Benchmade's QC Problems.

[this_is_nascar]

As it wears, the bar travels further in the channel, so it doesn't have vertical play. If the bar bottoms out in the channel, then it can't adjust anymore, and vertical play occurs. The axis lock doesn't wear quickly, so it's pretty rare. The only time it's happen to me is when the knife came with the bar almost bottomed out from the start.

Correct. I understand the concept of how it works and the fact that bottoming out would cause the issue. I'm just surprised that it would bottom out, is really my point. I guess anything is possible though. Thanks for the explanation.

 

[KnifeyMcStab]

More often than not when I contact a seller about buying a benchmade on ebay the blades are off center. With the prices their asking they could do better.

 

[jkarp_53]

Time flies. So I did send my Volli up for service to replace what looks like a warped blade. The knife was shipped 2/20, exactly four weeks ago. I called yesterday and talked briefly to Nolan in CS who said they're got a huge backlog and mine was scheduled to proceed sometime this week. In years of buying these things from them this is arguably the longest wait. The end of this process will have my knife delivered to my door, but I barely remember owning it.

My list of pending repairs is very short, mostly up to date - so when this one comes back there's nothing next in line, but when the time comes, I hope the process speeds up. Since I'm clearly not the only one in the Que, how are the rest of you doing, and what's your wait time been like?

 

[harris2]

Several weeks ago I received two Benchmade knives I sent in for blade swaps. After I received the "template email" Benchmade sends out it was thirty-four days later when I received a Fed-Ex shipping notice via email. Last week I sent my final two for blade swaps (all plain-edge now) and called to verify turn around time before shipping. Was told to expect 30-35 "in-shop" days for work to be completed. In-shop does not include shipping or paperwork processing. If the last time is any indication, the paperwork processing adds an additional 2-3 days. So, anyone shipping a knife to them currently should expect a thirty to forty day wait, not including shipping.

My evaluation of this greatly extended repair time (they claim in the past it was two-weeks) is either they are:
1. Backlogged because most employees are busy manufacturing 2014 models and fewer employees are available for the repair shop.
2. It's a normal seasonal burst in orders requiring more employees working on the assembly line and not the repair shop.
3. They have had employee reductions for whatever reason.
4. I'll add the conspiracy theory; The word is getting out about the quality control issues that has been highlighted in this and other theads and they are now swamped with people returning their knives for repairs under warranty.

 

[BMCGear]

This thread makes me nervous about the Benchmades that I have ordered.

 

[harris2]

This thread makes me nervous about the Benchmades that I have ordered.

I'm not trying to make you more nervous, as I have received some Benchmades in perfect condition - my Contego 810-1401 is a perfect example. However, lately it has become hit and miss with quality control. The biggest issues seem to be blade centering, sharpness, and edge bevel unevenness - I get a lot that are twice as high on one side as the other. These quality control issues bother a lot of owners, but others don't really care - they just center the blade themselves and resharpen the blade. The way I see it is why should I have to do that on a brand new knife.

If you're not feeling queasy, I started a thread long before this one (linked below) that has many posts with additional comments and examples of the quality control issues.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ce-Will-Prevent-This!?p=13015554#post13015554

*** My hope in beating this dead horse is that Benchmade gets the point and improves the quality control on all future knives! ***

 

[jazub]

This thread makes me nervous about the Benchmades that I have ordered.

As soon as the prices went up, all kinds of negative feedback materialized. I doubt Benchmade realized a defamation campaign would initiate due to controlling the cost of their own goods.

People liked their knives just fine before and they will like them just fine again. Don't be nervous.

 

[harris2]

As soon as the prices went up, all kinds of negative feedback materialized. I doubt Benchmade realized a defamation campaign would initiate due to controlling the cost of their own goods.

People liked their knives just fine before and they will like them just fine again. Don't be nervous.

I wouldn't call it a defamation campaign just because owners expect better or more consistent quality control when the cost of the exact same knife increases (to the buyer) approximately 20% with no better materials, design, or new features added!

 

[jazub]

I wouldn't call it a defamation campaign just because owners expect better or more consistent quality control when the cost of the exact same knife increases (to the buyer) approximately 20% with no better materials or features added!

Then we would call it two different things. At least we agree that the same thing people loved one day, suddenly became unacceptable the next.

The reason I commented is because I hate to see somebody excited about something have his positive feelings dashed by another's personal beef.

 

[loonybin]

As soon as the prices went up, all kinds of negative feedback materialized. I doubt Benchmade realized a defamation campaign would initiate due to controlling the cost of their own goods.

It's more a matter of folks willing to accept certain QC issues when the knives were attainable at the previous price point. Once people were forced to pay almost 30% more virtually overnight for the same knife, people expected the QC to match the increased price, which it doesn't many times.

I've had flawless knives (my 51 Morpho comes to mind), I've had knives that needed only slight adjustment, and I've had dull knives with terrible bevels. My 810-1401 has even bevels, and it was only a hair off-center -- maybe 1/64" -- and was something that I fixed myself in about 45 seconds. I've also had knives that had bevels so uneven it took me forever to get them reprofiled.

 

[harris2]

Then we would call it two different things. At least we agree that the same thing people loved one day, suddenly became unacceptable the next.

The reason I commented is because I hate to see somebody excited about something have his positive feelings dashed by another's personal beef.

If the comment is directed at me, what I call it is getting your monies worth! If it wasn't for Benchmades axis lock and some of their designs I would have jumped ship a long time ago - but after twenty-two Benchmade knives I'm still here. Just hoping for the day when I don't have to be anxious about every knife I order before it arrives, and have to inspect each and every knife for the common Benchmade quality control issues. Nothing will ever change if people are silent and nobody brings up the issue.

If a person is lucky enough to have a local store who carries a large selection of Benchmade knives that gives you the option to inspect and accept or reject the knife before purchase then it doesn't affect that person so much. However, some of us are not that lucky and must play the Benchmade Russian Roulette with online-resellers each and every time we order a new Benchmade.

I don't believe mine, or any other posts I have read here about Benchmade's quality issues were posted to make someone feel "bad" nor, a "defamation campaign" to deter anyone from purchasing a Benchmade knife. Obviously, he has researched the model he wants and ordered it/them. There is a very good chance it/they will arrive and meet all his expectations. But, it is better to know what all the issues are, both good and bad so a buyer knows what to check for when receiving the knife. If it is inspected and all looks good then he is a happy camper, if not, and the quality control issue bothers him he knows it can be returned for replacement/repair. That is realistic.

My post post was reality, both good and bad - I have given my response, hopefully this doesn't become a tit-for-tat discussion that it was never intended to be.

 

[jazub]

It's more a matter of folks willing to accept certain QC issues when the knives were attainable at the previous price point. Once people were forced to pay almost 30% more virtually overnight for the same knife, people expected the QC to match the increased price, which it doesn't many times.

I've had flawless knives (my 51 Morpho comes to mind), I've had knives that needed only slight adjustment, and I've had dull knives with terrible bevels. My 810-1401 has even bevels, and it was only a hair off-center -- maybe 1/64" -- and was something that I fixed myself in about 45 seconds. I've also had knives that had bevels so uneven it took me forever to get them reprofiled.

I see what you are saying, Loony. But, to me, what you describe sounds like production knives. I get generally great quality from all makers -but some have slipped through with every company I've purchased from. Shoot, the first $400+ I purchased from another maker was off-center. Talk about a let down. It just seems that there is a disproportionately high intolerance of imperfection with Benchmade since the price change (a change that nobody but Joe Po-Dunk-Gun-Shop-Owner probably appreciates) and it really brings down the atmosphere of this subforum. I'm sure that is the goal; it is just disappointing to see it work.

With regard to your statement about pricing, I'd argue that folks aren't "forced" to buy anything. A product exists. People can buy it or they can not buy it. What is apparent is that people still want the product -some to the extent that they stocked up on the product as much as they could prior to the price hike. Some of those same voices now decry the product as obsolete or unworthy. Disingenuous? I think so.

It was written above that the price hike and sudden change in perception of quality are linked [in the eyes of a very vocal contingent] to the extent that people realize that they are beating a dead horse when they write about it, again. That is fine but, like I said, I don't think people would comment at all if they did not enjoy the product and it is a shame that it could spoil Benchmade for newcomers as a result.

Nobody is forced to purchase any non-essential such as another Benchmade. We either do because we like them or we do not. No biggie, right?

No offense intended, dude. Peace.

 

[RevDevil]

No disrespect intended, but for the sake of discussion and alternate perspective. I'm seeing a couple things happening here. First up is the Reductio ad absurdum (strawman). No one is forced to buy anything, the problem here is a simple one. We like the knives, otherwise, we wouldn't have bought so damn many of them. We wouldn't collect and use them, and value their craftsmanship and attention to detail. People got pissed when the price hike went into effect within a 3-5 day span specifically during the busiest shopping time of the year. Eyeing a knife or 3 that you really want and could afford, and you can no longer afford them. No official word, no acknowledgement, nothing. Most folks don't like getting the brush off, but I suppose some don't mind it and come to expect it. So, as soon as prices went up concern went up, not negativity, not defamation, not a let's ruin the company mentality either. Now, for any company to state "We care about our customers and take them into consideration" and then not deliver any news as if this is some sort of top secret classified black op is silly, that is what I call disingenuous. What else can be done aside from moderate speculation by the fans and supporters?

I don't much go for the appeal to extremes, "People love them one day and hate them the next". Again, not true. People love the products, but the communication historically been very sparse from the manufacturer (in this case even more). Seems that it's been like that for a long time. Ryan came in as the mod then vanished for a good long while. No news, no updates, no participation. Everyone was happier than pig in slop to have Benchmade finally here, after 15 years. I know I sure as heck was. I understand if they are busy, but hey their customer base is on here too. Dropping in once and again and participating doesn't hurt, but actually helps things out. Also, what some call high intolerance isn't what I see at all. What I see is open opinion on what people like and don't like. That is a component of dialog and discussion. As long as it stays on topic and proportionate there should be no major bumps. I certainly don't see the goal of diminishing the spirit or enjoyment of this forum as part of anyone's goal here. That makes no sense, and I really am sorry you feel that way. I realize there are some very strong proponents and super fans of many brands on this forum, and the respective companies can do not wrong in their eyes. But that just isn't the case with everyone.

The Create-A-Grip is cool, very innovative and should have been done years ago. But it's here now and so far nothing but good reviews of the process and such. The Limited Runs are cool, if you can get a hold of one. At times they seem to be released and we find out long after they are all sold out. Kind of frustrating in my opinion. The AFCK, TSEK, and Ares among many other knives are long gone. Basically the ones that folks really wanted to own and seem to go for a small fortune on the secondary market are long gone. With the Ruckus, AFCK, TSEK, Ares, Skirmish and a dozen other models long gone we are left with what could be seen as slapping a different blade shape on an existing handle and calling it a new knife or moving an existing model to the H-D class. To many that is just not something they really want to pay for, and asking questions to gain or check one's perspective shouldn't be viewed as bad; unless it is obviously done with bad intention. I know that knives get pulled because sales drop past a certain point. If it weren't for REI, Knifeworks, and some others we may not even have many older models even available. Again, Just my opinion as a consumer and nothing more, in the end it makes no difference I know.

 

[harris2]

Hey jazub,

Are we good?

No animosity here. Using words and statements like "defamation campaign", "personal beef", "really brings down the atmosphere of this subforum", "I'm sure that is the goal...", "decry the product as obsolete or unworthy", "Disingenuous" is not the way to elicit a civil conversation from others. As I said, no animosity toward you, just the inflammatory language you used.

As you said;
No offense intended, dude. Peace.

Edited to: change other to others

 

[jacobts2013]

I got serious about collecting this past year and have purchased two benchmade. Granted they're not top of the line but my griptilian has poor blade centering and my presidio is not smooth deploying or solid locking at all. I've also purchased spyderco knives and have not had any quality control issues and for the most part they're better priced than benchmades. Maybe that's why I can't stop buying spydercos... Bought my first one in November and now I have 6

 

[jazub]

The point of my previous posts was simply to call attention to the miraculous concurrence of "quality control" threads with the MAAP price increase. Not to change any posters' minds; just for newcomers present or future.

Collated to a single sentence, much can be done with another's phrases -but, regardless, my comments were not directed solely at your posts, harris2. I have no problem with you at all. I am not familiar with your post history. I was merely offering a counterpoint for the guy who was worried about his knives before he received them due to reading this thread (and maybe the other [closed] thread which you directed him to). Just another component of dialog and discussion. The minority. Nothing personal; we both like knives.

My perspective from personal experience is that I listened to the "omega springs break all of the time" comments for 2 years before I took a chance and purchased a Benchmade -and when I finally got one, a 940, I liked it so much that I realized I'd been missing out. It made me go red in the face over heeding naysayers for so long. Whups. I have since purchased about 20 Benchmades, of which 10 remain. Not much compared to many of you. Benchmades make up maybe 10% of my current collection. Glad to have a sampling but not going crazy.

I know that when I post in one of these threads I am certain of an eventual response from the perpetual naysayer, taking any opportunity to disagree or re-describe the recent pricing change, hinting and niggling. But I don't mind. It's some people's job. I was just offering a divergent perspective.

Again, nothing against you, harris2. You don't like paying more and I also don't like paying more. We are in agreement!

 

[BMCGear]

The point of my previous posts was simply to call attention to the miraculous concurrence of "quality control" threads with the MAAP price increase. Not to change any posters' minds; just for newcomers present or future.

Collated to a single sentence, much can be done with another's phrases -but, regardless, my comments were not directed solely at your posts, harris2. I have no problem with you at all. I am not familiar with your post history. I was merely offering a counterpoint for the guy who was worried about his knives before he received them due to reading this thread (and maybe the other [closed] thread which you directed him to). Just another component of dialog and discussion. The minority. Nothing personal; we both like knives.

My perspective from personal experience is that I listened to the "omega springs break all of the time" comments for 2 years before I took a chance and purchased a Benchmade -and when I finally got one, a 940, I liked it so much that I realized I'd been missing out. It made me go red in the face over heeding naysayers for so long. Whups. I have since purchased about 20 Benchmades, of which 10 remain. Not much compared to many of you. Benchmades make up maybe 10% of my current collection. Glad to have a sampling but not going crazy.

I know that when I post in one of these threads I am certain of an eventual response from the perpetual naysayer, taking any opportunity to disagree or re-describe the recent pricing change, hinting and niggling. But I don't mind. It's some people's job. I was just offering a divergent perspective.

Again, nothing against you, harris2. You don't like paying more and I also don't like paying more. We are in agreement!

Benchmade is one of the few companies I had heard of before joining bladeforums (I knew about standard production knives mainly). I have always had this great respect for both them and Spyderco as I felt they were the best knives money could buy. Joining this forum has been very eye opening.

With that being said; I completely relate to the above statement that I bolded. I even started a thread about it. Am I kinda worried about the Omega Springs? Yes, yes I am. However; any locking mechanism can fail and I believe these are much easier to replace than a liner lock so I am optimistic. I do like that I can send them in for warranty purposes but I'm hoping that I don't have to very often and it's a quicker turn around time than I'm seeing. I get my knives today so I will inspect them and decide if it was money well spent or a knife I should return. I've also ordered a fixed blade. That knife I don't really have concerns about.

I bought a Benchmade because I wanted a tough knife that is well made in the USA. Hopefully the two I've ordered don't disappoint. As far as the MAP goes I wasn't aware of the prices before and while it does suck I understand why they put this into place. Some communication would be nice about it though; if they did not.

 

[uofaengr]

I do not plan on buying anymore new and thankfully there's a secondary market where you can find some nice pieces, but I plan on hanging on to my Benchmades because I know that if I have a problem with one in the future, they'll take care of it...unless the new management go apesh*t and do away with their great CS and blade replacement policies. I will say I worry that in 10 years from now, the policies will change, and the knife I thought I could hold on to forever and rejuvenate and refurbish as needed, will become disposable like many other companies. Love my Spydercos, but I admit I get hesitant about dropping over $150 for one knowing that if I really screw it up, particularly the blade, I might as well throw it out.

Regarding QC, I don't expect the same f/f in a Griptilian as I do a 940. On the other hand, with the increased cost now for the consumer supposedly now being a "premium" brand, they need to step their QC game up without a doubt. They are making the assumption that most consumers will see an off-centered blade or have some blade play and think "meh, I'll deal with it" and never send it in rather than spending the man hours involved on getting every single knife perfect before it goes on the truck. Just spend fewer man hours getting a few returned knives perfect. All in all, rarely do you find 3 of the same knife side by side that are all exactly the same. Just how it is with production knives, but if you're going to start pricing yourself into a more premium category, you've gotta start walking the walk too and not just talk the talk.

 

[harris2]

I get my knives today so I will inspect them and decide if it was money well spent or a knife I should return. I've also ordered a fixed blade. That knife I don't really have concerns about...

Congratulations on your new Benchmade purchases. Don't forget to return and give us a report after you've had a chance to play with them.

 

[JNewell]

I have fifteen years of owning and using dozens of Axis knives that say you don't need to worry about the springs. :thumbup:

Benchmade is one of the few companies I had heard of before joining bladeforums (I knew about standard production knives mainly). I have always had this great respect for both them and Spyderco as I felt they were the best knives money could buy. Joining this forum has been very eye opening.

With that being said; I completely relate to the above statement that I bolded. I even started a thread about it. Am I kinda worried about the Omega Springs? Yes, yes I am. However; any locking mechanism can fail and I believe these are much easier to replace than a liner lock so I am optimistic. I do like that I can send them in for warranty purposes but I'm hoping that I don't have to very often and it's a quicker turn around time than I'm seeing. I get my knives today so I will inspect them and decide if it was money well spent or a knife I should return. I've also ordered a fixed blade. That knife I don't really have concerns about.

I bought a Benchmade because I wanted a tough knife that is well made in the USA. Hopefully the two I've ordered don't disappoint. As far as the MAP goes I wasn't aware of the prices before and while it does suck I understand why they put this into place. Some communication would be nice about it though; if they did not.