Benchmade Life Sharp Service/Warranty: UPDATE

T

Talon5326

Joined
Oct 3, 2016
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I have a plain Jane 551 satin finish Griptilian, I love this knife and have carried it since I got it almost a year ago. This thing has taken everything I've thrown at it. Cardboard, kitchen work, general utility and so on.
I only sent it in once to BM to repair a large chip in the edge when I dropped it on the brick floor at work.
Got it back in about a week, clean, sharpened and what not.
Wasn't until I gained more confidence that I began sharpening it in my own. Bought a Torx set and started adjusting the pivot, keeping the screws tight. Let it be known, I haven't disassembled this knife but have watched enough YouTube videos to know how.
Now, after that unnecessarily long intro, the AXIS lock, pivot are incredibly dirty with pocket lint, dust and whatever else.
I've been wondering, do I send it to Oregon and get it back near perfect factory fresh?
Or do I take a step up and learn how to maintain my own knife and take it apart, clean and reassemble myself then ultimately void the warranty?
I figured bringing this to some of the knife maestros on here would get me some honest opinions.
 
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Benchmade will not void your warranty if you put it back together properly, I service my own knives, after all they are knives not automatic watches or radios. It has less steps than cooking spaghetti. Folding knife has 1 moving part - the pivot, very rarely have hidden screws. Just be mindful of the edge and don't cut yourself. This maintenance taking knife apart and warranty thing are way overblown. It's simply a knife and it belong to you, USE IT! Clean it the way that you feel proper


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I would not worry about disassembly too much as long as you do not destroy anything when doing so. Likely if you put it all back together right they would never know it was ever taken apart if warranty service was ever needed.

I regularly take screw out and lock-tite them so they do not come loose, as well as pullung the pivot screw and using lock-tite to keep the pivot exactly where I want it.

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To test the theory, I sent my 551 hybrid with AWT scales up for servicing after talking to a factory rep at BKC. He said he hadn't seen a set of these scales come through, but assured me they would take care of the knife. What came back was given the full treatment and returned to me within 5 business days. And with no questions asked I own a great looking knife. Pics...


 
I don't remember sending any registration card in when I got my Benchmade. Do you have to do this to use the service?
 
What does benchmade use to sharpen their knives? i know ZT uses a grinding wheel, so i dont have mine sent to them since they create more heat than needed causing issues to the heat treatment.
does benchmade do the same?

also benchmade have many quality issues with blade grinds from the factory... when sending in for service and getting them sharpened, do they also come back like that too?
 
jkarp_53 said:
To test the theory, I sent my 551 hybrid with AWT scales up for servicing after talking to a factory rep at BKC. He said he hadn't seen a set of these scales come through, but assured me they would take care of the knife. What came back was given the full treatment and returned to me within 5 business days. And with no questions asked I own a great looking knife. Pics...


Click to expand...

Sweet scales!
 
Mo2 said:
What does benchmade use to sharpen their knives? i know ZT uses a grinding wheel, so i dont have mine sent to them since they create more heat than needed causing issues to the heat treatment.
does benchmade do the same?

also benchmade have many quality issues with blade grinds from the factory... when sending in for service and getting them sharpened, do they also come back like that too?
Click to expand...

I believe they use belts. I got my Infidel back from them with a heat-discolored tip once. If I send any of my knives to them, I specify in capital letters to not sharpen the blade, and I'll put blue painters tape on the edge (if it fits) with "DO NOT SHARPEN" written on it.
 
I don't think they mind if you take apart your knives. I have read people on the BM forums that people have sent in their knives in parts in baggies and BM put them back together for them. Not only that, I have sent in an 860 Bedlam with stripped screws (I wonder how that happened :rolleyes:) and they replaced the stripped screws no questions asked.

I'm sure it isn't something they like, but they still service it from my knowledge.
 
I called Benchmade Customer Service and asked their lovely representatives about disassembling my Grip and they didn't advise it but didn't say no.
So tonight, I put some Warren Zevon on, got the torx set out and sat down. Breaking it down was easy and I cleaned it up, wiped every surface down and lubed it up. I now have a new appreciation behind the mechanics in this knife. Like, wow....
It feels good knowing the knife inside and out, giving me some confidence as a user.
I'm just letting everyone know it came back together nicely, a clean snug feel and I fixed the blade centering issue I had too. Thanks everyone for taking the time to read and comment if you did as those gave me the confidence to get in, make my knife mine. Seriously, guys, thank you. I look forward to getting to know this community better from here on out.
 
I don't know what Benchmade uses at the factory, but I was at an authorized Benchmade dealer/service center(Grommet's Cutlery in Moreno Valley) and they used a Ken Onion Worksharp. Said that was what Benchmade instructed them on.
 
Doglover404 said:
I don't remember sending any registration card in when I got my Benchmade. Do you have to do this to use the service?
Click to expand...

I never even received a warranty card with my recently purchased knife.


Mo2 said:
What does benchmade use to sharpen their knives? i know ZT uses a grinding wheel, so i dont have mine sent to them since they create more heat than needed causing issues to the heat treatment.
does benchmade do the same?

also benchmade have many quality issues with blade grinds from the factory... when sending in for service and getting them sharpened, do they also come back like that too?
Click to expand...

According to the factory tour videos they use large belt grinders.


Talon5326 said:
I called Benchmade Customer Service and asked their lovely representatives about disassembling my Grip and they didn't advise it but didn't say no.
So tonight, I put some Warren Zevon on, got the torx set out and sat down. Breaking it down was easy and I cleaned it up, wiped every surface down and lubed it up. I now have a new appreciation behind the mechanics in this knife. Like, wow....
It feels good knowing the knife inside and out, giving me some confidence as a user.
I'm just letting everyone know it came back together nicely, a clean snug feel and I fixed the blade centering issue I had too. Thanks everyone for taking the time to read and comment if you did as those gave me the confidence to get in, make my knife mine. Seriously, guys, thank you. I look forward to getting to know this community better from here on out.
Click to expand...

There are tons of videos on Youtube showing how to take apart and reassemble most Benchmade knives if you ever need help.
 
That's awesome. When it comes to folders, Benchmade's customer service is the best in the business. I certainly like a few other brands, and I'm not saying their warranty service is bad,
but I know they won't bend over backwards for you the way Benchmade will.
 
jsnell said:
That's awesome. When it comes to folders, Benchmade's customer service is the best in the business. I certainly like a few other brands, and I'm not saying their warranty service is bad,
but I know they won't bend over backwards for you the way Benchmade will.
Click to expand...

Their C/S Is the best. :thumbup:
 
I purchased one of the the original 530s. I did not think it was smooth enough, so I took apart a brand new knife. It did not turn out as I wanted. So I sent back the knife. They fixed this one and since it was not a current model they sent me a brand new model one too.

I will be a Benchmade customer for life, I can't say enough about their customer service.
 
I highly recommend maintaining it urself for two reasons.

1. Imo one of the best parts of owning a folder is to disassemble and maintain it. Its like knife porn to me personally. Its very satisfying and relaxing.

2. If you can maintain it urself (not difficult plenty of YT on how to) you will be supporting the knife company but not wasting their time and $ on shipping it back. Of course exception if there is something wrong with it (broken parts and stuff).
 
Benchmade has stated publicly that, so long as you put the knife together properly and use correct hardware (meaning it's not a totally redesigned handle) they will honor the warranty.

...Now challenge me to find where they stated that, because, of course, I need to spend an hour searching the internet to find where I read that :p
 
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