Dear Benchmade,

[Chewy1]

I'll agree with the G10...in orange.

I'll even go with the flat grind on some models.

And a Nike Swoosh!

 

[flipe8]

Why does Spyderco let other companies use its trademark on their knives?

Why did Benchmade advertise their oval opening hole as better than the Round Hole then decide to use it? If BM actually believed in their products and their advertising, there would be no need to use a Round Hole. Reminds me of an outdoor retailer in my neck of the woods.He would knock different products he didn't carry until he finally got them.

Funny thing is, he's no longer in business.

 

[orthogonal1]

Why did Benchmade advertise their oval opening hole as better than the Round Hole then decide to use it? If BM actually believed in their products and their advertising, there would be no need to use a Round Hole...

Sales perhaps.

Whether or not a feature is "better" rarely has anything to do with the feature being used and offered.

However, if your supposition is that a circular hole performs better than other shaped holes and you believe such, please feel free to give testimony at any trademark infringement cases that may occur. I'm sure that a discussion of superior utility would be of interest.

 

[Kaizen1]

I love Spydercos but let's be honest, at least one of the big reasons to move the hole to the trademark is to grasp onto any further protection they can get from other knife companies using it as a functional feature on their knives. The fact that the hole wasn't used on past fixed blades shows that in the past, Spyderco viewed the hole primarily as a utility component. Certainly, they could sincerely think of it as a bona fide mark that represents they're brand now, but interestingly when the functional aspect was protected, they didn't think it was all that important for brand recognition for their fixed blades.

 

[goldie]

i would like to see the 710 offered with different handle options,like carbon fiber,& more blade steels,too,like m4 without being so limited, or s90v,or even damascus....

 

[flipe8]

Sales perhaps.

Whether or not a feature is "better" rarely has anything to do with the feature being used and offered.

However, if your supposition is that a circular hole performs better than other shaped holes and you believe such, please feel free to give testimony at any trademark infringement cases that may occur. I'm sure that a discussion of superior utility would be of interest.

"I" never said one was better than the other, Benchmade did. And , yes, I do think sales is all it's about. That itself isn't an issue, it's how a company chooses to get those sales, knocking something(nothing wrong with saying your product is better than your competition's) at first then embracing the exact thing.
To be totally honest, I don't see the need for BM to make products that look like Spyderco's. They make great products that can stand on their own. The day comes they make a G10 Grip, I'm there.

 

[loonybin]

Dear Benchmade,

You will have many more loyal customers and see your profits increase if you

1. Bring back the AFCK

AMEN! Also bring back the mini-AFCK, just do it in Axis lock for us southpaws.

2. Offer the Griptilian in G10

Not a bad idea.

3. Start using more flat grinds

Eh. I'm neither here nor there on this one.

4. Do away with most thumb studs and use holes...you know like spyderco?

Two of my Benchmades have holes, two have studs. I think it depends on what knife you're talking about. My 710 with a hole would not be very ergonomic for shorter fingers like mine. My mini-Grip and lefty mini-AFCK are perfect with the hole. A hole on my 585 mini-Barrage (assisted Axis) would be pointless.

5. Actually sharpen the knives you sell so your customers don't have to sharpen their new knives.

All 4 of mine were shaving sharp right out of the box (even the 585 that was part of a pass around that I was #3 to receive)

6. Stop using hollow grinds....forever

So... tell us how you really feel!

7. Offer the Axis lock on every knife you sell

Being a lefty, this one I can agree with 100%! Either that, or offer left-handed liner locks like they did with the mini-AFCK (just don't limit the blade choices to SBK blades like they did with the mini-AFCK).

They could also use their Rolling Lock more. I'm checking out that Manix 2 because of the ambidextrous lock (even though it isn't an Axis lock...)

8. Offer a better selection of steels

Ex-squeeze me? Better selection than 154CM, S30V, D2, Damascus, M4, N690, X15TN, AUS-8, 440C, 9Cr13CoMoV, and 8Cr14MoV? That's 11 different steels.

 

[unky_gumbi]

i would like to see the 710 offered with different handle options,like carbon fiber,& more blade steels,too,like m4 without being so limited, or s90v,or even damascus....

Ohh a damascus 710:jerkit: I know what I am dreaming about tonight

 

[Halfneck]

Dear Benchmade Customer:

We've not listened much in the past, why should we start now?


Done humorously, but Benchmade has never struck me as a company that listens to the feedback of it's customer base.

 

[bierstadt]

Alright I'll admit it. Maybe I was just pouting a bit when I put #8 on the list. I really would like to see BM use VG10 and ZDP-189. A VG10 Grip with G10 is my idea of a little slice of EDC paradise......but that is just me.

 

[tjsulli790]

Done humorously, but Benchmade has never struck me as a company that listens to the feedback of it's customer base.

And you base that on what? I know that they do watch video reviews of their knives. And when there was a large request they went out and did a limited run of a discontinued knife (806M4), something they've never done before. Actually I've never heard of any company bringing back a small run of a discontinued model just because it was requested by some guys on the internet. BM doesn't have much of a forum presence, they never have, but they do listen to their customers and they do still have excellent customer service.

 

[Josh K]

And you base that on what? I know that they do watch video reviews of their knives. And when there was a large request they went out and did a limited run of a discontinued knife (806M4), something they've never done before. Actually I've never heard of any company bringing back a small run of a discontinued model just because it was requested by some guys on the internet. BM doesn't have much of a forum presence, they never have, but they do listen to their customers and they do still have excellent customer service.

Somehow we managed to get a H1 Spyderhawk.

 

[scoobyaz]

Dear Benchmade,

Please do not send back a 60 degree edge on blade finished with an 80 grit wheel when... :barf:
you were original sent a knife with mirror polished hair whittling 30 degree edge. That was not what I meant when I only asked for a pivot adjustment.

& no, I was not impressed with how 1/8" off the entire edge could be ground off with just 30 secs on your 80 grit "finishing wheel". But yes, the enormous blur that was left on the edge did help prevent me from cutting myself (or anything else for that matter.)

I appreciate the "privilege" for paying for such "service."

scooby :grumpy:

 

[orthogonal1]

"I" never said one was better than the other, Benchmade did. And , yes, I do think sales is all it's about. That itself isn't an issue, it's how a company chooses to get those sales, knocking something(nothing wrong with saying your product is better than your competition's) at first then embracing the exact thing.
...

I believe the 800 with circular holes came before BM switched to oval open holes.

People seem to find some pertinence to an ad that was run back then. Ads are intended to sell products.

There was much discussion, mostly in favor of the circular hole over the oval hole. So, Benchmade responded to the customer.

I don't see any "embracing".

Nor do I see that simply using circular hole makes a knife look like a Spyderco. If such was the case, we need to start telling the various custom designers that their knives look like a "Spyderco". I'm sure Lum (when he was alive), Snody, etc. would be enthused.

 

[Josh K]

Dear Benchmade,

Please do not send back a 60 degree edge on blade finished with an 80 grit wheel when... :barf:
you were original sent a knife with mirror polished hair whittling 30 degree edge. That was not what I meant when I only asked for a pivot adjustment.

& no, I was not impressed with how 1/8" off the entire edge could be ground off with just 30 secs on your 80 grit "finishing wheel". But yes, the enormous blur that was left on the edge did help prevent me from cutting myself (or anything else for that matter.)

I appreciate the "privilege" for paying for such "service."

scooby :grumpy:

Their life sharp service is a joke.

What I find funny is they won't sharpen the serrations.

There's never a dull moment with a Benchmade... That's right! We will gladly re-sharpen your Benchmade knife to a factory razor sharp edge (service does not apply to any serrated portion of the blade).

Not only that, but it's being billed as a feature. As if every other knife company doesn't do this (bar CRKT).

 

[udtjim]

I will just stay with Spyderco to start with. The full size Grip is the only BM folder that I would ever buy.JMO.

 

[orthogonal1]

Dear Benchmade,

Please do not send back a 60 degree edge on blade finished with an 80 grit wheel when... :barf:
you were original sent a knife with mirror polished hair whittling 30 degree edge. That was not what I meant when I only asked for a pivot adjustment.

& no, I was not impressed with how 1/8" off the entire edge could be ground off with just 30 secs on your 80 grit "finishing wheel". But yes, the enormous blur that was left on the edge did help prevent me from cutting myself (or anything else for that matter.)

I appreciate the "privilege" for paying for such "service."

scooby :grumpy:

That is the first I heard of any knife company using 80 grit finishing wheels. How do you know this?

And you timed the incident and measured your blade before sending the knife off, too.


Did you tell them not to sharpen your knife? I always put that in a letter with the knife outlining why I sent the knife in.

And, did you email them of your dissatisfaction?

 

[Halfneck]

And you base that on what? I know that they do watch video reviews of their knives. And when there was a large request they went out and did a limited run of a discontinued knife (806M4), something they've never done before. Actually I've never heard of any company bringing back a small run of a discontinued model just because it was requested by some guys on the internet. BM doesn't have much of a forum presence, they never have, but they do listen to their customers and they do still have excellent customer service.

Spyderco has, as mentioned with the Superhawk, and also the Lum Chinese folder. They also listened to their forum & another and made a special run of Forum knives.

Not bashing Benchmade quality or their customer service. The Benchmades I have are all well made. I was just pointing out, as you alluded also, BM does not have much of a Forum presence. From a marketing standpoint, I would think it would be important. Free feedback from a target population that is interested & knowledgeable about the product. Also if you look at the membership size of the various forums, that's a lot of potential customers. Just spitballing those ideas based on how it seems to work for other knife companies & makers with what little I learned in college.

 

[Josh K]

Spyderco has, as mentioned with the Superhawk, and also the Lum Chinese folder. They also listened to their forum & another and made a special run of Forum knives.

Not bashing Benchmade quality or their customer service. The Benchmades I have are all well made. I was just pointing out, as you alluded also, BM does not have much of a Forum presence. From a marketing standpoint, I would think it would be important. Free feedback from a target population that is interested & knowledgeable about the product. Also if you look at the membership size of the various forums, that's a lot of potential customers. Just spitballing those ideas based on how it seems to work for other knife companies & makers with what little I learned in college.

Benchmade also does (I believe) a good amount of Military sales. This could lead them the financial standing where they don't have to change anything to continue making money.

 

[scoobyaz]

That is the first I heard of any knife company using 80 grit finishing wheels. How do you know this?

And you timed the incident and measured your blade before sending the knife off, too.


Did you tell them not to sharpen your knife? I always put that in a letter with the knife outlining why I sent the knife in.

And, did you email them of your dissatisfaction?

I suppose you don't like that I guessed about the 80 grit wheel? Fair enough, my assumption is based off of me having to reprofile the knife with a DMT D8XX after it was returned. The D8XX left a much finer finish than the one on the edge BM left me.

"And you timed the incident and measured your blade before sending the knife off, too."

Not sure what is being implied here. Would you not notice if one of your knives had been drastically reprofiled?
In any case, when I got it back the width of the blade had noticable changed. So I went & took my NIB 710 & compared it to the slight user 710 that I sent in. Guess what? A lot of blade missing.

Apparently I missed the memo where I had to inform someone that I did not want a blatantly sharp edge to be ground to a blunt prybar like edge. All I mentioned was that I only wanted the play in the pivot to be fixed.
& Yes I voiced my displeasure in a most diplomatic but clear email. It's been months but, I suppose I should stop waiting for any confirmation that the email wasn't just deleted with a snicker.

Now that the 20 questions are over...

Look, I'm not a fanboy of any knife company. I just call like it as I see it. I own a good number of Benchmades & will continue to buy them.
My personal experience with their customer service on this incident has been negative. Someone at benchmade who flat out didn't care, dropped the ball. That's all. So what? I just won't send another knife in if I can help it.