Benchmade Prices

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wwang27

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Jul 11, 2024
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Hey guys, hope you are all well. Just wanted to ask around and see what people think of this topic.

I myself own a few Benchmades, being the 945 mini osborne, the mini adamas, and a shootout. These were all within a price range that I was willing to pay for.

However, I've been noticing a trend with Benchmade and other mainstream brands, where their prices are absurdly high. For example, a narrows is around the 500 dollar range.

It's sad to see, because I genuinely love the few Benchmades I own. They seem to be catering to a minority customer base that are willing to drop 3 months worth of grocery prices on a knife just because it has the Benchmade name or has some "special" feature, while neglecting the majority of people who buy knives for their intended purpose. I've spoken to many people who are willing to buy Chinese brands just because they are cheaper and sometimes surpass American made quality.

What do you guys think? Do you think Benchmade in the long run is making a huge mistake with these absurd prices, making room for Chinese companies to overtake the US market?
 
This is a touchy subject, but I'll try to give my most objective take. I don't expect Benchmade to compete with Chinese companies. At all. It's a losing game for any US maker. It simply isn't possible due to a range of very complicated and very sensitive factors. Making knives in China is considerably cheaper than in the US. So I compare Benchmade to its true competitors: Spyderco, Protech, ZT, Kershaw, Microtech, etc. Basically US mass production. Compared with those companies, I don't see Benchmade's prices as being especially out of line. In many cases, I think Benchmade is still plenty competitive.

BM makes fixed blades, folders, balisongs and automatics, in a wide variety of materials and in a wide variety of steels, all in a single factory in the US. That kind of flexibility and capability is not cheap, which is why so many companies farm out such production to overseas vendors. Which of its true competitors do that? They also offer fantastic lifetime support for their products, something not all of its competitors provide.

But I don't like paying more. No one does. And some of the price increases have felt a inflated. But if you love Benchmade you've probably already learned to shop around and not pay MAP. I rarely pay MAP these days and if MAP was my only option it would curtail my purchases.

But I do think they make some of the best practical everyday carry knives around. Knives I actually want to put in my pocket and use every day. People act like the popularity of Benchmade knives is a conspiracy of some sort, or a feat of marketing, but I believe it's more because Benchmade has dialed in on what a lot of people want in an everyday carry knife. And they have an great variety of such designs. The 8oz intricately milled titanium framelock with zircuti accents gets all the Instagram likes but lands in few pockets, while Benchmade sells another million Bugouts, Griptilians and 940s.

But in the end, I'm an American worker and I'm willing to pay more to support American workers. I want there to be a US knife industry in 20 years. If the sole consideration is price, the US knife industry will disappear like any number of US industries over the past 40 years. I don't begrudge others for how they spend their money. They earned it. But my money goes to US knives. If knives were mere commodities I wouldn't care so much. I don't care where my paperclips come from. But knives are much more than a commodity to me.
 
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I purchased more Benchmades when they were cheaper, that's for certain. I want to say that BM is free to charge whatever they want for their products, and if folks think the value proposition is there, then a sale will be made. The issue is that for many of their models, the prices have increased to the point where it seems they've forgotten that their knives don't exist in a vacuum. If you are offering a knife and are asking $400 or more for it, someone with $400 or $500 in their pocket will look at your knife....and then start to look at what that money could buy them with another maker/manufacturer. This is the issue. It's in direct comparison where Benchmade starts to have some issues. $400+ will buy you a very nice knife, and for the prices of some of their models, like the Narrows, you could purchase a secondhand CRK, or a table-price Les George midtech/custom for that money. I absolutely would take a CRK or Les George knife over a Benchmade ten out of ten times every day any day.

So, that's the issue. BM have priced themselves up the ladder to the next floor, and there are a lot of high end companies and makers standing there, offering a lot of things for your money that BM just doesn't. I don't say that BMs are overpriced, because it could be any number of factors. Maybe they're greedy. Maybe they pay their cutlers very well*, maybe the company has some significant debts it's working to pay off. Who knows? Not me.

I just know that I have only purchased one BM since last year, and it was because I felt it was worth what they were asking. Getting into the $350, or $400 and beyond range? No thank you, when I'm spending that much, it's going to be on something special, limited run, or handmade. Sorry, not sorry. 🤷



*And good for them!
 
Quiet said:
I purchased more Benchmades when they were cheaper, that's for certain. I want to say that BM is free to charge whatever they want for their products, and if folks think the value proposition is there, then a sale will be made. The issue is that for many of their models, the prices have increased to the point where it seems they've forgotten that their knives don't exist in a vacuum. If you are offering a knife and are asking $400 or more for it, someone with $400 or $500 in their pocket will look at your knife....and then start to look at what that money could buy them with another maker/manufacturer. This is the issue. It's in direct comparison where Benchmade starts to have some issues. $400+ will buy you a very nice knife, and for the prices of some of their models, like the Narrows, you could purchase a secondhand CRK, or a table-price Les George midtech/custom for that money. I absolutely would take a CRK or Les George knife over a Benchmade ten out of ten times every day any day.

So, that's the issue. BM have priced themselves up the ladder to the next floor, and there are a lot of high end companies and makers standing there, offering a lot of things for your money that BM just doesn't. I don't say that BMs are overpriced, because it could be any number of factors. Maybe they're greedy. Maybe they pay their cutlers very well*, maybe the company has some significant debts it's working to pay off. Who knows? Not me.

I just know that I have only purchased one BM since last year, and it was because I felt it was worth what they were asking. Getting into the $350, or $400 and beyond range? No thank you, when I'm spending that much, it's going to be on something special, limited run, or handmade. Sorry, not sorry. 🤷



*And good for them!
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For some of the prices BM asks for, I would much rather spend it on a custom knife from something like Protech or the sorts. Something rare and limited edition. The Narrows is nothing more than pocket jewelry for some rich dude who has money to waste.
 
Welp, I don’t totally disagree with you, but I’ve got some bad news. We’re here on a forum full of people who value knives for many more reasons than “they just cut stuff good.”

Plenty of rational folks outside of our hobby would balk at paying more than a few dollars for a simple pocket knife, and couldn’t fathom spending $100 or more on one, yet many of us in the hobby might call that a “bargain.”

In other words, there are apparently lots of rich dudes with money to waste on pocket jewelry, which is why such expensive things in our hobby (and lots of other hobbies) exist. You either find the justification to buy it, or you don’t.
 
I spend roughly $100 a month on knives. Usually that means I buy a knife every two or three months. Sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on how much I spend. Knives are my only hobby that requires money these days. Everybody's finances are different, we're all at different stages in life. Younger me could not spare $25 a month but current me can comfortably spend $100 a month on my hobby. And my income is fairly average. If someone is at a place in life where $100 a month is serious money, then yes I agree that Benchmade is probably not the brand for them. No US maker probably will be. But consider also that some guys spend a lot more on knives, like several thousand dollars on a single knife without blinking.

JoeTarget said:
Still lookin' for that discounted Benchmade for a couple of years now. Not much luck, (except for a Chinese knock-off for $30).
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If you're looking for discounted Benchmade, site sponsor GP Knives should be at the top of your list. All of their Benchmades are discounted. They're my first stop when looking for Benchmade. Super fast shipping too.
 
I wish I could make sense of their pricing. Some of their stuff is reasonable still, but it seems like they just come out of left field with crazy random prices on some things. The gold class stuff has really highlighted it. My jaw nearly hit the floor when they dropped the gold class Fact a while ago. $1,300?! That's well into dressed custom territory. I love my Benchmade knives, but damn. It's getting a little hard to justify some of them.
 
I will always like Benchmade knives, but they’ve pretty much priced me out, unless I find something second hand or on clearance. Same with Spyderco.
I have no ill will towards them and wish them the best.
 
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You know who has destroyed the low and middle market using an unlevel playing field. The only market left is up and that’s why Spyderco and Benchmade have moved upmarket. I wonder how long either will be around?
 
I don't think spyderco is in the same boat as benchmade. I can't buy a benchmade with a high end supersteel like k390 or 15v for 150ish bucks. Spyderco still offers a good value.

I like alot of the benchmades, but I don't think the value is there. Their prices alone are not good, but what your getting is very basic for the money in general, in my opinion.
 
elevator man said:
I don't think spyderco is in the same boat as benchmade. I can't buy a benchmade with a high end supersteel like k390 or 15v for 150ish bucks. Spyderco still offers a good value.

I like alot of the benchmades, but I don't think the value is there. Their prices alone are not good, but what your getting is very basic for the money in general, in my opinion.
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Where are you finding anything in 15v for $150? I think my 15v Shaman was nearly double that.
All that aside, Spyderco is starting to show some odd price jumps as well. The Bodacious is $270, and that's just plain old s30v and black G10.
 
The 15v manix was right near that when released. I do have to admit, spydercos k390 for 150 bucks is not USA made.

Anyhow, I just realized Kershaw should be brought up. They are some good marketing away from stealing tons of sales from BM. I'm talking about the USA made bel air. Magnacut with an actual good heat treat, stainless liners, aluminum scales, and it's on bearings! For 150 right now. BM has no excuses. They too could be giving me aluminum scales and bearings and pushing HTs to the edge for 150 bucks. I just don't see the value in BM.
 
I'm hoping to see more along the lines of that coming from Kershaw in the future, thart middle of the road price range were talking about here. I just want quality materials and great HTs, I dont think thats too much to ask for in the 150-200 range. I'll buy it from whoevers making it.
 
wwang27 said:
Hey guys, hope you are all well. Just wanted to ask around and see what people think of this topic.

I myself own a few Benchmades, being the 945 mini osborne, the mini adamas, and a shootout. These were all within a price range that I was willing to pay for.

However, I've been noticing a trend with Benchmade and other mainstream brands, where their prices are absurdly high. For example, a narrows is around the 500 dollar range.

It's sad to see, because I genuinely love the few Benchmades I own. They seem to be catering to a minority customer base that are willing to drop 3 months worth of grocery prices on a knife just because it has the Benchmade name or has some "special" feature, while neglecting the majority of people who buy knives for their intended purpose. I've spoken to many people who are willing to buy Chinese brands just because they are cheaper and sometimes surpass American made quality.

What do you guys think? Do you think Benchmade in the long run is making a huge mistake with these absurd prices, making room for Chinese companies to overtake the US market?
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Rather than give money to our enemy (China), you could buy the less expensive Benchmade and not worry about the price of the more expensive.
 
There's only one BM product that I cannot even play devil's advocate for and that's the Bugout. Grivory and S30V??? You can get a Deka with the same squishy grivory with 20CV or Magnacut for less money. Or I could buy a Para 3 Lightweight in Zytel that isn't squishy in a fancy steel in several options for a little more or less depending on how fancy I want.

At least with most of the BM line I can see the cost. The 940 has some complex grinding on the blade alone that I'm sure drives up price. The Narrows Ti scales aren't just flat, they have mill in all those little angles in skinny scales. And I'm sure to some degree you pay for the name and warranty that comes with it. I don't know another company that will do a re-blade for such a price.
 
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A guy I work with pulled out a grivory tagged out the other day. I asked to see it the one scale was literally almost snapped in half, cracked all the way across and cracked in another spot.

I decided I won't buy a grivory/plastic only scaled knife. I want stainless liners under the plastic at a minimum.
 
elevator man said:
A guy I work with pulled out a grivory tagged out the other day. I asked to see it the one scale was literally almost snapped in half, cracked all the way across and cracked in another spot.

I decided I won't buy a grivory/plastic only scaled knife. I want stainless liners under the plastic at a minimum.
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He must have done something pretty awful to break grivory. It is flex but it is tough as hell.
 
elevator man said:
A guy I work with pulled out a grivory tagged out the other day. I asked to see it the one scale was literally almost snapped in half, cracked all the way across and cracked in another spot.

I decided I won't buy a grivory/plastic only scaled knife. I want stainless liners under the plastic at a minimum.
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Sure it wasn't a fake tagged out? Lots of them out there.
 
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The new 710's are about the most overpriced production knives out there right now when you take materials into account.Theres no way they should be at the prices they are ; even thought they are s90 and magnacut those coated blades are horrible, and otherwise have steel liners and aluminum scales. 405 and 600 is just insane !
 
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