Bought my first Benchmade, not sure I'll buy another.

D4v30 said:
I knew the price going into this too but I thought it would be better given the pedgree of the brand, I expected too much I guess. It's really rather mediocre in almost every regard, not worth the price unless you really like that logo.
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“Mediocre all around” sounds like you got a really bad example. I’ve owned several, a couple for over 15 years with zero blade play, great all around performance, etc. It would be very difficult for Benchmade to continue to sell higher priced knives in the volume that they do for decades if they put out “mediocre” knives with the issues you are explaining even 10% of the time. I’m fully aware that they became the brand that some people think you’re just paying for the butterfly logo for bragging rights to friends and some of that is true. Have you tried going to a local knife shop and handling several Benchmades to see if you think they are all mediocre? This may help a lot in helping you decide whether you like the brand in general or not. The only question I’ve had is I’m not 100% sure my 940 with S90V steel holds an edge as long as it should but that could just be my misunderstanding of S90V.
 

Congratz​

​

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I will say that I agree that there are many Benchmades that I’ve held in stores that needed slight pivot tension adjustment or needed to be broken in a little before they are good to go. I have several 940s brand new from authorized dealers that have lock stick right out of the box and that goes away after they are broken in a little, everything else is exactly as is should be regarding quality, fit and finish. It seems that the “higher end” We and other Chinese brands have figured out a way to deliver their knives in great working order right off the shelf. I’ll never forget walking around Smokey Mountain Knife Works years ago and stumbling upon the “WE” counter. Had zero clue the brand even existed but I was amazed at the action, fit and finish but didn’t buy it because I didn’t know the brand and I also didn’t know how easy they would be to deal with if I had issues or needed service. Still a huge Benchmade fan after 15 years of using several models and my 940 dominates my pocket only until I recently got a small Sebenza. Now the 940 gets about 50% pocket time. Still don’t own a We but I’ve owned reate and tuya, they were both outstanding across the board. My Tuya Kingsman is still one of the knives that has the absolute best action, fit and finish I’ve ever experienced for anything in the $250 range.
 
At the dollar difference in manufacturing costs what price point does a Chinese knife begin to equal the price point of US made. From what I can tell it’s about 50 percent. I’m guessing then a 200.00 China made is approx: the same as a 400.00 US made:
The stats of labor, wages and cost of living are out there but I don’t know for sure.

US does not have any Child labor issues unlike some other parts of the world. I won’t support any country that’s allowed in any industry if at all possible.
Benchmade isn’t perfect I’m sure but my experience has been flawless so far.
 
D4v30 said:
I recently purchased and just received a Mini Crooked River. Was really excited to get the knife but I gotta say, I'm rather disappointed with the quality control.

The knife has vertical blade play unless you really slam the blade open or force the lock forward. Doing this causes the lock to bind up and it takes quite a bit of force to release it again.

Another issue, perhaps a little knit picky, the wood scales sit proud of the bolsters at the top but flush at the bottom

Also, and I knew this was there so perhaps a little unfair, but the backspace is awful. It looks OK in pictures but in person it looks and feels horribly cheap, how has this not been changed?

I don't mean to rag but at this price point I don't understand how this knife got shipped. I have knives that cost a fraction of the price and had better fit and finish.

Now I have to find a way to return it which is going to be a pain all in itself. Don't know if I'll be buying Benchmade again.
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Maybe this experience is relevant. I bought 2 full-size Crooked Rivers when they first came out. One "wood" and one G10. Very happy with both of them out of the box. Both closed blades were dead center. No problems with the locks. No open blade play at all. Action was good for me so made no adjustments. I found this remarkable considering the size of these large folding knives. Both were attractive, functional, and felt good to handle.

Other experiences buying Benchmade knives have also been good. They were all easy to maintain. I did have difficulties adjusting some of the actions but I got better at doing that over time.
 
Makael said:
And im saying my Benchmades have been made completely perfect also. Regardless of price. If your ever close enough you should stop by Benchmades factory and meet the people who work there.
I dont know what you do for a living but if it was something to do with manufacturing , someone at the BM plant might be buying something made in TN where you work.

I can say over the years ive had my fair share of Jack Daniels.😀


We both are vocal about a couple items. At least the posts ive seen over the years
You have always promoted Chinese made knives more than US made. Ive always supported US made knives over Chinese made.
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I think I promote them fairly equally. Chinese knives have just been more technically impressive in the last few years. I believe I actually own 10 or 11 American knives, and only 4 or 5 Chinese ones right now.


Budget wise though, I just don't see much in america matching up to Civivis, besides bucks(big fan of my spitfire) and the occasional Kershaw. But damn do I hate assisted knives.
 
My WE knives all seem able to match the quality of my Benchmades...
But that's when the intangible factors kick in, and I want more Benchmades!
 
DrRollinstein said:
I think I promote them fairly equally. Chinese knives have just been more technically impressive in the last few years. I believe I actually own 10 or 11 American knives, and only 4 or 5 Chinese ones right now.


Budget wise though, I just don't see much in america matching up to Civivis, besides bucks(big fan of my spitfire) and the occasional Kershaw. But damn do I hate assisted knives.
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Go back and check out what you promote, it’s extremely heavy for WE and Civvi. It’s kinda your MO between BF members. But you do have a few favorite US models.

I guess my MO would be favoring only US made.
 
Makael said:
Go back and check out what you promote, it’s extremely heavy for WE and Civvi. It’s kinda your MO between BF members. But you do have a few favorite US models.

I guess my MO would be favoring only US made.
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Well its more likely that there are just more Threads right now about Chinese knives, which i tend to post in because We and Civivi make fantastic knives.

Went through my collection of folding knives.

American: 9 ( 2 bucks, 3 protechs, 2 benchmades, 1 microtech, and an Umnumzaan), Also 2 leathermans.
Canada: 1 (North arm skaha 2)
Chinese: 4 ( 2 WE. 1 Kizer, and 1 Lightning OTF)

Just sold a Spartan and a Presidio too, so 2 more americans i had recently.

While i might post more about chinese knives, i lean more american. Chinese knives just tend to need more defending than anything american made.


Thinking about adding a Reate to the collection next though.
 
DrRollinstein said:
Well its more likely that there are just more Threads right now about Chinese knives, which i tend to post in because We and Civivi make fantastic knives.

Went through my collection of folding knives.

American: 9 ( 2 bucks, 3 protechs, 2 benchmades, 1 microtech, and an Umnumzaan), Also 2 leathermans.
Canada: 1 (North arm skaha 2)
Chinese: 4 ( 2 WE. 1 Kizer, and 1 Lightning OTF)

Just sold a Spartan and a Presidio too, so 2 more americans i had recently.

While i might post more about chinese knives, i lean more american. Chinese knives just tend to need more defending than anything american made.


Thinking about adding a Reate to the collection next though.
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I doubt they are defending ours.
How many Chinese knives have you purchased and passed on. Just curious if that is known.
To me the us brands have more, idk staying power in my collection than anything else. Plus political reasons. Benchmade from my own experience offers a product with aftermarket support. Spyderco also. Buck has zero aftermarket options. Unless it’s a 110 or 112.
Anyway, I’ll keep pursuing more BM product and see if I will continue to get good versions. I have no idea what their warranty dept is like. Buck has great warranty.
 
Makael said:
I doubt they are defending ours.
How many Chinese knives have you purchased and passed on. Just curious if that is known.
To me the us brands have more, idk staying power in my collection than anything else. Plus political reasons. Benchmade from my own experience offers a product with aftermarket support. Spyderco also. Buck has zero aftermarket options. Unless it’s a 110 or 112.
Anyway, I’ll keep pursuing more BM product and see if I will continue to get good versions. I have no idea what their warranty dept is like. Buck has great warranty.
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I've heard mainly great things about benchmades warranty. I've have a fair number of clips sent to me with no questions asked.

As to how many I've passed on, I couldn't begin to count. I'd hazard a guess that it's fairly even when it comes to Country of origin, just based on the last 5 or 7 I can remember selling. Really just varies so much from knife to knife.
 
I've never had a problem and I've bought several new and used, even recently. Still have most of them.
 
DrRollinstein said:
Benchmade has obvious QC issues. Thats a fair and accurate point.

I still like the knives a lot, even if theyre overpriced. Someone getting perfect knives doesnt invalidate issues had by possibly thousands of people at this point. Most of mine have come with some minor issue or another, and i've owned over a dozen or so.

Some members just have a problem allowing any criticisms when it comes to American made knives. Theres nothing wrong with holding companies accountable for their high end products.


But as i said, still like the knives. Even bought flytanium scales for my Mini Crooked River, even though it already had some minor centering issues. Such a good knife though. Also still have a CF Griptillian, absolutely love it, but it wont perfectly center without being too tight to flick out. Minor stuff, but worth mentioning at the 200 dollar price range.
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It's obvious many people have no QC issues, thus your point is neither "fair or accurate." They are obviosly not "overpriced" since they sell. Why troll in Benchmade's neighborhood?
 
Some folks wouldn't even be happy if you hung them with a brand-new rope...
 
brownshoe said:
It's obvious many people have no QC issues, thus your point is neither "fair or accurate." They are obviosly not "overpriced" since they sell. Why troll in Benchmade's neighborhood?
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Do you understand the term trolling? That's not what I'm doing. I've been praising benchmades knives this entire thread. But I'm allowed to criticize something that's been an issue for literal years.

Something can sell and be overpriced lmao. Check any apple product. The butterfly tax can't even be argued all that much.
 
Makael said:
Benchmade from my own experience offers a product with aftermarket support.
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I've sent Benchmade about a dozen emails over the years. Some with knife issues and others with general questions. They've answered exactly 0.

That being said, I ended up calling them about broken Omega springs and they had my knife back to me in 2 weeks.
 
tokerblue said:
I've sent Benchmade about a dozen emails over the years. Some with knife issues and others with general questions. They've answered exactly 0.
That being said, I ended up calling them about broken Omega springs and they had my knife back to me in 2 weeks.
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Prompt Customer Support: PRICELESS!
 
MolokaiRider said:
All my Benchmades are fine. No manufacturer is excluded from having a QC issue now and then.

Supply has certainly been impacted, as has the ability to keep people working.

I think it's more important than ever to support business located in the States.

We have seen far too many manufacturers close up or move overseas.
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well said, Sir. actually perfectly said.
 
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