Benchmade question

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LAdoc

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Oct 20, 2023
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Good morning,

I know Benchmade gets a lot of grief on the forums for their price point but wanted to get thoughts on their warranty and service. I’m looking to get my 11 year old son a EDC and thought it maybe worth the extra money for the lifetime warranty.

Thanks for the help and advice!
 
The Butterfly Tax gets a lot of flack, but I think a lot of that is people being butthurt over perceived political actions taken by the company (Google it on your own time, please. It's nothing that needs to be brought up in this thread).

IMHO, Benchmade cranks out some good stuff that seems to be worth the price point for what you get. Warranty issues have never been a problem on my end.

Now, that said, lemme be this guy... Benchmade warranty does not cover loss. Kids lose things. I don't think it's a maturity thing as much as they are always on the move and don't have a place where all their stuff just goes. It takes time and years to learn that. Then again, I'm 43 years years old and can't find my multi tool this morning.

IMHO, a practical Cold Steel would be a great step up and not nearly the investment of a BM. Don't get me wrong, I think it's awesome that you are thinking about getting him such a knife. If you wanna spend the scratch...Dad or the year, for sure:)

Best of luck!
 
Take away nothing from Benchmade, I own several and all are well represented for their price point, but for an 11 year old, my recommendation would be for a Kabar Dozier folding hunter. They can take everything an 11 year old can dish out and you wouldn’t be out north of a “c” note if it got lost.
 
Thank y’all for the responses and will take a look at all the suggestions!
 
LAdoc said:
I’m looking to get my 11 year old son a EDC and thought it maybe worth the extra money for the lifetime warranty.
Click to expand...
Buck has a forever warranty on all their knives, including those made offshore.
As long as Buck is in business, the knife is under warranty.
IF you find say a 110/112/119 or any other model out in the woods, on the bottom of a lake/pond/ocean/river, that has been there for years, you can send it in for any needed repairs under the forever warranty. You DON'T have to be the original owner, or have proof of purchase.
For under $10, you can send your old Buck knife in for a SPA treatment. It will look new when you get it back.
Replacing a worn out or broken blade (folding knives) is around $10.
NOTE: The replacement blade will be current production, with the current year tang stamp, of whatever the current standard steel is for that model. (EG: a 1960's to c1990 Buck 110 with a then standard 440C or 425M blade will get a 420HC blade. Upgrading to a custom shop option such as S30V is not possible.)

Get your boy a Buck.
They cost much less than a BM.
Even more importantly: It will still be under warrantee when he passes it on to one of his grandkids or great grandkids. 😇👍
 
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Benchmade has a fine warranty program by all accounts, but so does Kershaw and Buck and other manufacturers. I'd sooner recommend a Kershaw Bel Air than anything Benchmade makes at the moment, especially considering that the Bel Air can regularly be found for $120.

I wouldn't recommend Cold Steel at all if you care about warranty coverage. Since their acquisition by GSM they stopped carrying replacement pocket clips or screws.

Edit: I should probably add that the one time I used Benchmade's warranty services, they didn't fix the issues I sent my knives in for, and one knife came back without a component I sent it in with. They also screwed up my custom build order. However, other people have apparently had much better experiences with their service.
 
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I’ve owned many Benchmades over the years and still own several. I’ve used their warranty service a few times. I’m not a fan of their sharpening service because they remove way too much steel IMO, but they strive to please their customers.
 
Honestly I’d get my son a legal sized cold steel knife. They are cheap and unbreakable, and if they do break the blade they are cheap enough to replace. Also the triad lock is extremely safe. There are good options like the Finn Wolf, Hold Out 3, and the AD models.
 
I'm going to suggest something that falls outside your OP, but only to add as food for thought.

A Swiss Army Knife is a very good EDC, and will allow him to use a tool set on lots of different things.

Their customer service is very good.
 
I will recommend either an SAK or a Mora. Both are inexpensive, but not cheap. They have a lot of different models so you can get one that he's going to enjoy. Later, you can get him a Buck or Benchmade, both have lifetime warranties.
 
Have you considered the Leatherman ARC? “Only” $230, gets him Magnacut, very useful, great warranty coverage by most feedback. I own Benchmade Axis lock because I’m a left. I’ve never had to use their warranty so I’m no help there. As a Cub Scout..then Boy Scout I loved my Leathermans growing up. Also owned Schrade, Buck, Cold Steel, then the first Spydercos and first Benchmades.

You could get him the Hogue Mini RSK from KnifeWorks (exclusive) at $160. No idea how the warranty coverage is.
knifeworks.com

Doug Ritter EXLRSK® Mini RSK MK1-G2 (2.9" SW MagnaCut) Black G-10 Handle Knifeworks Exclusive

Doug Ritter EXLRSK® MK1-G2 (54197-EXLRSK) -2.9" Crucible CPM-MagnaCut Drop Point Blade, Black G10 Handle, Ambidextrous ABLE Lock®
knifeworks.com knifeworks.com
 
Benchmade has incredibly high prices and I have yet to own an axis lock knife that doesn’t develop play. For some reason Kershaw and Hogue can get this right but not Benchmade.
 
Hogue make a better Benchmade than Benchmade ever could. The Deka and Ritter "Griptilian" are very good knives and reasonably priced. Their warranty/customer service is excellent too. Comparing the Hogue Ritter with a Benchmade Ritter side-by-side Hogue is better in every single aspect, from action to fit and finish.
 
I second the suggestions of a SAK or a Mora, SAKs being the knives I grew up with, mainly because an 11-year-old might lose their knife and with a Mora or a SAK it won't hurt much.

Also I'm not particularly a fan of Benchmade, I own a Griptilian 550 and for the price point it's, in my opinion, a really cheap feeling knife
 
I would also suggest a swiss army knife. If it is lost or stolen then it is not a lot of money. If he really enjoys it then look at an upgrade in a few years.
 
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I gave both my older boys Benchmades when they hit around 12 years old. They like knives too and could only afford cheap knives and I could not stand by and hope they didn't get hurt using a crap knife. I gave one a custom Bugout and the other a mini presidio. The Bugout just went to college and the mini presidio rides a dirt bike. 😁

To answer the op question. The very view times I have had to use the warranty I only had to pay for shipping. It was for my mini barrage and 910 Stryker. The warranty is worth the price.
 
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