Benchmade Gold Class 556-141 Pardue

Redmasta

Redmasta

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Benchmade_556_141_zpsa7a822b2.jpg


So whos gonna be the first to get one of these? :cool:

The Benchmade Gold Class 556-141 Pardue Design Limited Edition:
Patented AXIS® lock mechanism
DLC coated crowned CPM-M4 (62-64 HRC) drop point blade with hand polished convex edge
Anodized machined titanium handles with blue twill G10 inlays
DLC coated stainless steel liners and split arrow reversible pocket clip
Blue anodized titanium barrel spacers and thumb lugs
175 piece limited edition

Blade Length: 2.91″
Blade Thickness: 0.10″
Handle Thickness: 0.51″
Blade Material: DLC coated crowned CPM-M4
Blade Hardness: 62-64 HRC
Weight: 3.60 oz
Blade Style: Drop Point
Pocket Clip: split arrow reversible pocket clip
Lock Mechanism: Axis lock mechanism
Overall Length: 6.78"
Closed Length: 3.87"
 

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It's probably not going to come in a price I'm willing to pay, but I like everything about it.
 
Looks awfully nice with M4, Titanium and blue/gray accents for a street price of $550!
 
This gorgeous uprated Griptilian makes me wonder even more about the thinking behind the limited edition pricing and numbers. I can't imagine Benchmade not selling far, far more than 175 of these and reducing the price to a reasonable level to make even more profit overall. The planning, tooling, & machining costs for the Ti handle alone can't come close to being recouped by sales of 175 samples. They could easily sell ten times the number to various forum members alone, given the willingness of so many people to buy aftermarket Griptilian handles.

For example, the Barrage 581 and Mini-Barrage 586 with the aluminum and G10 scales and M390 steel are a huge step up from the molded plastic handle versions, and they're not limited editions. There have been so many requests for uprated Griptilian handles beyond the two limited run G10 versions and the previous gold class version that you would think they'd be thrilled to go after that market. I can't imagine it diminishing the market for the cheaper models.
 
Keyman when you get tired of those incredibly heavy and ugly Ti scales, I would be more than happy to help you out.:D
 
JML said:
This gorgeous uprated Griptilian makes me wonder even more about the thinking behind the limited edition pricing and numbers. I can't imagine Benchmade not selling far, far more than 175 of these and reducing the price to a reasonable level to make even more profit overall. The planning, tooling, & machining costs for the Ti handle alone can't come close to being recouped by sales of 175 samples. They could easily sell ten times the number to various forum members alone, given the willingness of so many people to buy aftermarket Griptilian handles.

For example, the Barrage 581 and Mini-Barrage 586 with the aluminum and G10 scales and M390 steel are a huge step up from the molded plastic handle versions, and they're not limited editions. There have been so many requests for uprated Griptilian handles beyond the two limited run G10 versions and the previous gold class version that you would think they'd be thrilled to go after that market. I can't imagine it diminishing the market for the cheaper models.
Click to expand...

I will have to second this notion. I really don't understand why Benchmade wouldn't tool up and produce a mini-grip in higher quality materials, scales and steel, at a more modest price. With the astounding popularity of the mini-grip, one would think it to be more profitable to tone down the gold class version a tad, produce a higher quantity, and price to target the majority. The 940-1 should be a prime example. I love my 940-1. S90v with CF is killer and much improved over the aluminum. A mini-grip in say G-10, layered G-10, micarta, etc. combined with M4, M390, S90V, CPM 3V, etc would likely gain wide interest.
Not that I don't like the new gold class, it's just a bit much for me to get titanium and M4. I have a M4 black coated Ritter in custom micata/g-10 that I would compare to this version any day. Plus the common consumer can get titanium from Wilkins and have 80% of this knife. Yes there is a collectors aspect that comes with the limited edition gold class, but the customer satisfaction could be more wide spread it a model could be offered to the masses at an "affordable" price.

Keyman, I envy you a tad not only for your scale talents, but also that you are fortunate and able to swing such a nice mini-grip. I know with your enthusiasm for BM and the mini-grip you can appreciate and enjoy it. Good catch. It's a nice piece.

My semi-custom M4 mini-grip will have to fill the void of this one....
 
Elite_KG said:
I will have to second this notion. I really don't understand why Benchmade wouldn't tool up and produce a mini-grip in higher quality materials, scales and steel, at a more modest price. With the astounding popularity of the mini-grip, one would think it to be more profitable to tone down the gold class version a tad, produce a higher quantity, and price to target the majority. The 940-1 should be a prime example. I love my 940-1. S90v with CF is killer and much improved over the aluminum. A mini-grip in say G-10, layered G-10, micarta, etc. combined with M4, M390, S90V, CPM 3V, etc would likely gain wide interest.
Not that I don't like the new gold class, it's just a bit much for me to get titanium and M4. I have a M4 black coated Ritter in custom micata/g-10 that I would compare to this version any day. Plus the common consumer can get titanium from Wilkins and have 80% of this knife. Yes there is a collectors aspect that comes with the limited edition gold class, but the customer satisfaction could be more wide spread it a model could be offered to the masses at an "affordable" price.

Keyman, I envy you a tad not only for your scale talents, but also that you are fortunate and able to swing such a nice mini-grip. I know with your enthusiasm for BM and the mini-grip you can appreciate and enjoy it. Good catch. It's a nice piece.

My semi-custom M4 mini-grip will have to fill the void of this one....
Click to expand...

i also agree, but with the decisions benchmade tends to make, i'm pretty sure the requests would fall on deaf ears.
 
RamZar said:
Looks awfully nice with M4, Titanium and blue/gray accents for a street price of $550!
Click to expand...

It looks fantastic... but... it's still a Griptillian... I think BM should reserve their Gold Class treatment for their higher-end knives. It's like Spyderco putting damascus blades and stag handles on Delicas/Enduras... In the end, it's still basically a tricked out entry-level knife.
 
Fit and finish on this is wonderful.
BM photo's do not due it justice.
The DLC blade is a darker gray than I've seen before.
It is very handsome indeed.
The rounded or crowned spine is sweet, a very refined elegant touch.
The Ti scales look gray in BM's pictures.
But in person slightly blue, it looks like they anodized the scales blue and then stonewashed them after the fact.
So, all the divots or millings into the scales (like the three diagonal lines and the teeth near the rear), all have blue in them.
In fact the entire scale is a faint stonewashed blue.
The blade is sharp as a laser and silky smooth to operate.
I say, an absolute home run on this one Benchmade!
Here's to you!
Please feel free to take a bow and tell us more about this one...............love that DLC.
 
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Holy crap that is awesome! Yes I'm buying one.

Why the hell aren't they making that as a production knife?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

DLC, M4, Titanium, anodizing, advanced texturing, advanced inlay integration?

Isn't that everything people here have been asking Benchmade for? That addresses all of my (few) criticisms by upping the steel, coating, and going from SS to Ti. Griptilian or not it is a competitor with many of the high-priced ti folders!!! and it is absolutely beautiful!
 
Shao said:
It looks fantastic... but... it's still a Griptillian... I think BM should reserve their Gold Class treatment for their higher-end knives. It's like Spyderco putting damascus blades and stag handles on Delicas/Enduras... In the end, it's still basically a tricked out entry-level knife.
Click to expand...

Define "entry-level."

Is it the premium steel blade that signals "entry-level" to you?

Or were you focusing on the titanium scales as an "entry-level" feature?

Perhaps it was the fit and finish that you were thinking is "entry-level"?

The only thing left over from the basic Griptilian is the name.

:rolleyes:
 
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Shao said:
It looks fantastic... but... it's still a Griptillian... I think BM should reserve their Gold Class treatment for their higher-end knives. It's like Spyderco putting damascus blades and stag handles on Delicas/Enduras... In the end, it's still basically a tricked out entry-level knife.
Click to expand...

Spyderco does have the Delica and Endura (soon) with titanium handles and Damascus blade. The Delica one is $150!
 
Keyman,

Congrats!

How thick are the titanium slabs? They look real beefy!
 
This M4 556-141 has the same msrp and materials as the 531-132 which comes in stonewashed M390.
Since I own the 531-132, I'm finding it difficult to spring for this mini grip. I do have an M4 mini with Wilkins already.
Either way it's a nice piece but if you can find a 531-132 for the same price buy it instead.

P1090067-2_zpsbe9df0a1.jpg
 
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Neuron604 said:
This M4 mini grip has the same msrp and materials as the 531-132 which comes in stonewashed M390.
Click to expand...
Well, they're not quite the same materials...as you've already mentioned.
The mini has "DLC coated crowned CPM-M4 (62-64 HRC) drop point blade with hand polished convex edge "......not stone washed M390.
God, I Love that DLC.
Other than that they're pretty much the same-ish materials.
But, a totally different knife, that's for sure.
I've have had my M4 Ritter wrapped in some Ti Wilkins scales and believe me when I tell you.....these are not the same thing.
These scales stick to the original BM design and are lighter in weight than the Wilkins Ti's are/were.
I prefer the 556 design over the 531 design myself.
But, to each his own.
 
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