My 2012 warranty replacement thread

ABTOMAT-47

ABTOMAT-47

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Started the year with four broken knives and thought I'd post the results so far. See how customer service is faring these days. All knives were sent in on the 11th of June.

1. Wenger Esquire with broken mainspring. Sent in with the required $3 for return shipping. Received a brand new knife on the 18th.

2. Spyderco Centofante III with failing lock and stiff pivot. (Aside: A very kind BF member gave this to me 7+ years ago and I've used the HELL out of it since.) Received a brand new knife, in the original box, with a pile of catalogs and pamphlets that weighed a couple pounds, plus a hand-written letter on the 27th.

3 & 4. Victorinox Companion(?) with a broken scissor spring, and an ancient Tinker-variant with scales that fell off. Still waiting on those.

So far so good. Spyderco's response was pretty impressive, although I guess with riveted knives you can't do much but send a new one. I've been carrying a BM 707 and 940 recently so I may not keep it, though it's a great knife.
 
Spyderco- My para 2 had some uneven grind bumps on the spine. Sent it in and they sent me a new one. Great customer service.

Ontario Knife Company- One of my Rat 1's washers was not working right. The knife rubbed on one side when opening. I didnt even notice it until I purchased a second combo version. They replaced the the Rat 1 plain edge with a brand new one.

Neither company charged me for shipping. I will not hesitate to buy from either one of these comapanies. I also own several other models from both these companies that never needed warranty work. Its nice to know their products dont need warranties but they will take care of you if something does come up.

Now for the let down. Cold Steel.
I purchased a Bushman with a crazy grind line. It looks lke they sharpened it twice at two different angles. The online mega retailer said they would take a return but I had to pay shipping costs and there would also be a restocking fee. Thanks Ama**** but no thanks. Next I tried to contact Cold steel directly and the rep asked for pictures. I e-maild them over and he said although it was unusual it was not defective so no replacement. I still recommend their machetes to people but their customer dis-ervice stinks. I really want to purchase a Trailmaster but do not trust their warranty, so its a no go even though I like the design. If they wont stand behind a $20 dollar knife what will they do with a $285 one? Feel free to contact me Cold steel. I still have knife in question and the e-mails from your rep.
 
I used to have an old Benchmade 975S (Emerson Super-7) that the handle screws pulled out of. Send it in and they milled the handle for threaded inserts and replaced the screws. No cost. Really great service.
 
Got the two knives back from Victorinox today. They replaced the scissors spring and the scales. One thing I'm not happy about: They "sharpened" the blades on both knives but it looks like it was done on Uncle Bubba's bench grinder. The Tinker's edges have big burrs and rough, uneven grinding. The Companion was only sharpened on one side and it was ground down so much the tip is blunt and burned blue. Really terrible. I might call them about that.
 
unklfranco said:
Spyderco- My para 2 had some uneven grind bumps on the spine. Sent it in and they sent me a new one. Great customer service.

Ontario Knife Company- One of my Rat 1's washers was not working right. The knife rubbed on one side when opening. I didnt even notice it until I purchased a second combo version. They replaced the the Rat 1 plain edge with a brand new one.

Neither company charged me for shipping. I will not hesitate to buy from either one of these comapanies. I also own several other models from both these companies that never needed warranty work. Its nice to know their products dont need warranties but they will take care of you if something does come up.

Now for the let down. Cold Steel.
I purchased a Bushman with a crazy grind line. It looks lke they sharpened it twice at two different angles. The online mega retailer said they would take a return but I had to pay shipping costs and there would also be a restocking fee. Thanks Ama**** but no thanks. Next I tried to contact Cold steel directly and the rep asked for pictures. I e-maild them over and he said although it was unusual it was not defective so no replacement. I still recommend their machetes to people but their customer dis-ervice stinks. I really want to purchase a Trailmaster but do not trust their warranty, so its a no go even though I like the design. If they wont stand behind a $20 dollar knife what will they do with a $285 one? Feel free to contact me Cold steel. I still have knife in question and the e-mails from your rep.
Click to expand...

If what you're describing with the Bushman is what I think it is, it's actually normal on them. They seem to have a 2-stage bevel at the very edge. Likely they first grind with a coarser belt at a low angle then finish the edge at a slightly higher one.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
If what you're describing with the Bushman is what I think it is, it's actually normal on them. They seem to have a 2-stage bevel at the very edge. Likely they first grind with a coarser belt at a low angle then finish the edge at a slightly higher one.
Click to expand...

I think your right about it being normal or common on them. I have seen multiple examples of the Bushman since I purchased mine with this "unfamiliar" grind. Mine had the "unusually high cantle" (that is what the rep called it) their knives had the unfamiliar grind also but to a much lesser degree. The first one I saw before I purchased mine had a regular hollow grind, which I really liked but the local guy wanted $50 dollars for it. The funny part about this experience is the thing has been used and abused because its so ugly and it keeps on trucking. I have batoned with it and even thrown it for hours. (collectively) That is why I still recommend their Machetes. I just did not appreciate the company's dismissive attitude over a knife that probably costs them about $3-$5 dollars to produce in China. YMMV

Unklfranco
 
Gotcha'. :D I stripped and cord wrapped mine and beat the snot out of it for years and it keeps coming back for more. Their machetes are contracted through Lasher Tools of South Africa, btw. :)
 
Sent in a Streamlight Scorpion head a week or so ago. Just got it back with a new lens. Good service there.
 
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