Sorry, but I think some of you guys ALWAYS returning stuff and complaining of issues are nuts and expecting way to much out of these knives and the companies. I've been through about 1000-2000? knives trying to find what I like best since I joined this site, and went fanatical. I've had problems with just about every single folder from every single company there is, some, lil, nit picking, problem, always. Pivots, locks, screws bål blah blah. But with a Lil tweaking once and awhile, good as gold. They cut and function well. Can rarely actually say something was complete junk, defect, bad manufacturing or design.
These threads are just laughable to me. If it was something serious, Benchmade would have fixed it. I've bought around 50 brand spanking new benchmades and never not once had one felt needed to return or complain about. Never. Loose pivot, sure, edge not so great, sure, Lil bit of lock stick, sure. But I've had those same problems FROM AT LEAST ONE KNIFE FROM EVERY SINGLE OTHER COMPANY THERE IS. All those things always fixable, easily, by my own hands.
Maybe it's just me not being overly anal and finicky about things, or maybe cause I always tweak my knives to my liking no matter what anyways out of box. I don't know. I do think there are way to many people expecting way to much out of knives.
Benchmade has bent over backwards for me as far as their customer service and warranties. Never been disappointed. Only complaint really have is prices are getting crazy, but that's the same with every other company.