My BAD Experience With a Benchmade 940

Purchased 940-1 from DesignerGear, it is perfectly centered, flawless in every way.
 
Ickythump said:
Should have inspected it better for sure....And thats one of the benefits of paying the higher price...its right there in front of you, to see and hold...
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...and never buy the last knife on the shelf.

When I buy at a brick and mortar store I even have them put two NEW, sealed boxes of the knife I've picked before me and I then pick which of them I buy after examining each.

I believe a lot of defective returns may circulate for months in the hands of some unscrupulous dealers. As most people don't have a technical knowledge of knives, I believe some dealers will just sell a returned knife again and again until someone accepts it. I think it may be a large percentage of the knives that arrive and cause buyer remorse among the knowledgeable. Think how many people out there are carrying knives with off center and/or dull blades--most buyers don't give it much thought, at least not to the extent BladeForums users do.

Knife selling can be like a carnival game in two aspects: 1.) that they can easily be sold as NIB when in fact they have been owned/carried by someone else for a while and just kept in good condition with the box and papers handy. And 2.) there are so many technical aspects to a folder that a dealer can easily 'fudge' a non-knowledgeable person into acceptance of a flawed product.​

I've never seen a dealer or manufacturer make a post on this subject. What DO they do with the returned products...do they ever make it back to the factory as defective? Is it possible the manufacturers are missing some vital feedback due to this? Do a lot of returns simply stay in the stream until they're swallowed by less-than-knowledgeable buyers, never having been returned to the manufacturer as flawed?
 
EChoil said:
...and never buy the last knife on the shelf.

When I buy at a brick and mortar store I even have them put two NEW, sealed boxes of the knife I've picked before me and I then pick which of them I buy after examining each.

I believe a lot of defective returns may circulate for months in the hands of some unscrupulous dealers. As most people don't have a technical knowledge of knives, I believe some dealers will just sell a returned knife again and again until someone accepts it. I think it may be a large percentage of the knives that arrive and cause buyer remorse among the knowledgeable. Think how many people out there are carrying knives with off center and/or dull blades--most buyers don't give it much thought, at least not to the extent BladeForums users do.

Knife selling can be like a carnival game in two aspects: 1.) that they can easily be sold as NIB when in fact they have been owned/carried by someone else for a while and just kept in good condition with the box and papers handy. And 2.) there are so many technical aspects to a folder that a dealer can easily 'fudge' a non-knowledgeable person into acceptance of a flawed product.​

I've never seen a dealer or manufacturer make a post on this subject. What DO they do with the returned products...do they ever make it back to the factory as defective? Is it possible the manufacturers are missing some vital feedback due to this? Do a lot of returns simply stay in the stream until they're swallowed by less-than-knowledgeable buyers, never having been returned to the manufacturer as flawed?
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Good question. I'd say a lot of it has to do with the store. In my case, I've got B&M stores around me with reputations to protect . . . stores like Plaza Cutlery and Nordic Knives . . . so I don't worry too much about whether they recirculate defective knives. If they did, it would catch up with them soon enough. And, of course, how do you know you're not buying the last knife on the shelf when you purchase from an Internet retailer? I buy most of my knives from them and I rarely receive a defective.

I'm also a little confused as to why you'd have to inspect two knives to know whether one of them is defective. I could understand that if you were a novice knife buyer. But shouldn't an experienced knife guy like you be able to tell whether it's defective by looking at just one of them? What exactly are you looking for that you wouldn't be able to identify if you didn't have two identical models side-by-side? And if the store only had one model of the knife you wanted and you judged it to be flawless, are you saying you wouldn't buy it if they couldn't produce another one?

Seems to me you don't have much faith in small American businesses. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
 
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Bld, I believe that what EChoil was saying is that he buys whichever of those two he finds to be less flawed. I don't think he's using them to compare and contrast to determine the flaws so much as to identify which of them has less noticeable levels of the flaws he finds unacceptable.
 
robh| said:
Bld, I believe that what EChoil was saying is that he buys whichever of those two he finds to be less flawed. I don't think he's using them to compare and contrast to determine the flaws so much as to identify which of them has less noticeable levels of the flaws he finds unacceptable.
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This is how, I too, understood his post.

My experience with BM has been great. That is to say, I have bought 3 in the past year or two, and all have been without issue (4300, 665, 580). All purchased at a local dealer, who is more than willing to let you pick and choose if you see any issue. I'm really sorry to hear about other peoples issues. Especially with the 940, as it seems like such a great knife.
 
bld522 said:
Good question. I'd say a lot of it has to do with the store. In my case, I've got B&M stores around me with reputations to protect . . . stores like Plaza Cutlery and Nordic Knives . . . so I don't worry too much about whether they recirculate defective knives. If they did, it would catch up with them soon enough. And, of course, how do you know you're not buying the last knife on the shelf when you purchase from an Internet retailer? I buy most of my knives from them and I rarely receive a defective.

I'm also a little confused as to why you'd have to inspect two knives to know whether one of them is defective. I could understand that if you were a novice knife buyer. But shouldn't an experienced knife guy like you be able to tell whether it's defective by looking at just one of them? What exactly are you looking for that you wouldn't be able to identify if you didn't have two identical models side-by-side? And if the store only had one model of the knife you wanted and you judged it to be flawless, are you saying you wouldn't buy it if they couldn't produce another one?

Seems to me you don't have much faith in small American businesses. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
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Faith? My faith's essentially what anyone else's is: things I've observed on this earth from decades of living on it.

I'm saying that some unscrupulous mail order dealers probably re-sell knives returned by knife knuts due to a perceived flaw. Another recipient may not be nearly so attuned to knives and therefore accept an off center blade, blade play, a dull edge or anything else a knowledgeable person wouldn't.

It doesn't take much to do this...simply mail the returned knife out again and hope this buyer accepts it. Not exactly a complicated mafia scam or ponzi scheme but, in fact, an act easily rationalized by a dealer---"Minor flaw, the next guy may not even notice it...and it 'doesn't really affect the quality of the knife.' " And really....is the purveyor truly guilty of some sin because he sent a customer a knife that had already been returned for a slightly off-center blade? Most would say no--especially if the next customer accepts it.

As to having them show me two knives to pick from, I only do that to be sure I get what I feel is the very best one the dealer has in stock. Nothing more. If that returned knife happens to be there hopefully I'll spot it side-by-side and buy the good one. Sure, if they only had one and it passed inspection I'd buy it.

The point is it is easy for a dealer to re-cycle returned merchandise until it is accepted by someone. The average Joe out there will accept many "minor" flaws you and I wouldn't. I just wonder to what extent it goes on.

Ask anyone if they ever felt like they may have been sent a knife that may have already been returned a time or two and I bet you'd get some 'Yes's."

Might be worth a thread to let some dealers reply. I have no clue what the "return" policy of manufacturers is for their distributors. Do the dealers get penalized? Do they get credit for a return? Is the system of handling such things efficient or is it not worth a dealers bother to try to deal returns with the factory...? A lot of things I'm not knowledgeable about but would like to be.

"I'd like to buy a _________ folder."
"I have one left."
"No thanks, I'll pass."
 
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robh| said:
Bld, I believe that what EChoil was saying is that he buys whichever of those two he finds to be less flawed. I don't think he's using them to compare and contrast to determine the flaws so much as to identify which of them has less noticeable levels of the flaws he finds unacceptable.
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Yeah, it's just a comparison thing. That way, after inspecting them, I know I'm walking out with among the best samples in the shop if I've chosen from two random pulls; plus I determined which knife went home with me...he didn't foist a three-times-returned dead-detent turkey on me.

It saves me a lot of time with the clerks too...when they see me examine the knives they pretty much spare me the bullshit.
 
In fact, the more i think about it...hell yes I've seen dealers tell a customer, "Oh don't worry about that, most of them are a little off center. Doesn't hurt a thing." "They all have a little play in 'em. You can't make that kind of knife with zero play."

or

"That edge isn't grinder burned, it's where the grinding rouge got a little hot. You can wipe it right off with a little Flitz when you get home."

or

"This knife is brand new." when I saw the guy buy it with box and papers from someone else the afternoon before. Most common and most successful with higher--end knives and safe queens.

So why wouldn't they try to turn a knife that's already been returned a time or two? The scary part is that knife probably stays first on the 'out' shelf until it finally sells.
 
I have owned a few dozen BMs, and I have a half dozen well used (new and old/$100-$400) in the drawer beside me.
Not a single one has ever had a problem and about 3-4 of them have arrived with the most impressive grind lines I've ever seen. I've abused multiple axis locks through the years and never had an omega spring issue.
Sharp and finished to perfection, but loc-tite and sharpening stones make them mine.
Maybe they ship all the good ones to Ky?
 
Well, despite the negative comments and horror stories, I ordered a 940 this weekend. It should be here tomorrow. It was a toss up between the 940 and the 943. I like the blade on the 943 better but I decided to go with the original classic design. While I ordered through Amazon Prime, the selling merchant lists itself as an authorized Benchmade dealer. Since it's a "fulfillment by Amazon" order, if the knife's not satisfactory a return will be easy. I'm hoping there's no need to return it.

It's interesting to read the opinions of others on knives that are not perfect when received. Currently I own 5 Benchmades (and way to many of other brands). All were perfect on arrival with the exception of one. Normally, I would return a knife that came with defects but that one imperfect knife is actually the one I am now carrying the most--a partially serrated, black bladed 710. The 710 was bought online, listed as "used" by the seller and it was selling for a good bit less than Benchmade's MAP. When I got it, it was obvious the knife was brand new and probably had been returned by a previous buyer due to an uneven primary grind and very slightly off center blade. But the price was right so I kept the knife. I guess the fact that I got it as a bargain and it wasn't perfect to begin with just made it easier for me to really put that knife to a lot of uses never intended from day one. It's been a light duty hammer, pry bar, probe, scraper, tree trimmer, meat trimmer, steak tester, etc, as well as a great pocket knife. It's scarred and the blade coating is worn and scratched. And I love the thing.
 
It can really be a mixed bag. I purchased three 940s from Amazon, two were sent back due to poor centering (that was with the pivot already tight), the third arrived centered but with some side to side play. I kept the third as the issues were mainly due to the pivot loosening. Cleaned up the pivot screw threads (as there was some lubricant between the threads) and applied some blue loctite. It's a perfect. No side to side, great centering, pivot stays put.

The great thing about Benchmade is that they have really good support.
 
Well, my new 940 is here and...




...it's perfect!

Or as close to perfect as it gets.

I was really apprehensive about this after reading so many negative comments. I also admit to not being particularly fond of knives with metal handles. But I was lucky and got a good sample of the knife and the anodizing on the aluminum grip really feels nice to me. Lighter than I thought it would be but it feels well balanced. Must say I'm happy.
 
Congrats on the new 940, Lee48 :thumbup::thumbup:. -Though I'll hasten to add, I doubt you were that lucky. I receive great Benchmade after great Benchmade, over and over. I think the incidence of true problem knives is vastly less than is portrayed by a vocal few on the forum. Never could figure out the grumpy attitude toward Benchmade but it is what it is :confused:

Enjoy the 940, it is a classic for a reason!
 
jazub said:
.....I think the incidence of true problem knives is vastly less than is portrayed by a vocal few on the forum. Never could figure out the grumpy attitude toward Benchmade but it is what it is :confused:....
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Unless a few of those "returns" get into the system, being mailed out first, over and over again, until someone accepts them. Then the incidence of true problem knives would look larger than it really is. Maybe your theory is correct. :)
 
I just received a 940s and 940-1, both new.
940s was pretty much perfect.
940-1, had some weird rattle when the knife was closed even when holding the axis lock. I was going to take it apart to inspect the issue but decided not to as the both knives I did not care for. I know, strange...
My guess is the next guy will be shipped the rattling 940-1 I sent back.
 
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Brusiedmeat said:
I just received a 940s and 940-1, both new.
940s was pretty much perfect.
904-1, had some weird rattle when the knife was closed even when holding the axis lock. I was going to take it apart to inspect the issue but decided not to as the both knives I did not care for. I know, strange...
My guess is the next guy will be shipped the rattling 940-1 I sent back.
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That's what I'm talkin' 'bout..... I think it will too. It will be first out to everyone and someone will eventually accept it.
 
Brusiedmeat said:
I just received a 940s and 940-1, both new.
940s was pretty much perfect.
940-1, had some weird rattle when the knife was closed even when holding the axis lock. I was going to take it apart to inspect the issue but decided not to as the both knives I did not care for. I know, strange...
My guess is the next guy will be shipped the rattling 940-1 I sent back.
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I believe this is a minute amount of play in the access lock bar (between the scales) - especially if it goes away with the blade deployed. If it was still there when holding the axis lock bar in place, it could have been a loose pivot causing the sides of the blade to hit the liners - there's only two moving parts and the 940-1 doesn't use shouldered pins between the liners.

I'd have just checked tightness on all the screws, probably one was loose.
 
Some of 94x series are known for stop pin rattle. Pinch the scale near the stop pin see if goes away. I do not believe it's due to lose axis lock bar or loose pivot causing blade hitting liners. Check for rattling stop pin.
 
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