Hopefully The New Enforced MAP Price Will Prevent This!

[Stays Sharp]

...In other words, things that were once "acceptable" aren't anymore after the artificial 30%-40% price increase. You expect us to pay, we expect more out of your knives. Even better warranty, better F&F, steel choices etc.

Example: You want the Griptilian to be a $100 knife? Then make it one by upgrading the steel to S30v and for God's sake, center them blades out the box. When it was $70, I was ok with centering AND sharpening the 154CM myself...

 

[miltmaldo]

I'm looking at that 943 and trying to see what you are seeing. So, are you talking about the edge or the grind?
Edit: just looked at pics of 943's and they are all ground like that. The final edge and grind are two separate things. If that edge isn't thin enough you can fix it with a stone and about 15 minutes of your time. I personally don't see the edge as a QC issue unless it's really asymmetrical or wavy etc. I've had my fair share of Kershaws come with thick edges.

Yes I'm talking about the edge of the knife . There is no angle to it it's sharp but the ground is horrible . Can I fix it how can I the knife doesn't have an edge angle . It's like putting an edge on a butter knife .

It could be me but I like to see a nice edge like the one on the kershaw . Also excuse my lack of knolege when it comes to grind , edge , angles I'm learning as I go . Thanks

 

[jkarp_53]

Yes I'm talking about the edge of the knife . There is no angle to it it's sharp but the ground is horrible . Can I fix it how can I the knife doesn't have an edge angle . It's like putting an edge on a butter knife .

It could be me but I like to see a nice edge like the one on the kershaw . Also excuse my lack of knolege when it comes to grind , edge , angles I'm learning as I go. Thanks

Everyone'e got their own way. I use a Smith's coarse and fine diamond stone that gets a good edge quickly, but it does take practice. I prefer doing the work myself unless there's something out of my "scope" and then I'll send it up to LifeSharp. With a factory bevel it makes it easy to touchup on the fine/400 grit side.

That edge on the 943 looks fine to me too.

 

[crom]

Miltmaldo, go get yourself a diamond stone (s30v responds best to diamonds) and your dullest kitchen knife. Get on youtube and watch a video on sharpening and go at it with the kitchen knife. Once you have some skill try the 943. Or as jkarp posted, ask BM to sharpen it for the princely sum of $5, they cover return shipping. That edge was finished evenly and keep in mind the blade stock on that knife is fairly thin. If you thin it more you have to be careful.

 

[harris2]

Everyone'e got their own way. I use a Smith's coarse and fine diamond stone that gets a good edge quickly, but it does take practice. I prefer doing the work myself unless there's something out of my "scope" and then I'll send it up to LifeSharp. With a factory bevel it makes it easy to touchup on the fine/400 grit side.

That edge on the 943 looks fine to me too.

After looking at the consistency of Benchmades sharpening skills it would be a crap shoot whether or not the blade returns in better or worse shape. It might be sharp, but I have too many that have edge grinds that aren't even close on each side.

 

[JNewell]

In full fairness, BM is *not* the only production company to ship asymmetric and uneven grinds. These are production knives. But if BM wants me to pay full MSRP/MAP, they're going to have to step things up several notches.

 

[skyhorse]

In full fairness, BM is *not* the only production company to ship asymmetric and uneven grinds. These are production knives. But if BM wants me to pay full MSRP/MAP, they're going to have to step things up several notches.

Yes Benchmade are merely production knives. Employees assembling parts from a bin and off to the grinder.This is a factory edge on a 940.The bevel is fairly close to 30 degrees inclusive on this one.Coarsely ground and off to the dealer.Nothing bad or good about it. That's why this price fixing is really just nothing more than an attempt to hype up the perception of a brand imho.
[URL=http://s1201.photobucket.com/user/blackhorse71/media/photo_zps4c81c440.jpg.html][/URL]

 

[miltmaldo]

So is this acceptable . I just don't like the edge on the 943 compared to the 940 . I'm asking because benchmade are not consistent with there QC .

 

[skyhorse]

So is this acceptable . I just don't like the edge on the 943 compared to the 940 . I'm asking because benchmade are not consistent with there QC .

The bevel on your 943 is very steep imho. I'd just re-bevel it myself because my standards of sharpening are higher than most assembly line sharpened blades.

 

[338375]

After looking at the consistency of Benchmades sharpening skills it would be a crap shoot whether or not the blade returns in better or worse shape. It might be sharp, but I have too many that have edge grinds that aren't even close on each side.

If you can't do the work yourself, and don't really want to take a chance sending it back to BM, there are a couple members here who will make your knife as sharp as it can possibly be, and they are very reasonably priced as well... I would bet they will make it sharper than it will ever be coming back from Benchmade. Not that BM can't do it, they just can't spend as much time on it as these guys can.

 

[CrialJLA]

Yes Benchmade are merely production knives. Employees assembling parts from a bin and off to the grinder.This is a factory edge on a 940.The bevel is fairly close to 30 degrees inclusive on this one.Coarsely ground and off to the dealer.Nothing bad or good about it. That's why this price fixing is really just nothing more than an attempt to hype up the perception of a brand imho.

This^

 

[jkarp_53]

The difference in grinds could very well be the work of two or more employees. I've seen it done both ways and consider what I'm seeing normal. It's the angle on the belt that makes all the difference.

 

[jac_solar]

Benchmade will not receive more money per knife, but the cost to the buyer has increased. Therefore, when a buyer pays top dollar they would expect to have the manufacture sell a knife worthy of the higher price. I have looked at many department store $25.00-$50.00 folders from different manufactures and their quality control (not design or materials) is better than a $100-$200.00 Benchmade. As I had said in an earlier post if Benchmade's quality control does not improve now that they cost more to me I will not buy them anymore.

Since they seem to think that people should pay more for their products, even if they are still making and selling them for the same cost, I think it's extremely unlikely that the quality will go up because of this - if anything, since they seem to think their knives are so good that people should pay more for them, isn't it more likely that the quality will decrease as opposed to increasing? It also means that they will most likely sell less knives.

At the very least, the fact that they (Effectively.) increased the prices just for the consumers (Without increasing the cost for the actual sellers.) indicates that they don't really care what the consumers think.

 

[Therangerofdanger]

sadly, I have had similar experiences with BM. This year I bought 2 BM knives.... One was perfect grind and sharp, other was not very sharp and coarse ground. The perfectly ground one was off-centered to the point the blade was rubbing the liner and the coarse ground one was perfectly centered. The 2 Kershaws I have purchased in the last 2 years have been sharpened perfect, one was only slightly off center (good enough for me)
I have drawn the conclusion that I will never buy a BM again without putting my hands on it..which means I won't be buying any unless I see it at the gun & knife show...

 

[xxratchetxx]

My 581 finally came in so here is my report of the QC in comparison to the two you received.

The edge grinds weren't perfect, but they weren't nearly as bad as the one you posted on the left. It is more like the one on the right.

The blade centering and lockup is perfect.

The coloration of the "Osbourne" is comparable to the top one you posted (fairly dark). The size of the "m390" is right between the two that you have. Not small, not big.
The patent number is right justified.

Overall, I can say I'm satisfied and happy with my purchase (I'm not 100% certain I have the skill to produce more even blade grinds at the moment. I have been practicing on the cheap kitchen knives, Mora, and Ontario Rat-1 until I can produce a more consistent grind).

 

[harris2]

xxratchetxx,

Congratulations. It's always good to hear from someone who gets a good one. You will like the 581. I believe it, and its little brother the 586 is one of the best knives Benchmade has released. It has a very solid feel with a great handle profile, and uses the excellent M390 blade steel. The Aluminum bolsters give it a refined/custom look too.

Enjoy.

 

[harris2]

The difference in grinds could very well be the work of two or more employees. I've seen it done both ways and consider what I'm seeing normal. It's the angle on the belt that makes all the difference.

Isn't that the whole point of having quality control standards? A manufacture should strive to ensure ALL employees are working to the companies established standards, if not extra training and enforcement would be in order. Quality control would also require that ALL belt grinders are set to the same degrees of angle blade grind that the company has deemed appropriate.

 

[arty]

The higher prices will limit my purchases. Frankly, I expect more from a knife that costs $135 than $80. You should get better quality control for the added cost. I haven't had any problems from my 4 Benchmade's, and all have been fine out of the box. I don't even think of the edge grind, since I can always fix that in a couple of minutes on a belt sander. However, I do like to see centered blades on a knife that runs well over $100. I would send any knife back to the manufacturers if there were no way to properly fix blade play.

 

[OBJ Viking]

I was planning on getting two normal production knives this year, (a 950 rift and a pink mini-grip, both to "put up" for my daughter to receive one day), and will definitely wait until I find a deal...and I'll probably buy used if this pricing stays in effect. Other than that, I am going to watch for LE runs and see what catches my eye, but really the only knives I am interested in paying over $160 for are LE run AFCKs (800s and 806s) and TSEKs (805s), and I have the 806s and 805s already. There is no knife I just "have to have" that I don't already have, and a 33% increase in Benchmade will definitely make me shop around and look at various brands.

 

[jkarp_53]

I am going to watch for what catches my eye, but really the only knives I am interested in paying over $160 for are LE run AFCKs (800s and 806s) and TSEKs (805s), and I have the 806s and 805s already.

A good philosophy that I've signed on with also. I really don't need any more, but keep an eye open for that NIB PE 970 and a few other old school models.