025
- Messages
- 104
Subject: Authenticity Inquiry: Fixed Adamas 375 (D2 Steel) purchased at Military PX
Dear Benchmade Customer Service Team,
I am writing to verify the authenticity of a Benchmade Adamas fixed blade knife in my possession.
I am a member of the U.S. military, and I purchased this knife several years ago at a military PX (Post Exchange) in California. While I have always trusted the source of my purchase, some fellow knife enthusiasts recently raised questions about its authenticity based on specific design features.
I would like to confirm if this is a legitimate variant or a rare production run. Here are the details and the points of concern:
• Model: Fixed Adamas (Tan finish)
• Steel: Marked as "D2"
• Point of Concern 1 (Spine): This knife has a smooth spine without serrations. According to online resources and community feedback, most D2 steel 375 models (like the 375SN) were released with spine serrations.
• Point of Concern 2 (Logo Placement): The Benchmade butterfly logo is located above the grind line. I have been told that on non-serrated models, the logo is typically placed below the grind line.
I have attached photos of both sides of the blade, including the steel marking and the Sibert Design logo, for your review.
Could you please verify if Benchmade ever produced a D2 steel Adamas with a plain spine and this specific logo placement for military contracts or PX distribution?
Thank you for your time and for your continued support of the military community. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Benchmade
Dear Benchmade Customer Service Team,
I am writing to verify the authenticity of a Benchmade Adamas fixed blade knife in my possession.
I am a member of the U.S. military, and I purchased this knife several years ago at a military PX (Post Exchange) in California. While I have always trusted the source of my purchase, some fellow knife enthusiasts recently raised questions about its authenticity based on specific design features.
I would like to confirm if this is a legitimate variant or a rare production run. Here are the details and the points of concern:
• Model: Fixed Adamas (Tan finish)
• Steel: Marked as "D2"
• Point of Concern 1 (Spine): This knife has a smooth spine without serrations. According to online resources and community feedback, most D2 steel 375 models (like the 375SN) were released with spine serrations.
• Point of Concern 2 (Logo Placement): The Benchmade butterfly logo is located above the grind line. I have been told that on non-serrated models, the logo is typically placed below the grind line.
I have attached photos of both sides of the blade, including the steel marking and the Sibert Design logo, for your review.
Could you please verify if Benchmade ever produced a D2 steel Adamas with a plain spine and this specific logo placement for military contracts or PX distribution?
Thank you for your time and for your continued support of the military community. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
BenchmadeAttachments
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2023
- Messages
- 1
HI ALL,
Just wanted to pass on some of what I have discovered regarding Fake or Clone BenchMade Knives being sold on eBay & even Amazon at times.
As most of you may already know, BenchMade has changed the Boxes they are using for their knives. The new ones are larger and significantly different from the old style to the point that you will easily be able to note the difference. Also, they have apparently discontinued the practice of shipping the new knives in the small black pouches/bags- Unfortunately!
Some of the fakes out there are extremely close to the real thing and it can be very difficult to distinguish a clone, especially if you do not have a legit knife of the same model with which to compare. Here are a few of the things I have discovered to be observable with the fakes:
1. The Boxes (Older, original ones) sometimes will be missing the production date on the white end label, but not always. The faint grey striping within the Blue box top coloring is slightly more prominent with the fakes. The most notable difference is the foam inside the boxes. There are basically two different fake versions- One has only flat foam with no second piece that serves as a cut out or surround for the knife. The second does have the surround and the foam has the appearance of being made up of small cells or particles as do the real boxes, but the fakes are a darker color grey with smaller cells or particles. Also, the BenchMade Logo the box top will have slightly different font- Example would be a smaller space in the middle of the A.
2. The Knives themselves are really tough to differentiate; however, there are a couple of things to look for. On all of the real BenchMade knives I've seen, the screws holding on the scales protrude slightly through and past the inner edge- So if you open the knife and look into the channel between the liners, you will see the screw tips protruding slightly. The fakes I have seen do not have this- they are flush. Also, if you look closely at the blade steel under magnification and get the light just right, you will see faint vertical striations in the BenchMade steel which will not be on the fake steel blades. In some case, the grips can be a distinguishing factor as well. For example, on the Osborn 940-2 knives with the G10 handles/scales the surface is fairly smooth and has a hint of grey to the overall black color, while the fakes are noticeably more raised and grippy and are completely black.
Obviously the safe play is to buy from an authorized dealer, but there are also legit reasons to buy from individuals and/or online. I hope some of this helps!
Just wanted to pass on some of what I have discovered regarding Fake or Clone BenchMade Knives being sold on eBay & even Amazon at times.
As most of you may already know, BenchMade has changed the Boxes they are using for their knives. The new ones are larger and significantly different from the old style to the point that you will easily be able to note the difference. Also, they have apparently discontinued the practice of shipping the new knives in the small black pouches/bags- Unfortunately!
Some of the fakes out there are extremely close to the real thing and it can be very difficult to distinguish a clone, especially if you do not have a legit knife of the same model with which to compare. Here are a few of the things I have discovered to be observable with the fakes:
1. The Boxes (Older, original ones) sometimes will be missing the production date on the white end label, but not always. The faint grey striping within the Blue box top coloring is slightly more prominent with the fakes. The most notable difference is the foam inside the boxes. There are basically two different fake versions- One has only flat foam with no second piece that serves as a cut out or surround for the knife. The second does have the surround and the foam has the appearance of being made up of small cells or particles as do the real boxes, but the fakes are a darker color grey with smaller cells or particles. Also, the BenchMade Logo the box top will have slightly different font- Example would be a smaller space in the middle of the A.
2. The Knives themselves are really tough to differentiate; however, there are a couple of things to look for. On all of the real BenchMade knives I've seen, the screws holding on the scales protrude slightly through and past the inner edge- So if you open the knife and look into the channel between the liners, you will see the screw tips protruding slightly. The fakes I have seen do not have this- they are flush. Also, if you look closely at the blade steel under magnification and get the light just right, you will see faint vertical striations in the BenchMade steel which will not be on the fake steel blades. In some case, the grips can be a distinguishing factor as well. For example, on the Osborn 940-2 knives with the G10 handles/scales the surface is fairly smooth and has a hint of grey to the overall black color, while the fakes are noticeably more raised and grippy and are completely black.
Obviously the safe play is to buy from an authorized dealer, but there are also legit reasons to buy from individuals and/or online. I hope some of this helps!
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2013
- Messages
- 1,026
Yes we do make a version like that for military contracts. The handles are aftermarket but the blade looks legit.Subject: Authenticity Inquiry: Fixed Adamas 375 (D2 Steel) purchased at Military PX
Dear Benchmade Customer Service Team,
I am writing to verify the authenticity of a Benchmade Adamas fixed blade knife in my possession.
I am a member of the U.S. military, and I purchased this knife several years ago at a military PX (Post Exchange) in California. While I have always trusted the source of my purchase, some fellow knife enthusiasts recently raised questions about its authenticity based on specific design features.
I would like to confirm if this is a legitimate variant or a rare production run. Here are the details and the points of concern:
• Model: Fixed Adamas (Tan finish)
• Steel: Marked as "D2"
• Point of Concern 1 (Spine): This knife has a smooth spine without serrations. According to online resources and community feedback, most D2 steel 375 models (like the 375SN) were released with spine serrations.
• Point of Concern 2 (Logo Placement): The Benchmade butterfly logo is located above the grind line. I have been told that on non-serrated models, the logo is typically placed below the grind line.
I have attached photos of both sides of the blade, including the steel marking and the Sibert Design logo, for your review.
Could you please verify if Benchmade ever produced a D2 steel Adamas with a plain spine and this specific logo placement for military contracts or PX distribution?
Thank you for your time and for your continued support of the military community. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Subject: Authenticity Inquiry: 2018 Benchmade 940 (SV30) Purchased from Collector
Dear Benchmade Customer Service Team and members,
I’m hoping to get some guidance regarding the authenticity of a 2018 Benchmade 940 I purchased a few months ago from a collector. I’d love to hear any insights from the
Benchmade
team or community members.
While comparing it to my Benchmade 945, I noticed that the trademark logo and the S30V marking appear slightly different. The date on the box is listed as 6/26/2018.
Unfortunately, I mixed up the Axis lock tag and manual with those from some of my other Benchmades, so I wasn’t able to include that tag in the photos. I’ve attached detailed pictures of the knife and packaging to help with evaluation. I appreciate any thoughts you're willing to share!
Dear Benchmade Customer Service Team and members,
I’m hoping to get some guidance regarding the authenticity of a 2018 Benchmade 940 I purchased a few months ago from a collector. I’d love to hear any insights from the
Benchmade
team or community members.While comparing it to my Benchmade 945, I noticed that the trademark logo and the S30V marking appear slightly different. The date on the box is listed as 6/26/2018.
Unfortunately, I mixed up the Axis lock tag and manual with those from some of my other Benchmades, so I wasn’t able to include that tag in the photos. I’ve attached detailed pictures of the knife and packaging to help with evaluation. I appreciate any thoughts you're willing to share!
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2013
- Messages
- 1,026
Seems legit to me. The laser marks can vary slightly over the years.Subject: Authenticity Inquiry: 2018 Benchmade 940 (SV30) Purchased from Collector
Dear Benchmade Customer Service Team and members,
I’m hoping to get some guidance regarding the authenticity of a 2018 Benchmade 940 I purchased a few months ago from a collector. I’d love to hear any insights from the
While comparing it to my Benchmade 945, I noticed that the trademark logo and the S30V marking appear slightly different. The date on the box is listed as 6/26/2018.
Unfortunately, I mixed up the Axis lock tag and manual with those from some of my other Benchmades, so I wasn’t able to include that tag in the photos. I’ve attached detailed pictures of the knife and packaging to help with evaluation. I appreciate any thoughts you're willing to share!
LeftHandedRightMinded
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2026
- Messages
- 2
To:
Benchmade
and whoever is willing to help a LEO (plus I’m a cop in CA…I’ll leave that tidbit out there aka times are interesting).
I’ve been a cop in a semi-rural city almost 26 years (same agency whole career). I lost a 20+ year old black Mel Pardue Griptillion, tanto partial serrated blade last year. I had it since new and carried that beauty everyday It was a bummer to say the least. I even reported it lost to Benchmade (great perk offered to customers btw). The thought of where that poor knife is now makes a grown man shiver.
Back on topic. I lost that knife while on a call with an officer who has really progressed in the 4 years he has on as a cop. I was his primary field training officer. We’ve since become good friends and our families spend time together. Recently, a he decided to apply to another agency in the same county (lateral). He received word he was hired and I’m proud of him. I work at a smaller PD and he was looking for more opportunities, which I totally get.
Since the loss of my trusty Benchmade, I’ve carried a really, really low end knife I got for free with an order (yes, I know).
Well, he’s really, really, super aware of the loss of my lost knife. I likely sound and look like a pouting child every time I pull out my freebie and try to cut something haha. Most recent example was attempting to cut a shipping strap off a pallet of new mobile and portable radios from the big M company (I wear a lot of hats and have numerous additional responsibilities at work). The blade gave up the fight against the simple plastic strapping. That was a funny story in itself, but I’m doing my best to keep focus haha. Buddy saw what happened, consoled me (while laughing his butt off
), and asked some subtle details about my lost knife.
Now that I think about it, I’ve discussed the details of my lost knife countless times with him around. Makes me question the sincerity of our conversations! Just kidding.
My co-worker put in his 2 week notice and is quickly getting onboarded by his much larger “new” agency. I’ve worked with him on the same shift 3.5 years of the 4 he has on.
I’m charged with ensuring all the “stuff” happens as far as accounting for the equipment he turns in and some boring administrative things for his move. This dude was hired at the crown jewel of agencies in our county (from cops prospective), and I’m truly proud of him.
He approached me the other day with a bag in his hand, complete with white tissue paper with glitter embedded in it, a card, and a wrapped box. My initial reaction was to look at it suspiciously, as cops are human and we do mess with each other.
I opened the card and it said the following:
My name,
Sorry for the loss of your Benchmade. It’s likely been traded for ….. (I’ll leave the rest there, but it was a good hearted set of funny lines). It was a this moment I was 99% sure this good friend got me a new knife.
I unwrapped the box. Sure enough, I was then holding a Benchmade box. We don’t make a ton of money at our small PD. I handed it back over to him. He wouldn’t take it. I read the side of the box and saw it was a Barrage. The details were unknown, as thats where Amazon placed their barcode sticker over the Benchmade sticker. I’ve been perusing the Benchmade site now and then and had taken note of it, along with others that had a black coated tanto with partially serrated blade config available. I opened the box and saw a black beauty. I felt a little dumb when I went straight to the thumbstud to open it up and nothing happened lol. It didn’t take long to realize this was not a manually opening knife. I fumbled with the spine lock and quickly figured it out. I then went back to the stud and WOW… This thing flew open with the confidence of a Bald Eagle! ! I also noticed “OSBORNE”. I’ll save the sappy stuff, but I will share that when I looked back at him, he had his wife on FaceTime facing me next to him. They were both smiling. My buddy said he knew it would never replace my lost baby and referenced the close call I had with the freebie almost cutting me as it busted apart when trying to simply cut a plastic shipping strap.
I thanked both of them many times and began to process this awesome moment.
This next part is why I joined the gold club here and was hoping to get some help. I want to make it crystal clear: I’m concerned my good friend may have been ripped off by an unscrupulous customer who possibly switched knives and did a return to Amazon. Amazon’s process of handing returns has no logic as far as I’m concerned. I noticed the barcode sticker had LPN on it. I know that stands for License Plate Number. I also know that means it was a returned item that looked great to the guy processing the return and it was placed back into inventory. However, it was not placed into “used” inventory. I’ve shopped with Amazon long enough to instantly recognize when they put a return into new inventory and sell the item as new.
My buddy even included a printout of the receipt from the purchase. Note: he’s not as versed on what can happen with Amazon returns as I am. Invoice showed it was sold by Benchmade Knife Company and shipped by Amazon. I’ve gone thru many threads here on covering clones. I’ve watched linked YT videos as well. I was shocked how close the knockoffs appear next to a legitimate Benchmade. I knew there were clones, but didn’t realize just how many are being pumped into the market. Being a cop, I’m very well aware of the levels individuals drop to in order to scam the legitimate market to their benefit.
I’m respectfully requesting you take a look at the photos I’m including and give me your take. The knife sure feels solid. It opens smooth as butter. I saw a few minor imperfections on the blade. There’s two photos showing where a tiny bit of coating is missing on both sides of the top of the blade. I also noticed the blade doesn’t close in a centered position. That’s as far as my knowledge base goes as far as Benchmade clones. Now, if you want to talk about Volvos from 2004-2012, I’m your guy lol.
Look, as long as my friend didn’t get boobazzled by a previous purchaser with a real for clone switch, I’m happy. The mere fact he paid so much (cops in smaller cities do not make a lot of money in very expensive CA), means the world to me. Considering the amount of problems I’ve read about with Amazon being included, I’d really like to know if hard earned money was spent on what was expected. I know it was a return. There’s no question with the unique LPN decal. As long as a legit knife was actually returned, I’ll be happier than a clam at high tide. If there’s anything that stands out to the experts (maybe even
Benchmade
can take a quick look?). I hope I’m doing the @ part right. I’m a guy who barely uses X.
One thing to note, I’m a lefty. So I switched the clip over to the other side. I see the manufacture date on the box was just a few months ago. But, that doesn’t help when it involves a return.
Sorry this was so long, but if someone I trust my life with got swindled, I want him to know. If all looks great, it will be free from my mind and use this beautiful cutting tool for many years to come. I plan on getting a retractable leash of some sort to ensure a loss of a gracious gift like this will not be lost. I don’t remember if I mentioned it or not, but I’m a lefty. That’s why you righties might be puzzled by the clip swap to the other side.
To all who read above, it means a lot to this salty sgt with a true appreciation of the thought behind this gift.
Looks like I’m limited to image count. Here’s a link that should hopefully work to them all. Pls advise if link works. Thanks guys and gals!
Benchmade
and whoever is willing to help a LEO (plus I’m a cop in CA…I’ll leave that tidbit out there aka times are interesting).I’ve been a cop in a semi-rural city almost 26 years (same agency whole career). I lost a 20+ year old black Mel Pardue Griptillion, tanto partial serrated blade last year. I had it since new and carried that beauty everyday It was a bummer to say the least. I even reported it lost to Benchmade (great perk offered to customers btw). The thought of where that poor knife is now makes a grown man shiver.
Back on topic. I lost that knife while on a call with an officer who has really progressed in the 4 years he has on as a cop. I was his primary field training officer. We’ve since become good friends and our families spend time together. Recently, a he decided to apply to another agency in the same county (lateral). He received word he was hired and I’m proud of him. I work at a smaller PD and he was looking for more opportunities, which I totally get.
Since the loss of my trusty Benchmade, I’ve carried a really, really low end knife I got for free with an order (yes, I know).
Well, he’s really, really, super aware of the loss of my lost knife. I likely sound and look like a pouting child every time I pull out my freebie and try to cut something haha. Most recent example was attempting to cut a shipping strap off a pallet of new mobile and portable radios from the big M company (I wear a lot of hats and have numerous additional responsibilities at work). The blade gave up the fight against the simple plastic strapping. That was a funny story in itself, but I’m doing my best to keep focus haha. Buddy saw what happened, consoled me (while laughing his butt off
), and asked some subtle details about my lost knife.Now that I think about it, I’ve discussed the details of my lost knife countless times with him around. Makes me question the sincerity of our conversations! Just kidding.
My co-worker put in his 2 week notice and is quickly getting onboarded by his much larger “new” agency. I’ve worked with him on the same shift 3.5 years of the 4 he has on.
I’m charged with ensuring all the “stuff” happens as far as accounting for the equipment he turns in and some boring administrative things for his move. This dude was hired at the crown jewel of agencies in our county (from cops prospective), and I’m truly proud of him.
He approached me the other day with a bag in his hand, complete with white tissue paper with glitter embedded in it, a card, and a wrapped box. My initial reaction was to look at it suspiciously, as cops are human and we do mess with each other.
I opened the card and it said the following:
My name,
Sorry for the loss of your Benchmade. It’s likely been traded for ….. (I’ll leave the rest there, but it was a good hearted set of funny lines). It was a this moment I was 99% sure this good friend got me a new knife.
I unwrapped the box. Sure enough, I was then holding a Benchmade box. We don’t make a ton of money at our small PD. I handed it back over to him. He wouldn’t take it. I read the side of the box and saw it was a Barrage. The details were unknown, as thats where Amazon placed their barcode sticker over the Benchmade sticker. I’ve been perusing the Benchmade site now and then and had taken note of it, along with others that had a black coated tanto with partially serrated blade config available. I opened the box and saw a black beauty. I felt a little dumb when I went straight to the thumbstud to open it up and nothing happened lol. It didn’t take long to realize this was not a manually opening knife. I fumbled with the spine lock and quickly figured it out. I then went back to the stud and WOW… This thing flew open with the confidence of a Bald Eagle! ! I also noticed “OSBORNE”. I’ll save the sappy stuff, but I will share that when I looked back at him, he had his wife on FaceTime facing me next to him. They were both smiling. My buddy said he knew it would never replace my lost baby and referenced the close call I had with the freebie almost cutting me as it busted apart when trying to simply cut a plastic shipping strap.
I thanked both of them many times and began to process this awesome moment.
This next part is why I joined the gold club here and was hoping to get some help. I want to make it crystal clear: I’m concerned my good friend may have been ripped off by an unscrupulous customer who possibly switched knives and did a return to Amazon. Amazon’s process of handing returns has no logic as far as I’m concerned. I noticed the barcode sticker had LPN on it. I know that stands for License Plate Number. I also know that means it was a returned item that looked great to the guy processing the return and it was placed back into inventory. However, it was not placed into “used” inventory. I’ve shopped with Amazon long enough to instantly recognize when they put a return into new inventory and sell the item as new.
My buddy even included a printout of the receipt from the purchase. Note: he’s not as versed on what can happen with Amazon returns as I am. Invoice showed it was sold by Benchmade Knife Company and shipped by Amazon. I’ve gone thru many threads here on covering clones. I’ve watched linked YT videos as well. I was shocked how close the knockoffs appear next to a legitimate Benchmade. I knew there were clones, but didn’t realize just how many are being pumped into the market. Being a cop, I’m very well aware of the levels individuals drop to in order to scam the legitimate market to their benefit.
I’m respectfully requesting you take a look at the photos I’m including and give me your take. The knife sure feels solid. It opens smooth as butter. I saw a few minor imperfections on the blade. There’s two photos showing where a tiny bit of coating is missing on both sides of the top of the blade. I also noticed the blade doesn’t close in a centered position. That’s as far as my knowledge base goes as far as Benchmade clones. Now, if you want to talk about Volvos from 2004-2012, I’m your guy lol.
Look, as long as my friend didn’t get boobazzled by a previous purchaser with a real for clone switch, I’m happy. The mere fact he paid so much (cops in smaller cities do not make a lot of money in very expensive CA), means the world to me. Considering the amount of problems I’ve read about with Amazon being included, I’d really like to know if hard earned money was spent on what was expected. I know it was a return. There’s no question with the unique LPN decal. As long as a legit knife was actually returned, I’ll be happier than a clam at high tide. If there’s anything that stands out to the experts (maybe even
Benchmade
can take a quick look?). I hope I’m doing the @ part right. I’m a guy who barely uses X.One thing to note, I’m a lefty. So I switched the clip over to the other side. I see the manufacture date on the box was just a few months ago. But, that doesn’t help when it involves a return.
Sorry this was so long, but if someone I trust my life with got swindled, I want him to know. If all looks great, it will be free from my mind and use this beautiful cutting tool for many years to come. I plan on getting a retractable leash of some sort to ensure a loss of a gracious gift like this will not be lost. I don’t remember if I mentioned it or not, but I’m a lefty. That’s why you righties might be puzzled by the clip swap to the other side.
To all who read above, it means a lot to this salty sgt with a true appreciation of the thought behind this gift.
Looks like I’m limited to image count. Here’s a link that should hopefully work to them all. Pls advise if link works. Thanks guys and gals!
Last edited:
LeftHandedRightMinded
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2026
- Messages
- 2
Sweet! Many thanks.
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2026
- Messages
- 1
Hello all! I got this 940 not long ago for a gift. Can you tell me if this is legit or a clone? I’m going to try and post pics in a few once I figure out how 
87Burban
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2009
- Messages
- 4,689
99% sure this is genuine, but any help appreciated.
Also have sent pics to Benchmade customer service, but no reply as of yet...
Thanks in Advance
Edit: I heard back from Benchmade. They can not verify authenticity through pictures or video. Only by physical inspection.
Maybe this should be added as a sticky to the top of this category to let everyone know that photos alone are not a panacea.
Last edited:
lambertiana
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2000
- Messages
- 9,889
Does this look legit for an S30V auto spike? This was supposedly from around 2014. Is the box correct?
