Blade-play, Blade (non-)centering and Benchmades

A

alexiusmeinong

Joined
Jul 30, 2012
Messages
56
Hi Everybody,

I recently got two Benchmade Mini Griptilians in the mail, both hollow-ground. One of the knives has terrible horizontal blade-play issues. The other doesn't have problems with blade-play, but both knives have blade "centering" that's as bad as I've ever seen in a folding knife. In both cases the blade rubs on the side of the handle scale when closed. I tried to remedy these problems by adjusting the pivots of both knives, but no luck.

I'll most likely be sending both back, but I'm just wondering whether anyone else has had similar problems with Benchmades lately. I was under the impression that Benchmade had great quality control. Of course, it might have just pulled the short straw with those particular knives. Also I realize that some blade-play and some non-centering is fairly common in production knives like the mini grip, but with these particular knives, I'd say that these problems are more dramatic than I expect to see in decent knives.

Best,
A.M.
 
Considering that I can buy 3 Ontario Rat 1's, and have a great centering and have literally no blade play in any direction on any of them, and for 30 bucks each- I'd say you have a problem.
 
My most recent Benchmade purchase, a H2O Griptilian, had horrible blade centering. The blade would actually rub the liner.

I debated wether to send it back or not, and after i while i decided that i couldnt be bothered with the hassle, so i kept it. I use it as my fishing knife and truth be told, i dont really care about the off-center blade anymore. The knife does what its supposed to do and thats cut.

At that pricepoint i dont really care about it. But if it was a 200 dollar knife, then id send it back in a heartbeat. Ive had no bladeplay problems with my BM's.
 
I've scarcely seen a BM Axis lock that didn't have some kind of blade play issue. Both Presidios I've owned had plenty of blade play in every direction. The current one also has an off-center blade, but it's not rubbing the liner so it doesn't really bother me.
 
My first Benchmade, the Mini Onslaught BK limited edition, had a tiny bit of vertical play. I sent it back and got another one thats spot on perfect in every way.
 
I had a Mini Grip and it had no blade play, but was not centered and the scales are uneven. Won't be buying any other benchmades under $150 ever again and will probably never buy a Benchmade again great customer service though
 
My Mini-Ritter Grip came unsharpened on one side and not centered. I called them the day I got it, they send me a pre labeled box which I got two days later and the knife was back to me within a week. Accidents/screw ups happen, and as long as the company fixes their mistake (which Benchmade is VERY good at), they are more than OK in my book.
 
The only Benchmade I had was a 585 Mini-Barrage. The fit & finish was the best of any knife I've owned.
The liners were finished perfectly, perfect centering, and no play.

Whenever I get a knife I disassemble it, clean it, and reassemble. I have fixed the centering on a few knives by doing that.
 
Just send them back. I ordered both a large and small Ritter grip. The large doesn't have any blade play, but the action isn't very smooth. The small is absolutely perfect. Its as smooth as I could ever expect any axis lock to be. And zero blade play. Compared to the mini, the large is a huge dissappointment. But I won't bother sending them in until I have several IBM's that need sharpening
 
Never had any problems with all my Benchmades at all!! And i ve got a few lol.
 
Yeah, sorry, I didn't start this thread to trash Benchmade or anything. I know they're known to be very good. I just thought it was curious that I got two not-so-good ones in a row and wanted to know whether anyone thought they were going downhill, or something like that.
 
Admittedly, I have never owned a benchmade, but I recently bought a mini grip for a close friend. (Unfortunately I now have the bug) The centering and lock up on this particular knife were perfect. Playing with it before giving it to him was enough for me to want to own one.
 
I carry a 940 quite frequently and can say it's centered with only the tiniest amount of side play. Also have the M4 ritter mini which was impressed me immensely! perfect in every way :D my cf onslaught came centered but extremely tight in the pivot, haven't messed with it yet to see if it develops any play upon loosening. Overall I'd say bm has very good but not perfect QC, yet that is made up for with great customer service :thumbup:
 
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