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 .
Status
Not open for further replies.
DMG said:
No, it is definitely not. I order and use well over $50k worth of auto parts a year. Unfortunately, some comes from china. Chinese manufacturing is not ahead. It is cheaper because they use lower paid and slave labor.
Click to expand...
There’s definitely a handful of Chinese OEMs that are doing absolutely stellar work and are head and shoulders above US makers in terms of quality for dollar (Reate, Bestech, to name a couple), but it’s certainly a small number of makers, generally they’re still making US designs, and I’m sure they don’t yet represent the majority of what you’ll find on Ali express or the like. Definitely don’t want to write off those makers as junk though, the times are definitely changing!
 
DMG said:
No, it is definitely not. I order and use well over $50k worth of auto parts a year. Unfortunately, some comes from china. Chinese manufacturing is not ahead. It is cheaper because they use lower paid and slave labor.
Click to expand...
I thought we were talking about knives, not auto parts... I know nothing about auto parts but I do know my Chinese knives are generally better made than the American ones. There's no American manufacturer that produces anything of the same quality as Reate. Sorry, that's just how it is. American manufacturing has dwindled while China's has grown.

And I doubt any of the well known Chinese knife manufacturers are using "slave labor." They are cheaper because labor is cheaper in China, materials are cheaper, and they make more knives.
 
Synov said:
I thought we were talking about knives, not auto parts... I know nothing about auto parts but I do know my Chinese knives are generally better made than the American ones. There no American manufacturer that produces anything of the same quality as Reate. Sorry, that's just how it is. American manufacturing has dwindled while China's has grown.

And I doubt any of the well known Chinese knife manufacturers are using "slave labor." They are cheaper because labor is cheaper in China, materials are cheaper, and they make more knives.
Click to expand...
Maybe not the same quality at that price, that I’d agree with. But put a Holt in your hands and then tell me there’s no US maker at or above that Reate quality level :cool: if you’re truly after quality per dollar though It’s scary how good the top Chinese OEMs are.
 
Docscoot said:
Maybe not the same quality at that price, that I’d agree with. But put a Holt in your hands and then tell me there’s no US maker at or above that Reate quality level :cool: if you’re truly after quality per dollar though It’s scary how good the top Chinese OEMs are.
Click to expand...
Holt is a small business though, it's not comparable to manufacturers like Benchmade, Spyderco, and Reate. If we're talking generalities then Holt is negligible.
 
Synov said:
Holt is a small business though, it's not comparable to manufacturers like Benchmade, Spyderco, and Reate. If we're talking generalities then Holt is negligible.
Click to expand...
Point taken, if we’re sticking with mass produced and sub $400 or so then I agree Reate is probably king of the hill. Bestech is up there, with a handful following close behind. Benchmade and spyderco are barely in that discussion anymore, but for me that’s all the more reason to support them lest we lose all US manufacturing and also a lot of creative knife design. Even the fantastic large Chinese makers are largely just doing US designs outsourced to them to reduce costs.
 
Sure they’re overpriced, but so is everyone else. I felt the same way 10yrs ago.
I try to find used, practically new examples or clearance sales. Haven’t seen a lot of clearance sales lately, especially after MAP pricing went into effect.
I would like to get a Mini Bugout with CF scales and s90v. If I find a good deal on one I’ll get it one day.
I have all the knives I need so not in a hurry to get anything.
 
Benchmade makes quality knives at a markup for the same reason that Porsche makes a quality product at a markup.

The norm is, you’ll never destroy one with daily standard use, even slight abuse. But chances are the same goes for any mid level brand. The rest of the comments are purely conjecture and yes, once in awhile there’s a spring that busts which BM will fix, no questions asked.

So tell me, euro friend- is a Porsche worth it? Measured by what standard? Bc I’ve had to change out the thermostat on my old Macan S thrice in 2 years (at $300/part) along with a host of other issues. Genesis beats out their tech all day but there’s something about a Porsche that does it for some that others could give two shits about.

And to those who claim Chinese manufacturing is shoddy, couldn’t disagree more and the proof is in the pudding. China is the manufacturing capital of the world and they have more machining experience than the rest of the world combined. Bc of their deep experience, they have different tier factories that pump out ‘something for everyone’ insofar as there IS a HUGE market for cheap shit, a slightly smaller market for quality production knives, an even smaller one for mid techs and a cottage market for fully custom. This experience means that they can satisfy all this extremely varied demand and more. If the midtech or custom market grew, so would the volume of commensurate knives coming out of China.

On the other hand, what they don’t have is the pedigree and branding in winning designs which are generally outsourced to known makers eg Laconico Demko et al. I’d also argue they don’t have the same passion for knives themselves as art but they most def can pump out a world class product at scale.

We’ve see the likes of WE, Reate etc with far better fit finish and reliability than the US makers but for guys like me, nothing beats stuff made on this here soil and I’m getting cheesy, but when I hold a BM or Spy, it just makes me feel good…..but my civivis is perform just as good.
 
They are worth it to me. I'll admit that the prices are definitely on the higher end, but that holds true for most US-made knives now. For me the biggest draw is the designs. Benchmade's designs catch my interest much more quickly than those of its direct competitors, like Spyderco, ZT, Kershaw or Hogue. I like all those brands but BM's designs are more appealing to me. Spyderco is my second favorite brand but they've hardly introduced any new designs in years now; they seem more concerned with sprint runs of their mainstays. That's fine, but it has little appeal for me. Benchmade makes a wide variety of knives ranging from ultralights to tanks and everything in between. They make fixed blades, folders, side opening autos, OTFs and balisongs in G10, FRN, wood, aluminum, titanium and carbon fiber, with a nice variety of supersteels, all from a single factory in the US. That's no small feat of manufacturing and it's where they really surpass their competitors, in my opinion.
 
Synov said:
I thought we were talking about knives, not auto parts... I know nothing about auto parts but I do know my Chinese knives are generally better made than the American ones. There's no American manufacturer that produces anything of the same quality as Reate. Sorry, that's just how it is. American manufacturing has dwindled while China's has grown.

And I doubt any of the well known Chinese knife manufacturers are using "slave labor." They are cheaper because labor is cheaper in China, materials are cheaper, and they make more knives.
Click to expand...

This is false. Seriously, why do people keep pushing this opinion as fact? Some of the best knives in the world are made in the USA. If you love your Chinese knives, that's totally fine, but it'd be great if folks would stop stating their opinion as fact.
 
Synov said:
I thought we were talking about knives, not auto parts... I know nothing about auto parts but I do know my Chinese knives are generally better made than the American ones. There's no American manufacturer that produces anything of the same quality as Reate. Sorry, that's just how it is. American manufacturing has dwindled while China's has grown.

And I doubt any of the well known Chinese knife manufacturers are using "slave labor." They are cheaper because labor is cheaper in China, materials are cheaper, and they make more knives.
Click to expand...

When your factories in these giant factory cities the Chinese have all feature anti-suicide nets, that's usually a sign that their workforce is being mistreated.
 
Quiet said:
This is false. Seriously, why do people keep pushing this opinion as fact? Some of the best knives in the world are made in the USA. If you love your Chinese knives, that's totally fine, but it'd be great if folks would stop stating their opinion as fact.
Click to expand...
What major US manufacturer is comparable to Reate?
Quiet said:
When your factories in these giant factory cities the Chinese have all feature anti-suicide nets, that's usually a sign that their workforce is being mistreated.
Click to expand...
Do you have any evidence high quality knife manufacturers in China have anti-suicide nets or mistreat their workers in any way? This is especially funny since you just complained about people pushing opinions as fact.
 
Synov said:
What major US manufacturer is comparable to Reate?

Do you have any evidence high quality knife manufacturers in China have anti-suicide nets or mistreat their workers in any way? This is especially funny since you just complained about people pushing opinions as fact.
Click to expand...

There are plenty, especially if you want something other than a titanium flipper framelock (which is mostly what they make).

I respond to your question with one of my own: do you have proof that they don't? You seemed pretty sure a minute ago, which is why I ask, thanks! :D
 
Sharp & Fiery said:
I would say Chris Reeve Knives, Spartan…list goes on.
Click to expand...
We definitely can add companies like Olamic, and guys like Curtiss Knives and Les George to that list. After all, there are plenty of smaller guys making absolutely beautiful, perfectly made knives. Holt was mentioned before (but dismissed, because somehow when Synov Synov was saying "No American manufacturer", he has to start cherry picking when it's pointed out that his position is false.)
 
Synov said:
Holt is a small business though, it's not comparable to manufacturers like Benchmade, Spyderco, and Reate. If we're talking generalities then Holt is negligible.
Click to expand...

You weren't speaking in generalities, you stated:

Synov said:
There's no American manufacturer that produces anything of the same quality as Reate. Sorry, that's just how it is.
Click to expand...

Which, again, is false. Cherry picking based on size is just an admission from you that your statement is untenable. Speaking of which, let me know when We/Reate are making OTFs as nice as Microtech, Heretic, etc. Thanks! :D
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top