Hogue making Benchmade clones?

[rhino]

 

[Billy The Hungry]

When Hogue pisses in the pool they do it from the diving board.

Edit: sorry, plz delete. Having technical issues over here. Lol

 

[DMG]

Hogue may well be a “well-liked US company” but this knife is made in China, unlike the Benchmade. (*According to the Knifeworks website.

I did a little research before buying my Hogue Deka on the able lock. I was happy with what I read and bought one. So far I don't see any real facts in this thread that sway my purchases ideas.

Axis lock patent expired, open game! Compression lock patent is also expired so that to is free game. Time for whoever makes a better product to win!

Facts: Spyderco is a good company with respectable ownership, Benchmade helped destroy guns, Hogue makes good knives in THE USA,

Please feel free to post some facts!

Here are some facts.

Benchmade helped destroy some guns that were going to be destroyed whether they helped or not. I don’t like it but it did not change the outcome one bit. People just look for things to be outraged about.

 

[Black Oak Bladeworks]

I heard it the other way around. Benchmade was already making he Griptilian models before Ritter had some "changes" he would prefer. Pretty sure I read it on Ritter's own page honestly. That he always thought the Grip was the best all around knife design but designed his own version which he partnered with BM to produce. Then in 2016 BM discontinued the Ritter design Ritter then shopped the design elsewhere and ended up with Hogue.

You may be right about the griptilian. Its been a long time since I read the post. It was 2 other models that I was told Doug Ritter designed and was never given credit for though. That's just hear say on the internet though and I don't remember the model names. If that's true or not, I don't know. I would like to know the truth regardless of who it favors.

 

[DMG]

Has anyone asked Hogue or Benchmade if the designer licensed Hogue to make their version of that knife? The designer being Benchmade or Pardue, for example.

 

[mmyron1]

You may be right about the griptilian. Its been a long time since I read the post. It was 2 other models that I was told Doug Ritter designed and was never given credit for though.

The only ones I remember were the Griptilian folders and fixed blade. The Ritter fixed blade was a definite upgrade over my beloved BM 151. It came with G10 handle scales and S30V blade. Both though were already BM designs before Ritter approached BM to make his version.

I know there was a small neck knife size blade designed by Ritter at one point but not sure if it was based on anything existing.

 

[Black Oak Bladeworks]

Here are some facts.

Benchmade helped destroy some guns that were going to be destroyed whether they helped or not. I don’t like it but it did not change the outcome one bit. People just look for things to be outraged about.

I think that's part of it what some people didn't like. But most of the people I talked to boycotted over the owners political donations. And a very few over there lobbyists legal stance and efforts regarding switchblade laws on the federal level.

 

[Stahlmann]

Could it be as simple as knife designer Mike Ritter having control of the design, and after Benchmade's contract ran out on it, he was free to deal with Hogue?

FWIW, the components that make up Hogue knives are made at the HQ in Paso Robles, CA. Their automatic knives are assembled in Henderson, NV.

 

[unwisefool]

Here are some facts.

Benchmade helped destroy some guns that were going to be destroyed whether they helped or not. I don’t like it but it did not change the outcome one bit. People just look for things to be outraged about.

Lol yeah I never really got the outrage about this. It's not like they took guns from anyone on here and destroyed them. There are millions of guns, the amount that they decommissioned wasn't even a drop in the bucket.

Personally I get more upset when people waste good booze by mixing it. Or the classic cars that are left to rust or get destroyed by idiots.

 

[mmyron1]

Could it be as simple as knife designer Mike Ritter having control of the design, and after Benchmade's contract ran out on it, he was free to deal with Hogue?

Honestly that is what i think it is to tell you the truth. Simple as that. His design to do with as he pleases really. Nothing fowl about it. Benchmade still sells their Griptilian and he sells his through Hogue. Nothing wrong with it.

 

[Velitrius]

Lol yeah I never really got the outrage about this. It's not like they took guns from anyone on here and destroyed them. There are millions of guns, the amount that they decommissioned wasn't even a drop in the bucket.

Personally I get more upset when people waste good booze by mixing it. Or the classic cars that are left to rust or get destroyed by idiots.

Yeah, if I was to be bent out of shape at someone over the situation, I'd be peeved with the police department.

They could have just as easily made their policy to sell those guns to law abiding citizens and generate revenue for the department. But they chose to destroy them instead.

Benchmade was merely a convenient neighborhood chop saw owner.

I don't have any clue as to what the designer / builder relationship is betwixt these pieces, and I could really care less.

Pretty sure Hogue isn't pulling some Ganzo crap, and they're building knives in the U.S. of A. so I got no outrage to give the OP on this one.

 

[DMG]

Could it be as simple as knife designer Mike Ritter having control of the design, and after Benchmade's contract ran out on it, he was free to deal with Hogue?

FWIW, the components that make up Hogue knives are made at the HQ in Paso Robles, CA. Their automatic knives are assembled in Henderson, NV.

I think it is Doug Ritter, the knife rights guy.

 

[Trailer_Ape]

I did a little research before buying my Hogue Deka on the able lock. I was happy with what I read and bought one. So far I don't see any real facts in this thread that sway my purchases ideas.

Axis lock patent expired, open game! Compression lock patent is also expired so that to is free game. Time for whoever makes a better product to win!

Facts: Spyderco is a good company with respectable ownership, Benchmade helped destroy guns, Hogue makes good knives in THE USA,

Please feel free to post some facts!

The patent on the compression lock expired? I had no idea it was that old. I thought it came out a few years ago. Wow! I had never really been into Spydercos (am now), I guess that is why I didn't even hear about the compression lock until last year.

Oh, and for me, it was never about them chopping up some guns that were already marked for destruction and probably mostly junk (rifles with the bbl cut down, pistol with a filed SN, Lorcin, High Point, etc), it was about who they donated money to. I do not give my money to people who turn around and give it to people actively seeking to destroy my way of life.

 

[Billy The Hungry]

The patent on the compression lock expired? I had no idea it was that old. I thought it came out a few years ago. Wow! I had never really been into Spydercos (am now), I guess that is why I didn't even hear about the compression lock until last year.

Oh, and for me, it was never about them chopping up some guns that were already marked for destruction and probably mostly junk (rifles with the bbl cut down, pistol with a filed SN, Lorcin, High Point, etc), it was about who they donated money to. I do not give my money to people who turn around and give it to people actively seeking to destroy my way of life.

Agree on all points

Also, I too thought the compression lock was relatively new.

 

[jbmonkey]

Forget about Hogue.

Apparently Benchmade is making Benchmade clones... https://www.benchmadestore.com/collections/all-products

good maybe they'll make some 710s and 908s.

 

[mmyron1]

This is my D2 Para from maybe around 2008 or so. Compression lock Sprint run with foliage green. Compression lock has been around for a long time now. The Para has always been a compression lock if I remember correctly.

 

[Chronovore]

Also, the folks who are happy with Benchmade being "stolen from" due to a perceived violation of their rights need to read more and post less too.

... Facts: Spyderco is a good company with respectable ownership, Benchmade helped destroy guns, Hogue makes good knives in THE USA,

Please feel free to post some facts!

I think that's part of it what some people didn't like. But most of the people I talked to boycotted over the owners political donations. And a very few over there lobbyists legal stance and efforts regarding switchblade laws on the federal level.

If anything is in fact being stolen, or improperly copied, or improperly inspired by another thing; I don't think anyone should be happy about it. (Is anyone?) As far as what the deal is here, does anyone actually know? For instance, has somebody from either Hogue or Benchmade discussed this?

My experiences mirror those of Black Oak Bladeworks on the previous controversy. Footage of the guns being destroyed made the initial waves and yes, a lot of that might have been spread out of context on social media. However, this drew a lot of scrutiny from activists. That in turn revealed political donations that benefit persons, groups, or causes at stark odds with some of the things that people here, elsewhere in the EDC community, or within Benchmade's target demographic value strongly.

That said, I've been informed that Benchmade is a sponsor here and we aren't allowed to talk specifically about politics.

 

[Stahlmann]

The patent on the compression lock expired? I had no idea it was that old. I thought it came out a few years ago. Wow! I had never really been into Spydercos (am now), I guess that is why I didn't even hear about the compression lock until last year.

Oh, and for me, it was never about them chopping up some guns that were already marked for destruction and probably mostly junk (rifles with the bbl cut down, pistol with a filed SN, Lorcin, High Point, etc), it was about who they donated money to. I do not give my money to people who turn around and give it to people actively seeking to destroy my way of life.

You don't know that they were el cheapo guns. To be honest, it really wouldn't have mattered one way or the other. The optics were just horrible.

Further, it was destroying the firearms, advertising it, AND the politicos who BM donated money to.

Simply too many good manufacturers out there to deal with the "woke" variety.

Looks like a Remington 870 being chopped up by Benchmade,
with perhaps an SKS waiting on the bench?​

 

[JacksonKnives]

Could it be as simple as knife designer [Doug] Ritter having control of the design, and after Benchmade's contract ran out on it, he was free to deal with Hogue?

Ritter is an asset to knife makers and users, and he deserves all the lauds we can give for his tireless work in Knife Rights, but his "control" of a variant of an existing, already-popular design (M. Pardue's Griptillian) is tenuous at best.

Ritter sold survival gear and wanted a modified Griptillian, Benchmade made it for him with Pardue's blessing, and before long Ritter built a livelihood around selling them.

Benchmade was under no obligation to keep Ritter's variant in production, unless there was a contract we haven't been told about.

Mel Pardue doesn't owe Doug Ritter anything, either.

Ritter could have worked with a designer on an actual update to his "perfect" survival knife, but he decided to ask Hogue to clone the design that was already making him money. I understand why, and I don't think it's illegal, but Benchmade/Pardue certainly look like the more gracious party when you consider all the facts and implications.

The Triage is, as far as I can tell, an entirely in-house design for Benchmade. Hogue copying it is even more shameful than what Benchmade did with Spyderco (collaborating and licensing a few features, then dropping the license but carrying the features to new models.)

Hogue makes nice knives, and it's a shame they don't strive for more originality in their design shop.

 

[thebrain]

It is my understanding that Hogue contracted Benchmade to make most of their knives in their us facility. Nobody is "getting away" with anything. The Axis lock has been previously loaned to other knife companies (cold steel for one). The patent/copyright for the Axis lock has expired that is why you see Gerber and others using versions of it lately. So no Hogue is not "up to something" and as far as I know they have been consistent with quality and I remember reading they intend to produce knives only made in the USA.