Benchmade Prices

Lenny

Lenny

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 15, 1998
Messages
2,486
I'll state up front, that I know very little about Benchmade knives.
I've owned one or two in the past but not any of the modern ones.
And I must say some of their newer offerings seem really nice.
I don't know if it's real, or perceived, but Benchmade seems to have the stigma of
"uneven QC" compared to other popular brands.
So, I'm wondering why does it seem that Benchmade prices their knives higher than
other brands of equivalent materials?
I really don't want to start anything, just wondering why Benchmades seem so expensive.
Thanks
 
Their QC is lacking and their prices are a joke. I own 3 benchmades and all of them have blade play and pivot issues. Save your money up and spend it on a better knife. Outside of the 940 series BM isn't worth it.
 
Hit and miss QC isn't just with Benchmade.

Benchmade's prices are too high, that's for sure. I would recommend you look elsewhere, or find a used one in good shape.

There is always Spyderco and Kershaw.
 
They use map (minimum advertised price) agreements, which controls what price a reseller can list.

They aren't the only knife company that does it.
 
Look for a used one here on the forums if possible, otherwise there is a lot better stuff out there for similar or even less money. What model is catching your eye. Maybe "we" might be able to help you find it if its a model that's been out for a bit!

I have a couple that I really like but most models don't do it for me!
 
You guys are a bunch of haters. I love my BMs they make an awesome knife. Just buy one in person so you get a good one or use a seller that takes returns or buy one off the forums so you can ask specific questions. Buying them new, they can be overpriced but not if you buy on the secondary. I think I have around seven different BM's at the moment.
 
Owen K. said:
You guys are a bunch of haters. I love my BMs they make an awesome knife. Just buy one in person so you get a good one or use a seller that takes returns or buy one off the forums so you can ask specific questions. Buying them new, they can be overpriced but not if you buy on the secondary. I think I have around seven different BM's at the moment.
Click to expand...

I haven't had any problems with my Benchmades, and some I bought without even looking at. Some tweaks here and there, as with any other knife I buy. Sure an edge might not be as sharp as you expect out of the box but that's an easy fix if you know how to sharpen. Doesn't swing free when you disengage the lock? Adjust it. Let it break in. Clean out the gunk.

There are plenty of options out there if Benchmade doesn't do it for you. Lots of secondary market options on used benchmades if you don't want to pay retail. Personally I'm looking forward to the new Adamas. Really want to check one out.
 
I actually find the best benchmade are the cheaper ones, the freek, 200 puuko, Osborne's, grips, etc.

The over 200 ones seems to be priced a little steep, 270 for the mini freek??? Comon. That being said, I remember when spydercos were cheaper too...

I will say one thing though, I own some Chinese made knives and some are build very very well and cheap too. If nothing else, they'll pressure US manufacturers to step up their game (or step down the price :p).

Benchmade QC been ok past few years, all came 6/10 sharp (spydercos are 9/10!). Only knife I had play in was my super freek.
 
I find very little difference in price or QC when it comes to the current "Big Three" in the US built knife world (Benchmade, ZT, Spyderco). I feel a lot of folks have been finding reasons to hate on BM specifically for 4 reasons.

1. BM ditched their red box line of imported products and went exclusively US built. They essentially abandoned the under $100 market. Spyderco and ZT (through Kershaw) still offer "value" knives. So it appears that they have lower overall prices. However, when you get up the knives that are actually comparable to BM they are pretty much even in price as well.
2. BM was one of the first to really institute, and take a strong stance on MAP. No ore sneaking around MAP for online dealers with special coupon codes, or "Place in cart for special price" deals. That pissed off a lot of us. The fact that it worked, and the other brands copied this method didn't help either.
3. They really did have some QC issues a few years back. Not just off center blades and a bit of play (which I have seen from all 3 brands), but things like poor grinds and dull edges. It appears that BM has learned it's lesson and righted the ship on this, but folks are still sore about it.
4. The whole destroying guns for the police thing. I won't go into it, but if interested I would suggest doing a bit of research on it before jumping to any conclusions either way.
 
I haven't had any issues with Benchmade, and I'm up to about 10. Over priced yes, but I have not experienced QC issues with Benchmade, and their customer service is awesome.

I've also never had QC issues with Spyderco, and their prices are a little more reasonable, but their customer service isn't as good as Benchmade IME. It ends up a wash for me.
 
Haven't had any problems with my Spydercos or Benchmade knives,, about half a dozen of each brand. Both are top notch firms IMHO.
 
I really like the two Propers I have, But a brand new one is about 127.00, a bit steep. Of course I got one from the exchange for a good price, and the other I had a gift card which brought the price down plus it was on sale at the time at a store. The price and the remnants of quality control issues has left a sour taste in my mouth that I will look elsewhere first for those prices. I have not gotten a Spyderco yet.
 
No problems with Benchmade. IMO their QC has improved over the last few years. They arguably have the best service and support of any major production knife company.

It seems to me that Spyderco has ramped up prices more rapidly over the last few years and now are fairly close to Benchmade in terms of value for the dollar.

A USA made Para 2 compares favorably with a USA made Griptilian in terms cost vs. value. Benchmade is at a little bit of a disadvantage as they have no low-cost imported knives to lower the average price of their catalogue. They also are the object of some political vitriol which further clouds the issue of knife quality.

Buy Benchmade with confidence.
 
At this point, Benchmade's QC isn't any worse than what you get from Spyderco's Golden, CO knives. I don't think a single one of my US-made Spydercos came with a symmetrical grind. The annual price hikes that Benchmade and Spyderco have been doing for the last few years have raised prices past where they're a good value.
 
Benchmade is great, but they are a little too proud of their products lol. The butterfly tax really sucks, but the knives are good. Also, I have never had qc issues with Benchmade and I tend to take those with a grain of salt. This is the internet after all...
 
I try to buy used on the exchange but even the Benchmades I bought new aren’t a bad deal for a knife that I can pass down to my son if I don’t lose it. Same with Spyderco or ZT.
 
I have/had about 10 Benchmade folders (20cv Griptilian both full size and mini, 940-1, 940-1501, two 810-1401's, 710-1401, Ritter Griptilian, two full size Crooked Rivers, 570-1, and super freek), some of which were bought from dealers others from folks here. The 940-1501 had very uneven edge bevels so I had to send in for an exchange. Other than that, all others have great quality, nothing inferior to ZTs and Spydercos in the same price range. Therefore, quality-wise, these three big brands are in the same league, IMO.

One thing I'd like to point out about axis lock (this also applies to the ABLE lock on Hogue Ritter) is that it is more difficult to tune to the sweet point of no blade play while the blade can (nearly) fall shut, than frame lock, compression lock, etc. But again, I attribute that to the difference among lock types, not the brand/manufacturer.

With the recent change of Benchmade warranty policy, i.e., it costs much more (~$90?) to have a blade replaced than before ($30-$45?), its asked higher prices can no longer be easily justified.
 
Benchmade is the company that got me into the hobby and I still dig them though I do not buy new ones very often. I'm not discounting what others have experienced, but quality control was always fine for me. With the AXIS lock I prioritize a free action and don't mind a slight bit of side to side play. IMO, I think alot of the hate comes from a loud minority rather than Benchmade not making quality products. As far as prices, they have got to a point that keeps me from purchasing them new unless I am really in love with a particular design. When knives in this category start to creep above $200 I start to consider the opportunity cost vs. saving up for a more expensive knife that I want more.
 
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