EDIT: NOT HAPPY - My Cuscadi 810SBK :)

[hayes31]

Fit and finish is one thing, but loss of functionality and stripped screws is pretty bad...

 

[PropThePolecat]

I'd like to point out, that no money has changed out. He sent me the scales without requiring payment and informed me, that i could pay upon receving the scales. The scales have been sent back, so i am not out of money. I did not post this in feedback, but in the Benchmade forum. I did not think it belonged here, when there was no exchange of money.

I received a reply from Cuscadi, where they comment the issues...

1)The scales are thicker than stock, since there was no instruction NOT to add any extra width.

2)Regarding the screw, they've got 25 years experience and the knife was preused, which i read, as if the screw was already stripped. So basically im lying :thumbdn:

But they did offer me new screws. No thanks, ill get mine from Benchmade, who by the way, has awesome customer service.

3)Regarding the fitting, one cant achieve a perfect fit, without CAD data from BM. Ok, so my expectations were totally off

4)I did not ask for a bevel around the axis lock cut out, even though i saw a picture prior to shipment. That is correct, i did not ask for that, but i didnt expect it to be that thick.

5)They apologize for the lack of pocket clip threads, but there was no pocket clip when i sent the knife in. That does not change the fact, that i can not mount any clip because of the thickness which makes the screws too short.

"Every other drill is deep enough, no screws are sticking out or not reaching the threads", which i read as if, every other hole is deep enough? So in his opinion, the pocket clip holes ARE deep enough and every single screw can reach it threads.

As i said, no money exchanged hands and i do not wish for them to make it right through a second attempt. It is apparent, that we have 2 VERY different point of views on how a custom scale should be. Besides, the fact that he called my knife preused, thus insinuating, that my screws were ALREADY stripped pisses me more off.

It took ages for Cuscadi to get it done and i dont want to wait again. All i want is to get some new screws from Benchmade and carry on.

I am locking this thread, as i do not want it to end as a bashing thread and there's nothing more coming from either me or Cuscadi.

 

[PropThePolecat]

Closed

 

[RevDevil]

Prop, the thread was moved because it wasn't about th Benchmade knife itself, but the aftermarket scales (not a Benchmade product). Since you were describing the scales and not the knife itself, it was moved over here.

 

[PropThePolecat]

I have recieved a email from Luke, where he asks me to post his full reply.

So here is the full, unedited, email correspondance AFTER i recieved the knife.

Hello Luke

I received the knife today and i am very disappointed. I can honestly say, theres nothing "custom" about them. It appears to me, that they have been rushed through production, and there are several issues with them.


1) The fit is very poor, especially around the jimping. The scales stand proud around the backspacer and on the back.

2) This is the worst part: there are 2 stripped screws on the knife. The stop-pin screw is stripped so bad, that it can not be tightened anymore. I have to contact Benchmade to get a new set now.

3) There is a visible difference to the naked eye in the thickness between the 2 blue scales.

4) The stock scales measure 3,1 mm in thickness. The thickest blue scale measure 4.3 mm, which means, that the pocket clip screws are too short now.

5) The left scale is not drilled for left-hand carry. Even if i drilled it myself, there are no flat parts, where the pocket clip can rest on.

6) The axislock cut-out is not chamfered. That combined with the thickness, makes the lock a hassle to disengage and near impossible, when wearing gloves.

I have returned them to you and i do not wish to get anymore scales done at Cuscadi. I do not doubt your craftmanship and creativity, and many people i trust i vouched for your work, but these particular scales are just rubbish.

Good luck with you future endeavours.

Hello,

Thank you for the feedback and your honest opinion.
Though we really appreciate all kind of feedback, i have to say a few words.

1. it's custom since it's not a copy of the stock scale. CNC machined with a handmade groove is what custom made means, right? Nothing has been rushed through. Do you have any clue how long it takes to edit a cnc data for an axis lock folder without having any data or specs? I hope you saw the cutout on the inside to fit the axis lock...not just a large one but a multilevel cutout.
Before i shipped the knife i emailed you a picture that displayed the mounted scales, why did you not call them "not custom" when you got it? Asking for a deeper bevel around the lock for using the knife with gloves is a single sentence, right?

2. we take care of the knives that are getting sent in. It was preused, not a new one. We work with mechanics for 25 years now and stripping screws is something we avoid by using solid torx tools and no mashed up bits. If there's a screw that's nor working, we'll replace it while assembling the scales.

3. due to the handmade groove, the thickness may vary, that's correct. I do not know how we will get 2 different scales from a 3/16" sheet. The grooves are not on the same level, just because it's handmade and not by cnc. Yes, the scales are thicker than stock since there was no instruction not to add any extra width. We did think that it feels solid that way since it's quite a large knife. Sorry for that. Sorry again for not mounting a clip to check everything, but there was no clip...every other drill is deep enough, no screws are sticking out or not reaching the threads.

4. the axis lock area has a 45 degree bevel on the inside like any other axis lock scale we build. You saw the cutout on the pic, right? We also doublechecked the axis slot in the scales to make sure the lock works perfect. We do not only mill the slot but also deburr the slot by hand.

5. regarding the fitting, yes we know that the scales ain't always 100% on the spot. This is something that can't be solved without cad data provided by the company. The liners are coated, so it's not possible to make them flush by grinding the mounted scales. This is how every knife company is producing them as long as the scales are not made from zytel. Yes, our scales might not be on the spot, but a notch that sticks out is max 0.5mm away from stock. If that's not ok, custom stuff might be nothing for you. Benchmade does not know any magic, they mount the scales, grind the contour, coat the liners and assemble the complete knife.

Producing stuff by using a cnc means tolerances, that's well known. There are tricks to compensate that, but like i said, i can't regrind any coated liners without removing the coating.

Bottom line. If you do not like them, i am ok with that, but we did not send you a so called rubbish! Copycats from asia might be called rubbish, this product is something that did not fit your expectations, which is perfectly fine for me.
I'll send the refund once the scales arrived.

Cheers,
Luke

Sent from an apple device

Luke,

Thanks for your detailed reply. It is apparent, that we have two very different views on how custom scales should be.

You send me the knife prior to payment, so i do not require any refunds, as no money has exchanged hands.

Hello again,

one last thing, you have every right to email me what you think about the scales. call me an idiot or what ever, but stop bashing us on forums...
you do not like them and it´s ok for me. you have not been charged so no need to argue…you think we stripped the screw but i tell you we did not do it…
but if you post my feedback on some forums, please post the complete email / feedback, not only some phrases or parts.
i am not participating on every forum so i do not have any chance to respond to that.


thank you very much for understanding!

Luke

First of all, i am NOT "bashing" your person or your company, i am criticizing the scales i revieved and the state of the screws. We will never agree on the stripped screws, so lets leave it at that.

I have been very clear in my posts, that NO money has exchanged hands.

Second, the moderators moved my post to feedback. I originally posted it in the Benchmade subforum.

I have every right to post what i want on bladeforums. I am a longtime gold member in good standing with many personal friends, and i like to share my experiences with them. You can go through all my 3000+ posts...i will guarantee you, that will not find a single post, where i have "bashed" any company.

If you read my last post on bladeforums, i expressedly closed the thread, so nobody would start any bashing or unfounded criticism.

I have been polite towards your person throughout this and i have written you, as i would have spoken to you face-to-face. I have never called you an idiot or thrown any other personal insult towards you. Dont forget that.

I will post your detailed reply on bladeforums and reclose the thread

Regards,