Fit and finish?

firedude

firedude

Joined
Jan 22, 2017
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69
I have been watching a lot of Nick Shabazz videos lately. Really like the guy and respect his opinion. He was a self proclaimed Benchmade guy in years past but as of late has been seeing a lot of quality control problems with them. I have several newer Benchmades and have not had any quality control problems other than one being dry as a bone out of the box. I am wondering if anyone else has had any problems as of late?
 
I have also watched Nick's videos on Benchmades and I widely agree with him. When I bought my first two Benchmades (Mini Grip and a 940) at a local store, I had to go through 3-5 knives of each model to pick a good one.

The ones I picked are really great: super smooth action, free dropping blade with no side-to-side play, good centering etc. But 70-80 % of the knives on the shelf had some serious issues. Some had a bad grind, most were not centered at all and some had notable side-to-side play when locked open. I see that Benchmade is capable of making great knives, but the quality inconsistency I have seen keeps me from buying Benchmades unseen (in online stores).

The thing is, that these quality issues may not bother someone who ist just buying a knife. But as a knife nut who knows what a Benchmade knife can be like, I'd be very disappointed if I'd get a lemon.
 
Look up Benchmade here in the feedback section. There has been a definite drop in fit and finish and / or quality control in Benchmade knives over the last 5 or so years. Unfortunately, that also corresponds with the MAP pricing and therefore higher price / lower value to customers.
 
My last couple of NIB direct purchases included a Ritter dealer exclusive and a Build Your Own from the BM website. Both were perfect. The BYO was in fact maybe the best I've had to date.
 
The two I purchased recently, (usually buying disco'ed, as I typically prefer the older offerings) were the 810 and 710 KW -1401's. Honestly absolutely perfect..from F+F , lock up, centering grind and edge's.

Not sure if extra care is taken on these due to them being dealer exclusive... But they are very fine examples.
 
I've heard that a lot too......lot of complaints.
I bought my first BM July '15.......a 940. Since then I have added about 20 more......new & second hand.
I must be the luckiest person on the planet because each one came out of the box as close to perfect as can be.
Every one is centered. Every one locks up TIGHT! Every one came with a nice sharp edge.......especially the last 6 or 7 new ones......and my 761 was the absolute sharpest blade out of box I've ever seen! Just an amazing even and screaming sharp edge.
After having some experience with their CS, I wouldn't sweat a problem at all.
They are so fast, never waited more than 10 days.......usually 1 week.
I dropped my 581 and took a chunk out of the tip. $40 and 1 week later and I had my knife back with a brand new M390 coated blade! With a simply amazing edge on it! They also replaced ALL hardware......without being asked!
If I see a BM that I really like....I don't hesitate.
Just my experience with Benchmade......I'm a fan.
Joe
 
Thanks for the replies. I am also quite picky when it comes to my knives. I guess I have been lucky. I really like Benchmades and have had them for many years. Hope they read some of this stuff out there. They are high priced knives for what they are and the fit and finish should reflect that.
 
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palonej said:
I've heard that a lot too......lot of complaints.
I bought my first BM July '15.......a 940. Since then I have added about 20 more......new & second hand.
I must be the luckiest person on the planet because each one came out of the box as close to perfect as can be.
Every one is centered. Every one locks up TIGHT! Every one came with a nice sharp edge.......especially the last 6 or 7 new ones......and my 761 was the absolute sharpest blade out of box I've ever seen! Just an amazing even and screaming sharp edge.
After having some experience with their CS, I wouldn't sweat a problem at all.
They are so fast, never waited more than 10 days.......usually 1 week.
I dropped my 581 and took a chunk out of the tip. $40 and 1 week later and I had my knife back with a brand new M390 coated blade! With a simply amazing edge on it! They also replaced ALL hardware......without being asked!
If I see a BM that I really like....I don't hesitate.
Just my experience with Benchmade......I'm a fan.
Joe
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They seem to be a great bunch of people. They were some of the nicer knife people at Shot Show this year. Spyderco also. Strider.. not so much.:thumbdn:
 
How true FD!!
Before I send a knife to them, I always call. Each time I have spoken with a polite and knowledgeable person who was happy to help.
Best CS I have dealt with.
Joe
 
all my benchmades that i had and have fit and finish issues. nick is completely correct in that its a common thing. he even went through a whole supply at a knife store to find one good one. that says alot.

the other issue is that some people dont see or know what fit and finish issues are and those issues may not bother them either. the other thing is, not every product BM makes will have fit and finish issues. it just seems to be more common on benchmades than any other manufacturer. For the price you are paying (MAP) its uncalled for at that level of consistent f&F issues. . every manufacturer has issues like this but not as common as Benchmade.
 
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I've bought an Adamas an Arvensis and an H&K 14715 in December and they are all perfect.
I have heard horror stories from Benchmade but I have never had one nor have any of my friends..
 
VolGrad said:
My last couple of NIB direct purchases included a Ritter dealer exclusive and a Build Your Own from the BM website. Both were perfect. The BYO was in fact maybe the best I've had to date.
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I had the exact opposite experience with a build your own mini grip. It had blade play, wasn't centered, and the bevel was ground WAY off. As in one side was literally twice as wide as the other. Also the liners and clip paint was not even dry and kept rubbing off on my hands. It was an absolute joke. Customer service took good care of me and provided a shipping label and sent a brand new knife back to me in a few days but it left a seriously bad taste in my mouth. I ended up selling the knew knife at a loss and have since sold the rest of mine with no intent on buying more. . Over half of the ones I have handled have had fairly significant issues. That no Bueno at the price point of there knives. Between the fit and finish issues and an omega spring breakage in my only real user I don't think i'll be buying another for a while. I honestly expected a little better quality control on a "custom" Benchmade but got one with the worst fit and finish I have seen. Worse than cheapo Walmart knives.
 
Mine have been good. Mailman just dropped off a 765. Flawless, lockup, grinds, centering, detent.
I'm really pleased by this blade.
Bought it nib off eBay of all places.
 
Another one of these threads....

"Benchmade's F&F and QC suck!" "All my Benchmades were perfect out of the box!" Back and forth we go--lovers and haters--and on, and on, and on....

So, for my part, and firstly, I have a couple dozen BMKs by now and, as you might assume, Benchmade is a most favored maker with me. I've probably bought half new and half on the secondary market. Of the new knives, only one had any real issue at all--a 940-1 that couldn't be centered. It wasn't awful, just off a bit and resisted any effort to get it right. It really didn't make that much difference to me and ultimately I wasn't that fond of the steel or blade shape and sold the knife.

All the rest bought new were fine, although the factory sharpening was pretty poor a couple years back. Fast forward to the last few months as I was buying disco'd knives at close-out prices--710's, a couple Strykers, a 707, a mini-Ritter--and every one of those was just "perfect" for centering, F&F, evenly ground, and laser-sharp. I adjusted the action a little on a couple, but hell, I do that to most all my knives.

Of the used ones, some came through to me very nicely and some had action or centering issues. All but my well-worn-and-used original 710 were able to be brought back to center. I've bought a number of older, vintage BMs lately, too, and one AFCK and a TSEK are just a taste off, but I'd rather have the action just as I like it than fight a tiny centering issue.

Benchmade's CS is legendary, and I've gotten lots of free clips, screws, etc from them, but I've never felt the need to send in a knife. I think what it comes down to for me is I love their knives and designs--especially the older-school ones--and if there's a little something off, I'd much rather deal with it myself or accept something minor than send the knife away or join the howling mass of haters. I have knives that came more cheaply and a bunch that cost a crapload more, but my Benchmades have a special place in my world of knives. I don't need to assert perfection, or argue with those who think poorly of the brand--I just like 'em.

PS: In the interest of full disclosure, I am a not a fan of the recent price increases or MAP either, nor do I care much for the latest round of discontinuations or new releases.
 
I guess my luck just ran out. Got my new 908BK-1501 in todays mail from Knives ship free. Blade is WAY off center. Does not look like a good grind either. I guess I hexed myself by starting this thread right before my new knife showed up.
 
Ugh!!
Call KSF tomorrow and return it FD! Don't settle. I asked Tyler to check the knife before they sent it, centering, action and grind. Mine arrived perfect and after carry and use for a few months she still is.
Return it!
Joe
 
palonej said:
Ugh!!
Call KSF tomorrow and return it FD! Don't settle. I asked Tyler to check the knife before they sent it, centering, action and grind. Mine arrived perfect and after carry and use for a few months she still is.
Return it!
Joe
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Thanks. I will do that.
 
I've gotten plenty that weren't perfect, but I'm not all that picky when it comes to knives I'm planning to use. I do think it sucks to spend a couple hundred bucks and get a knife that's not even close to being centered though. I don't think any of my gold class knives have had any issues at all, but I've got a few limited edition knives that have obvious flaws that I think shouldn't have made it past QC, and that's something that does bother me.
 
Seems like most of the issues that people are having can be easily fixed yourself. Bladeplay? tighten the pivot. Off centering? Loosen pivot push blade over tighten pivot. Uneven grind? Sharpen the knife. I usually take my knives apart and clean and lube them and sharpen them to my desired edge angle as soon as I get them so none of these things would be an issue for me but I guess I can understand why people would complain when spending hundreds of bucks on a knife. Still i've yet to receive a BM knife that wasn't perfect or could be made perfect with minimal effort.
 
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