Benchmade / H&K

[illumination]

Benchmade seems to be making more and more blades under the H&K logo.

What to people think about this?

Is that because they are trying to attract a new customer base (i.e., people who don't know much about knives, but know and like H&K's and maybe can't afford them so they buy a knife anyway)?

Personally, I like the design of many of the knives but will never buy one. To me it seems silly to spend money for something being sold as a marketing ploy. I'd rather spend the money on a knife branded with a knife manufacturer's logo. I'd probably spend a lot more on Benchmade if they took the H&K logo off and put the Benchmade logo back.

Old Benchmade = collaboration with other knife designers
New Benchmade = giving up on the knife enthusiast to sell to the gun enthusiast who doesnt know much about knives

 

[Peter_E_Ryt]

Old Benchmade = collaboration with other knife designers
New Benchmade = giving up on the knife enthusiast to sell to the gun enthusiast who doesnt know much about knives

New Benchmade is is still doing collaborations with other makers, aswell as providing great designs for the knife knowledgeable populace. They're just trying different methods of attracting more customers. It's the same reason that Benchmade sells chinese knives, and Sypderco uses the Byrd line.

 

[illumination]

Originally posted by: Peter_E_Ryt
They're just trying different methods of attracting more customers.

I guess that is what they are trying to do. I'm not sure whether it is working.

I just know that they discontinued a lot of knives that I WOULD HAVE bought over time and replaced them with knives that I WON'T buy.

 

[steveg30]

It's still a Benchmade. Same quality no more no less. The new HK 14205 with all g-10 handel will be a hot seller.

 

[StretchNM]

..........
Old Benchmade = collaboration with other knife designers
New Benchmade = giving up on the knife enthusiast to sell to the gun enthusiast who doesnt know much about knives

H&K contracted with Benchmade to have a series of knives made bearing the H&K logo. I've handled several and they're very well made. Almost every review I've read, here and elsewhere, laud the H&K line as among Benchmade's highest quality knives. Do a search.

I'm a gun enthusiast and my profession dictates I carry a firearm. I've carried and competed with S&W and Ruger revolvers, and SIG, Glock, Beretta, and H&K semi-autos. The H&K is what I carry now, and it is, in my opinion, the finest of the above-mentioned.

It is almost silly and certainly naive to presume that "gun enthusiasts" don't know much about knives. In fact, it is reasonable and intelligent to assume that they do know about quality knives. Don't be silly.

Now, if one were to complain that the "New Benchmade" has a lower-end foreign-made line that is catering to a specific set of consumers, and if that person were speaking of their "red DNA" line, they'd get no arguement from me.

Before knocking the H&K line, I think a little study is in order. Study up.

 

[Wunderbar]

The Hk line sucks. No satin finish blades, the plunge lock autos are cheaply made, etc. The only ones I can't comment on are the new ('07) axis autos. I got all excited until I was able to handle some of them. On the other hand, the new Benchmades are very nice. The new model 32 was cool and very light in the hand. The fixed Griptilian was awesome especially for the price. The new Nitrous Stryker kicks open with more power than any of the plunge lock autos that I handled.

 

[StretchNM]

I can't speak for the autos and I'm not concerned about satin finished blades. Those are personal preferences (except for the quality fit and functioning of an auto-opener of course). I can speak for their folders and fixed blades and, if you have or handle one of those and it's not up to par, if defies my experiences with them and many other users that I've read where the H&K knives are above par.

I'm not in the market for a folder right now and, if I was, I've already decided pretty much on the BM635 mini-Squeamish. However, if I wanted an H&K, based on my personal experiences with them I wouldn't need to go handle one before I ordered it. I'd just pick the one I liked and order away with relative confidence that it would be a quality BM that I'd be receiving.

 

[zenheretic]

Just notice the current trend of gun photos in a gun magazine...with especially side arms you can hardly find a picture that doesn't also show a knife with the gun. As was already mentioned, a lot of gun companies are trying to capture a market share of the folding knife/tactical knife market.

At least H/K contracted with a known and generally respected American knife company rather than what some other gun companies do...contract with no name/unknown Chinese factories.

 

[Bungwrench]

I don't like the "New Benchmade". Nothing appeals to me. I wish Benchmade would bring back their 2003 lineup and get rid of the red class.

 

[illumination]

Originally Posted by StretchNM: ...Almost every review I've read, here and elsewhere, laud the H&K line as among Benchmade's highest quality knives. Do a search...

I'm certain they are well built...I never said otherwise. Benchmade is one of the best production manufacturers out there and I would expect these knives to be just as good.

...It is almost silly and certainly naive to presume that "gun enthusiasts" don't know much about knives. In fact, it is reasonable and intelligent to assume that they do know about quality knives. Don't be silly...

I certainly don't think that all gun enthusiasts don't know much about knives; In fact I would expect that the average gun user knows more about knives than the average non-gun user. (I'd bet that is the thinking behind Benchmade's line.) I just think there are a lot of gun users that aren't familiar with high end knives (there are a lot more gun users in the US than high-end knife users), and Benchmade sees this as an opportunity to introduce them to high-end knives.

...Now, if one were to complain that the "New Benchmade" has a lower-end foreign-made line that is catering to a specific set of consumers, and if that person were speaking of their "red DNA" line, they'd get no arguement from me...

Yes, cheaply made Chinese knives suck. I'd much rather buy a well made American blade.

..Before knocking the H&K line, I think a little study is in order. Study up.

Give me a break. Read my post more carefully. I just think Benchmade is pursuing a strategy that will alienate some of its users, especially given some of the really crappy (non-Benchmade) HK knives that were introduced in the past.

I for one miss some of Benchmade's discontinued models AFCK, 721, etc. and don't really want to buy a knife branded by a company that just licensed Benchmade to produce them. I'm sure the quality is there, but it just doesn't seem right.

 

[StretchNM]

Well, Illumination, I might've been a little harsh there and didn;t give a deserved break. But in your post, you mentioned that it seemed silly to buy something being sold as a marketing ploy. That suggests to me (but doesn't prove, of course), that you think the knives are not of the quality the maker is known for. I disagreed with that.

Additionally, Benchmade is only making a "line" for H&K. Don;t forget, they make an NRA line.... and the Randy Couture knife....and a couple others I can;t think of right now. They still have their own Benchmade line. They may have dropped off a couple or three of your favorite knives, but they dropped one of mine too. We don;t blame them for being a competitive business.

I refuse to buy knives Made in China (and sometimes elsewhere) so I don;t blame someone who refuses to buy knives that don;t suit their tastes. And, as you said, the H&K line isn;t your cup of tea. I just had a minor issue with two of your reasons, that's all. And you all but cleared that up. Thanks.

EDIT: One more thing.... have you noticed that the H&K line is not in the 2007 catalog? I guess maybe BM and H&K decided that people would just have to look up H&K if they wanted one of their knives. When I received the 2007 catalog, I was disappointed those knives were not in there.

 

[Northerr]

So what exactly is wrong with these HK knives? just that benchmade is sharing a logo? or are they poorer quality and made out of country or something?

 

[StretchNM]

So what exactly is wrong with these HK knives? .....

Depends on who's answering I suppose. In my opinion.......nothing.

......or are they poorer quality and made out of country or something?

Well, as you already read, one user says the autos are cheaply made. I've handled two of their folders and one fixed blade (14150), and I can find no difference in quality between them and BM's regular blue or black class knives. The H&K series knives are made in the U.S.

 

[Wunderbar]

The H&K series knives are made in the U.S.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Assembled maybe. The 14700 and 14705 might have Chinese 440C blades. The knives do say USA on the blades but I wouldn't be surprised if the steel was imported. These 2 models are using a replacable plastic blade stop. Weird and cheap. Maybe just the non axis autos are cheesy but some of the others like the Blitz looked to be all right.

 

[z282z06]

Just notice the current trend of gun photos in a gun magazine...with especially side arms you can hardly find a picture that doesn't also show a knife with the gun. As was already mentioned, a lot of gun companies are trying to capture a market share of the folding knife/tactical knife market.

At least H/K contracted with a known and generally respected American knife company rather than what some other gun companies do...contract with no name/unknown Chinese factory.

I agree I have been reading American handgunner for 20 years and they always have a knife with the gun layouts.
As a matter of fact that's where I first saw a picture of the Emerson designed Benchmade cqc7 that was my first tactical knife I ever bought.

I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to buy a Benchmade H&K knife. I am sure the Quality is there, or neither one would put their name on it.

Ever seen one of these?

 

[sasafrass]

I have an HK 14200 and the quality is every bit as good as Benchmade's brand name knives which I have more than a few examples of also. Doesn't bother me in the least that it has the HK logo on it. A quality knife is a quality knife IMO, and this one is very well made.

I too am disappointed in Benchmade for going to overseas production for their red line. One of Benchmade's main selling points for me was their "made in America" claim.

 

[anthony cheeseboro]

I think the H&K thing is a way to sell more upscale knives to gun guys who normally wouldn't spend that much on a knife. From what I have seen of the H&K BMs, they are pretty overpriced compared to regular USA BMs.

 

[MAXPOWER419]

I think the H&K thing is a way to sell more upscale knives to gun guys who normally wouldn't spend that much on a knife. From what I have seen of the H&K BMs, they are pretty overpriced compared to regular USA BMs.

What about the Rukus? The BM14205 looks to be pretty similar, at what is going to be a fraction of the price...

 

[Wunderbar]

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EDIT: One more thing.... have you noticed that the H&K line is not in the 2007 catalog? I guess maybe BM and H&K decided that people would just have to look up H&K if they wanted one of their knives. When I received the 2007 catalog, I was disappointed those knives were not in there.

Call up BM and ask for the HK catalog. Or down load it from BM's web site. It's a whole seperate catalog.