Jumped back in on a new Benchmade......and well...I'm a little disappointed

U

unfmba

Joined
Dec 12, 2012
Messages
11
Hello All. First post on Bladeforums. I've always been and appreciator of good knives. Been buying mostly kitchen knives for the last several years. Probable haven't bought a decent folder in 10 years. Anyway, I wanted to pickup a Benchmade because I always thought they were high quality and heard a lot about the axis lock. I bought a new blacked out Griptillian special edition from GP knives (normally I don't go for coated blades, but this one looked pretty cool). I was very exited to get it, but then letdown. The scales felt like....how do I say this kindly.....inexpensive plastic and it was not that sharp. I must say I loved the axis lock though - very cool and secure. I'm exchanging for a 943 Osbourne, which I've been told by GP feels like a higher quality knife. We'll see..

I think I've been spoiled by all the nice kitchen knives I've accumulated (and a recent trip to Japan). I'm thinking maybe I should just skip the production route and go with a good quality custom next time. I've seen a bunch of stuff about Reeve folders. Are there any real quality EDC folders that won't put you in the neighborhood of decent good custom? Thoughts? Thanks guys.

Edit: My intent was not to bash Benchmade in this post. Perhaps I just chose a knife that didn't fit what I was looking for - and I had higher expectations from previous experience many years ago. I'm exchanging for another Benchmade that (hopefully) has the features I like and improve some of the issues I had with this model.
 
Last edited:
The 943 has a very thin blade. I'm looking into a 940 right now, and really like the feel, and the blade profile.
 
Yeah, plastic will feel like plastic. You should check out something with micarta or G-10. I think that Titanium is also nice feeling.
 
I understand this but you are feeling polymer. But some plastics do feel better that others. Think Spyderco although that is FRN.
 
Any of the spyderco sage series, any of the spyderco militaries, any of the Bradley alias series, any of the zero tolerance knives.... All these are well made and feel well made. I did the same thing as you, my first "real" knife was a benchmade griptillion and I wasn't impressed, immediately traded it for a spyderco endura. Haven't looked back!
 
The Grip is well loved by many, but does absolutely nothing for me. The 940 and 943 are still slim, light knives, but I like them much better!
 
The 'cheap' feel of the Grip has been one of the few consistent criticisms leveled. I don't know that you have to go full custom, but you may want to stay away from folders with plastic (grivory, FRN, etc.) scales. They offer very lightweight, fairly strong and quite affordable handle material, but they often feel cheap. Look for SS, G-10, carbon fiber, micarta or wood scales. All of those feel a great deal more solid in hand, although the strength advantage is often pretty negligible.
 
I think you might have got a defective one. I have a mini-griptilian that i love. The plastic doesn't feel cheap at all and the blade came wicked sharp, i accidentally touched it to my finger while closing it slowly and had a pretty good cut. Benchmade makes great knives, you may want to contact them.
 
Great advice fellas - thanks for the thoughts. I bought a Spiderco back in the late 90s with "plastic" grips and it didn't feel the same way. I suppose that I though the Grip would be similar. Hopefully, the 943 will be better. I don't mind the slim profile because it's going to be riding in my pocket anyway. The Emissary looked nice too, and I understand that a black handle aluminum will be available soon. I heard that the gray handle they offer now scratches easily, although it looks pretty cool.
 
CrialJLA said:
What did you expect it to feel like?
Click to expand...

What I was thinking. The grips are the only model they make that feels like that, but some do love them.

IMO, you should do an advanced Edit, and change your title.
It makes BM sound bad in a way, and the only problem was that you ordered the wrong knife for you.

I think you will really like the 943. Great knife. I sure hope you do:thumbup:

You mentioned CRK. By all means give a Sebenza a try one day. I've sold all of my locking custom knives in favor of Sebenzas.
I also like Spyderco, and Benchmade alot, but the Sebenza is made as well as a good custom.
 
Judging by your words, and frankly I agree with you, you'd like the Spyderco Sage 1 and Sage 2. If you can afford a Sebenza, even better. It's one of my all-time favorites. None of the listed three will disappoint. I assure you.
 
I do believe the lack of full liners and the hollow sound makes the knife feel much worse than it is. The Grip in mini form is one of my favorite small knives, especially in D2.
 
unfmba said:
Not sure, really, but not as "cheap" (didn't want to use this term, but since you asked).
Click to expand...

It is a very good knife, plastic or no plastic. It will probably work as well as anything you can buy at any price. It is also a relatively inexpensive knife which explains the plastic. Benchmade is my favorite manufacturer and they make lots of knives that will feel like very good knives, but they will cost at least 50% more than the griptilian. I don't worry about out of the box sharpness, I've gotten good and bad from other manufacturers too. If you use it you're going to have to sharpen it eventually. Some people want to sharpen them to start with so they start out with the right angles.
 
I just got the 943 and it came very sharp I got it from the exchange BNIB . It is a slim knife and the blade is long with almost no belly but it is a swweeeeet dress up knife . Sunday going to church and dinner mmmm Sage1 or the 943 .....
And it feels very good in the hand .
 
miltmaldo said:
I just got the 943 and it came very sharp I got it from the exchange BNIB . It is a slim knife and the blade is long with almost no belly but it is a swweeeeet dress up knife . Sunday going to church and dinner mmmm Sage1 or the 943 .....
And it feels very good in the hand .
Click to expand...


Awesome - I'm getting pumped for the new 943 now. Still thinking about the Emissary though.......maybe in the spring when it comes out.
 
unfmba said:
Not sure, really, but not as "cheap" (didn't want to use this term, but since you asked).
Click to expand...

I agree with you, I still think they could do a better with the normal griptillian. The small griptillian plastic doesn't have that hallow cheap feel to it.


BM makes good knives, you just gotta pay $150+ for those ones.
 
Chris Pierce said:
Yeah, plastic will feel like plastic. You should check out something with micarta or G-10. I think that Titanium is also nice feeling.
Click to expand...

Theres a difference in hallow plastic feel versus a stiff plastic. I know exactly what the OP is talking about.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top