How do you rate Benchmade?

I guess that I am just not smart enough to say that one company is better than the next, where Spyderco and Benchmade are concerned. In my books they are both fine producers of knives. So far, where Benchmade detractors are concerned, I have seen a lot of hyperbole and hearsay, yet no tangible facts.

What I would like to know, is why anyone needs to purchase one brand over the other. I own great knives from both Spyderco and Benchmade, knives that each have their own unique characteristics. To me it is like asking which is better, a Cezanne or a Monet. Both have painted scenes of France, yet each one brings their own individual style to their art.

Let's all get beyond this asinine comparison of production companies and concentrate on the attributes of the knives themselves. I think that we would all be a bit happier. :)
 
Carried and Endura for nearly 10 years---tried and Axis lock 4 years ago or so----no other knife have been clipped to my pocket since---Spyders are ok--Kershaws are just an also ran--if you gave me free ones---I'd sell them to buy a BM.
 
kawr said:
I dont understand why lefties say Axis lock alone makes it the best. Last time I checked lockbacks were just as ambidextrous and lockbacks are the most used lock by Spyderco.

The only Benchmades I own are purely for aethetic reasons. Spyderco just functions better in just about every aspect. No doubt axis lock is very cool and no doubt some BMs just look straight up awesome Those two reasons arent anywhere near enough to overtake Spyderco's awesomeness. Add in BMs silly prices and you get a clear winner in my pov.
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It's not just the Axis-Lock alone.

Righties seem to take it for granted that there will always be right-handed pocket carry on virtually every single knife they can buy. Lefties aren't so lucky.

No, lockbacks are not always ambidexterous: case in point, Spyderco Dragonfly, Kopa, Ladybug. Originally the Spyderco pocket clips were integral--to right hand only. Even now, there are many models in the Spyderco lineup that give no option for lefties. Until recently, the Paramilitary was right hand only. So too was the Military. How about the Ti Military, or Michael Walker?

Not that BM doesn't do this as either: Dejavoo, Subrosa, Stryker, Lum Ti, or MPR. Just to name a few.

However, if a knife has the Axis-Lock, I know that it will also have carry for a lefty.

Why don't you try reversing the pocket clips on your knives, if they even have the option to do so, for left handed carry and see what it's like? I really think you will be surprised at how annoying it is. Not only must you flip the knife over after drawing it to open it, you also don't have a pocket-clip to give purchase to your fingers. It makes opening a knife much more difficult that you would think.
 
kawr said:
I wouldnt buy a lot of knives from BM though, its just really bland and same old steels and handles. It just seems like they are satisfied with the status quo and have no vision. Companies like Spyderco and even Kershaw always pump out something new and unique and arent afraid to try something new. In the end, I think that is biggest differance between Benchmade and Spyderco.
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That's one of the good points actually. Suits me fine if BM doesn't feel the need to come out with 6 different models of every new "super steel" of the week.
As another poster pointed out above. Coming out with new stuff every year just to come out with different knives doesn't do me any good. One of the things I don't like about any gear, fishing rods and reels, speakers, boots, whatever, is you invest in the good stuff and find out what you like and works well and lasts, you can't go back and get more because every brand's line is totally revamped every year or two and it's different.
True advancement in materials and design are great. Just having 60 different models changing to 60 different models every two years is just serving a market of people who need something new and different, may sell a lot of knives and there's nothing wrong with that in itself I suppose. Just doesn't do it for me.

I thought the question was product quality. You can like or dislike corporations for many reasons other than that and rightly so, but that's another discussion.
 
Cynic2701 said:
It's not just the Axis-Lock alone.
However, if a knife has the Axis-Lock, I know that it will also have carry for a lefty.
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True for all models, but two ;) 741 Lum Onslaught and 77x Osborne series only have one possible clip placement.
 
I like my Benchmade Titanium 943's better than my Sebenza, but I like my William Henry B-15 format Ti folders better than the BM's. For large folders I like my Camillus CUDA MAXX's better than my BM 710's or Ti Militaries. If I we left handed, the Benchmade ratings would go up on account of the AXIS lock.
 
I love my Benchmades. Axis lock is probably my favorite locking mechanism. Their customer service has always been kind. A lot of their designs appeal to me as far as usefullness goes. I wish that they would start going tip up on their liner locks though. I have gotten so use to tip-up carry with my axis lock folders.


Current Benchmade flavor? Benchmade Mini Onslaught.
 
Benchmade to me offers some good looking designs here and there. I've toyed with the idea of buying a Skirmish or a mini for a few years now.
The thing that really turned me off on them was 4 years ago or so I was on a fixed budget and dollars were very precious.
Well I came into a slight windfall and decided to treat myself to a more expensive knife than I would usually buy , went to a local old school hardware store and let the clerk talk me into an Apparition, it was $170 IIRC.
To say I was disappointed was an understatement !

For a knife that pricey I expected immaculate F&F , not grind/cut marks on the liners and the backpiece ( too much caffiene , cant think of proper term... )what got me also was how in the sweet hell did that knife pass a qualified QC check ? Was there even one ? How could anyone look at the sample I bought and deem it okay for sale !!? , the knife was sloppy indeed. In comparison the Leek I was gifted a month or so before that was a museum quality piece as far as F&F are concerned.
The linerlock was sloppy , a simple spinewhack on a phone book would disengage the lock , the plastic kudu (or whatever it was supposed to be) horn looked terrible , poor choice IMO for a handle material.
Long story short I felt cheated out of that -at the time- precious coin but was determined to try and like the knife , because if you spend that much on a knife it has to be good , right ?.... right ?? ;) I kept it after the in store take back policy had expired so like it or hate it the knife was mine now , I did wind up selling it to an associate for near half of what I paid... good riddance too.
That was my second Benchmade, my third was a Minigrip bought used , the mini is the only one I kept , I still think it is a solid little knife , it resides in my truck first aid kit , razor sharp and ready to work.
The Apparition though was a huge waste of money and left a permanent bad taste in my mouth , it only takes one episode like that to ruin a company's reputation in the eye of the buyer. My favorite company for knives now , I have never had one single problem like the above stated and I own near 15 of their knives... Even the 'blem' I bought looked better than the Apparition !

I'm not posting this just to bash Benchmade , if they didnt put out at least some quality merch then they wouldnt be as popular and I still have plans on buying a MPR one day.
Hopefully by now they have worked out the fit and finish issues !!

Tostig

edit - Oh , so yea I gave Benchmade a solid 7 in my earlier post which considering my story is pretty damn nice of me but fair I think taking into consideration that so many of you give them high marks. :)
 
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I'll give BM an 8 as a company. Overall the quality on every BM I've owned has been top notch but it seems like every time I've given them a shot there is something that bugs me about the knife. I've traded off most of my BM's while keeping many more Spydercos. This isn't a hit on them as a company, but personal preference for designs and ergonomics.

The one big hit I'll give to BM is their lack of out of the box sharpness. For a knife that costs so much money, to me it's almost unforgivable to not have a razor sharp edge from the factory. The last few knives I've received from them have very shallow and frankly just bad relief edges.
 
TxAggieA-Batt said:
I'll give BM an 8 as a company. Overall the quality on every BM I've owned has been top notch but it seems like every time I've given them a shot there is something that bugs me about the knife. I've traded off most of my BM's while keeping many more Spydercos. This isn't a hit on them as a company, but personal preference for designs and ergonomics.

The one big hit I'll give to BM is their lack of out of the box sharpness. For a knife that costs so much money, to me it's almost unforgivable to not have a razor sharp edge from the factory. The last few knives I've received from them have very shallow and frankly just bad relief edges.
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I agree, they need to hire people who can/will sharpen the knives properly.
I think this is a major oversight with some knife companies.
 
Pete2s said:
Overall, Benchmade is either the best production knife company or tied for the best.
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This. They aren't hard use knives....any of them really. I'm sure someone could look and maybe find one or two. But if you need a regular use knife and don't have a $400 budget some REALLY nice Benchmades can be had for $75-200. I'd say they are the best production company in their price range.

Value - 9
Customer service - 10
Warranty - 9
Price - 9
Overall 9/10
 
Tostig said:
For a knife that pricey I expected immaculate F&F , not grind/cut marks on the liners and the backpiece ( too much caffiene , cant think of proper term... )what got me also was how in the sweet hell did that knife pass a qualified QC check ? Was there even one ? How could anyone look at the sample I bought and deem it okay for sale !!?
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Was it in a blister pack or what? Were you unable to look at the thing before you paid for it for some reason? I cant see why if you bought this at a hardware store you couldn't look at it before you left with it, in which case you deemed it OK for sale and actually paid for it.
Not to excuse sorry quality from BM but that just doesn't make sence to me, especially if, as you described, this was a major knife purchase for you. FTR it would be for me too, I haven't paid that much for a knife yet.
 
I have a few Benchmades, going back almost 20 years with my first. All have seen substantial pocket time and use (except the Mini-Barrage that I just received today!).

Mini-AFCK
AFCK
710 D2
Osborne 943
AFO
Osborne Mini-Barrage

Benchmades were the first high-quality knives I bought and so they became the benchmarks I use to judge other modern folding knives. I am very pleased with the design, construction, materials and quality of each of my Benchmades and have not had a warranty issue or needed a repair.

I'd rate them a solid 9 on all counts. (Saving the perfect score of 10 for the "perfect" knife, if it exists!)

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
I would rate Spydercos over Benchmades...i have owned only one Benchmade...the 710D2, and it is pretty great, the only thing i have a problem with is that they don't locktite the pivot, so after an afternoon of playing, the blade had some serious lateral play in it. I like that Benchmade now makes all of its knives in the USA, but still have to hand it over to Spyderco as rolling out the better products. I own a delica g10, delica 4 FFG, paramilitary 2, UK penknife drop point. (and in the past a CTS-XHP manix 2... :() Overall the quality that goes into Spyderco products regardless of US or Japanese manufacturing is top of the line. My manix and my ukpk have been some of the highest quality production folders i have ever handled...(haven't dropped for a CRK or STRIDER).

While people will argue that Benchmades are better than spyders, you also have to ask the question of use. Most of the Benchmade lines are fairly aggressive looking tactical type folders where as many of the Spyderco knives are more friendly looking.

Tactical types will love some of the strengths of the Benchmades, but everyone can agree that nothing slices like a full flat ground blade.....and Benchmade only offers a few of those.


just my two cents.
 
I own one Benchmade now - a mini -Paka II - cheap enough at Cabalis to use up that rest of a gift card plus a couple bucks - I've only had it about a month - and it's taking the place of a version 2 Delica in EDC line up... we'll see!
Peace
Revvie
 
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