First BM since price hike

Cursum Perficio

Cursum Perficio

Joined
Oct 27, 2012
Messages
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As far as I know BM enforced MAP pricing to reinforce their image as a maker of premium grade knives. If it costs more it must be better right?
Having to pay 25 to 30% more stopped me buying BM, simple as that, until I couldn't resist the 940-1 any longer and eventually ponied up for it couple of months ago.
It's as good as I knew it would be - except the blade is way off center when closed. For the price, and the premium brand image, it shouldn't be IMO.

It was smooth out of the box, and with use and a shot of lube it's only gotten smoother. The lock up is excellent with no pivot screw loosening and need for thread locker that my standard 940 had, not so far anyway. So I'm somewhat reticent to try adjusting the centering when otherwise the knife is just right for me.
I could send it to BM to sort out for me, though I live on the other side of the planet so there's a cost and inconvenience factor there.
My gripe is, for the price I shouldn't need to do either.

I can't see/handle a folder before buying 'cos of where I live, so I have to pay the money and take the chance.

Can't help comparing it to the 0770M390 which is similar in size, materials and intended use, cost less and is nicely centered.

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0770M390

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I really do like this 940-1, but the experience is tainted to me because of the off center blade.
I have 7 BM's from pre price hike times, and would still like to get a 710, the 484 looks great, but now I just don't feel confident buying BM, especially at the high prices.
A shame really but I think BM should either make sure their production folders are premium grade, or stop making us pay too much for them.
 
I've been tempted to buy one, but I cannot pull the trigger. I have not bought any new Benchmades since the price hike. I picked up one off the Exchange at a terrific price from a great seller here. I really wanted a Vicar, but somehow overnight someone decided to change the bladeshape on it from the tanto looking giant serration (which I liked) to some sort of fat bellied pseudo-drop point style. I don't get it. I know some people got themselves a new 940-1 for well under the MAP price, I would buy one at that price.
 
You can request your online dealer to check for a centered blade or grind.
Most places will do that for you.
 
I was avoiding Benchmade knives after the price hike until I got the Ritter m390 Grip. The price on that knife makes it a great value for an edc/work knife in my opinion. I find I m carrying mine as much as my PM2 these days. Now I ve asked my wife to give me a BM 761 for Christmas. I ll see how I like it tomorrow.:) I m still disappointed in the BM price hike however, and will generally avoid them at the current high prices in the future.
 
The reality is, many of us like BM knives, and will continue to buy them. Like others, I'm not happy with the price increase or the blades not being centered though.
I did buy a new Ritter M390 Mini a couple months ago at the normal price, and I'm happy enough with the knife that I don't feel bad about paying the price. I've also bought a few pre-owned BM knives over the last couple months, and as long as I an find exactly what I want at a fair price, I will continue to do so...

I'm not gonna start beating a dead horse, but there is absolutely no excuse for their knives to come from the factory with grossly off centered blades. For cryin out loud, I've seen plenty of $30 knives and they manage to get their blades centered...
 
There should be no reason why blades come out of the box un-centered and with other issues. At the cost of the 940-1 out of our pockets, and expense of returning them to the factory on both ours and theirs, something isn't right. And consistently the case. Most companies lose customers this way. I say fix 'em right the first time even in volume production.
 
That blade looks way off center, not just a little bit... what a bummer. I'm absolutely lusting after a 940-1, but refuse to pay inflated msrp from benchmade. There's too much better stuff out there for a lower price. I almost pulled the trigger on one before Christmas, but decided to save another $100 and get a used Sebenza.
 
338375 said:
The reality is, many of us like BM knives, and will continue to buy them. Like others, I'm not happy with the price increase or the blades not being centered though.
I did buy a new Ritter M390 Mini a couple months ago at the normal price, and I'm happy enough with the knife that I don't feel bad about paying the price. I've also bought a few pre-owned BM knives over the last couple months, and as long as I an find exactly what I want at a fair price, I will continue to do so...

I'm not gonna start beating a dead horse, but there is absolutely no excuse for their knives to come from the factory with grossly off centered blades. For cryin out loud, I've seen plenty of $30 knives and they manage to get their blades centered...
Click to expand...

Mike, the Ritter line of Grips is the only exception to the overall rule. Although the change from S30V to M390 did bump the price a whole $10, I think that is a strange considering that on average M390 is a hell of a lot more expensive than S30V. But I ain't complaining about that one at all. That orange full sized Ritter is looking better all the time.
 
I avoid their price hike too,by waiting and getting it on the exchange for way less, even if lightly carried. That's the worst offcentered blade ive seen in a while,especially with no lockbar pushing it over,thats real bad..
 
I completely agree that Benchmade should improve their QC and not allow knives to leave the factory with properly centered blades for the price they charge.

That said...it's an easy problem to fix yourself. I lost sleep over the 761 my wife gave me having an off-center blade that was almost rubbing one side of the frame. It was seriously bothering me. I did a little research and found that with a $6 tool I could easily center the blade myself.

1. Remove the clip to access the pivot screw (specific to 761).
2. Loosen but did not remove the frame screws.
3. Loosen the pivot screw a little.
4. Adjust the blade centering by pressing up on the bottom of the right frame and down on the top of the left frame (or vice-versa depending on which way you need to move the blade).
5. Tighten the frame screws once the blade is centered.
6. Tighten the pivot screw appropriately.

It took less than 10 minutes to adjust my 761 and it is PERFECT now and I can sleep again. The tool is available at Home Depot. Husky mini torx set $5.97.
 
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