Is Benchmade worth it?

Is Benchmade worth it?

  • Yes, most models are a good buy.

    Votes: 37 25.0%

  • No. Most models are overpriced.

    Votes: 79 53.4%

  • No, but I will still buy them.

    Votes: 24 16.2%

  • Yes. But I won't buy them.

    Votes: 8 5.4%
  • Total voters
    148
  • Poll closed .
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DDDYLN said:
Why would I know what model this is? The only thing I appreciate about these knives, is the assisted opening. I assume they're assisted opening. That's something you don't get with Cold Steel's Tri-Ad lock. However, I just hand flick open my Voyager XL. It fits in my pocket easily, but I'm a larger guy. There are other companies that make these types of knives for less money than Benchmade. Like I said, if their prices were in line with their quality, I'd buy one. Until that happens, it's only going to be folding knife aficionados who buy them, and there aren't that many of those. Someone posted a knife on here that costs $850, because he likes the craftsmanship and attention to detail. That's kind of the definition of an aficionado, someone who will pay ridiculous prices for a niche product. You can buy an AR-15, plus some ammo for $850. You could also buy more than one of the best fixed blades on the market.
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Well, you asked us to show you a knife that could rival the Cold Steel Recon 1, etc. AntDog found a pic of one he believed would and pictured it. It doesn't appear to be assisted, just the usual Axis Lock. (pull the bar back and the blade drops free so we can easily wrist-flick it open, or use the thumb stud. When the thumb stud is used, one only has to tension the thumb a bit before thumbing it and the blade flies open. They essentially made the action so smooth and light that with just a bit of practice, it flies open almost like an auto or assisted knife.

I have a few Cold Steels and they're nice, esp. for the money. I also have a few Benchmades, and in terms of how "nice" they are, Benchmades just have a nicer action.

Also, Benchmades are US-made, which has a big impact on cost and they don't use any low-end steel. Cold Steel does use some mid and high grade steels, but only in their top of the line models. The rest use really basic soft steels like 4116 and AUS-8 in most of their knives. I really like their AUS-10A, but that's only a mid-grade steel, these days. S35vn is a higher-end one but that's only available on their top tactical models, IIRC. XHP was well-loved but they immediately stopped getting it.

Last thing: I'm not sure the TriAd Lock is stronger than the Axis Lock; it's just that it's the strongest BACK lock. It doesn't really matter though, either one is MORE than strong enough for its intended purpose, and that's why no one but Cold Steel bothered to market it. Ol' Lynn Thompson liked to market how strong that lock was by hanging hundreds of pounds worth of weight off of the handles, and it really appealed to the mall ninjas, that and chopping through free-hanging rope.

One thing I will say is the Cold Steel finish quality has always been spot-on, as they are made in Taiwan (probably by robots) and apparently have very good QC. Benchmade, I have had no "problems" with, but the factory grind on one of mine was not very good. I had to spend a ton of time re-profiling it to something a little thinner that would take a micro bevel.

Bottom line to me is that Cold Steel is an excellent value, but not as nice as Benchmade, especially when it comes to the Fidget Factor. It's like going from a Toyota to a Lexus or Ford to Lincoln. Do you need those leather, air-conditioned seats? No, but they're nice.

Try one some day. It sounds like you haven't yet.
 
DMG said:
Similar size, similar steel. Look at the prices from their own websites.

www.coldsteel.com

AD-10

If you're planning a big game hunt, a dangerous expedition, or an exciting adventure and want to carry a high-performance folding knife that won't draw unw
www.coldsteel.com www.coldsteel.com




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That's not exactly a fair comparison, since Benchmade fixes prices, while Cold Steel shows ridiculous MSRPs to help its dealers; they're not even CLOSE to street prices.

Just like the dress your wife bought on sale for $125 that was "marked down from $250".

Still, you make a good point, that it takes a high-end Cold Steel to really compete with an entry-level Benchmade.
 
DMG said:
I deal with poverty mentality in my customers in our small town. You can smell it on people wearing velcro shoes from Walmart, bragging about how cheap they got something, switching price tags at the hardware store. It is unappealing.

These losers complain about stuff that costs too much as they spend most of their money on scratch off tickets, junk food and beer or energy drinks. This thread reminds me of that. If something is too expensive, STFU and don’t buy it. Don’t complain about it everywhere. And don’t expect others to accept that your lack of taste or cheapness is the only answer.
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Couldn’t have said it better!
 
The part i find most amazing is he had so many negative things to say about benchmade but doesn’t even own one. Hilarious
 
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Benchmade has never been a value driven brand. The pricing on some of there recent releases has me looking elsewhere. Guess I can now go buy some more lotto tickets and a new set of Velcro kicks.
 
jux t said:
All the testing I’ve seen reported shows that CS runs their steel in pretty optimal hardness ranges. Their CTS XHP was great, their S35VN and CPM 3V is great as well. Those are all pretty premium steels, IMO. Where have you seen that they run their steels soft for warranty returns?

Most of CS knives are made in Taiwan, not China. What CS models commonly had lock failures? I am aware the early assisted opening Swift models had issues.
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The Swift definitely. I sent 2 back in a row before they got it right. It was my favorite CS folder in CTSXHP, too.
 
Nebuchadnezzar said:
Benchmade has never been a value driven brand. The pricing on some of there recent releases has me looking elsewhere. Guess I can now go buy some more lotto tickets and a new set of Velcro kicks.
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People could skip the $6 velcro shoes from Walmart and just not start outrage threads about the cost of stuff they don’t buy anyway. That was my point. Your feet will thank you.
 
DMG said:
People could skip the $6 velcro shoes from Walmart and just not start outrage threads about the cost of stuff they don’t buy anyway. That was my point. Your feet will thank you.
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It's fun to discuss tho, even if it has been beat to death for a few decades.

Benchmade has been doing some odd stuff recently, pricing included.

About ten years ago Omega watches decided to move up brand and started charging up to 100% more for the same model watches they have always sold. The collectors noticed and wailed and gnashed teeth, Joe Schmoe watch buyer was none the wiser, and thought the price meant better or equal quality to similarly priced brands.

The moves I see Benchmade making remind me of what Omega did. Not to that extreme yet, but they are set up as a luxury good, and seem to be tapping into that luxury price driving demand, instead of the other way around for normal goods. We will see.
 
mitchnola said:
Benchmade is a fanboi company? What companies don’t have fanboi’s. Even cold steel has fanbois.

I’m no benchmade fanboi. I have all the benchmades I need or want and have no plans of buying anymore. I too actually like spyderco better.

I have maybe 7 or 8 benchmades and haven’t had any problems with any although I have no doubt problems happen but I would bet their customer service would take care of any of them.

To write them off as some terrible company seems a little harsh but that’s only based on my experiences.

I must admit I know nothing of their politics and if I did I’d probably no longer support them but like I said I don’t plan on buying any in the foreseeable future anyway.
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Cmon those cold steel commercials were hilarious. just look up the triple action! or the ones with the swords or machetes where they destroy a perfectly good pig carcass
 
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Nebuchadnezzar said:
It's fun to discuss tho, even if it has been beat to death for a few decades.

Benchmade has been doing some odd stuff recently, pricing included.

About ten years ago Omega watches decided to move up brand and started charging up to 100% more for the same model watches they have always sold. The collectors noticed and wailed and gnashed teeth, Joe Schmoe watch buyer was none the wiser, and thought the price meant better or equal quality to similarly priced brands.

The moves I see Benchmade making remind me of what Omega did. Not to that extreme yet, but they are set up as a luxury good, and seem to be tapping into that luxury price driving demand, instead of the other way around for normal goods. We will see.
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I did not know that about Omega. I have been looking at them and trying to convince myself they are worth the price jump over a Hamilton Khaki or similar.

I think anything knife more than $100 is a luxury item. When I got my first CRK I didn’t use it for months.
 
DMG said:
I did not know that about Omega. I have been looking at them and trying to convince myself they are worth the price jump over a Hamilton Khaki or similar.

I think anything knife more than $100 is a luxury item. When I got my first CRK I didn’t use it for months.
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Hamilton is a good watch every bit the equal of Omega (yes I can back up that opinion). They are owned by the same parent company, Swatch Group. Look at Tudor if you want some decent value in the Omega price range, the Pelagos is one of the best bang for buck luxury dive watches out there. Omega watches aren't bad, I have two that I was able to get good deals on. They just noticed that at a certain level a higher price can raise demand and went for it.

In knife terms it would be like Benchmade deciding they wanted in on that Chris Reeve/Hinderer/Spartan money and decided to increase prices to those levels hoping people would bite. It might work. They aren't bad knives, I'm just not impressed at what they offer for the money.
 
Worth is subjective so to me some of their knives are totally worth it but to be fair I only have a few of their knives.

Never been gungho on them and with the political controversy a few years back it made them alienate a lot of folks but for the most part they just don't come out with anything in the last handful of years that looks like a must buy to me, that actually goes for all the Northwest Dealer Row as nothing coming out of there excites me.

Benchmade is the opposite of CRKT as they use great materials on in my opinion flat or boring designs while CRKT comes out with some really interesting designs with older steels and weird choices in handle/scale materials.
 
Nebuchadnezzar said:
It's fun to discuss tho, even if it has been beat to death for a few decades.

Benchmade has been doing some odd stuff recently, pricing included.

About ten years ago Omega watches decided to move up brand and started charging up to 100% more for the same model watches they have always sold. The collectors noticed and wailed and gnashed teeth, Joe Schmoe watch buyer was none the wiser, and thought the price meant better or equal quality to similarly priced brands.

The moves I see Benchmade making remind me of what Omega did. Not to that extreme yet, but they are set up as a luxury good, and seem to be tapping into that luxury price driving demand, instead of the other way around for normal goods. We will see.
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As someone who has a Seamaster, and who sees what they charge new for them now, I'm forced to agree.
 
RoyalHolic said:
for the most part they just don't come out with anything in the last handful of years that looks like a must buy to me
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This is currently where I'm at; I love the ones I've got and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a Grip or Bugout or 940 to someone. I'm going to have a 710 in my pocket in the deer stand this year, same as for the last decade.

Just haven't bought a new one for myself recently. But I still keep an eye on what they're coming out with and I'm sure I'll be tempted again sooner or later.
 
Some posters nailed it: nothing new coming out in recent years that are impressive/attractive while jacking up prices on a yearly basis. This pretty much applies to Benchmade (maybe with the exception of Bugout), ZT, etc.
 
Despite all the back and forth and bickering, at the end of the day, if it makes you happy, that's the most important part. For me, if it is fun to mess with, is good quality to the point I don't need to worry about using the warranty, and I feel the materials and fit & finish match (or somewhat) the price, then I'm happy. The best warranty is the one you don't need to use, which is why I've gotten into higher end knives. I also like things that are off the beaten path, that aren't common, whether it be a variety of colors, different types of locks, steels etc.

However, that doesn't mean I can't appreciate lower priced knives. I picked up a Buck Marksman for my brother in law. $65, 154CM, but once you get adjusted to the lock, it flips better than most production knives I own. It puts a grin on my face (even though I cut myself with it) and I know it will for my brother in law. It may not be a wonder steel, but for someone who isn't really a knife knut, he can sharpen it on his own without diamonds.
 
I think we all should keep in mind of the current inflation that’s certainly affecting the knife industry as well causing prices to go up across the board.
 
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