Benchmade's HD knives,what do you think about them?

[orthogonal1]

I may get a mini instead of the regular.The 3.99" blade is a bit on the large side,now that I think about it.

You might want to look at the 13150-1. It is built similar to the Griptillian, with plastic handles. Makes the clicking sounds of the full-size Grip and is a bit blade heavy in the hand, though.

 

[JTR357]

You might want to look at the 13150-1. It is built similar to the Griptillian, with plastic handles. Makes the clicking sounds of the full-size Grip and is a bit blade heavy in the hand, though.

Thanks,but I hate plastic handles.That's why I sold my Grip.The only ones I can deal with are Spyderco's FRN handles(which I'm not crazy about,but deal with:foot:).

 

[bearcut]

Benchmade has been offering 440C knives for more than a decade.

That's my point.

 

[orthogonal1]

Your original comment was:

First it was pens.
Then a collaboration with Harley.
Now they offer 440C on the newest models. Wow!

No wonder I don’t buy Benchmades any more.

Such a comment leads one to believe that simply because a knife company chooses to manufacture knives using 440C, you would not buy from that company.

Ergo, you obviously haven't bought a Benchmade product for over a decade at least.

BTW - 440C or the equivalent is offered by many firms in their lower priced knives. Some people still like 440C steel and most feel it is adequate for most usage.

 

[orthogonal1]

Thanks,but I hate plastic handles.That's why I sold my Grip.The only ones I can deal with are Spyderco's FRN handles(which I'm not crazy about,but deal with:foot:).

Not too hip on plastic handles myself, but one member had issues with the mini-Hardtail handle, the hump at the end, digging into their hand.

So I bought a mini to try in its least expensive iteration.

Still prefer the full size, though.

 

[bearcut]

Your original comment was:
Such a comment leads one to believe that simply because a knife company chooses to manufacture knives using 440C, you would not buy from that company.

Ergo, you obviously haven't bought a Benchmade product for over a decade at least.

BTW - 440C or the equivalent is offered by many firms in their lower priced knives. Some people still like 440C steel and most feel it is adequate for most usage.

Preconceived notions seem to be leading you to the wrong conclusions.

Benchmades models I have bought within the last 10 years include; 552, 610, 921, 210TK…All of which were offered with S30V from their inception and initial offering.
They didn’t start with 440c and then upgrade to S30V, they started with S30V.

BTW, there is nothing wrong with 440C steel. It is perfectly adequate. So is AUS8.
It doesn’t mean that I want a new 2009 model knife made with it, especially if the company used to offer new blue class models made from 154CM or S30V.

I simply see Benchmade turning into Kershaw.

Kershaw makes some fine products, but Benchmade used to make some GREAT products, from premium materials. Now, they are just another also-ran.

The fit and finish on the latest BM offerings that I have seen and handled, are nowhere near as good as the products they offered in the mid 190’s and early to mid 2000.
The blade grinds on the 440C models I see this year look very rough and unfinished.

You apparently haven't bought a Benchmade product for over a decade, at least.

 

[STR]

love the design hate all the logos so ill never get one

Even if i loved harley's I hate that kind of advertising stuff. Poser crap imo

I love my Mini HardTail. Its a great folder. Even better now.

I decided against making new scales for it. They are going to be hard to copy so I gave up on that idea and figured I'd just take that shallow skull right out of the both of them nice and neat which I did in no time flat with fine sanding drum and rotary tool.

The G10 scales are actually quite nice on that folder. The skull is very shallow for depth so it didn't take me very long to get that erased. I tried later to bead blast the skull off the clip to no avail so I just made new clip. The only thing left now is the Harley Davidson on the blade and the BenchMade name and other information along with the D2 for blade steel stampings which does not bother me in the least. The skulls were a bit much though. Even bead blasted the one on the clip was tolerable and I lived with that for a good while before making a new clip to fit the folder with a bit of a curve to match the curve of the body.

STR

 

[STR]

the hardtail is fantastic knife, my friend has one where he replaced the skull scales with just flat black G10, the knife reminds me of a Much stronger Buck 110, it is one hell of a knife for the money, if you want to get rid of the scales i believe STR has done a few in the past, but im not sure if hes doing custom scales anymore.

Cheers!

the Colonel

Yeah I quit doing just scale replacements due to back log of work for other things. I had to give up doing some things I used to do unfortunately. Just not enough time in a day anymore.

The scales on there now are G10. They were on my Mini anyway. I had no trouble getting rid of the skulls. Took about ten minutes start to finish.

The Mini HT is one of the best BenchMade folders I've ever owned. I have two that I've kept of the Axis lock variety and only two. I've owned a lot of them but the only ones currently here for me are the HK14205 and the Mini HardTail.

The HardTail sees more pocket time. I love that D2 blade!

You guys may want to check this for some close up scans of it right after I finished removing them. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=598465

STR

 

[orthogonal1]

Preconceived notions seem to be leading you to the wrong conclusions.

Benchmades models I have bought within the last 10 years include; 552, 610, 921, 210TK…All of which were offered with S30V from their inception and initial offering.

They didn’t start with 440c and then upgrade to S30V, they started with S30V.

BTW, there is nothing wrong with 440C steel. It is perfectly adequate. So is AUS8.

It doesn’t mean that I want a new 2009 model knife made with it, especially if the company used to offer new blue class models made from 154CM or S30V.

I simply see Benchmade turning into Kershaw.

Kershaw makes some fine products, but Benchmade used to make some GREAT products, from premium materials. Now, they are just another also-ran.

The fit and finish on the latest BM offerings that I have seen and handled, are nowhere near as good as the products they offered in the mid 190’s and early to mid 2000.

The blade grinds on the 440C models I see this year look very rough and unfinished.

You apparently haven't bought a Benchmade product for over a decade, at least.

No preconcerptions, just reacting to an ill-conceived statement. Your statement indicated that the only reason you moved from Benchmade was the use of 440C in new models. Since Benchmade has been doing such for years and you failed to expand your opinion, one can only interpret from what is written.

Apparently you were blind to the Griptillian line, the balisongs, the 805 and others - all originally introduced with 440C.

As is obvious, Benchmade uses 440C to keep costs down and hopefully increase sales. The "premium" image Benchmade has made and is working to expand upon cuts both ways as to sales and opinion, though.

As to Benchmade turning into Kershaw - I wish! Kershaw has been making some rather long strides in the knife world of late. I worry a bit about that, as Gerber was doing similar strides before they "fell".

Whether a product is "great" is subjective.

I like the Gaucho, at least in plain edged M4 persuasion, yet that model is pretty much stagnant. The new HD version has a better blade shape, though. I see some "greatness" there. The Hardtail is another "great" knife IMO, as is the Benchmade manufactured Mayhem.

Benchmade does seem to be having having some QC issues, but then again maybe people are just more picky since there are more well crafted knives out there. Then, too, people generally have a "rose tinted" view of the past.

As to not having bought any Benchmades of late, one need only see my previous posts.

 

[akadave2]

Sort of the like the bikes, mediocre materials, great design...lol!

 

[LX_Emergency]

People need to quit whining about 440C, it's excellent stuff. Think back a few years and it was the cats Meow. It might not be the latest greatest anymore but it's still excellent stuff.