Benchmade's custom build program?

Dallas T

Dallas T

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Apr 6, 2013
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Just curious if anyone here has any experience using this through benchmade and how was the experience?
 
Over on the Benchmade forum I have seen several Griptilians and a few Barrage that were done on the Build your Own program. Overall the experience seems to be positive. The price is a little steep, but you can get a factory BM with M4 steel and G10 handles now, so that is big plus.
 
Dallas T said:
Just curious if anyone here has any experience using this through benchmade and how was the experience?
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I used it to build a mini barrage. Very easy to design the knife you want. I love the knife. The only issue I had was they stated something like 10 days to complete. They would send emails with videos showing "your" knife at various stages in the process. After I received the email of the last stage and a note that I would be emailed when my knife had shipped things went quiet. I called Benchmade and was told they were behind and waiting for a part. She refunded me the shipping charges. I received my knife 21 days after ordering. The knife is great. High quality and I'm very happy with it. After getting it the 21 days kinda melted away but it is a little annoying that Benchmade wasn't proactive knowing they weren't going to hit their advertised ship time and made me have to call them.

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I've made a couple and have been quite pleased. I forget the turnaround time for me, but I remember being pleasantly surprised. I have a few more ideas I'd like to do when I can.



 
I purchased a custom made Griptilian a couple weeks ago. As someone else mentioned, the emails they send you about your knife going through each phase is automated and in no way tied to your actual knife. After not hearing anything after my last phase email, I gave customer service a call yesterday to check in and they informed me of that. They also told me they were waiting on a part that had just come in Monday and my knife should be shipped in a day or two. My shipping was already free, but she upgraded me to faster shipping. I'm eagerly awaiting its arrival :)
 
I wish the custom shop gave you the option to customize an already existing knife, like send it in for an upgrade to M4 for an appropriate fee, or get G10 handles and spacers installed.
 
dkb45 said:
I wish the custom shop gave you the option to customize an already existing knife, like send it in for an upgrade to M4 for an appropriate fee, or get G10 handles and spacers installed.
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I asked Benchmade directly about that several months back in an email. They stated if you make a custom knife then later down the line if you wanted to make a change to it you could. But they were only willing to do that for knives that were made in the custom shop to begin with
 
GatorMedic said:
I purchased a custom made Griptilian a couple weeks ago. As someone else mentioned, the emails they send you about your knife going through each phase is automated and in no way tied to your actual knife. After not hearing anything after my last phase email, I gave customer service a call yesterday to check in and they informed me of that. They also told me they were waiting on a part that had just come in Monday and my knife should be shipped in a day or two. My shipping was already free, but she upgraded me to faster shipping. I'm eagerly awaiting its arrival :)
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So that puts you up to how many knives now? Seven? Eight?

Personally, I though it was pretty cool that you had things worked out so you only needed six. Gave me some motivation to scale my collection down some.

BTW, I thought you were considering the Volli because you liked the idea of a slightly shorter blade than the Grip. Or did I dream that?
 
I bought a simple all black G-10/CPM-M4 Mini Grip. It works great and I use it a lot! Great knife. The system worked fine, although mine was very simple!
 
My son's name is Killian, and he bought a griptilian and custom named it Killswitch on the blade which was his high school wrestling name. I gave him my user grip when he was 18, cause his name rhymes. Benchmade has a customer for life in my son now due to the customization.
 
GatorMedic said:
I asked Benchmade directly about that several months back in an email. They stated if you make a custom knife then later down the line if you wanted to make a change to it you could. But they were only willing to do that for knives that were made in the custom shop to begin with
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This is true. I bought mines with the 154 blade and sent it in to upgrade to M4. Cost me only $40.
 
I have used the Custom Shop also.....got my son a Grip with his German Shepherd's name on the blade......he has carried that knife every day!
BM did an excellent job!
I also sent my 581 in for a blade swap.....dropped it on concrete from bout 8' up on a ladder. Took a healthy chip out of the M390 blade. $40 and my knife came back like brand new! Springs, screws etc were all changed out.....and they put an unbelievable edge on the new blade!
If you're thinking of getting a knife from the Custom Shop...do it!! Very cool option and lots more choices available!
Joe
 
sabre cat said:
So that puts you up to how many knives now? Seven? Eight?

Personally, I though it was pretty cool that you had things worked out so you only needed six. Gave me some motivation to scale my collection down some.

BTW, I thought you were considering the Volli because you liked the idea of a slightly shorter blade than the Grip. Or did I dream that?
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Wow, good memory. It will put me at seven--five folders and two fixed. A few things factored into my decision to buy the custom full-size grip and consequently up my total. 1. I intended to eventually own a full-size Grip again, but I knew next time I wanted it with BM's G-10 handles to keep warranty intact. I was waiting to make that step until I changed careers and consequently sell my Auto Presidio. I have no need for two knives of the same blade length, so this made sense. Which brings me to my next point that fast-forwarded the timeline. 2. I had the opportunity to purchase one for more than 50% off and free shipping. I doubt I will ever have the opportunity for that good of a deal again, so after mulling it over for a couple weeks I finally pulled the trigger on it. It was just too sweet of a deal to pass up. Honestly, it does bug me that I will now have seven, but I keep reminding myself it is temporary. Once I leave my current career field then I'll sell my Auto Presidio and be back to six. Going to be making strides in the next several months to make that happen.

I did consider the Volli. After researching it some online I found a local store that had one in stock to put my hands on. I liked it, but my criteria for buying it would be to replace my Spider Monkey and Mini Grip (and subsequently bringing my total down to five knives). I didn't like it enough to do that, so after much thinking, I decided against it.
 
I just got my griptillian from them I ordered 12/2 and and I chose local pickup so I could get the knives it's replacing sharpened so I could sell it. But I got no emails just a phone call when it was done. Then a trip to their factory and showroom. With the custom I could get cool colored handles and better steel 20cv it was only 15.00 over the regular cost.
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GatorMedic said:
I asked Benchmade directly about that several months back in an email. They stated if you make a custom knife then later down the line if you wanted to make a change to it you could. But they were only willing to do that for knives that were made in the custom shop to begin with
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I wonder if this applies to a second owner, as I bought a mini grip s30v off the exchange with the intention of getting it swapped for an m4 sheepfoot.
 
jpm2 said:
I wonder if this applies to a second owner, as I bought a mini grip s30v off the exchange with the intention of getting it swapped for an m4 sheepfoot.
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I don't know. Give Benchmade a call and see what they say


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I've had several done, 2 for myself (mini grip and Reg. Barrage) and I had 2 done as groomsmens gifts (both mini grips) at my wedding over a year ago. Price was steep but I've never had a QC issue with them unlike the standard grips I have purchased.
 
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