benchmade quallity

[devnull]

Originally posted by Danimal:
Sounds like most of you are BM fans and are happy with the quality. However, when I read other threads about low quality BMs or bad experiences with them I see post after post that has somebody complaining. Do you think that they just get on a roll with this low quality business, and the thread has turned into a "benchmades suck bandwagon?" Do you think that other high end companies such as Spyderco have the same percentage of "duds" but for some reason there is less hype about it??? I ordered my 705 today.
-Danimal

When Benchmade makes statements like "Held to a Higher Standard" on their web site and also adopt this statement as one of their trademarks they open themselves up to criticism when a dud gets through QC, IMO. If Benchmade is going to be "Held to a Higher Standard" I think it's reasonable to expect end users to bitch and moan when, for example, they receive a knife with an uneven edge grind. Of course, all that's needed to fix the problem is some time with a Lansky or other sharpening device, or time waiting for the knife to get back from Benchmade's customer service. However, why should a person who buys a knife from a company that brags about their CNC machines and manufacturing techniques that achieve nothing short of perfection be satisfied with anything less than perfection? I am not, and do not enjoy regrinding an edge, or sending the knife back to the dealer or to Benchmade.

As far as other manufacturers' QC, I have not had problems with any of my other knives; perhaps it's because Benchmade tends to produce knives that are more complex in design and assembly than the Zytel handled folders from Spyderco or Cold Steel--or maybe Spyderco holds itself to a Higher Standard.

 

[Chang]

Well, I just removed the clip on my 910, and guess what I found. The G-10 under the clip is a little messed up. The texture is different, and the holes tapped in the G-10 for the pocket clip screws are a little sloppy looking. This is a first, I've never encountered such problems before. Of course its no big deal because once you put the pocket clip on, you can't see these minor blemishes, still it is mildly distressing.

-Chang, Asian Janitorial Apparatus

 

[Danimal]

After reading Comrade Chang's reply I am now seeing what's possibly going on here. I think it's rather petty that one should worry about the G10 looking a little different under the clip. I took the clip off of my Spyderco Standard and saw the exact same thing. Please, Chang, don't take offence to my opinion here. I think this example reflects a vast majority of the "problems" people have with BMs. I know that just about all of us here are knife nuts, and we are a bit "anal" when it comes to perfection. Nothing is going to be perfect and we all know that. I think sometimes some of us forget that, and when we see an imperfection we blow it out of proportion. After all, these aren't custom made knives. With that in mind, I can overlook petty imperfections and be proud to own a near-perfect benchmade knife. People are not perfect creatures therefore, IMHO, we cannot creat perfect things.

 

[Sergiusz Mitin]

This thread becomes more and more interesting so I'm tempted to express my opinion in this matter once more, maybe this time a bit more in detail.

Think I can agree with Devnull - Benchmade opens themselves for criticism with their advertising slogan. But let's look really: which company does never allows to slip out a lemon? I will not name here examples to do not make anti-advertising but I will try to compare the scale of this "lemonery" which frequently is discussed here.
1. Certain company makes production knives which are 2,5 - 4 times more expensive than BM's. And one nice day I'm reading anguished post that this company's knife is "quite difficult to open with one hand" - not more, not less! Does it mean we should start to go over and over this company's "spotty quality"?
2. Another company which makes very strong folders with innovative locking device takes noticeably less attention to their knife fit and finish. Does it mean we should start to bother them non-stop?
3. Another company advertises that "they will never allow their knives to let you down" but their products are really letting you down pretty frequently exactly due to "spotty" quality.
4. Another company advertises themselves that their knives can outperform each other knife numerous times but they really can't to outperform noticeably even each second knife in lower or comparable price.

I have no one knife from manufacturers I have in my mind and all my conclusions I'm making basing them on BladeForums threads, not single but appearing continuously.

How could I assume these disproportion between advertising or/and price and particular knife's quality?
In first example it is pretty normal thing - a lemon is slipped through QC, think it can occur sometimes in each company. If their Customer Service rises to the occasion and fixes this lemon reasonably quickly and without additional costs from customer side - all is right, this is their job and they are doing it well.
In second example the customer is seeing what he is buying and if advantages of selected knife can overweight it disadvantages - he can buy and enjoy, if no - he can look for another piece. Someone could ask me what with mail order when customer really can't to handle and check thing he (or she) is going to buy. Here I must to answer the question with the question although I know it is impolite. Who forces you to buy with closed eyes and unconditionally? Who prohibits you discuss with store where you are buying the terms of piece returning if you are not satisfied within reasonable time? And to look for another store if they do not agree?

In two last examples advertising slogans are clear lies and end user deceiving, especially if they are selling you a lemon and you have to spend loooooong months and make numerous reminders until they will fix their own mistake. These practices should be condemned consequently!

Returning to Benchmade quality, in my honest opinion (and I can clearly see here that quite good deal of people are sharing it) it is very high and by all means adequate to their prices. The opposite side of this (for me at least) - I really do not know how works their Customer Service, I simply never have being forced to check it

[This message has been edited by Sergiusz Mitin (edited 06-22-2000).]

 

[Bart student]

Hello folks,

About Benchmade, this company has certainly earned it's place in the market for high-end knives. But every market is in constant movement (one of the basic rules of economy). And lately, I see Spyderco and CRKT taking bigger pieces of the market, at the expense of several other brands, under which Benchmade. In such a situation, a company can do two things. 1. Make knives the way they used to, at a lower rate and with less staff, so there is more profit on them.
2. make lower quality knives, use the name, and make more profit too.
Let's face it, the market those guys are on is not growing. It is relatively stable. It is like a cake to be divided under the companies who want some. If one takes more, the other loses some. And from what I've seen from Spyderco, they have a bigger range of knives, equally good quality, and a bigger carrying range, as they also make cheaper knives. And from what I've seen on pictures of the bladeshow, the growth of Spyderco, and in it's lap CRKT, is not going to stop now.
It's up to Benchmade to counteract that. And they will, but I can't predict how. And act they will, as a non-moving company is a sitting duck is this dog-eat-dog world. I would like to see more collaboration between spyderco and Benchmade. I know the AFCK is a collaboration, but where do you see that on the package?
The way I see it, Benchmade is a good company, making real good knives, but living a lot off it's name lately, and less on the good knives. The AXIS is a good way to change it, but it didn't revolutionize the market as was planned. I would say : keep trying !

About Benchmade quality, I wouldn't worry. they got a reputation to uphold. Even the service center is good, but equally good as Spyderco's or Cold steel's. The only thing you need to worry about is the post and delivery. The screwed a micarta plate I ordered and lost a knife somewere!

Spyderco's new linerlock-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-blade is bound to kick butt, as theoretically, the liner doubles in effectivity because it makes 2x as much contact with the blade. If I were Benchmade, I would be realistic and admit that spyderco became bigger, and try to do something together. Who wouldn't want a spyderco-benchmade collaboration?

Damned, I nagged a lot about economy today.

Sergiusz, got some D-2 barstock and files ready.