Benchmade Red label... Did it hurt the company?

H

HotRodColt

Joined
Feb 28, 2007
Messages
330
I only own one benchmade, a redlabel Monochrome. I was told at the knife shop I bought it at that it would be just as high quality as regular benchmades, just didn't have the fancy locks and such.
At first I thought it was the coolest thing, then it started falling out of my pocket because the clip is to big. Now after about a year of EASY use, it has started to seriously loosen up on me.

Feels like it's about ready to break, and I'VE NEVER, EVER abused this knife. I've always gone easy on it.

What are your experiences with the red label Benchmades?
 
I don't have any experience with the Red Labels per se, but it sounds like your knife just needs some TLC after a year of use. I'm not sure what you mean by the "loosening up" but if the blade is loose, tighten the pivot screw. If the clip has spread too wide, take it off & gently re form it. It looks like a pretty nice knife for around $30. Welcome to BF! :thumbup:
 
Tighten the pivot. I have only owned Black and Blue class Benchmades, I picked up a Vex, and it is a great little knife.
 
If the clip is loose, take it off and bend it back into shape so it's tighter. That should fix it. And then get a better knife, ya cheapskate! If you like knives enough to be on BladeForums, you'd really appreciate having something better.
 
ronsec said:
I don't have any experience with the Red Labels per se, but it sounds like your knife just needs some TLC after a year of use. I'm not sure what you mean by the "loosening up" but if the blade is loose, tighten the pivot screw. If the clip has spread too wide, take it off & gently re form it. It looks like a pretty nice knife for around $30. Welcome to BF! :thumbup:
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I'm with ronsec, for 30 bucks you cant beat the Monochrome with a stick! Framelock, pretty good metal from what I hear, and what else...oh, 30 bucks!!

Poor man's Sebenza, if you ask me. (Ironically, can't afford one right now, saving up for a BM 530.)
 
I've had an Ambush and a Snipe, and they have both been great knives for the money. I haven't had any issues with either and feel that BM did a pretty damned good job of ensuring that the manufacturing was up to par.
 
poor man's Sebenza is a bit generous

it's a cool light duty slim knife, but they aren't that tough
 
I forgot to mention that I don't think the Red Class has hurt Benchmade at all. Making less expensive knives overseas may ruffle the feathers of fringe geeks like us, but the average knife consumer probably appreciates being able to afford a decent knife, and couldn't care less where it was made or what steel is used for the blade. Being able to sell more knives helps strenghten Benchmade's bottom line in a competitive marketplace, allowing them to pursue higher-end (and less profitable) projects/ products.

I bought a Mini-Rukus last week, which is a 2007 model, and it's one of the best knives I've ever seen. So I don't think the Red Class is affecting Benchmade's ability to manufacture first-rate product. People have been complaining that they haven't been coming out with a lot of new high-end models lately, but I suspect their R&D is focused on getting the Red Line up to speed. Hopefully the door will swing the other way once the benefits from that line's development start coming in.
 
I will try to tighten it up...

Just wanted to see what you guys thought.... Anyhow, I'm leaving town on some family business and won't be back till tomorrow.

I have forgotten about the Red Label Pika I bought my brother though. He is completely thrilled with that $20. Keeps a pretty good edge too.
 
I have the mini ambush and it is just as good as my 556. I also just purchased the ERT-1 that I will leave in my car. Either way, the red class is just made overseas to cut down on cost. Still they are benchmades none the less.
 
It's kind of a lose - lose situation for them on the knife forums.

If they don't move production of some models overseas and offer some affordable models people will complain. "So and So company can offer me a quality knife in the $30-$50 range. Why can't Benchmade do the same?"

If they do move some models overseas then people seem to take it that quality is slipping and the company is changing.

I have no problem with the red class. I will never have a problem with it either because every Benchmade I have was made in the USA. That is one of the reasons I buy their products. Blue or Black and I don't even have to worry about such things. It's the same reason all the hand tools in my box at work are Craftsman and not from harbor freight. I'm not trying to trash the craftsmanship or materials in the red class. I'm not looking down at them at all. If it was the same knife for the same price and USA was stamped on them I'd be all over them.
 
gmarthur said:
If it was the same knife for the same price and USA was stamped on them I'd be all over them.
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What about if it was the same knife with USA stamped on it, would you be willing to pay a higher price? If Benchmade could make these knives in the US and keep the prices low, they wouldn't be outsourcing in the first place.
 
I have a VEX and it is a fine little knife for the money. My primary complaint would be with the clip. The punched the center of the bent portion of the clip out so you can get at the tension screw. This makes the entire clip weak.

When I first got my Vex, I wanted to relieve the spring tension a bit and just the slightest force almost broke the clip at the bend.

Great knife for the price but I'd swap ends for a tip-up carry and use a beefier clip like Emerson's.
 
yermom said:
poor man's Sebenza is a bit generous

it's a cool light duty slim knife, but they aren't that tough
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Yes, but with the extra 300 dollars one could afford to be generous.

Don't get me wrong, Sebenzas are awesome. I just think the Monochrome is at least 1/10-th as awesome.
 
moonwilson said:
What about if it was the same knife with USA stamped on it, would you be willing to pay a higher price? If Benchmade could make these knives in the US and keep the prices low, they wouldn't be outsourcing in the first place.
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It would depend on the price increase. Would I spend the same amount that I would on a knife that had a D2 or 154CM blade? No. It would be interesting to find out just how much more it would cost the ELU to have these made in the USA. For all I know Benchmade could be able to sell the Taiwan made knives for $10 a pop a still make a small profit. So the cost might be the same for the ELU if Benchmade doesn't profit as much.

I guess it's not so easy to answer your question. Would I pay more for a red class made in the USA? Yes. How much more would I spend? Not sure.
 
It's all opinion unless someone has access to their records. My opinion is: Yes, it's hurt their image in my eyes. I have a problem in most (but not all) cases when American companies outsource. In Benchmade's case, it won;t affect my love for their knives, I'll keep buying US made Benchmades, but I do have a dimmer view of them as a respectable company.
 
It's hard to say if it has hurt them or not. It's hard to see companies move some of their production overseas, but it may be the only way to keep a piece of the lower priced end of the market. I was in Bass Pro the other day and the Benchmades were competing with Gerber, Buck, Kershaw, and CRKT. For the most part that's Red Label territory. They had a Griptilian and an Osborne behind the counter, but even there most of the knives were Bucks, Gerbers, and a couple of other common brands. That's a store that attracts a lot of people. If they don't go overseas for some of their knife production, they are going to be writing off that entire segment of the knife-buying public. I suspect the Red Line helps them stay afloat and enables them to market higher-end knives to those of us who appreciate them and are willing to pay a few more dollars for them.

Incidentally, it was worth the trip because I brought a Mini-Griptilian home for my wife to replace her Gerber Paraframe. Now she understands why it's worth paying a few extra dollars to get a good knife!
 
Well then you need to find that perfect place (it varies from person to person) where the blade is secure and it isn't too hard to open (or the best compromise between the two). Then you need to use loctite, or a similar product, to keep the screw there.
 
I own a vex, which grew legs and walked away. I've given a number of the Benchmite IIs for gifts. And they're still doing well.

I think the Red class has been a great move for Benchmade.

Phil
 
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