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.
Sharp & Fiery said:
The old flipper tab one BM made (can’t remember the name right now) was not their best offering quality-wise and the action wasn’t anything to write home about. Also thick handled.
Click to expand...
I have never encountered a Benchmade or Spyderco flipper that flipped really well.

But the Benchmade Ball 300 has such incredibly good action opening and closing without the flipper tab that it got me started buying manual Benchmades (before that I only had autos). Flipping it open does require a little assist from the wrist or gravity. But it opens beautifully with the thumb stud, and when you pull the axis lock, it becomes a gravity knife. I am not really into fidgeting, but the Ball and Griptilian are the best fidgeters I have.
 
I think I have three Benchmades. I have bought seven or eight, a couple as gifts and one I gave away on impulse. None of them has ever broken an omega spring. I think a lot of their models are too expensive. The two I would be most likely to buy would be a mini Grip and a Bugout. I won't buy any more because I am not buying or carrying modern folders these days, but if someone gave me one of those, I would accept it gracefully. I still probably wouldn’t carry it much.
 
I think Benchmade is still top quality. I have never seen one with sub-par materials or build. Every one of them I have handled were sharp out of the box.The Presideo series is a great value for the dollar knife in fact maybe one of the best out there.

If you are going to compare their pricing to knives made overseas with very inexpensive labor in places with little regard for the welfare of workers made using CNC machines, which can cover up a multitude of sins by the way, even if corners are not cut you are still going to pay less money for the import (sometimes not much less.) If it's all you can afford then by all means get what you can afford if you don't need to pinch dollars then only you can decide if you should be getting a good high quality knife made in a place where human rights are held in high regard.
 
I like Benchmade a lot, but haven't bought one for several years, so I cannot comment on their recent production. There are several models that I wouldn't mind owning though. BM just seems to speak to me from a design perspective, and I like the axis lock. I have a couple BM framelocks, and they leave a bit to be desired compared to ZT and others. Axis lock is where it's at for Benchmade.
 
Is it “worth it” or seeing the value is very subjective.

All I can say is my limited experience: as a lefty and wanting a “true ambidextrous” configuration, I finally pulled the trigger on an axis lock model, after much internal debate based on reviews on the omega springs. Go figure, they broke in about 2 months. A big deal? Not really. Fixable? Of course. But it certainly turned me off to pay that much for a knife only to have that happen immediately.
 
I own only one benchmade knife, a mini-griptillian I bought several years ago. I like the axis lock, the knife is well made and a great general edc pocket knife. I found the price fair. In my view, a knife is worth the price if it is the one you want and it suits your needs. I also own several CRK's. They are pretty expensive for a basic edc, but I find their workmanship and quality something I am willing to pay more for. It is in the eye of the beholder Let the market prevail. If Benchmade charges too much for its knives, people will not buy them and the company will lose money and change its business strategy. Knife prices have gone up all around, not just Benchmade. Whether a knife brand is "worth" it to you, is up to you.
 
Its worth it to me to pay a little extra to support US made products. Benchmade makes a decent knife, maybe not the best bang for the buck, but I try to keep my hobby spending domestic. If this were purely a debate about getting value, a $3 harbor freight chinesium special wins against anything else.
 
I don't think so, now if it's a design you really love that's worth something, if you're a lefty that limits options, but overall over priced even for USA made on most models. Granted most companies make similar products across various price ranges when it comes to handle material/blade steel. For example you can get a USA made spydero in s30/s45 with G10 handles anywhere from $145 to $270, just depends on the model. I do like their designs, and own a few, but almost all were picked up on the secondary market.

Let's compare say Spyderco's USA made knives. Another thing to keep in mind Spyderco makes "lightweight" models at even lower price points. Spyderco's USA made knives give you (in most cases) G10, s30/s45 steel at a price point under $200. Benchmade on the other hand once you want G10 you almost can't find anything under $200. Benchmades plastic handled knives cost basically what Spyderco's G10 handled knives do.

$160 Para 2 S45v G10 USA made.
$160 Para 3 s45v, G10, USA made (lightweight, $120)
$145 Manix 2 S30v, G10, USA made (lightweight $115)
$180 Native 5 G10, s30v USA made (lightweight $120)
$180 Yojimbo 2, G10, s30v, USA made
$185 Native Cheif, G10, s30v, USA made
$240 Shaman (where spyderco fell off the sanity train) G10, S30v, USA made. basically same blade size and shape as the Manix 2

Also add to this that if you want premium blade steel, Spyderco often does exclusives/sprint runs where the prices are still fairly low. Most sprint run Manix 2/Para 2's with premium steel option are still under $200, meanwhile high end steel runs like the s90v Bugout, 940, freek, arcane are all over $280. Benchmade's meatcrafter line prices remind me of Yeti's $60 five gallon buckets.

Benchmade
$165 Griptillian s30v, FRN plastic handles
$175 Presido II, s30v, FRN/plastic handles
$210 940, G10, s30v
$290 Crooked River s30v, dymondwood handle

The new stuff is where Benchmade really fell off the sanity train
$280 Vector Assisted S30v G10.
$280 Bushcrafter, simple 4.5" s30v fixed blade
$265 Turret, s30v G10
$270 Tagged out Hunt, g10, s45vn.
$405 Meatcrafter, a stiff blade fillet knife, CF grip, s45vn....but it's orange!
$340 Meatcrafter, same as above but not orange and G10.
$180 flyway, a fixed blade, 2.7" tiny thing, 154cm steel.
$550 Narrows, M390, Ti
 
Talking about broken Omega spring, I have had only one that happened over nearly two decades of about 20 Axis lock folders. That is a s90v/cf Bugout. I replaced both springs with aftermarket ones that some folks recommended on the BM subforum (also replaced the washers with recommended bigger ones). This knife has become my sole EDC for about one year. It has kicked away my Spyderco Delica, Endela, and PM2 (sold all of them except a s30v PM2 for sentimental reasons). It is IMO the best midsize lightweight EDC folder in the market.

To the above poster, yes I definitely agree that BM's prices are ridiculous. However, Spyderco's prices nowadays are ridiculous too. I don't know where you get their prices but a production G10/S45VN PM2 is now priced at ~$185, not $160.
 
Last edited:
For prices I tended to grab whatever looked cheapest that came up in a search, I'm sure they vary by retailer.



That said, looking at sites I've used before that have prices low enough they won't list them unless you email for quotes or add to card due to MAP, I was able to find shipped for the plain PM2 with G10 UPC 716104006816 at a few pennies under $140. I avoided using those sites simply because it would have taken too much time to look up prices, and I'm sure if they offer BM they would be cheaper on those as well.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
ToddM said:
I don't think so, now if it's a design you really love that's worth something, if you're a lefty that limits options, but overall over priced even for USA made on most models. Granted most companies make similar products across various price ranges when it comes to handle material/blade steel. For example you can get a USA made spydero in s30/s45 with G10 handles anywhere from $145 to $270, just depends on the model. I do like their designs, and own a few, but almost all were picked up on the secondary market.

Let's compare say Spyderco's USA made knives. Another thing to keep in mind Spyderco makes "lightweight" models at even lower price points. Spyderco's USA made knives give you (in most cases) G10, s30/s45 steel at a price point under $200. Benchmade on the other hand once you want G10 you almost can't find anything under $200. Benchmades plastic handled knives cost basically what Spyderco's G10 handled knives do.

$160 Para 2 S45v G10 USA made.
$160 Para 3 s45v, G10, USA made (lightweight, $120)
$145 Manix 2 S30v, G10, USA made (lightweight $115)
$180 Native 5 G10, s30v USA made (lightweight $120)
$180 Yojimbo 2, G10, s30v, USA made
$185 Native Cheif, G10, s30v, USA made
$240 Shaman (where spyderco fell off the sanity train) G10, S30v, USA made. basically same blade size and shape as the Manix 2

Also add to this that if you want premium blade steel, Spyderco often does exclusives/sprint runs where the prices are still fairly low. Most sprint run Manix 2/Para 2's with premium steel option are still under $200, meanwhile high end steel runs like the s90v Bugout, 940, freek, arcane are all over $280. Benchmade's meatcrafter line prices remind me of Yeti's $60 five gallon buckets.

Benchmade
$165 Griptillian s30v, FRN plastic handles
$175 Presido II, s30v, FRN/plastic handles
$210 940, G10, s30v
$290 Crooked River s30v, dymondwood handle

The new stuff is where Benchmade really fell off the sanity train
$280 Vector Assisted S30v G10.
$280 Bushcrafter, simple 4.5" s30v fixed blade
$265 Turret, s30v G10
$270 Tagged out Hunt, g10, s45vn.
$405 Meatcrafter, a stiff blade fillet knife, CF grip, s45vn....but it's orange!
$340 Meatcrafter, same as above but not orange and G10.
$180 flyway, a fixed blade, 2.7" tiny thing, 154cm steel.
$550 Narrows, M390, Ti
Click to expand...
I'm not sure these are all apples to apples comparisons. And really when you look at some of the models, the price difference seems pretty understandable.

I think people want companies to do work for free.

For example, compare a Benchmade tagged out ($270 per your post) and a spyderco native 5 g10 ($180 per your post). So there's a $90 difference.

The Benchmade uses a slightly better steel (arguably maybe). Probably cost a bit more and maybe has a slightly higher tooling cost. Also the Benchmade uses an axis lock which means more complex, more parts, more machining, more assembly steps.

The spyderco uses g-10 but really has no other advantages. But g10 is not expensive at all. And on that note.....

Do you (or anyone else) know if the g10 native 5 has liners or not? I think not but I don't know for sure.

My point with that is.....I'm not one to gripe about what a company charges for a product because I'm all for companies charging as much as they can get. I don't have to buy if I don't like the price. But...if I WERE to complain, I'd be much more inclined to complain about a $60 increase for g10 compared to the lightweight model, ESPECIALLY if there were no added liners, than I would be to complain about $90 more for a more complicated knife from another brand.
 
Sure but one could make the point you are cherry picking as well. For example the Manix 2, has a similar lock with similar complexity and is $110 cheaper. There's also the fact that more complicated might cost more to manufacturer but isn't always better. I don't think I've ever heard of a compression lock failing (I'm sure it's happened) but we've certainly seen many axis and ball cage locks fail. I certainly agree though if you have to manufacturer more parts it costs more, but it doesn't always mean more reliability or better function either. So while I can understand it costing more manufacturing wise, if it doesn't make a better knife, is it "worth" more to me......nope.

Again I think this gets back to all the manufacturers have some variation across their lines. IMO the Shaman for example is very overpriced compared to say a Manix 2 or PM 2. Heck if we were just basing prices on manufacturing fixed blades should be crazy cheap, just a blade and handle and pins/screws, no liners, no lock, nothing complicated has to be fit together, tolerances can be super slack, etc.

I don't think the Native 5 has liners, certainly there's cost savings there that probably drives the price increase. Though I'd make the claim that the Bugout for example doesn't have a real liner either, it's certainly not large enough to aid in handle stiffness anyway. Basically just the frame for the axis lock and one pin point for the front of the handle slabs. The Manix 2 lightweight is similar in that is has a metal "liner", more of a front spacer really that's machined and pinned to the handle to allow for the ball/cage lock to function. So I'm sure some of the cost savings in the Spyderco lightweight models is as you said less parts to machine/manufacturer in the lack of full liners that G10 models have.

I'm more than happy for companies to charge whatever they want, if people want to spend $60 for a Yeti 5 gallon bucket that's their choice, and it might be the best darn 5 gallon bucket in the world. However worth and value are personal consumer choices, and for me I see less worth and value in BM offerings than I do in Spyderco.

If you take out the USA made options, it gets bad for both of them, this isn't 2005 anymore, there are so many good companies making really nice knives with high end blade steel under $200 now, even $100. That by comparison if you take out the desire to buy USA made (which to be clear I put a high value on) they both fall short from a pure performance/value/function equation. There's tons of nice folders with G10, liners, and s30 etc. under $100 now. M390 20cv etc. under $200, even Ti handles if that's your thing (personally I'm not a metal handle fan, spend too much time in the desert/frozen lands and they typically are very slippery)

At the end of the day we all have our own "worth" or value formulas for our purchases. Which is good because otherwise whoever made the cheapest functional item would win all the business and there would be no innovation and variety. Some folks would never buy a Ford even if they made the best vehicle in the world at the cheapest price. Some folks are lefty and liner or compression locks are low value to them because they are not as ambidextrous, some guys I know will only carry the biggest most tactical pry bar folder they can find even though their cutting tasks are ideal for a thin slicing edge, if it's not a huge tactical thick blade it's low value to them.

Then once you throw sprints, exclusives etc. into the mix all the rules go out the window. As soon as folks go into "gotta catch em all" mode it gets crazy.
 
Last edited:
LostCause said:
I was close to buying one in the past. I know people carrying theirs for years...

But, when I was thinking about getting one, some people also told me about omega springs breaking all the time - while others claimed they are using their knives for years and their springs never broke, or it took several years for springs to break.

Next thing is - the feel. Few Benchmades I held in my hands (Bugout, Griptilian and mini Griptilian) felt cheap. I know they aren't cheap, but they feel cheap.

Then the price for the materials - some brands offer Magnacut for the same price or even less than Benchmade asks for S30V. While S30V isn't bad steel - it's still not worth that kind of money.

As far as threads about their lock failing - that's only Adamas. I've seen videos of their other models getting batonned without issues, which is crazy for a folder. So I'd say they are tough - unless you're buying Adamas...

They are fidgety, designs are good, reliability seems to be hit and miss (looking at you omega springs), most models are really tough, and it seems to be really overpriced for the materials you're getting... the only premium about it seems to be the price, materials and the feel just aren't there.

I really wanted one but could never justify it for the prices they put for what they offer. Don't get me wrong - they are good, they just aren't that good to cost that much.


So question is - is it worth it to you?
Click to expand...
The polls are closed , but my late vote =

No. Most models are overpriced.​

 
Like some have said, some models are a good buys some are not. I think the 805 and 806 were great buys. Top quality at a fair price. The older HK knives were over built, solid knives. The Autocrat I recently acquired feels and looks cheaply made compared to similarly priced knives by other makers. Try to handle the knife in person before you buy.
 
ToddM said:
I don't think so, now if it's a design you really love that's worth something, if you're a lefty that limits options, but overall over priced even for USA made on most models. Granted most companies make similar products across various price ranges when it comes to handle material/blade steel. For example you can get a USA made spydero in s30/s45 with G10 handles anywhere from $145 to $270, just depends on the model. I do like their designs, and own a few, but almost all were picked up on the secondary market.

Let's compare say Spyderco's USA made knives. Another thing to keep in mind Spyderco makes "lightweight" models at even lower price points. Spyderco's USA made knives give you (in most cases) G10, s30/s45 steel at a price point under $200. Benchmade on the other hand once you want G10 you almost can't find anything under $200. Benchmades plastic handled knives cost basically what Spyderco's G10 handled knives do.

$160 Para 2 S45v G10 USA made.
$160 Para 3 s45v, G10, USA made (lightweight, $120)
$145 Manix 2 S30v, G10, USA made (lightweight $115)
$180 Native 5 G10, s30v USA made (lightweight $120)
$180 Yojimbo 2, G10, s30v, USA made
$185 Native Cheif, G10, s30v, USA made
$240 Shaman (where spyderco fell off the sanity train) G10, S30v, USA made. basically same blade size and shape as the Manix 2

Also add to this that if you want premium blade steel, Spyderco often does exclusives/sprint runs where the prices are still fairly low. Most sprint run Manix 2/Para 2's with premium steel option are still under $200, meanwhile high end steel runs like the s90v Bugout, 940, freek, arcane are all over $280. Benchmade's meatcrafter line prices remind me of Yeti's $60 five gallon buckets.

Benchmade
$165 Griptillian s30v, FRN plastic handles
$175 Presido II, s30v, FRN/plastic handles
$210 940, G10, s30v
$290 Crooked River s30v, dymondwood handle

The new stuff is where Benchmade really fell off the sanity train
$280 Vector Assisted S30v G10.
$280 Bushcrafter, simple 4.5" s30v fixed blade
$265 Turret, s30v G10
$270 Tagged out Hunt, g10, s45vn.
$405 Meatcrafter, a stiff blade fillet knife, CF grip, s45vn....but it's orange!
$340 Meatcrafter, same as above but not orange and G10.
$180 flyway, a fixed blade, 2.7" tiny thing, 154cm steel.
$550 Narrows, M390, Ti
Click to expand...
I'll concede that Spyderco is a modestly better value than Benchmade on most models, but a lot of those prices above are not a fair comparison. You really need to compare MAP to be fair. So a PM2 would be $185.50 not $160. A Griptilian is $144, not $165. A Para 3 is $175, a Native Chief is $198.80. A Shaman is $252. Etc.
 
Not gonna lie, I just bought a Benchmade Proper 318 on sale for 109.99…..was too good to pass up.

I’ve been on a traditional/slippy kick lately.
 
yamsi12 said:
Not gonna lie, I just bought a Benchmade Proper 318 on sale for 109.99…..was too good to pass up.

I’ve been on a traditional/slippy kick lately.
Click to expand...
I almost grabbed that too but I couldn't pass up the burgundy micarta Mini Adamas also on sale.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top