New Benchmade - Issue or Not?

cziv

cziv

Joined
Nov 24, 2005
Messages
10,038
I have owned me latest Benchmade, the 710 D2, for 72 hours. Upon close inspection, it has a couple of minor flaws that cause for aggravation at the price point of this knife.

On the side that is marked D2 - the patent is stamped right into the edge of the top bevel and is unreadable - arrghh

On the opposite side, right below the logo, there is a tear drop size milky color stain in the blade.

Again, same side, at the very front edge of the cutting edge there is about a one inch long (milky) discoloration, shaped like a half moon with the flat of the mark beginning right on the edge and rounding up into the belly to complete the half moon blemish.

Am I being too picky or should I send it back to the dealer for a replacement.?

They gave me an RMA already but maybe I'm a perfectionist. I want it to look flawless for a $125 pocket knife.

Anyone pease? :confused:
 
You've got the RMA... use it. I had a similar dilemma once. I kept it and as it's a user it hasn't made a difference but I completely understand how you feel.
 
Pictures? I wouldn't necessarily expect a $125 to be absolutely perfect, it's a production knife, made on an assembly line. Though quality is high, it's not a hand built custom, which should be perfect, but will cost a hell of a lot more.
 
Thank you guys,

I didn't think to take pictures. I just came back from the Post Office. I dropped it off for an exchange.

Best case scenario is I'll get a new unblemished knife back.

Worst case scenario is I'll get my old one back and have wasted some time.

(I wouldn't do a chargeback even though I have a ferocious Visa dispute department, that I used for the purchase from Chase...love those guys when it comes to consumer protection)

I loved the 710's action very much, it's just aggravating (I know I said that) to get $50 Cold Steel folders with blades that look like a million bucks and get a Benchmade $125 folder that looks funky.

I have a quite a few folders and fixed blades and this was the only one that every came to me looking like it "slipped under the radar" of quality control inspectors at the factory.

As for customs, I'm a blue collar guy and purchasing $100 + folders is nothing I take lightly. We all have different wallet sizes and disposable income levels.

I appreciated your feedback! :)
 
My BM's have always been flawless. On the other hand I decided to sent my millie back to the dealer for replacement because I thought the detent was abnormally weak. I got a new one back that was indistinguishable from the old, and may have even been the same one. So...hopefully you have better luck than me. BM's are awesome :)
 
Most definitely agreed on BM's jesseaction!

I love my 940 Osborne S30V and Griptilian very different knives but both feel good in my hand.

My 890 Torrent has a rather flimsy linerlock but isn't really advertized or perceived by me, to be anything but a pretty gentleman's folder.

What is a "detent" I have a newer issue Military with a spooky thin looking linerlock for "military tactical use" (WHAT???) and a Police (a superb combat folder IMHO).
 
Basically, it's something that keeps a knife with no closing bias, closed. Usually it's a little ball bearing in a hole in the blade.

A weak detent means that it takes little force for the blade to open accidentally. This isn't related to the strength of the blade.

I have a newer Millie also, the orange one. The liner lock is thin, but I'd trust it far more than, say, Emerson because of the nested design. It hasn't let me down through either spine whack tests or when I applied vertical pressure. Not a blade built for prying though. Or fighting for that matter.
 
Thanks for the detailed explanation wongKI,

hasn't let me down through either spine whack tests or when I applied vertical pressure
Click to expand...

Me either actually, I took care of my fingers and clobbered into a heavy old textbook several times as well as the pressure test and no problems!

I do love that Police indented lockback though, in G10 with VG10 steel, a real winner! :D
 
I don't think you're being too picky. If you pay over $100 dollars for a knife, the fit and finish should be extremely high, with no defects noticeable to the naked eye.

The stamp being unreadable should have been rejected by QC.

If you're anything like me, I have a couple knives that are the real users and the rest I use for light tasks that would scratch or mar them up in any way.

Getting something that expensive (I know $$$ are relative), I would exchange it in a heartbeat.
 
Bottom line is: if you are not happy with it - exchange it. Something tells me you are not happy.
 
It should come back exchanged. We spoke on the phone and the lady listened to me whine for awhile w/o the least hint of boredom.

I've bought 3 knives from them in the last 30 days all over $100 +.

So, if they run their web based business like I run my websites - it's no questions asked - we open the item going back and inspect it carefully to insure there's no problems.

Word of mouth can kill you on the internet, in the e-commerce "niche" type of business. I'm pretty sure they'll send an "inspected" one as requested.

The company seems like they have a very good attitude.

I'll let you folks know how it turns out - and tell you who they are since they have the lowest prices available and have a 20% rebate off of any knife they sell, if you show them the URL (web page address) of a lower price - they match it, plus deduct an additional 20% to boot.

Pretty cool if you don't have some sort of special connections!
 
If it is a Benchmade, you should expect your knife to be in perfect condition, be it Red class or Gold class. Part of the slightly higher price is to ensure that you get the best.
 
My 710 D2 has the pat. No right at the edge of the bevel and the mark is so small that I cant read it, no blemishes though
 
It's a $100 production folder... not a one-off custom that has been put under a microscope.

The one they send you as a replacement will have something wrong with it if you look close enough. If not, disassemble it and you'll find some roughly-finished internals or something not up to your standards.

My point is: just use it. These are very minor cosmetic issues. Unless this is a safe queen (these 710D2's are a dime a dozen), just put it in your pocket and try to forget about it.
 
Seems like a waste of time for a user. A couple scratches and stains from use will happen anyways. Just personal opinion of course. My 710 looks like ass now but its a sexy ass :D
 
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