BEnchmade Red Line

hilltopper

hilltopper

Joined
Oct 31, 2006
Messages
90
Greetings, Does anyone know anything about the Red Line or Red Case Benchmade knives? Where off shore are they made, and are they ok? I am looking at the Vex, but it seems hard to find. The steel is listed as CFTGRDS??? or something. Thanks
 
The red DNA or class is mostly made in Taiwan, but the Vex is made in China and it has 7Cr14MoV steel. Here is a link to a review I wrote about the Vex, http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=431618. The Red DNA in general are excellent knives, I have more knives from the red class than any other of there classes, the knives are still the highest quality for the money, and most people say that there isn't much of a difference in a knife from the red class than from the blue class except for country of manufacture. I say go for it, and if you like BM, than you won't be dissapointed, even if you don't like the design, it is still only around $50 or less (some exceptions may apply, so don't hold me to it) for most Red Class knives, you can even get a Pika for around $25. If you do pick one up, let us (Blade Forums) know how you like it, and if you don't like it, I would gladly take it off of your hands...LOL.
 
All Benchmades are good quality, regardless of where they are made; you can't really go wrong!

Red boxes are an entry level, Blue that bit better, as used by Emergency Personnel, alledgedly, and Gold super duper all singing and dancing!
 
I own a Benchmade Ambush (Model 10200), one of the knives in the "Red Line", and it's great, especially considering its price. I would not hesitate to buy any of the "Red Line". Benchmade seems to be a company that is very committed to offering the best knives for the price range, and if they put their name on it, its got to meet their standards.
 
I have a Pika from the red line and it is total junk. The blade is so tight and the thumb hole is so slippery that it is extremely difficult to open one-handed. I carried it only once. I was really disappointed, because it is sort of the successor to one of the all-time best FRN knives, the FRN AFCK (with the Spyderhole and ATS-34 blade) The Pika would not respond to any amount of tinkering or adjustment, so into the drawer it went, where it has remained since.

Spyderco's Byrd line kicks Benchmade's Red Class's teeth in.
 
I own a mini-ambush and it is my EDC. It's the only Benchmade I own for now. For my use it's the perfect tool. I'm also looking to get griptilian.
 
That-a-way Moonwilson. I agree wholeheartedly with you but keeping in mind a lot of Benchmades are in fact really great knives....like my trio of Griptillians....

mmmotorcycle.
 
moonwilson said:
I have a Pika from the red line and it is total junk. The blade is so tight and the thumb hole is so slippery that it is extremely difficult to open one-handed. I carried it only once. I was really disappointed, because it is sort of the successor to one of the all-time best FRN knives, the FRN AFCK (with the Spyderhole and ATS-34 blade) The Pika would not respond to any amount of tinkering or adjustment, so into the drawer it went, where it has remained since.

Spyderco's Byrd line kicks Benchmade's Red Class's teeth in.
Click to expand...

Send it to me, I have a mini-pika, and I feel it is a very good knife for the money, but it is probably my least favorite BM. I would like a full size to see if I like it better. Let me know.
 
mmmotorcycle said:
That-a-way Moonwilson. I agree wholeheartedly with you but keeping in mind a lot of Benchmades are in fact really great knives....like my trio of Griptillians....

mmmotorcycle.
Click to expand...

I agree that Benchmade makes some good knives. I own around 15 Benchmades, almost all of them blue class, except for the Pika, which completely sucks IMO. My 710 and my Gravitator are two of my favorite knives. Eventually I'll probably get a Vex and see if it's comparable to Byrd in terms of quality. I'm not exactly chomping at the bit because I'm turned off by Benchmade's business practices at the moment.

I just bought 2 more G10 Cara Caras today for Christmas presents.
 
I have a number of Benchmade blue box knives, but couldn't resist picking up a Vex from the 'pharmacy' people. Got a first production 616/1000 and this one is really growing on me.

It's got a beautiful finish, the lockup is superb, G10 scales are well done, and the blade is VERY sharp.

At what this thing sold for IMO it's a great buy!

Joe
 
I bought an Instigator a while back. Couldn't resist a Snody design at the price.

Great fit and finish, very very sharp (AUS 8 chisel grind), and a good fit in the sheath too.

And all that for about 30 bucks brand new.
 
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