Benchmade question

Jesse B. said:
L LAdoc Let us know how those work out!
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The Bel Air is phenomenal and used it today to cut vines out of a trail. He’s enjoying the Buck Spitfire but was noticeably dull out of the box (which I liked for my son) and is stiff so it doesn’t open/close on him unexpectedly.

Can’t say enough about how impressed I am with the Bel Air though. Very light, smooth/fun to open and carries great. Thought it maybe to small but works great as a EDC carry. I didn’t have my usual fixed blade today and it worked well in the woods today.

Thanks again for all the help/advice. Love the site but it’s costing me money finding all these great custom builders 🤣
 
Chiming in with another Swiss Army Knife suggestion, if you want one handed opening go for the Soldier or whatever models have the one handed opening. I got one for christmas and it is regularly carried as a great user. Feels great in hand as well.
 
After reading through the rest of the comments I also agree a SAK is one of the best options for a young one. When I was a kid I liked to tinker with junk electronics, and my first knife my mom got me at the age of 5 was exactly a SAK, a very basic one but that thing was my one and only knife for well over a decade. It has seen ALL sorts of abuse, used to sharpen it on fine grain bricks and curbs. But I've learned some valuable lessons because of it.

1. Treat every folder like a slipjoint and a locking mechanism is becomes a secondary thought
2. Knives are not screwdrivers
3. Freehand sharpening. Yeah its convexed af, but it also (barely)shaves.
 
Kryme said:
After reading through the rest of the comments I also agree a SAK is one of the best options for a young one. When I was a kid I liked to tinker with junk electronics, and my first knife my mom got me at the age of 5 was exactly a SAK, a very basic one but that thing was my one and only knife for well over a decade. It has seen ALL sorts of abuse, used to sharpen it on fine grain bricks and curbs. But I've learned some valuable lessons because of it.

1. Treat every folder like a slipjoint and a locking mechanism is becomes a secondary thought
2. Knives are not screwdrivers
3. Freehand sharpening. Yeah its convexed af, but it also (barely)shaves.
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Plus when you get older you go back to slipjoints anyway
 
LAdoc said:
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!
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As an overseas customer, I only have good things to say about Benchmade’s warranty and service. Of course, being an ocean away, I never send in my Benchmades for Lifesharp service. But Benchmade have unfailingly sent me replacement pocket clips, body & clip screws, pivots, omega spring sets etc free of charge. And my email requests to them were always promptly attended to.

Now, by comparison Kershaw’s warranty and service for overseas customers are abysmal. Don’t get me started on them..
 
sv4 said:
As an overseas customer, I only have good things to say about Benchmade’s warranty and service. Of course, being an ocean away, I never send in my Benchmades for Lifesharp service. But Benchmade have unfailingly sent me replacement pocket clips, body & clip screws, pivots, omega spring sets etc free of charge. And my email requests to them were always promptly attended to.

Now, by comparison Kershaw’s warranty and service for overseas customers are abysmal. Don’t get me started on them..
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I can’t speak for non US customers, but KAI USA, which is kershaw’s parent company, is the gold standard for customer service, they will send out pocket clips, body screws, torsion bars, ect. Free of charge and promptly with just a simple request form submitted online.
I have gotten probably close to a dozen different clips, springs and such from them over the years. Many times they have sent me extra when I only needed one clip.

Buck is another whose warranty is beyond reproach.
 
BJE said:
I can’t speak for non US customers, but KAI USA, which is kershaw’s parent company, is the gold standard for customer service, they will send out pocket clips, body screws, torsion bars, ect. Free of charge and promptly with just a simple request form submitted online.
I have gotten probably close to a dozen different clips, springs and such from them over the years. Many times they have sent me extra when I only needed one clip.

Buck is another whose warranty is beyond reproach.
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Well, KAI USA nowadays flat out refuses to send any clips, screws etc to overseas customers. We are required to claim warranty from their authorized dealer in my country. And the authorized dealer (which actually carries very few Kershaw models) also flat out refuses to warranty anything that is not previously purchased directly from their shop. Which effective renders all authentic Keshaws previously purchased by overseas customers from legitimate USA dealers like KnifeCenter, BladeHQ and the like, effectively without warranty at all. And when we complain about this to KAI USA? We are told too bad, that’s our current policy, nothing we can do for you.
 
Ontario Rat 1 or 2
Buck 110
Ka-Bar Dozier
Cold Steel Voyager or AirLite

These are knives that I'd get for a 11yo... why?
They are decent, tough and cheap.
 
LAdoc said:
Going to try the Kershaw Bel Air and Buck Spitfire and see which one he likes better.

Thanks to everyone for the help and advice!
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The Buck Spitfire is an awesome knife! That being said, Benchmade is a solid product and customer service is top notch. These days they are a little pricey, but I have no worries on their quality.
 
afishhunter said:
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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I got one for em if anybody really wants to put it to test. :)

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LAdoc said:
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!
Click to expand...

If out the side automatics are acceptable in your area, I always feel like the Protech Runt is a great choice for a young fella. Auto adds the cool but won't freak people out, small reverse tanto blade looks great but has a safe subtle point. Made in US with magnacut for a reasonable price. May be worth a look.

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