My Love-Hate Relationship with Benchmade

7

762x54Rmed

Joined
Sep 25, 2012
Messages
41
Let me begin by saying that I really like the quality and design of Benchmade knives. I have a full-size Griptilian and a Osbourne 940, my father also has a mini-griptilian that I fondle quite frequently. I carry the Griptilian often but the 940 is mostly a safe queen. The strength of the axis lock, the steel, the ergonomics and the overall fit and finish are always excellent with Benchmade.

I even made a sweet "knife porn" video of my Griptilian this morning:
[video=youtube;RQ-vmBo3B2Y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ-vmBo3B2Y[/video]



My Beef:
One of the springs broke on my 940 a few months ago. I have all the tools and skills needed to replace the spring easily and safely. However, when I contacted Benchmade they refused outright to send me a replacement spring. They told me I must send it in and if I were to attempt to fix it myself it would void the warranty. I explained that I did not care about the warranty and I just wanted to do it my self as I could fix any of the problems that could arise in the future in my shed with my own tools. They refused. I ended up sending the knife back and about 3 weeks later I got it back all fixed up.

My problem is that without the ability to fix the knife my self it is like I do not truly own it. IMAGINE buying a vehicle for cash, then finding out that you were not permitted to do the oil change yourself, you could not obtain an oil filter and you had to ship your vehicle back to the factory on a flatbed to get it done.... You would never truly OWN your vehicle because the manufacturer would exercise control over it through the maintenance issue.

I have a big problem with this. However, that is not my only problem with the policy, it takes away my ability to tinker with my beloved knife. I very much enjoy tinkering and for me it is half the fun of owning guns and knives. I also consider my self a prepper. Without the ability to purchase spare springs how could I keep this knife in operation if SHTF were to occur? WOULD YOU BUY A SHTF RIFLE IF YOU COULD NOT GET SPARE PARTS FOR IT??????

Don't get me wrong, I love Benchmade's products. Please take a look at the video I made above. Their repair policies really bother me though...
 
I understand why they do it, but at same time I think it stinks. I've also heard through the foum grapevine that they do ship springs to customers outside the US.

But so far I've been lucky , I have about 6 axis locking BM's and none of the springs have broken, I hate to send stuff back for repair. I'd probably make a spring from a guitar string.
 
I intend to get a mini griptilian in the near future to check bemchmade out but I feel your pain. This is what has kept me away from them so far, my main company trusts the consumer to dissasble a knife lol
 
JPD1998 said:
I understand why they do it, but at same time I think it stinks. I've also heard through the foum grapevine that they do ship springs to customers outside the US.

But so far I've been lucky , I have about 6 axis locking BM's and none of the springs have broken, I hate to send stuff back for repair. I'd probably make a spring from a guitar string.
Click to expand...

I thinks it is total BS. Do they think they are protecting their design? As you say, these springs can be made so that is no excuse, the policy is just dumb. I considered making my own but I want my nearly $200 knife to be composed of original manufacturer parts.

Really I think that they should not only sell replacements but also springs of different tensions so you can get the feel you are looking for. Sometimes I feel like the springs are a little weak on some of my BMs but I am not about to send them away for 3 weeks to get them replaced....
 
When I saw the title of the thread, I thought to myself:

Love: the function of the Axis lock.
Hate: that they don't give out omega springs.

Looks like I'm not alone. If the omega spring wasn't an issue, I would have a few Benchmades. As it is, I only had a Mini Grip which I sold off because the omega spring issue made me nervous.
 
BrentD86 said:
I intend to get a mini griptilian in the near future to check bemchmade out but I feel your pain. This is what has kept me away from them so far, my main company trusts the consumer to dissasble a knife lol
Click to expand...

If you are willing to deal with the policy the mini-grip is SWEET. My father abuses the heck out of his everyday it it still works like a charm, looks good too. He has been lucky enough to not have any spring problems yet but they are starting to get a bit weak.

It's worth it, go for it.
 
762x54Rmed said:
Good question.... I don't know.

Anyone?
Click to expand...

No idea. I spent a little bit trying to find where I could buy extra omega springs but couldn't. At that point, I gave up and sold off my Mini Grip. Haven't looked back since. If this policy ever changes in the future and I can buy a few extra springs for the knife, I'll buy another Grip in a heartbeat.
 
I have a 943 with Carbon fiber scales. I carry it clipped to the placket of my shirt. In the Summer the innards rust. All the internal parts must be wire brushed to remove the corrosion products. Wire brushing the lock plates is a straight forward proposition, but wire brushing Omega springs is a painful experience. For my money, they could use a more stainless material, and Omega springs could be sold at a profit. I have never broken an Omega spring, but they are high maintenance items (pains in the ass).
 
I'm personally surprised no company has come out with "improved" replacements, with a sturdier and longer-lasting design.
 
I have a basic policy with omega springs - they make me nervous and I have no idea why Benchmade persists with them, but as I have used them for so long with no issues at all (and I mean NO issues) I have simply decided to continue using my one Benchmade as my EDC until it breaks, then consider an alternative mechanism. So far it seems that may not happen although I chalk it up to luck rather than durability of the springs themselves.
 
762x54Rmed said:
Seeing how Benchmade deals with the issue I would imagine they would sue the heck out of any company that did that...
Click to expand...
They DO tend to be a bit hypocritical, don't they.. ;) Anyways, I say you should trust the AXIS-lock. You say you're a prepper, then you will understand what a great locking mechanism it is. The only piece that wears is the spring, which though a pain, is A LOT easier to reproduce efficiently than a whole ti-framelock locking side, or the Lord forbid a new button lock! :eek: I've heard of a few people just using wire from crafting stores, though I doubt it works overly well, it may function well enough.
 
I broke an Omega spring once when the 710 first came out. I have never broke one since, (total owned ballpark would be 40 knives).
I have carried a omega spring knife as an EDC for well over a decade, no problems.
The locks I don't like are liner/frame locks, as I've had far more trouble with that type of lock than any of my Axis lock knives.
 
VolundoftheForge said:
They DO tend to be a bit hypocritical, don't they.. ;) Anyways, I say you should trust the AXIS-lock. You say you're a prepper, then you will understand what a great locking mechanism it is. The only piece that wears is the spring, which though a pain, is A LOT easier to reproduce efficiently than a whole ti-framelock locking side, or the Lord forbid a new button lock! :eek: I've heard of a few people just using wire from crafting stores, though I doubt it works overly well, it may function well enough.
Click to expand...

I understand how great the Axis is, I carry my Griptilian often.... My problem as a prepper is that I can not get factory spare parts like I can with many other knives.

Again, imagine buying a rifle for SHTF that you could not buy a recoil or mag spring for and instead it had to be shipped to the manufacturer. Even if you could somehow fabricate these parts would you be comfortable with that? Happy with that? What if you were not even allowed to take the rifle apart like Benchmade says?

Again I do love BM, hence the name of the thread. I just hate this policy and the only way to change stuff like this is whine about it ;)
 
I hear you 100%, OP.

That's something I can't stand about Benchmade. I've spent so much EFFing money on shipping knives back to them it's ridiculous... It would be one thing if I lived down the road, or the next state over, but I live on the opposite side of the continent from Benchmade's Oregon location. I live THREE THOUSAND MILES away - shipping costs about 20$ one-way with minimal insurace. I had to do this three times with my first Presidio and once with my Bradley Alias - That's quite a lot of money to spend on repairing knives that should never have needed it in the first place. :eek: Plus, they didn't even fix the Alias the last time I sent it in, so I'm once again stuck with the choice between keeping my broken knife or throwing another 20$ down the drain and hoping Benchmade gets it right this time. :barf:

So, yeah, I'm obviously unimpressed that the first two Benchmades I've bought were defective in the first place, but that can happen to any company, I guess. The biggest problem is that instead of just sending me a little envelope full of Omega springs (which would cost Benchmade all of a buck or two, shipping included), they required me to drop 20$ of my own money on shipping, per knife. 20$ of my money to fix their foul-up. Plus, then they have to ship the knife back to me on their dime - not only is it extremely inconvenient, it's not economical in the slightest for either the customer or the company. :confused:

For the money I've wasted on shipping defective knives back to Benchmade, I could have just bought a couple of Kershaws that wouldn't have needed such babying... I really like a few of Benchmade's designs, but they have a worthless warranty policy for someone in my situation (a customer who doesn't live a stone's throw away from the factory). From now on, I'm just going to MacGuyver some omega-springs out of guitar strings or something the next time they break.
 
I've never broken one of the omega springs, but I have bent the pocket clip and stripped the heads off some of the handle screws before (one of my knives felt like they used superglue instead of thread locker on the handle screws). Benchmade support promptly sent out replacements for those upon request (they sent me an entire set of handle screws, even though I just asked for one of the short screws). The omega spring isn't difficult to swap out yourself. Wonder why they won't send that part, but they will the others...
 
JPD1998 said:
I understand why they do it, but at same time I think it stinks. I've also heard through the foum grapevine that they do ship springs to customers outside the US.

But so far I've been lucky , I have about 6 axis locking BM's and none of the springs have broken, I hate to send stuff back for repair. I'd probably make a spring from a guitar string.
Click to expand...

Maybe you could clarify why you understand that they treat their customers in this fashion. It can't be that they are afraid someone will copy the design as it would be just as easy to buy a Benchmade and take it apart if that was the case, I just don't get it, great knives, bad attattude in this case or in the case of replacment springs, worse if they do indeed supply springs to customers outside the US while requiring US customers to go through the posting and waiting game.
 
I hope Benchmade reads this thread. I have had two Benchmade knives with the axis lock, one of which the omega spring broke on. They refused to send me a replacement and I only had one folder at the time so I didn't want to wait weeks for them to put the new spring in for me. I gave the knife to a buddy of mine and bought another knife. This policy has cost them hundreds of dollars in business from me alone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top