Can a civilian send in an auto for repair?

Ulf Krogstad

Ulf Krogstad

Joined
Nov 19, 2013
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6,784
My 5000 has a broken auto spring. Took it apart hoping i could just replace it with a Volli assisted spring i had laying around but looks like there are two different springs in it and one snapped. Plus not same size. Back together again. But need to send it in. Do I need to have been in the military or LE too send it in? Could have just called but wanted to know what to expect to hear from them before I call.
 
You can certainly send it in, but they can't legally mail it back to you...
Try to give them a call and they might send you a replacement spring.

If not you can buy the springs. Go to the first google link that comes up with "benchmade auto replacement spring."
 
Autos can't be shipped cross state lines unless we're LEO or EMT. Best bet: find a dealer local to you and ask them to send the knife in for you...and have it returned the same route for pickup once repaired. BKC doesn't usually mail springs and taking the knife apart to do so voids the warranty.
 
spketch said:
You can certainly send it in, but they can't legally mail it back to you...
Try to give them a call and they might send you a replacement spring.

If not you can buy the springs. Go to the first google link that comes up with "benchmade auto replacement spring."
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Dang. If I had someone that is LE or military send it in could they send it back to them?

I'll call them and see what they say but it's probably going to be a no im sure. Would you happen to know what size/torque the springs are? I went to knife kits. Com. Is that who has them? Looks like they got all sizes and strengths. Will probably just call BM and see if they can tell me the size tomorrow.
 
jkarp_53 said:
Autos can't be shipped cross state lines unless we're LEO or EMT. Best bet: find a dealer local to you and ask them to send the knife in for you...and have it returned the same route for pickup once repaired. BKC doesn't usually mail springs and taking the knife apart to do so voids the warranty.
Click to expand...

Theres a gander mountain 2hrs away from me that might sell BM's. Will call them to and see what they say. I'm probably going to see if I can get somebody in LE send it in and have it shipped back to them I'm thinking or just buy the replacement springs spketch was saying. I got to take it apart again and see exactly what I need though first before buying but pretty sure their was two springs and the one on left side broke. Maybe it was just one big spring that broke into 3pieces but it looked to be two different springs.
 
So they can't be shipped "across" state lines. Can they be shipped within the state? Could a reputable dealer be found to ship the knife to inside the state to have them ship out for you and then ship back to you for a little bit of money. I'm not sure Gander mountain would even have anyone who would know how to ship one in that wasn't bought there recently. I may be wrong on that note, but for the most part every store I've been to that is a chain store or big sporting goods store that sells knives doesn't have a clue, where as a mom and pop shop or authorized dealer that specializes in Knives usually has them on speed dial and does this weekly might be worth the extra money in shipping to get one of them to help out.
 
WolfSpring said:
Could a reputable dealer be found to ship the knife to inside the state to have them ship out for you and then ship back to you for a little bit of money.
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Unless you can get them to just ship the spring, and I don't see why not, this is your best bet. I get this from a very reliable source. ;)
 
Update.

Was just the one spring that broke into 3 pieces.:eek: Never thought that would happen.



These are the two that thought was just one of two different springs that broke.
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But after further inspection what looked to be just another spring was just the 3rd piece of the one broken spring.

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1434749559799_zpsktjdfnq3.jpg
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Blue loctite might be the reason that caused such a severe break I'm guessing. Gunked it up and caused to much stress on it.

Will just by some more springs from Knifekits more than likely. Just Need to figure out the size from BM.
 
I have had a spring break, i took it to a dealer and he mailed it in. Had it back in about 3 weeks. I believe there is a place that sell springs that fit, but I dn't recall who.
 
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I have the same issue on a used 5500 Presidio auto I bought. Anybody know the secret to replacing it yourself ? Looked threw a lot of YouTube videos and have broken it down all the way but setting the spring alludes me. Thanks in advance. Don't want the hassle of sending it in.
 
71choptop said:
I have the same issue on a used 5500 Presidio auto I bought. Anybody know the secret to replacing it yourself ? Looked threw a lot of YouTube videos and have broken it down all the way but setting the spring alludes me. Thanks in advance. Don't want the hassle of sending it in.
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It's a pain in the butt. You'll have to set the spring in both receiving holes, then rotate the blade into place while hoping the spring doesn't come out of either hole. I usually use a bent safety pin to help guide things into place.
 
From the Benchmade website:
AUTOMATIC KNIFE NOTICE

Note: Any automatic knife (button activated spring-opening) returned for Warranty or LifeSharp service from outside of Oregon must also include either a signed copy of the "Auto Knife Opening Acknowledgment Form", your web account username if you have already accepted the AKO Acknowledgment, or be returned through an authorized Benchmade dealer. No exceptions will be made.

Depending on your state laws for auto knives, you may have to go through a dealer. I live in Pennsylvania and auto knives are illegal, even for law enforcement officers.
 
This is interesting. I can send a handgun to a gunsmith out of state for service and have it returned directly to me, but not a switch blade knife. Stupid is as stupid does.
 
D307p said:
...Depending on your state laws for auto knives, you may have to go through a dealer. I live in Pennsylvania and auto knives are illegal, even for law enforcement officers.
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It's a federal law concerning interstate shipping of automatic knives not a state law. I live in an auto-legal state, but still had to ship my Benchmade auto back through a dealer.
 
In situations like this, it really pays to have a reliable local dealer who will play ball. I haven't had this issue myself (yet) but have already confirmed with a well known store in the area that they will handle the transaction if I ever need it.
 
+1 for sending through a dealer. I frequent a local A&N store that is a BM dealer and she only charges me $10 to ship a knife off and return is free. The wait time has been considerably reduced....last time I waited about 2 weeks...and I'm in VA.
 
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