Benchmite Review Needs

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surawut

Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Messages
81
Hi Guys,

This is my first post on the forum. I follow the forum for a while now. Now it is addicted!! I spent hours and hours every night to come to the site and reading the past reviews.

I just recently purchase Benchmade, mini-skirmish. It is a terrific knife. I bring her to a forest in Thailand once. It is just about the right size in my hand. I have not have a chance to abuse her up that much yet. It seems that the wet environment in Thailand tropical forest condition cannot do her anything. The blade is lock up very tight and ite seems to me that it is a very strong knife all around. It can shave arm hair out of the box. I used her to cut up some vegetable and prepare some food. I think the curve of the blade is not that impressive on the utility/kitchen kind of knife. It is not that easy to control and cut up. But I think other tasks it might excel. I will try to find the time to do so later on.

Anyway, I would like to ask for you guys help. I am thinking of purchasing another Benchmade, Benchmite. I am hesitating between Benchmite I and Mechmite II. I like Benchmite 1 better on the blade shape and the steel, but the price is too expensive. Anyone, have experience between the two, would be appreciated. Especially the steel, does Benchmite 2 is acceptable in term of the hard use? I really need your input here.

I do some research on the blade itself recently. I know that AUS8 is not that good steel, but it has its adventage. The Benchmite 2 is re-profile the blade to have thinker blade at the tip to make it stronger. I think, this design is to make it stronger geometry to compensate for the low strong of the steel. AUS8 at the hardness of 58-60, I would imagine that it has the sacrifice the strength a lot. And it might bring the brittleness to the blade itself as well. The small Vanadium content in the steel, theoratically, it should give the blade a strong vanadium carbide structure to make it hold the edge a bit better.

In the practical use of this knife, Benchmite or Benchmite 2, I would appreciate the more scientific way of review of the knife. It is quite difficult decision for me to choose.
 
if it's strictly the benchmite 1 or 2 and no other knife, I have to say get the 1. Maybe I got a bad one but I'm not happy with the finish or the lock. It must be the tolerances that make it rediculously hard to open the knife (the pivot and the lock both contribute) By the way the 2 is not automatic.
 
I have a II and mine is perfect. I do prefer the I, but you just can't argue with the price. The lock handled light-medium spine wacks well (didn't do anything harder than that). It locks open and closed, which could be a benefit in certain legal situations.

It has an unecessary thumb notch on the blade--it cannot be used-ever-because you have to push the lock down to open it.

You'd think this would be a 2 hand only knife, but quite the contary, it's very flickable--just push down the lock and do a wrist flick. Takes a little practice, but it's pretty efficient--and it can be flicked closed too.

The levitator seems to me like a lockback on the side of the knife. Due to its placement, it can be held open, unlike most lockbacks, which is why the vast majority of lockbacks can't be "axis flicked," as opposed to the Benchmite II.

Edge retention is okay, no chipping or rolling...probably the best AUS8 blade I have. No pocket clip, but it does have a lanyard hole, as I recall.

Fit and finish is 100% flawless, like any Benchmade.

Disappears in the pocket, super thin.

And the price is right.

So all in all, I think the Benchmite II is a great deal if you're in the market for a sheeple knife.
 
Thanks for the input. From your input, it seems to me that you really like Benchmite II a lot.

But have you have a chance to use it harshly yet? I heard from this forum a while ago that someone in the forum use the Benchmite I to finish a dear without resharpen in between.

So for Benchmite II, do we have a good chance that it can do somethng like that?

Another point is the weight. I saw from the new catalog of 2006 that the weight of Benchmite II is 1.6 once. That is much havior than Benchmite I (which is 1.0 once).

I am planning to carry either in the pocket witht he keys or around my neck as part of the necklace. If it is 1.6 once, I might have to drop the idea. Do you guys think it is heavy?

If you have pictures, please post here as well, that would really help me to imagine easier.

I already place the order from a local dealer for 1 piece. I will give this one to my GF. I plan to see if the quality of this one is up to my expectation or not, if it is good, I will go for another one. Otherwise, I might have to go for Benchmite I instead.
 
neosporin said:
if it's strictly the benchmite 1 or 2 and no other knife, I have to say get the 1. Maybe I got a bad one but I'm not happy with the finish or the lock. It must be the tolerances that make it rediculously hard to open the knife (the pivot and the lock both contribute) By the way the 2 is not automatic.
Click to expand...

What happen to it? Do you have the picture? I mean, the lock theoratically, should be strong enough for this small knife, right?

Regarding the hard to open, can we adjust it somewhere? From the picture, it seems that the lock is held in place a screw, by adjusting the screw, would that help?

For me, the non-auto is ok. I want to use it in the sheeple friendly environment. I already have the BM635 for the field use anyway. This one is intended to use in the office and around city anyway.
:)
 
There are cheap chinese copies for about 10 dollars, based on the Benchmite I. They're hideously dangerous, as they're autos, but unlike the Benchmites, they don't lock closed...nor do they even close all the way anyway. Very scary little knife. Fit and finish is very poor, as expected.

The knife only sees tape and boxes, but has held up well for that. S30V it is not. But it's a 25 dollar knife. It sounds like you really want the Benchmite I though, so save up and get it.

I've held both, and in my hands, I couldn't tell a difference in weight, at least from memory. It was certainly nothing remarkable. They're both extremely thin and light.
 
Cool!

You can read my mind. I really like Benchmite I. But the problem is the price. If the quality is not worth the double the price, then it would be difficult to justify.

I mean, I still have more knifes on my list to purchase. ;)

I also like Spyderco, but that has to be next next purchase. They have to queue up before reaching my shelf... ;)
 
on the subject of Benchmite, I am deciding on a keychain sized knife, and is a Benchmite II better than a Spyderco jester?
 
I got mine from newgraham and it came in a red box. I also envy anyone who can flick their benchmite open, mine has never and will never be able to. If anyone got a genuine bad benchmite please let us hear it.
 
neosporin said:
I got mine from newgraham and it came in a red box. I also envy anyone who can flick their benchmite open, mine has never and will never be able to. If anyone got a genuine bad benchmite please let us hear it.
Click to expand...

Did you try to loosen the screw on the Blade? I think if you loosen them a bit and lubricate them right, it should be able to flick open.
 
LongDistance said:
on the subject of Benchmite, I am deciding on a keychain sized knife, and is a Benchmite II better than a Spyderco jester?
Click to expand...

I also would like to know as well. From the first feel that I tried in the local dealer, Jester is seems to be much smaller and much lighter as well. The handle is smaller and hence a bit hard to hold them tight in any practical environment. The blade of Jester seems to be smaller and less useful. But that would compensate by having serrated version.

For Benchmite, I think it is more cute for sheeple environment. It handle is bigger than Jester and hence having better grip. The blade seems to be bigger (not the length) and can use on the utility purpose quite well.

The thing is, I still not having any of them yet. I also making decision myself. I might end up buying both Jester and Benchmite 2.
 
Artfully Martial said:
Flicking open a Benchmite takes practice, but you'll be able to in time.
Click to expand...

On your knife, do you have stiffness? Or when you unlock it, and let the gravity pull, does it came right out by itself? Just its weight, will let the blade come down?
 
Just the weight will NOT let the blade slide out. You're going to have to flick this one. Just hold the lock fully open and try doing flicks for awhile. Sooner or later you'll start to figure it out. Here's a tip though--I believe this one is all in the wrist....start with your thumb pointing to the left (if you're right handed) and end with it turned to the right. No arm swinging necessary, only your elbow will move here. Sometimes it's helpful to let your body stop your elbow. Remember, it's not about going in knife tricks, it's about stopping--without the sudden stop, nothing is going to happen. So it's not so much about the power you put into it, just how solid you can stop it.
 
Thanks, I will have to try that when i got hte knife then. I have to wait for my knife for 2 more weeks. That is very sad, since Thailand have to order from USA on a monthly batch basis.

Anyway, I will wait for my knife then..
 
I just check around the internet. I got hte picture of the 2 version of Benchmite. They are black and normal steel color. It seems to me that the edge, the inner liner are all black as well.

Can anyone verify that? If you have Black Benchmite, please share the info.
 
Bumping this thread up -
just got mine in the red box from New Graham today. Yup VERY good lock-up but nigh impossible to flick. I've always thought I had decent hand strength for never doing any manual labor but my thumb is starting to really hurt after only doing one or two flicks. I have to press with all my strength to get the pin to clear.

Haven't adjusted it yet, but have lubed the pivot (works fine - very smooth) - definitely a problem with the lockpin being 0.5 mm too long or something... or the lockbar being too stiff.

Meh.
 
BM is a good manufactuer but i think there are much choice for small knives.
154cm still is quite expensive & is similar to cheaper one ast-34.
to find a little folder ,fallkniven u2 or tk4 is a choice , which is made of sgps which hardness hrc 62.
to buy a cheaper & practical one sweden eka 92,82, 88.(12c27 steel )
 
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