Is Benchmade losing their edge?

your right. nothing Benchmade has is particularly flashy or exciting. They have a lot of extreemly well made knives that do the job very well.

If you want flashy and well made go to spyderco.
 
huugh said:
I doubt you are talking about Le Mans Audi or Peugeot, then I have to ask what do you have - as these are only diesel powered "sports cars" I know of (not to mention even standard sedans with reasonable diesel engine gets only about 25mpg...)
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Off topic, but whatever...

Given a low-sulfur diesel, the emissions are the same as for gas engines. As for a sporty diesel, how about this... THe BMW 535d, 0-60mph in 6.3 seconds, or this, a BMW 330d, 0-60mph in 6 flat.

According to Car and Driver's test of that 330d, it pulled 40.4mpg highway and 37.8mpg over a combined course.
 
why are people arguing blade steels? Red class is made in China, the others are USA made. How anyone could in any way, shape, or form expect VG10, ZDP, or any other japanese steel that isn't shipped outside Japan in quantity, I can't figure.

Maybe they could use some M4, or S90. BM i probably just not getting good feedback from the majority of users on the super high wear resistant steels, which is not good when they are costly to produce knives in.
 
I'm not going to go into defining innovation vs. evolution or anything like that. I think Benchmade isn't as creative as Spyderco or Kershaw, but CRK isn't exactly, either(that's a good thing as I really like CRK). I guess it comes down to personal taste. For me, Benchmade mostly just makes more of what I'm not really interested in while Spyderco is at least willing to try new ideas. The only BMs that really interest me are the ones that look like Spydercos, so I'd be inclined to stick with the "real" Spydercos. I think BM's quality is high, but it comes down to being interested in the knife designs as well before I put any money down.
 
I've always liked Benchmade. I've always liked Spyderco. Both make great knives. Benchmade still makes great knives, I bought 2 higher end models in the last week and they're both awesome. I picked up a mini-rukus yesterday and it's one of the nicest knives I've ever seen. It came with the highest out-of the box sharpness of anything I've ever bought. It's sharper than my Millie or my Manix were when I first bought them- and they were (still are) scary sharp. The thing's like a huge scalpel.

The mini-Rukus is an almost perfect knife. The action is flawless, the lockup is dead solid, the ergos are fantastic. The only things on it I would change are the clip (it's a lowrider and I don't like that- feels flimsy) and the coating on the liners. If this knife had no coating on the liners and a standard Benchmade clip (parkerized of course) it would be perfect. As it is, it's better than almost everything else I have. I don't think Benchmade's slipping at all.
 
I don't understand why threads like this always become "BM vs. Spyderco". They both make fantastic knives! I honestly prefer Spyderco's Enduras (or even their Byrd line) and such to BM's Red Class knives. It isn't about where they are made or even their quality. I just like them better, plain and simple. It also doesn't hurt that they have a larger selection to choose from, thus making it easier to find the knife that is right for you. I've yet to see a BM Red Class folder that I've wanted to buy. It has nothing to do with quality or anything like that, just selection. None of them have float my boat, so to speak.
 
hardheart said:
Red class is made in China, the others are USA made.
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At least one red class (tether knife) is made in the USA and most of the rest were made in Taiwan (ROC) versus China (PROC). Folks in Taiwan and the USA can get hold of lots of cool steels. Actually, so can folks in the People's Republic, just we might not be familiar with the branding (i.e. 8C12CR63V...).
 
Any red box Benchmade is made in Taiwan or China.

The teather knife was originally made in the USA and branded as blue box before production shifted to taiwan and it became a red class knife.
 
Wunderbar said:
10 years ago all Benchmades were: Made in the USA.
Had ATS-34 steel blades.
Benchmade has: Knives from around the world.
Several custom designers.
Four classes of knives to choose from.
Several types of steel to choose from.
Many different locking mechanisms.

Keep following Benchmade and you'll see the evolution of knife making.

Spyderco is a fine company but 90% of their knives are plastic handle lockbacks. Boring.:yawn:
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28 years ago, the knife world hadn't seen pocket clips on (or) one-hand opening, folding knives. Serrated edges were only found on kitchen knives. Enter Spyderco!

Spyderco:
Has several custom designers
Has many different locking mechanisms.
Has access to materials and input, found only in the best factories of Japan.
Has an entirely separate brand of 'bang for the buck' imports from China.
Has used 'peel-ply' carbon fiber.
Has custom (and quite grippy) G10.
Has a line of rust-proof folders.
Has a Founder and President who participates on forums with and solicits input from his ELU's.
Has great respect (and a great record) for giving proper credit for any other company's/person's I.P. it uses.
Invented "bi-directional" texturing.
Is deeply loved by almost all of the Custom Knifemakers it has ever worked with.
Hasn't had to use another company's opening mechanism to sell its knives.

Regards,
3G
 
Yeah, they're losing their edge. They have just made an S30V, carbon fibre, round hole, Axis Lock AFCK available.
How tedious.
 
J.Davey said:
I've been thinking about this quite a bit ever since I received their 2007 catalog. It just seems to me that they are slipping when it comes to new designs and innovation. I've always been a devoted Benchmade user, owning and carrying at one time or another a Monolock, TSEK, AFCK, blue handled OCT 2000 Osborne, Nimravus Cub, Stryker...Hell, I had a Bushmaster back in the early 90's! I have to admit, that I was not impressed with their 2007 line-up. For the most part, it just seems like they are doing the same old same old. I know much of this has to do with what buyers demand, but it seems like they have lost their willingness to try anything really new as far as designs go. I also think they could re-work some of their designs (an AXIS Stryker would be nice, or how about a titanium handled, frame locking TSEK or AFCK), and bring back a few that have been proven favorites, like the AFCK and Nimravus Cub (which I liked a ton more than the full size Nimravus). Admittedly, I wouldn't mind seeing them do a new version of the Delta Raider fixed blade either. What do you all think?
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What edge did they have?
You mean edge as in advantage? I am sure they are fine knives but I have never felt the need to purchase one.
Their style and price structure will keep me with Kershaw at this stage.
 
Steven Andrews said:
Yeah, they're losing their edge. They have just made an S30V, carbon fibre, round hole, Axis Lock AFCK available.
How tedious.
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Not sure how serious you were in this post, but I couldn't agree more. I have an AFCK that I've had for 10 years with a liner lock and ATS 34. Yeah, I would like to have an AXIS lock AFCK, but I wouldn't pay that much for the S30V and carbon fiber 'upgrades' (a steel that I, personally, feel is only slightly better, and handle material that is nothing more than 'prettier'). I'd much rather have a "Chinook".
 
iamsmiling said:
I've only purchased a "red-box" Vex. It is China made but the quality of the work is excellent for the price. If they didn't make the opening detent too strong I'd like it a lot better.
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Personally, I'll never buy one of their Red knives -(the color is sure appropriate). To me a knife is one of the most personal pieces of equipment you can get. I may not be able to identify the country of origin on a more complicated product with lots of parts, but a knife is pretty simple. I'm not buying one from China. There are no truly free & independent companies in China - they are all ultimately controlled by the Chinese government - -and they'll not get any of my knife spending money - - even if I gotta spend a few bucks more. - - -
 
mr.trooper said:
your right. nothing Benchmade has is particularly flashy or exciting. They have a lot of extreemly well made knives that do the job very well.

If you want flashy and well made go to spyderco.
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LOLOLOLOL

Thats the funniest thing i have read in a long time!
 
Pointshoot777 said:
Personally, I'll never buy one of their Red knives -(the color is sure appropriate). To me a knife is one of the most personal pieces of equipment you can get. I may not be able to identify the country of origin on a more complicated product with lots of parts, but a knife is pretty simple. I'm not buying one from China. There are no truly free & independent companies in China - they are all ultimately controlled by the Chinese government - -and they'll not get any of my knife spending money - - even if I gotta spend a few bucks more. - - -
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Amen. Well said. BM can take their red DNA and compete with Kershaw and Gerber all they like. Their red class knives won;t get my money.

AND, for the poster who said something about Benchmades being expensive and he would stick to Kershaws, well..... that's your choice. But it has nothing to do with BM's quality. You can buy a lifetime guarantee Proto or Snap On wrench that will LAST a lifetime, or you can go to Harbor Freight and get a "made in China" wrench with (maybe) a lifetime guarantee that will last a few months. Your choice.

As Pointshoot77 said, a knife is a personal piece of equipment. I would add that it is a personal investment and an investment in your personality.
 
"Hasn't had to use another company's opening mechanism to sell its knives."


3G


So you're saying the "Emerson Wave" isn't an opening mechanism used to sell Spyderco knives??? Then why do the "Waved" versions cost more than their counterparts?:jerkit:
 
3Guardsmen said:
28 years ago, the knife world hadn't seen pocket clips on (or) one-hand opening, folding knives. Serrated edges were only found on kitchen knives. Enter Spyderco!

Regards,
3G
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Who's to say that when Benchmade came along that they would not have been the ones to start making one hand opening knives, serrated blades or pocket clips.
How about the lock back mechanism? I carried a Buck 110 Folding Hunter years before Spyderco started manufacturing knives. Spyderco didn't invent the lockback so that means that they had to use someone elses idea.;)
 
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