Benchmade's out of stock online... What "officially" is going on?

[autoopen]

We all know that many of our favorite online retailers are out of stock of all our favorite blades and I hear this is due to a change in Benchmade company policy.

Can someone simply and clearly explain what changes Benchmade has made to it's sales policy and why?
Thank you.

PS. Why have New Graham, yourcornerstore, and Knifecenter (for example) been out of most Griptilians for months but all of a sudden they now have many of the new 2009 models like the Barrage, Torrent, Nagara???

 

[JAB]

Benchmade is no longer selling through distributors - this thread may help shed a little more light on the subject.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=615161&highlight=benchmade

 

[elmora2]

In addition to Benchmade's recent shift to selling only directly to dealers (no more distributors), the absence of their knives from dealers may be due to their manufacturing schedule. Granted, this wouldn't explain a dealer's lack of stock on ALL Benchmade models, as that would likely mean they can no longer get the knives.

In other cases, though, stock may go for months without being replenished for a given model because Benchmade produces their knives in batches. From what I understand, they'll gear up production for a few weeks for one model, then the next few weeks switch over to another, and so forth. This results in us seeing the market periodically being flooded by a single model, and periodically (as that stock runs out) not being able to find that model anywhere.

Now, I was under the impression that the Grips were in production full time, in addition to their production "batches" that they do other knives in. Maybe this was a false impression, or maybe it has something to do with the switch to dealer-only sales. Or maybe it's something unrelated, like a one-time, temporary delay on a shipment of the handle materials to the BM factory. Who knows.

 

[David M]

It's too bad about Benchmade but there are a lot of other good made in USA knife makers.

 

[LorenzoL]

I gave up on Benchmade making the knives I am expecting them to make some time ago...
Instead, they are focusing more and more on cheaper steel, and AOs. Plus, their quality control has become very spotty. I'd rather put my money elsewhere.

 

[Max Manley]

^ I agree.

Not a single BM I've bought has been fault free.

If it's not dull, it's has a lot of bladeplay which ends up being too tight when you try to fix it.

The only reason to really buy any of their knives is for the Axis lock, which, I have to admit, is absolutetly awesome.

 

[Wunderbar]

I gave up on Benchmade making the knives I am expecting them to make some time ago...
Instead, they are focusing more and more on cheaper steel, and AOs. Plus, their quality control has become very spotty. I'd rather put my money elsewhere.

Well said. I'm a Big Benchmade fan but as of the last couple of years they just aren't for me. I miss the AFCK's. I like the simple linerlock folders with satin finished 154CM steel blades. I don't care for assited opening. It seems that Benchmade along with Kershaw, SOG, CRKT and others are really switching to Assited openers and cheaper materials.

 

[2brothers]

It seems that Benchmade along with Kershaw, SOG, CRKT and others are really switching to Assited openers and cheaper materials.

Cheaper materials?
S30V, D2, CPM-D2, S110V, 154CM, Ti, Carbon Fiber, Micarta, G-10 are usually not regarded as cheap.

mike

 

[Blop]

Even though i don´t buy the latest knife and maybe one or two a year (the two last were HKs), it seem sto me, Benchmade has become better from year to year.

As the very first BMs i had have had bad steel (ATS 34, that dulled in a second, the same with D2 (accused my very first topic here in 2003)) the following 154CM weren´t satisfying, needed much maintance, chipped easily, the S30V too, the last two folders were great.

Never ever had a microchip in that 154CM, edge keeps sharp for long without the need of maintance every second day, no blade play, even ground blade, no lock failure.

I simply don´t understand, what they are doing. But for the HKs i see a step up in quality.

I regret to buy a new one to proof my point

 

[pyton357ru]

By the way, since we are talking about Benchmade -- their site have been down recently, or something is wrong on my end? Could not reach them through any browser...

Sorry for thread-hijacking.

 

[spidyman]

By the way, since we are talking about Benchmade -- their site have been down recently, or something is wrong on my end? Could not reach them through any browser...

Sorry for thread-hijacking.

its on your end, their site work fine here

 

[pyton357ru]

Thanks for the info!

Hm-m-m-m... That's odd.

 

[Wunderbar]

Cheaper materials?
S30V, D2, CPM-D2, S110V, 154CM, Ti, Carbon Fiber, Micarta, G-10 are usually not regarded as cheap.

mike

No but 440C, AUS-8A, 9Cr13 are. 13 of the 30 blue class knives now have some type of plastic handles compared to 4 from about 10 years ago. Less and less high grade (USA made) G-10.
Don't get me wrong, I am a big Benchmade fan and I work in manufacturing so I know about cost cutting processes. Especially having to use advanced tools (i,e, axis lock, nitrous assist, etc.) to maintain a low cost to manufacture, higher cost retail product. I just miss the good old liner lock folders with G-10 like the AFCK's and Strykers. This was the Benchmade that I liked. Change was inevitable.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Umm...you do realize you have to take their HK and Harley knives into account when you look for those stats, right? Lots of G10 and great steel on those models...

 

[CARRERA50]

Well said. I'm a Big Benchmade fan but as of the last couple of years they just aren't for me. I miss the AFCK's. I like the simple linerlock folders with satin finished 154CM steel blades. I don't care for assited opening. It seems that Benchmade along with Kershaw, SOG, CRKT and others are really switching to Assited openers and cheaper materials.[/QUO

Agree completely. IMO, the sun set on Benchmade several years ago.
I also don't appreciate their increasingly hostile marketing policies.

 

[HotSwat]

Benchmade's new policies are designed address what people find when the search online for their products.

Their policy prevents retailers from posting discounted prices online. They want the MSRP to be what people find they search one of their products. The online shops can charge whatever they want, you have to add the item to your cart (which is a secure page that doesn't show up in a google search) to get the discounted price.

It is a move to protect collectors, and brick and motar shops and drive traffic to their website. It's not a big deal.

I went to my local knifestore and tried out all the knive in the case. The spyderco rock lobster was super cool, and the para-military is next on my go get list. The ZT200 was awesome, but overall, IMHO Benchmade had the best designs and highest quality. I walked away wanting almost every knife they make.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I honestly think that Benchmade is doing just fine. Solid designs, high quality...so what if they pulled distributors? The end-line user is not affected by this. Neither is the retailer. It just means that they have to order direct now. MAP? Plenty of companies that do that. Maxpedition is one example, and yet no one is up in arms over it. Many optics companies do the same. I'm not quite sure why everyone seems so prone to jump down their throats over something so minor...

 

[BoxANT]

No but 440C, AUS-8A, 9Cr13 are. 13 of the 30 blue class knives now have some type of plastic handles compared to 4 from about 10 years ago. Less and less high grade (USA made) G-10.
Don't get me wrong, I am a big Benchmade fan and I work in manufacturing so I know about cost cutting processes. Especially having to use advanced tools (i,e, axis lock, nitrous assist, etc.) to maintain a low cost to manufacture, higher cost retail product. I just miss the good old liner lock folders with G-10 like the AFCK's and Strykers. This was the Benchmade that I liked. Change was inevitable.

I am pretty sure 2brothers was referring to Kershaw, since you said that (amongst other companies) Kershaw was switching to "cheaper materials".

I completely agree with 2bothers, Kershaw uses some very high quality materials

 

[Ed Gordon]

I have not gotten a bad benchmade knife out of the 25 or so I have bought.

 

[tjsulli790]

No but 440C, AUS-8A, 9Cr13 are. 13 of the 30 blue class knives now have some type of plastic handles compared to 4 from about 10 years ago. Less and less high grade (USA made) G-10.
Don't get me wrong, I am a big Benchmade fan and I work in manufacturing so I know about cost cutting processes. Especially having to use advanced tools (i,e, axis lock, nitrous assist, etc.) to maintain a low cost to manufacture, higher cost retail product. I just miss the good old liner lock folders with G-10 like the AFCK's and Strykers. This was the Benchmade that I liked. Change was inevitable.

There is not a single Blue class knife that uses a poor quality steel. 440C, AUS8, etc is only found in their Red class knives. And there is nothing wrong with that, a lot of people out there don't need the latest super steel and don't won't to spend $50+ on a knife. Benchmade is giving people options.

As for the "plastic" handles. That is Noryl GTX, a strong chemical resistant resin. The same material that most car fenders are made out of. Superior to Zytel in my opinion and in the unfilled form it's very light.

As for the idea that any of the big three (Spyderco, Benchmade, Kershaw) are moving towards cheaper materials, that's just a load of bull. Go grab a 3 or 4 year old model and compare it to one from today, they won't compare. All three companies have done a good job of offering us knife freaks the latest materials and designs but they still have to offer value based models to stay afloat, especially with the economic condition most people are in right now.