Benchmade is a very solid company, but I've never been interested in their gold class offerings. At that price you could go for a VERY nice custom made to your specifications. I can't imagine that they're not great knifes, but for that money I want something that's both unique and exactly what I want.
I think it depends on how you look at it, find a custom maker who uses M4 folders.
Heck look at folders in general.
I'm personally not a fan of titanium frame locks, or liner locks.
Folders in general seem to have a higher premium than sheath knives, it's that many more intricate parts to work flawlessly.
For example, an Andrew Demko custom went for nearly $1000 here, while the Benchmade Gold Griptilian has gone for $290.
So there's a $600 difference between just one custom 'tactical-esque' folder and a BM gold class.
Some of the BM non-gold class have really gone up in price, I cite the 610/615 and the 630/635.
I'm not saying BM is THE BEST knife company out there, but there's a reason that so many knife nuts like them. The same can be said for other companies.
I myself am an Osborne and Pardue fan... except for Mr. Pardues 520 design, I abhor that design, however without exception the rest never fail to make me love them.
McHenry & Williams gave birth to the AXIS lock, which I think most right handed people don't fully appreciate, in this case the 710/705/707 are shining examples of fun and functional knives.
The 720 series is an under appreciated design by Mr. Pardue, which in my mind IS the Griptilian with G-10 handle slabs... though I shouldn't mention that here because the next thing you know the aftermarket price will soar, needless to say the 720 series was replaced with the 520 series...instead of the 550 series... I'm almost certain that the $30 more per knife is well worth it... if the gripes in general knife discussion hold any weight and where CUSCADI costs as much as 10 times more. So getting a 720 series knife is really like getting a customized grip (sans the crazy colors) for 75% off.
I am completely biased, I've had Benchmade in my pockets since 1999 or 2000 and for over 10 of those years I carried the same two knives a BM 722s (I know, it's before I realized that BM had plain edges) and a BM 3550. Both used and abused, wrist flicked and used in a way that BM would never recognize as normal knife use.
I say all that to say this, I had BM when I was not a knife enthusiast because I recognized the value of folding knives that took far too much abuse far too easily. I became a fan of the designers who came up with the designs of such marvelous tools. This was before my mind became warped years later by internet forums and talk of safe queens and EDC and what kind of steel... come to think of it.. it was easier then.
I affirm your liking of Benchmade, and I hope you have my experiences with them, their customer support, the tens of thousands of opening and closing the same knife without a broken omega spring, without blade play and with super smooth G-10 handles from using the sucker every day for over a decade.
