Is Benchmade losing their edge?

[HoB]

Yeah, they're losing their edge. They have just made an S30V, carbon fibre, round hole, Axis Lock AFCK available.
How tedious.

Ummmh, actually THEY haven't. As I pointed out, this is an exclusive run for a certain knife vendor, not a sprint run. BM has taken neither initiative nor risk on this one. And the price reflects that. Acutally, pretty disappointing.

I totally agree with J. Davey that unfortunately these thread always turn into BM vs. Spyderco but it is just to hard not to compare and contrast. In this case I just have to compare the run mentioned above with the current Chinese Lum in the works that got initiated simply because someone was listening to his customers...... .

 

[mmarkh]

Apples vs Oranges =:yawn:
That said I like some of Benchmades Products.How come no one asks if Chris Reeve lost his edge?I don't need 1000 different choices.Just good ones.

 

[jakeyjake4528]

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.

every knife company has used someone elses idea. its a knife, their is only so much one can do to make it different.

since spyderco has been around longer it stands to reason they have had to borrow less then benchmade. sure, you can say if benchmade were first they MAY of brought to the knife world what spyderco did, but thats not what happend.

spyderco rules.

 

[Tanto5]

Its always funny that in threads like this the main people that do all the smack talking are the spyderco lovers.

I wonder why that is?

Same old crap at bladeforums i see:jerkit: :yawn:

 

[StretchNM]

It's almost silly the way this thread has gone. Here's what I see:
1st post: "Has BM lost its edge?"
2nd and following posts: "Spyderco rules!". "I would take a Spydie over a red DNA anyday!". "Spyderco invented knives! Benchmade copied their hole!". "Benchmade knives don;t have any glitter and flash like the hookers on Main Street do!".

The originator of this thread wants to know if, since Benchmade didn;t come out with a "lowrider" knife or two this year, they hav elost their edge. Hmmm.

It occurrs to me that if Benchmade was in the business of selling cheap knives to cheap people, they would sprinkle glitter on their scales while the epoxy was still wet. They aren;t and they don;t. Expect to pay a reasonable price for an excellent knife with very little plastic in its makeup.

 

[J.Davey]

It's almost silly the way this thread has gone. Here's what I see:
1st post: "Has BM lost its edge?"
2nd and following posts: "Spyderco rules!". "I would take a Spydie over a red DNA anyday!". "Spyderco invented knives! Benchmade copied their hole!". "Benchmade knives don;t have any glitter and flash like the hookers on Main Street do!".

The originator of this thread wants to know if, since Benchmade didn;t come out with a "lowrider" knife or two this year, they hav elost their edge. Hmmm.

It occurrs to me that if Benchmade was in the business of selling cheap knives to cheap people, they would sprinkle glitter on their scales while the epoxy was still wet. They aren;t and they don;t. Expect to pay a reasonable price for an excellent knife with very little plastic in its makeup.

Actually, I didn't mean that they are losing their edge because they "didn't come out with a lowrider knife"; on the contrary, it seems that many of their knives are leaning towards higher-end, fancy knives than the more high quality utilitarian knives of a few years ago, or low cost imports. It seems that the majority of their knives fall into 2 catagories: 1. high-priced pieces that, while excellent quality and very functional (like the Rukus), I (personally) wouldn't carry as EDC for fear of losing it to Murphy's Law or the authorities. 2. Their red-class knives.

As I've stated NUMEROUS times, I LIKE BENCHMADE KNIVES, and I actually own more BMs than I do Spydercos or Kershaws. It just seems that they are offering less and less each year that makes me take notice while letting other great knives fall by the wayside (AFCK, TSEK, Ares, Nimravus Cub, etc.). That, to me, is the edge they're losing.

 

[jakeyjake4528]

Its always funny that in threads like this the main people that do all the smack talking are the spyderco lovers.

I wonder why that is?

Same old crap at bladeforums i see:jerkit: :yawn:

well thank goodness your clever use of the jerkit and yawn smiley hasnt added to the smack you speak against of in this thread. yes, same old crap indeed.

i love spyderco, i love benchmade. i dont think one is better then the other, they are different.

its hard not to compare benchmade and spyderco in a discussion, their is indeed a reason for that, what do you think it is?

 

[StretchNM]

Actually, I didn't mean that they are losing their edge because they "didn't come out with a lowrider knife"; on the contrary, it seems that many of their knives are leaning towards higher-end, fancy knives than the more high quality utilitarian knives of a few years ago, or low cost imports. It seems that the majority of their knives fall into 2 catagories: 1. high-priced pieces that, while excellent quality and very functional (like the Rukus), I (personally) wouldn't carry as EDC for fear of losing it to Murphy's Law or the authorities. 2. Their red-class knives.

As I've stated NUMEROUS times, I LIKE BENCHMADE KNIVES, and I actually own more BMs than I do Spydercos or Kershaws. It just seems that they are offering less and less each year that makes me take notice while letting other great knives fall by the wayside (AFCK, TSEK, Ares, Nimravus Cub, etc.). That, to me, is the edge they're losing.

That comment of mine certainly wasn;t pointed at YOU, J. Davey. Nor were any other derogitorily perceived comments directed at any specific person. As we (or rather I) read through these long threads, I forget who the original poster was and even who replied in this way or that. The overall gist that I got from the thread is that everyone's looking for BM to come up with some "flash" and, while the opinons are listed here in 5 pages, mine is simple: they don;t need to and I'm kindly glad they don;t..... personally speaking, of course.

BUT, I do agree with your last statement.... they seem to let certain knives drop off that, to me, were winners. Evidently they weren;t winners with very many though, or they'd have continued them. Where's my Nim Cub??

 

[J.Davey]

Stretch, that's cool. I can see where you are coming from. Personally, I'm glad I bought my Nim Cub when they first came out (original sheath...which is the only thing I don't like about it, Elishewitz logo, ATS34...I used a file and put 4 vertical grooves on the handle slabs...it may bring down the 'collectability' of it, but I've never bought a knife for that reason anyway...I'm sure some would be offended if they saw how 'used' my "Oct. 2000" blue handled Osborne is)!

 

[3Guardsmen]

Its always funny that in threads like this the main people that do all the smack talking are the spyderco lovers.

I wonder why that is?

Same old crap at bladeforums i see:jerkit: :yawn:

Are you implying that there are several threads asking if Benchmade is losing its edge?

You have 30 posts and became a member this very month, yet you claim to know what the norm is here at BF?

You are right about one thing, I have yet to see a thread asking whether or not Spyderco is losing its edge. I wonder why that is?

 

[3Guardsmen]

"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:

You're certainly right on this point! Just to satisfy my curiosity, does Benchmade give Spyderco credit on the blade of each Spyder-hole'd knife, just as Spyderco does with Emerson on every waved knife?

 

[Tanto5]

You're certainly right on this point! Just to satisfy my curiosity, does Benchmade give Spyderco credit on the blade of each Spyder-hole'd knife, just as Spyderco does with Emerson on every waved knife?

They give credit, its called money.

 

[Tanto5]

Are you implying that there are several threads asking if Benchmade is losing its edge?

You have 30 posts and became a member this very month, yet you claim to know what the norm is here at BF?

You are right about one thing, I have yet to see a thread asking whether or not Spyderco is losing its edge. I wonder why that is?

Because spyderco could make a knife out of a dog turd and people here would still claim its the best knife ever.

 

[Padawan]

They give credit, its called money.

And you know this how?

 

[J.Davey]

Because spyderco could make a knife out of a dog turd and people here would still claim its the best knife ever.

Actually, I would call it a turd. For instance, I had purchased a Temperance fb that I promptly sent back for an exchange. I just wasn't happy with it. Why? The tip was WAY too thin for my tastes, especially in a fixed blade. Also, the handle, while ergonomic, felt slippery and cheap to me. I thought it was turd. Just my opinion.

And, while we're on turds, I also sent back a full-sized Nimravus. Why? The blade was way too thin for its length, in MY OPINION. It had a reinforced tip. Big deal when the entire blade is too thin. If they would use steel that is, let's say 5/32, I would love it. But, FOR ME, 1/8 is too thin on a fixed blade over 4 inches. It was a turd. That's why I exchanged it for the Nim Cub, which I still own to this day.

 

[3Guardsmen]

They give credit, its called money.

Oh, I see. Well, FYI, Spyderco both pays Emerson and prints Emerson's name and patent number on the blade of each waved knife. THAT is real integrity.

 

[3Guardsmen]

Because spyderco could make a knife out of a dog turd and people here would still claim its the best knife ever.

You're right about one thing, if any knife manufacturer could create a useful knife out of something others had not thought of, it would be Sal and Spyderco. Of course, once the item began to become popular, another company would be right there, waiting in the wings to use it themselves.

 

[The General]

I am not going to talk about Spyderco as that was never the question.

There is little in the current Benchmade line up that interests me.

I used to buy an awful lot of Benchmade knives then I got burnt with some very poor customer service. The way Benchmade deal with Intelectual Property is just the icing on the cake for me not buying anything from them.

It has been hard at times not buying any Benchmade knives, but I stood my ground and now there is little they make that I would actually buy if things were different.

Not mentioning any brands here, but people that support a brand do so for many reasons, mostly because the knives are very very good and the company that backs them are top notch.

To some a good knife is enough, to others you need a good company to back it that respects its customers and treats them right.

Benchmade makes great knives, no question. Sometimes its about more than just the knife a company makes. Its my money, I will spend it how I wish. I don't judge others to my own self imposed standards, thats not something I EVER have the right to do.

I just wish for once we could have a calm discussion without wandering off topic.

 

[StretchNM]

............

I just wish for once we could have a calm discussion without wandering off topic.

Now General, what fun would that be?

Personally, I want some more yellin', screamin', cussin', biatch slappin', and maybe a little hair pullin (you know, get the gals interest up a little and get them involved)

 

[zenheretic]

Spyderco is a fine company but 90% of their knives are plastic handle lockbacks. Boring.:yawn:

http://spyderco.com/catalog/2007SpydercoByrd.pdf

Exagerate much?

Lets see here. Number of Spyderco models that are plastic handle lockbacks:34
Number of Benchmade models that are plastic handle lockbacks:3

Plastic handle folders are the biggest sellers. So no, I wouldn't say that I'm exagerating.

Benchmade Rules little man. :grumpy:

Change your tune much?

You specifically stated 90% of Spydercos are plastic handled lockbacks. A quick perusal of their main catalog (which is by no means inclusive) quickly shows how wrong that statement is.

Then you switch it around with your comparison to the number that Benchmade makes....hmmmmm. Just say what you mean the first time and there won't be any confusion.

Funny I run down the catalog list and counted the models listed started on page 62. The Fiber Reinforced Nylon Models (hardly "plastic") listed are #29 (12 of those broken down into 2 knives the Delica and Endura, which if you aren't into splitting hairs really means 19 FRN models). Counting the non FRN models I count 44 seperate models. 29 FRN models (19 actually different models) vs 44. Not quite the 90% FRN you stated.

Then you turn around again and say the FRN Spydies are their best sellers (I doubt you know for sure, but I won't dispute that as it is likely correct.) This point has nothing to do with your 90% of spydercos are plastic comment, but oh well. I wonder what the top sellers are for Benchmade? Is it one of their $300 models or is it something in the $60 range? (do they even charge that little for their knives?)

Finally we get to your referring to me as "little man", and that "Benchmade Rules" which only points to the fact that I'm arguing with a person of likely immature social, physical, and/or emotional aspects.