Disappointed in Benchmade...

[RevDevil]

If people are having such problems with Benchmade the solution is easy. QUIT BUYING THEM! I'll take them all. I've had far worse problems from other companies. Learn to fix your knives yourselves since your such self proclaimed "knifnuts"! Take them apart and maintain them! Not sharp enough for you sharpen it or send back to the factory, have side to side play (tighten the pivot, move the wahsers,adjust screws, just try something) same goes for off centered blade. It's not rocket science it's an easy fix to do yourself unless your a dunce or send it back to them and they"ll do it or just stop buying them. I can't believe all this resentment towards them. They make some of the best folders on planet earth or elsewhere and have THE BEST WARRANTY SERVICE HANDS DOWN(that i know of). I can't complain much. Though their is a few models i just don't care for myself. And yeah "had problems" with a few but fixed them myself without crying about it. Anyways sick of the whining. Don't like what your getting from them and their QC buy another brand. The rest of us will take them.

Relax dude, do you own stock in the company now or what? If you cannot wrap your head around the topic, best to move on and skip the potential meltdown.

 

[bernard_s3]

I'll weigh in on this for what my opinion is worth. I was at my local shop today and handled several Benchmades. I walked out with a plain 551 Griptilian. 2 710's I handled were both off center, one had a swedge not fully ground and was much thicker than the other. A Nakamura, 2 Adamas', and a Stryker had some degree of lock rock. All 4 of the Griptilian's were pretty consistent; centered with no play...

I also handled a few Spydercos. A Manix Lightweight that was off center, and Manix XL that had lock rock, a Dragonfly and Salt that had off center blades...

They're production knives mass produced by people like us; THERE WILL BE FLAWS (as annoying as it is to my OCD). I think I've seen as many flaws in Spyderco as I have Benchmade. Do I wish they'd have better attention to detail? Yes absolutely. The great thing is there may be thousands of the model you want (excluding exclusives), if you can handle them or ask the dealer to check it out, you'll likely get a good one. I also believe Benchmade would take care of you if you sent a knife in.

 

[pbcg]

I agree and just posted about this in a similar thread.

As I've said and posted many times. Give me a Lupe, magnifying glass, and a flashlight and I'll find a flaw(s) on ANY production knife regardless of manufacture.

The question then becomes is it severe or relevant enough to matter to me or warrant a trip back to the manufacture.

I own more Benchmades then any other brand, my oldest being a 17 year old AFCK but my collection is not limited to BM. Currently and over the years I've had my fair share of other brands and I can honestly say the QC "issues" I see being reported of late about BM I could say the same about all of them.

The reality and nature of production knives and anything else that's mass produced is there will be flaws. Can they do better? sure they can and I hope they do but I try and keep these thing's in prospective.

If your really disappointed or unsatisfied in your BM knife because of QC issues my advice is to send it back for W&R service.

If the knife is brand new I've seen BM pay the shipping both ways. What better way to make them aware there's a problem then to send a defective knife in. I'm sure if enough knives come back because of QC issues changes will be made because it can't be cost effective to keep repairing knives for QC issues.

Lastly, as a curtsey I think you should always give the manufacture or company a chance to make it right before starting a thread. Do so if you like but I think it should be a last resort not the first. I feel this way regardless of brand and have said so in other sub forums.

 

[cncpro11]

If some people are sick of whining threads then STOP READING THEM!
But really, where else can people go to let off steam about Benchmade knives, other than a Benchmade knife forum?
Cheers

This is not exactly true.
There was a time in the not so distant past when the manufacturer's forums were for fans and NOT an extension of the company's CS,W/R, and complaint dept.

Try starting a hate thread in any other sub forum and you are likely to get ran out on a rail, especially when posters can't even be bothered to show pics, but as an earlier post mentioned, slamming Benchmade has become a hobby all it's own, and these hate threads have been going on for about 10 months now.

 

[macknife12]

This is not exactly true.
There was a time in the not so distant past when the manufacturer's forums were for fans and NOT an extension of the company's CS,W/R, and complaint dept.

Try starting a hate thread in any other sub forum and you are likely to get ran out on a rail, especially when posters can't even be bothered to show pics, but as an earlier post mentioned, slamming Benchmade has become a hobby all it's own, and these hate threads have been going on for about 10 months now.

My earlier comment on this thread was positive, not sure where you are getting hate from. My second comment (the one you quoted) was based on the fact that this is a Benchmade forum, so I'm sure the percentage of those who 'can relate' would be more abundant here no?
So, remains my question. Where else can people go to exchange stories, or even complain a little?

 

[shinyedges]

Nvm lol

If people are having such problems with Benchmade the solution is easy. QUIT BUYING THEM! I'll take them all. I've had far worse problems from other companies. Learn to fix your knives yourselves since your such self proclaimed "knifnuts"! Take them apart and maintain them! Not sharp enough for you sharpen it or send back to the factory, have side to side play (tighten the pivot, move the wahsers,adjust screws, just try something) same goes for off centered blade. It's not rocket science it's an easy fix to do yourself unless your a dunce or send it back to them and they"ll do it or just stop buying them. I can't believe all this resentment towards them. They make some of the best folders on planet earth or elsewhere and have THE BEST WARRANTY SERVICE HANDS DOWN(that i know of). I can't complain much. Though their is a few models i just don't care for myself. And yeah "had problems" with a few but fixed them myself without crying about it. Anyways sick of the whining. Don't like what your getting from them and their QC buy another brand. The rest of us will take them.

 

[shinyedges]

Theirs no hate in this thread just people seeing if other people are noticing a quality control issue. Just to brighten up this thread here a picture

This is not exactly true.
There was a time in the not so distant past when the manufacturer's forums were for fans and NOT an extension of the company's CS,W/R, and complaint dept.

Try starting a hate thread in any other sub forum and you are likely to get ran out on a rail, especially when posters can't even be bothered to show pics, but as an earlier post mentioned, slamming Benchmade has become a hobby all it's own, and these hate threads have been going on for about 10 months now.

 

[asdf12345]

This is not exactly true.
There was a time in the not so distant past when the manufacturer's forums were for fans and NOT an extension of the company's CS,W/R, and complaint dept.

Try starting a hate thread in any other sub forum and you are likely to get ran out on a rail, especially when posters can't even be bothered to show pics, but as an earlier post mentioned, slamming Benchmade has become a hobby all it's own, and these hate threads have been going on for about 10 months now.

So when multiple people have the same complaints, it's obviously a little hobby or in-joke of theirs and not legitimate at all. Of course they're lying because they don't post pictures of their knives. There's no other explanation.

 

[Luis G.]

Im going to close this thread for a day. Let people cool their heads.

Look guys there's absolutely nothing wrong with complaining as long as it is done constructively, and the maker given a chance to correct the issue. I will admit I did rant, and go off a bit but gave Benchmade a try, and after consideration and a nights sleep decided it wasn't worth pursuing, and am fine with the knife for now. I may later have it rebladed (at my costs if Benchmade sees it fit- either way it's getting changed out).

Accepting that there will be problems, and complaints is a perfectly normal part of running a business, and quite frankly most good businesses with take complaints as genuine feedback to improve themselves. Those who follow knives, just because there's complaints on a company you collect knives from, doesn't mean that it's an insult to you or the quality of the knives, secondly everyone has differing opinions as to what they find acceptable.

Anyways that's all. I will open this thread tomorrow.

 

[Luis G.]

It's back let's keep the discussion 'personal attack' free.

 

[Sulaco]

I've been around a long time and owned a lot of Benchmade knives. I've settled on a select few I carry and use daily (in rotation). It took me several to get to these and now that I've got them I won't let them go. I hate to pile on but for the money they ask, the QC is a serious concern. I can fix most blade centering issues (Google it) but lockup issues are not as easy to resolve. That's the two problems I've experienced the most. Having said that, they are absolutely my favorite knife maker by far. I have a 556, 940, 943 and a 551-1304 in my daily rotation and I use them hard. I've sold or traded a whole, whole lot more to get to this point though.

 

[jazub]

Whoa, this thread is back? I saw it was closed and figured you had aired your grievance and come to some conclusion. Is "Disappointed in Benchmade" meant to be an ongoing general rant thread?

Hope you end up in some way satisfied with your pocketknife purchase.

 

[Nomo4me]

It's a pocket knife. It's a mirror by which we view our own flaws. Satisfaction is elusive.

Whoa, this thread is back? I saw it was closed and figured you had aired your grievance and come to some conclusion. Is "Disappointed in Benchmade" meant to be an ongoing general rant thread?

Hope you end up in some way satisfied with your pocketknife purchase.

 

[cchu518]

It's a pocket knife. It's a mirror by which we view our own flaws. Satisfaction is elusive.

hah hah im digging your zen man... thumbs up!

 

[MobileFireLord]

It's a pocket knife. It's a mirror by which we view our own flaws. Satisfaction is elusive.

Aside the point of criticism of QC, I think you said the best of all. I'm sure majority of you can correct most of issues, and by far BKC has the best CS in market.

I feel the price they ask vs. QC is fair. The CS in BKC does goes above and beyond many. After all, they are sort o mass "Production" mode, not 100% QC by technician.

 

[asdf12345]

Aside the point of criticism of QC, I think you said the best of all. I'm sure majority of you can correct most of issues, and by far BKC has the best CS in market.

I feel the price they ask vs. QC is fair. The CS in BKC does goes above and beyond many. After all, they are sort o mass "Production" mode, not 100% QC by technician.

Good CS is no excuse for bad QC. This holds true for any manufacturer of consumer products.

 

[Lycosa]

Would it be safe to say that most BKC customers are happy?

 

[brownshoe]

Absolutely. Why Luis opened this thread and now reopened it only he knows. He started out with complaints, most if not all of them are subjective and all of them are offered with no proof. Let us review them:

1. Griptillian 556/551: Off center. Issues with Lock up (up and down on both).

So what if it's off center, if it does not rub. What "issue" is it loose? Was it fixed?

2. Mini Barrage 586: Major Lock up issue (up/down play that would rattle) uneven primary flats.

Show us what this major lock up issue is. Did you send it back? What is a "primary flat" and how uneven was it?

3. Sibert: Issues with blade grind, and not flush scales.
What do you mean by "issues"? The scales are not flush with what? The liners? Can it be seen w/o magnification?

4. Barrage 581: Issues with lock up (up/down and side to side play) off centered.

Lets see a picture? If it has side to side play, did you send it back?

5. Contego fixed blade (uneven blade grind, not sharp from factory).

Blade grinds done by humans usually are not perfectly symetrical unless it's done by a master. Most people are either right or left handed and thus a slightly uneven grind. Just sharpen it out. How dull was it? Probably just a burr that could be removed with a strop or two. I guess you cannot sharpen it yourself?

6. Lastly my latest purchase: 940-1. Off center. Uneven blade grind. Off center. Rough/gritty action no matter how I lube or clean. Lastly protruding screws (seems to be the case with all 940-1's).

Well off center again, does it rub? Imperfect blade grind, and gritty action. Did you send it back? By your own admission the protruding screw appears to be the way it's supposed to be.

Lous G. maybe you should up your collection budget to the level of William and Henry or Chris Reeve. You might be happier.

Personally, I have bought Benchmade since 1998. In all those years, I have had three "issues" with two knives. I bought a Spike (discontinued stock when bought new) with a loose blade knowing Benchmade would fix it and they did, for free within 2 weeks. I bought a Stryker auto and it had lockup problems after about 3 years of use. They fixed it for free. After about 10 years, the Stryker spring broke and they replaced that for free as well. All my other Benchmades were/are perfect (to the un-magnified eye) and except for surface scratches and my own mistakes are in great condition. The BM42 I bought new, first run, is the production knife that has increased the most in price of any I've bought...I sold it, used, this year, because my BM31 is more fun.

Oh I forgot, the Spike hit the floor 10 years after it was discontinued and owned by another person. It was sent back and Benchmade replaced the blade for a nominal fee. I don't thing that their competitors, Spyderco, SOG, Cold Steel are capable of doing that.

 

[Luis G.]

Absolutely. Why Luis opened this thread and now reopened it only he knows. He started out with complaints, most if not all of them are subjective and all of them are offered with no proof. Let us review them:

1. Griptillian 556/551: Off center. Issues with Lock up (up and down on both).

So what if it's off center, if it does not rub. What "issue" is it loose? Was it fixed?

2. Mini Barrage 586: Major Lock up issue (up/down play that would rattle) uneven primary flats.

Show us what this major lock up issue is. Did you send it back? What is a "primary flat" and how uneven was it?

3. Sibert: Issues with blade grind, and not flush scales.
What do you mean by "issues"? The scales are not flush with what? The liners? Can it be seen w/o magnification?

4. Barrage 581: Issues with lock up (up/down and side to side play) off centered.

Lets see a picture? If it has side to side play, did you send it back?

5. Contego fixed blade (uneven blade grind, not sharp from factory).

Blade grinds done by humans usually are not perfectly symetrical unless it's done by a master. Most people are either right or left handed and thus a slightly uneven grind. Just sharpen it out. How dull was it? Probably just a burr that could be removed with a strop or two. I guess you cannot sharpen it yourself?

6. Lastly my latest purchase: 940-1. Off center. Uneven blade grind. Off center. Rough/gritty action no matter how I lube or clean. Lastly protruding screws (seems to be the case with all 940-1's).

Well off center again, does it rub? Imperfect blade grind, and gritty action. Did you send it back? By your own admission the protruding screw appears to be the way it's supposed to be.

Lous G. maybe you should up your collection budget to the level of William and Henry or Chris Reeve. You might be happier.

Personally, I have bought Benchmade since 1998. In all those years, I have had three "issues" with two knives. I bought a Spike (discontinued stock when bought new) with a loose blade knowing Benchmade would fix it and they did, for free within 2 weeks. I bought a Stryker auto and it had lockup problems after about 3 years of use. They fixed it for free. After about 10 years, the Stryker spring broke and they replaced that for free as well. All my other Benchmades were/are perfect (to the un-magnified eye) and except for surface scratches and my own mistakes are in great condition. The BM42 I bought new, first run, is the production knife that has increased the most in price of any I've bought...I sold it, used, this year, because my BM31 is more fun.

Oh I forgot, the Spike hit the floor 10 years after it was discontinued and owned by another person. It was sent back and Benchmade replaced the blade for a nominal fee. I don't thing that their competitors, Spyderco, SOG, Cold Steel are capable of doing that.

It's Luis, not Lous.
People who post before reading should really think about what they are doing.

I won't be posting proof (even though it's out there- here and there). I don't post pics or comment on every knife I own because some knives aren't as exciting as others, and some are they popular.

As far as your "subjective issues" comment: Isn't that a subjective statement you made with the intention of mockery and based on nothing? At least even if my "issues" were subjective, Benchmade seemed to have fixed the "subjective" issue and covered it under warranty. Which beckons the question: Was it really subjective if the mfger agrees with the noted issue, and fixes the issue? Guess only Benchmade would know, and most definitely not you brownshoes.

My experience online and in this forum quite frankly says even if I posted pictures, and videos the responses (like yours) would not change in hostility just change the topic, bury head under sand, or some other knee jerk reaction. Trust me I've started threads with proof in the past (in fact I started one based on data for PC system building basically to ensure that there would be 0 heat saturation), doesn't matter people are going to be immature about criticism, and issues with their related hobbies, and not be open to CONVERSATION in a civilized manner.

Once again there is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with making a thread OR commenting on a knives imperfections, or commenting based on anecdote, or first hand non quantitative experience as long as it is not bashing, or spiteful. I won't say I am a saint and say I've acted like a perfect gentleman but I don't think I am who I am made out to sound like by some of you.

Brownshoes, already collected Sebenzas. Had plenty of them, don't care for them at the end of the day. Know what's interesting? I bought them not because of their design or function or materials but simply because of the idea of actually doing the best you can do. Their mfging, and QC quite frankly are hard to beat. I really dig that idea enough to quite a bit of money on them.

 

[jazub]

It seems as if this thread has run it's course. Nothing useful or positive is coming from it.

Just my opinion.