Benchmade Red Class

E

EpO

Joined
Aug 22, 2005
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I'm sorry if this question has already been asked, I'm having issues searching. But is anyone familiar with these knives? Are they a good deal or something I should stay away from? I'm looking at the fixed blades, more as utility type knives, and the folders for more every day use (opening boxes, rope, etc...). If anyone has any experience with this class I would like to hear about it.
 
If language is not an issue, the german speaking forum might help you further.

www.messerforum.net

There are some reports about the Monochrom as used on a holiday trip with good things to tell about. For example.

There was a thread here about the used AUS8a in general. BM offers it at a hardness around 59 to 60, which i found to be a very good point to recommend the knives.

The Rant style fixed blades always catched my eyes but i have no use for them.

The price / performance relation really is a challenge to the knife market.

At least, if something is wrong about the particular knife, traders are kind most of the time and BMs warranty dept. is it too.
 
Red Class are made overseas, more cheaply, and using more affordable materials. The other classes, and even before BM started color-coding their different lines, have historically been higher-priced, upper-echelon level of knife. While this definitely forged them a reputation of quality, they were obviously missing out on a large portion of the market, low to mid-cost knives for casual users.

So now there's the Red Class. As you've noticed, a lot of these are hard-working, utility based blades, intended for people who don't want to use a more expensive knife and risk destroying it, or would balk at the cost of a Blue Class knife altogether.

In Benchmade's case, the Red Class is a bit of an enigma. Compare BM to Spyderco for example. Spyderco has its host of high quality, higher cost knives, but the bulk of their business is in working knives at half the cost (like the Delica). Many companies are like this. Kershaw has a few high-range knives, but most of their sales come from lower cost Leeks and Scallions. Compared to these companies, Benchmade seems backwards. Their best sellers are double the price of Delicas and Leeks.

This might make an observer cock an eyebrow at the Red Class, but be assured that they're fine knives. They wouldn't have the butterfly on them if they weren't. For the pricepoint, you'd be hard pressed to find a better alternative than a Monochrome or Pika. The fixed blades would easily give Buck's classic hunting knives a run for the money. They use a lot of 440C in the Red Class, which outdoes the AUS6 or AUS8 you'll often see other companies use.

Finally, they're backed by Benchmade's warranty and customer service, which is one of the best in the industry.
 
I would agree here as well. If you've previously owned on of the higher class knives (basically from any of the popular brands - BM/Spyderco/Buck) and compare their "entry level" or lower cost offerings, you'll find that you do indeed get a lot of knife for the money. In BM's Red Class, I started with the Mini-Ambush as my entry into BM's, then a Mini-Pika then to Blue Class in a BM 556 Mini Grip and BM550 Griptillian. They were a lot closer quality-wise than I would have expected. Found the same with the Byrd line from Spyderco and just recently, I picked up one of the Buck slipjoints, a Buck 373 Trio from Wal-Mart. I paid under $20 CDN for it and when I looked at it for the first time, I was actually pretty surprised at how well made it was. I haven't picked up a BM Monochrome yet, but definitely plan to - I don't think I've really heard any bad things about it.

- gord
 
I have a few Benchmades, but (so far) only one "Red Line" knife; A 10520 Offsider, and I like it...ALOT. I don't care if it IS made in China or on the Moon...It's a GOOD "fighter". I'd like the scales to be thicker, and G-10, but I can live with what I have.
 
EpO said:
I'm sorry if this question has already been asked, I'm having issues searching. But is anyone familiar with these knives? Are they a good deal or something I should stay away from? I'm looking at the fixed blades, more as utility type knives, and the folders for more every day use (opening boxes, rope, etc...). If anyone has any experience with this class I would like to hear about it.
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I think they are a good bang for the buck (good value).
 
In response to your question: Yes, the red class is a good deal. I own a Benchmade Rant DPT (red class), and I am quite satisfied with it's performance. I also own an Outbounder (blue class), and I am sure that the red class fixed blades will perform as well or better than any of the blue class products. I would suggest that you consider the Rant knives, as they have much to offer.

The blade grind on my Rant DPT is perfect, and the edge will take and hold a razor sharpness. I would not suggest chopping with this blade, but it will slice through just about anything.

The rubber grip, metal finger guard and metal buttcap are constructed as one piece. This piece is slipped over the tang (little more than 1/2'' wide, I believe) and held in place with a hex screw than threads into a long hex nut. This hex nut fits into a cuttout portion of the tang inside the handle. All-in-all a very strong method of construction.

The sheath is slightly different from the picture on the benchmade website, but is more of a "tactical sheath," and is made of cordura with a plastic liner.
I found my Rant on sale for $30.00, though retail is $60-$70.
Even at retail, the knife is a good buy.

TheSurvivalist
 
Thanks for the insight. I'm definately going to give this class of knives a try.
 
EpO said:
I'm sorry if this question has already been asked, I'm having issues searching. But is anyone familiar with these knives? Are they a good deal or something I should stay away from? I'm looking at the fixed blades, more as utility type knives, and the folders for more every day use (opening boxes, rope, etc...). If anyone has any experience with this class I would like to hear about it.
Click to expand...

It's for the "casual" knife buyer, and I assume by this they mean someone who doesn't care about quality.
 
Well, the Monochrome is the smoothest opening production folder I've seen. No kidding. Smoother than my Microtechs. The Pika and Mini-Pika are probably the best folding knife offerings in the sub-$30 range.

No offense, but stating that these knives are merely for people who don't care about quality is laughable.
 
Planterz said:
For the pricepoint, you'd be hard pressed to find a better alternative than a Monochrome or Pika.
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Yes, Sir! You're right, Sir! ;)

Very good edge retention, good ergos (for me), safe locks, fit and finish are OK. Monochrome is very good slicer with its high flat ground.

Both are my beaters and they are hard to kill. I tried it not only one time ;-)

I just like them.
 
The red class knives are great. I have a full-size PIKA that I picked up when I lost my Delica. I don't exactly love it the way I loved my Delica, but that's only because of the handle shape (I like the Spyderco volcano-grip texture, etc.). Not to mention, it's just as solid, and was nearly half the price.

It doesn't compare to my 710 (my first axis-lock), but it's lightweight and tough so I don't feel bad carrying it to the beach, for example.

Go for it!

Peace.
 
I have the Red Class BM Monochrome. I bought it when my craptastical Smith and Wesson died and I didnt have the money for a "proper" knife. When I received it I was suprised. It made my more expensive Smith and Wesson seem like a gumball machine toy. Great knife. Since then I have added a Blue and Black label knife, the 525 and 530 - both are great knives but I dont see that the Red Label Monochrome 10300 is lacking when compared to these knifes. I have no problems recommending them - great deal and it started my Benchmade collection........that cant be bad.
 
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