benchmade quality?

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nenofury

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Just wondering what level of perfection I should expect from a $120 knife? I just got a 722 Axis lock with tanto blade. The grinds on the blade are 1mm off on one side. It also came with an uneven edge, which I've come to expect from Benchmade. This certainly doesn't affect it's use and the lockup is solid, but I think it's a little ghetto for such an obvious flaw to pass through assembly and inspection. Anybody experience something similar?


Just got my knife back today. Although they've had it since January 25th, it is now perfect. The grinds are dead on. Don't know if they replaced the blade or just fixed this one. They also put on a new clip (original was chipped). They also repsonded to both of my emails. Many thanks to their warranty department.
 
I used to be a big benchmade fan, but got turned off after they started making some stuff overseas. as far as quality goes in my opinion, they arent what they used to be ( in my opinion ). I have a limited edition benchmite in front of me and its blade tang still has machining marks in it that could have used some more buffing. also the handle has sanding marks that they anodized right over. lastly the screws that hold the handles together have boggered up screwheads that look like someone who never held a screwdriver before tightened down on. when i first called benchmade about it they said it might have slipped thru quality control and to send it back. i didnt want to send a new knife back so i use it hard and dont really care what happens to it. That was the last benchmade i ever bought. after owning a sebenza im spoiled. I also have a grey handle griptilian that makes a nice user knife, in my opinion benchmade makes nice user knives. i used to fall for the words limited edition but that doesnt mean much to me these days. Quality speaks volumes above 1 out of xxx anymore. But these are my opinions .
 
If you don't like it, send it back on the LifeSharp warranty.

Seriously, don't ask us what level of quality you should expect. Instead, tell Benchmade what level of quality you do expect. They need that feedback.
 
ALL of MY Benchmade knives have been perfect, but if you are not happy with your 722, by all means send it (or take it back) to Benchmade and they will make it right for you, as their customer service is one of the best in the industry.
 
glockman99 said:
ALL of MY Benchmade knives have been perfect, but if you are not happy with your 722, by all means send it (or take it back) to Benchmade and they will make it right for you, as their customer service is one of the best in the industry.
Click to expand...

same here (and I've had more than 100 pass through my hands by now) never had an issue beyond a minor grind symettry issue that I took care of myself. send it back!
 
I'm kinda new to them, but I own about 7-8 Benchmades now, 2 red box from Tiawan and the rest blue box U.S.A. made, and they all have been top notch, especially the American stuff. One is even a used one from sting7777 (thanks again, Ross I even accidently sent it through the washer and it didn't hurt it a bit)!

I've seen better quality from Benchmade than most other factory stuff lately.
 
Heh, I've got a 722 also, my most expensive and only BM in my "collection." Mine was also a little uneven but I also took care of that myself.

Gollnick makes a really good point. However, they seem not to give return feed back or send you a return message on your comments. :confused:
 
Same Here I own numerous benchmades, and sometimes things can pass through quality control, but their service is really great and they would be glad to fix any thing, they really care about a happy customer.
 
Seriously, don't ask us what level of quality you should expect. Instead, tell (insert ANY manufacturer here) what level of quality you do expect. They need that feedback.[/QUOTE]

That's a great idea, really. Should be used when dealing with any product you use in daily life.... and if you don't get what you want/expect, tell all who will listen.

I've had good luck with Benchmade Knives. But then again, they have all been daily users, and I have NEVER paid more than $100 for any of them (helps to "know someone" I guess). Most I have had though (5 total now - CQC7, 8550 Pardue, 9100S Stryler, 9500S mini-Stryker, 160 TK-1 tether knife) have been well worth their retail prices in my opinion.
 
I don't even worry about whether the factory edge (from any manufacturer) is decent or not anymore. I've adopted the policy of immediately putting my own bevel on it. Whether or not the grind is even on a BM with the factory edge, the angle on that edge is too steep for me. I've run into a few other minor defects (some imperfections in the cast handles of a 42, etc.), but nothing that's going to really affect the knife's performance or value to me.
 
I have a bunch of Benchmades, most of them Prototypes or Limited Editions. All of them have been perfect. The quality is much better then my Spyderco, Cold Steel, CRKT, Leatherman, Victorinox, ect. Definately the best I have seen in a large scale production knife. Even the ones that are assembled oversees have been excellent. If there is something you don't like then send it back and they will make it right. They have excellent customer service too.

79mongoose,
I own four 310/3100's and none of them have what you describe. There are grind marks on the top of the blade (tang?), it isn't mirror polished, but all my BM's are like that so I suspect it is part of the design. Maybe to help stop your finger from sliding off the top onto the side while doing a controlled cut.

As to the grinds I was told by BM that each knife is sharpened by hand on a belt, so I guess the grind can only be as straight as the experience of the person running the grinder allows. It doesn't seem to effect how sharp they are. Every BM I have has come hair popping sharp. They don't seem sharp because of the polished edge, but they really are razors.
 
i've got 2: a Mini-Grip that i got from Ren, and my new-to-me 806d2. they're both perfect. i also purchased a Benchmite for my pal 'couple years ago, and it was quite literally the picture of perfection. BM makes great knives, and they seem to take care of their customers when some stinkers sluce thru the quality control grate.

abe m.
 
I only have one currently, the 805 TSEK, which I lusted after for years until getting one recently. I believe that, aside from a very slight differential in the edge grind, it's great. The edge grind doesn't bother me, as I do sharpen mine up, anyway.

Heck, I may even convex this edge, just for fun. Or not...just for fear..hehe.
 
from what i've experienced, factory knives are all in the same boat with regard to their annoying or glaring imperfections. thus, i have come to expect this sort of thing. the exception here is a sebenza i recently handled & was pretty much amazed at its flawless fit & finish.
 
My wife got me a Mini Grip for Xmas and it was perfect. My first Axis Lock and I also like the pivot. Smooth action.
 
i've had a mini-grip for about two months now and it was perfect. it was my first axis-lock and i will never be the same! i am looking at more BM models now! i resharpen my knives right away so i don't care about inperfections on blade edge.
 
my latest BM is a skirmish, certainly very high level of fit/finish, i am impressed, the only thing i dont like is the pocket clip. blade lockup is particularly good, -0- play up/down/sideways, and i do mean '0', locks up as tight as anything i have.
 
It is absolutly wrong, that BM has dropped their quality. They are one of those who raised up quality as time moves forward instead of others (not only knife manufactuerers) who dropp a bit after the reputation is good.

Considering on going discussions here i would say (and that is just an argumennt based on other general opinions), for the price of a Sebenza compared to a Benchmade i don´t see nothing wrong.

Benchmade offers solid, reliable folding knives. Yes i have seen much with slightly uneven grinds, none with uneven edgebevels and one with an absolutely uneven grind, it´s hard to describe, but was funny. The newer the knifes, the better the grinds.

The axis lock has been improved on new models after a period of critics considering sticking lock bars.

I guess, but don´t know, the Butterfly side is grinded different from the back side. If you look close, the back side shows more the signs of hand grounded.

But i strongly support Gollnicks view:

Tell Benchmade about it. They will try what is possible to get you a good knife.

Tell them what you expect. They won´t discuss any thing more than that particular warreanty case and in their forum, they listen but don´t answer. But they are great people.

Benchmade is dedicated to a higher standard at a price, many can afford.

So naturally some lemons are out there. Don´t keep it, they will replace it.
 
I can honestly say that all the Benchmades I have bought have been of the highest quality, and all have been razor sharp right out of the box.

To date I have bought:
722 tanto Pardue
550 Pardue Griptilian
551 Pardue Griptilian
555 Mini-Griptilian
556 Mini-Griptilian
770 Osborne

If you're not pleased with the product then contact Benchmade and see what they will do for you.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
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