BM's Red Class to be dc'ed!

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It doesn't matter to me much because I don't buy knives made from China anyway. What is wrong with them going in the specialty market route? In retrospect if I never bought another knife I would have enough to cover my needs for several lifetimes.Any knife that I buy now is in all actuality a luxury item.That is the reason I don't buy anymore solely based on cost. I guess the market wasn't there to justify continuing to sell imported knives. If it results in more US jobs that is great also.
 
:thumbup: to Benchmade.

To HELL with China and their cheap junk and BS trade practices. I want to buy something that is going to put food on the table of a family in this country, not overseas. And I'm not saying they have to make $30 an hour. Pay them $8-$9, which I know isn't much these days, but at least they would be paying American workers, not sending my money to F'in China.
 
I will not buy Chinese made knives,so,good for them!I know that everybody does'nt feel that way,but that's how I feel,right or wrong.
 
I never really was a fan of Benchmade's Red Class knives. It just goes to show you what's on their mind currently. Benchmade is all about the MONEY now. With their new pricing policy......I will not be buying anymore Benchmade knives. I've been a loyal customer since 1990 but I can't justify paying retail or 15% retail from a dealer. Benchmade is thinking about themselves and not their customers. I'll spend my money elsewhere from now on.
 
type00rev said:
I never really was a fan of Benchmade's Red Class knives. It just goes to show you what's on their mind currently. Benchmade is all about the MONEY now. With their new pricing policy......I will not be buying anymore Benchmade knives. I've been a loyal customer since 1990 but I can't justify paying retail or 15% retail from a dealer. Benchmade is thinking about themselves and not their customers. I'll spend my money elsewhere from now on.
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Why? Why do people jump to conclusions without doing their own research? Don't believe everything you hear. Here's a quote from Benchmade.
We’re pleased to announce that prices will remain flat for the majority of our models. Very modest increases were taken for the first time in years for models that have had an increase in materials cost. While we will not comment on our confidential pricing policies, it is important to note that we do not dictate the price at which a dealer must sell our product. The ultimate selling price is up to them.
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I own a Benchmade Vex and for 25 bucks it is built like a tank and has seen quite a bit of abuse... I am happy with the decisions benchmade has made to this point and will continue to buy there products... So many people are so quick to bash benchmade before getting all of there facts... I personally am not mad or sad or glad to see the red class go, but that means more room for black and blue class so I am a happy camper...
 
walleyeguy7 said:
hey everybody, lets make everything more expensive. seriously though, i cant help but prefer usa made products, free-market economy and capitalism take their toll
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It is free-market economy and capitalism that make it possible for you to choose whether you by USA made products or not. However, your statement that they take their toll is true. Living with freedom is always harder than living in a command and control society, where most decisions are made for you.
 
Benchmade just made a decision that they don't want to be in the China imported knives business.

That's not a bad move, considering that the margins are probably horrible, you have lots of competition in this segment, and it kind of dilutes the brand somewhat.

I look forward to seeing some new designs from Benchmade, especially a slim profile mid-sized EDC with an Axis locking mechanism and G-10 scales.
 
It seems that BM is undergoing a significant change, first with the new pricing policy and now with this. I like the company and their products, and hope they are successful in achieving what their goals are, especially if they make it a healthy and competitive company. I am looking forward to see what the future will bring us from BM.
 
Heck, this isn't about screwing the little guy. It's about a company making a business decision that it believes, with all of the facts in front of them, is in its own best interest.
 
My biggest concern is that they run the risk of eliminating their most affordable knives from their lineup. If they, like Buck, are able to keep some budget models around then I'll be pleased as punch. They had some real good knives in the Red Class line, though. I guess we'll find out what happens!
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
My biggest concern is that they run the risk of eliminating their most affordable knives from their lineup. If they, like Buck, are able to keep some budget models around then I'll be pleased as punch. They had some real good knives in the Red Class line, though. I guess we'll find out what happens!
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Agreed. There was nothing wrong with the knives in their red class, I own a mini pika, my father a mini-ambush and I own a USA made Pardue Rant. Fine knives that I would recommend to anyone. I hope they find a way to integrate some of those designs into their domestically produced products.
 
The most profitable market has always been the $15-$20 dollar range (or lower). On average that seems to be the most people consider spending on a knife.
That said, I doubt this is a cash grab of any sort. More likely sales were hit hard enough that they had to downsize, and chose to stop importing rather than reduce U.S. manufacturing. The challenge now is to make knives locally that will cover the low cost market.
IMO this is one of the best moves they've ever made. I might even consider buying a few more knives from them.

As for the price hike, I think it was unavoidable. From what I've seen this puts them on the same playing field as everyone else. It may have something to do with the cease of overseas manufacturing, maybe not.
 
Thumbs up for FortyTwoBlades and Smash05. It looks like Benchmade's management understands that the high quality of their products is the key to their current and their continued success. Good! Keep the good stuff coming, Benchmade! However, do not forget that your customer base includes a lot of plain old working joe's living on budgets. If you start making great knives that knife knuts lust after but can not aford, you are going to send a lot of business away to other manufacturers.
 
Another thumbs up to BM, I only have one knife from them so far but it was a US made model and can only see better things coming our way from a sole US based company. Their are only a few products from china that I still import (granted non-knife related), and thats because they can make them inexpensive with free shipping more times then not.
 
In the article they clearly state that the more popular Red Class knives may well live on as HD or HK knives.
In short, you cannot say that they stop selling outsourced knives, only that they don't do it under the Benchmade brand anymore.

Say what you will about being made in far away, but the Nagara is a truly elegant, and nicely put together Red Class product. It would be sad to see it go:

benchmade-couteau-BM10700.jpg
 
Good for BM. I only have USA knives myself. Always found it hard to carry anything from Japan and never from China. I know some stuff we no longer have a choice but when we do it should be USA made.
 
I don't see anything wrong with this move. BM stated on their forums that certain more popular red class knives would be moved up to the blue class, most likely at a slight increase in price. As for cutting out the working class, I always thought of the griptilian as the BM's basic working knife.
 
Sounds like Benchmade can't win.

Either they are screwing the working man by making them pay more for USA made knives or they are screwing the working man by exporting manufacturing jobs to China.

Personally I own 8-10 Benchmades. None of them are red class. The blue (and later the black) class knives are what put BM on the map, and those are the only ones that ever appealed to me.

If I want a Chinese knife I've got plenty of other options. If I want a USA made high quality sport utility folder I really only have a few. It's that market where Benchmade is competitive.
 
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