Benchmade Torrent, I want one...but...

H

heekma

Joined
Jul 2, 2010
Messages
226
Hey folks,

I handled a Benchmade Torrent the other day, great design, blade shape, nicely built, smooth scales would be nice for EDC/dressier carry, but I had an awfully hard time activating the assisted opening feature. The thumb stud seemed a little small/awkwardly placed and every time I opened it I could almost feel my thumb wanting to slip past the stud and onto the blade. Just feels like there isn't enough room.

Does anyone own one of these? Is it something you adjust to? Maybe I'm used to beefier folders with the stud riding higher on a wider blade? Maybe the tension screw was a little overly tight?

Any thoughts would be appreciated. This is a neat, relatively slim knife, but with just a little more heft than the really light, elegant "Gentleman's Folder" type knives, but if I'm not way out in left field about the opening I may reluctantly pass.

Best,
heekma
 
I had the exact same issue as you and it's why I don't own one. The thumb stud volcanoes and it doesn't provide enough traction. I almost pulled the trigger anyways but I realized that the thumb stud issue was something I couldn't look past.
 
i handled one, and just in general hated the assisted opening.
Great rugged use knife, great lines, good steel, good blade shape.

All completely buggered by the opening system.

If i could get A torrent without the assisted tech at ~$40-60, i'd be all over it.
 
I had a Torrent for a while, but I sold it. I had the same problem you described with the thumbstud. I generally would deploy it by fitting my thumb inbetween the thumbstud and the scale to deploy it. I think if there was a smaller version of the knife, I would like it a lot more.
 
I had a Torrent for a while too. I didn't really have any issues with the thumbstud, but I did have an issue with the liner lock being too easy to disengage. I never put the knife under any strain where it would shut on me, but just playing around with it I never had a warm-fuzzy about the liner lock staying in place. I don't know if it is specific to the 890, because the other two Benchmade linerlocking knives I had were pretty confidence-inspiring.

At any rate, if they offered it without the Nitrous AO and with a stiffer liner spring I would buy another in a heartbeat.

-nate
 
I have a Nitrous Stryker that does the same thing. When you grab the blade and wiggle it when the knife is opened, the lockbar can be seen dancing back and forth against the tang. I'm done with A/Os and the Nitrous Stryker for that matter. I like the design of the blade and handle though.

As for how to deploy the Nitrous Stryker, in case it's anything like the Torrent (I've never handled one) the key with the Nitrous Stryker is to push the stud forward toward the front of the knife rather than pushing out. This is the easiest way I found to deploy a 710 too.

robot37 said:
I had a Torrent for a while too. I didn't really have any issues with the thumbstud, but I did have an issue with the liner lock being too easy to disengage. I never put the knife under any strain where it would shut on me, but just playing around with it I never had a warm-fuzzy about the liner lock staying in place. I don't know if it is specific to the 890, because the other two Benchmade linerlocking knives I had were pretty confidence-inspiring.

At any rate, if they offered it without the Nitrous AO and with a stiffer liner spring I would buy another in a heartbeat.

-nate
Click to expand...
 
Reeek said:
I have a Nitrous Stryker that does the same thing. When you grab the blade and wiggle it when the knife is opened, the lockbar can be seen dancing back and forth against the tang. I'm done with A/Os and the Nitrous Stryker for that matter. I like the design of the blade and handle though.

As for how to deploy the Nitrous Stryker, in case it's anything like the Torrent (I've never handled one) the key with the Nitrous Stryker is to push the stud forward toward the front of the knife rather than pushing out. This is the easiest way I found to deploy a 710 too.
Click to expand...

i had the same problem with my nitrous stryker. the linerlock just was not confidence inspiring at all. i dont know, maybe benchmade has a problem making good liner locks ? i want a torrent as well, but i am afriad the liner lock will be weak.
 
Thanks for chiming in folks, much appreciated.

Guess I wasn't out in left field about this one. Everything else about the knife design pushes all the right buttons, and even if it were just awkward or a little slow to open, I'd still be in like Flynn.

Although I can be a bit picky, I don't think of myself as unreasonably anal about every little thing. Thought maybe I was being a little too harsh about the opening system on the Torrent, maybe so, maybe not, but at least it seems I'm not alone so that definitely counts for something.

FWIW, I had the same criticism of the Subrosa as well.

I'm a Benchmade fan--I don't think they're the end-all, be-all of production knives, but I do think they're well made and it's my brand of choice. The Torrent and Subrosa are both beautiful designs, very well made of good materials, but in the end I don't think either makes the cut for me because of the awkward opening of both.

Best,
heekma
 
I bought a Torrent and a Nitrous Stryker at the UK Knife Show a few weeks back.
I like the ergos on both. I don't have a problem with either re the position of the opening studs. I don't like that they are AO only and this cannot be changed. (I removed the AO spring on my Barrage and it's a better knife for it.)

The problem I do have is with the Torrent's liner lock. The cut-out on the left scale for the thumbstud is quite substantial. When the blade is open and locked and when holding the knife normally (forward grip, cutting down) the fleshy part of my forefinger tends to unlock the liner. It happens easily and quickly. If I consciously shift my grip so that my forefinger is away from the cutout then the blade stays locked.

The liner itself is thin and weak. I really like the knife but this defect makes it suitable for peeling fruit only. I will not carry it nor use it for any kind of hard work. Why don't I return it? I still like the knife and if I hold it 'just right' then it's fine.
I DON'T RECOMMEND THE TORRENT - IT'S POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS!
 
From the 890 to the 790 is a bit of a leap. Certainly, both are 'Nitrous' assisted openers. Last year's entry, the 890, is thicker - .60" - that's the G10 scale set over the SS liner lock - but a thinner & shorter blade (0.10"/3.60" vs .125"/3.76") of 154CM vs the New Subrosa's S30V. Add the Ti framelock - and you have a knife whose MSRP, at $240, is 60% over the 890's MSRP of $150.

I just found my 790 nine days ago at a local store - probably paid too much for it - but I had to have it. I bought it despite it's assisted opening feature - which grew rapidly on me once I learned the trick to opening it quite easily (Down and straight!) - and, to keep my forefinger away from the top back, lest it get pinched. I like it's blade shape and material - it will see much more use than my 760BK LTi of last year. It functions much better without the clip, too. Of course, I remove all of my clips.

These are my recent purchases - the 755 was #1 EDC - now it shares!

IMG_4417-1.jpg


Check out the 790... decent steel and blade shape/style/length - Ti framelock - with assist, admittedly with a learning curve! Nice balance, too.

Stainz
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top