New Benchmades?

A

austinguy23

Joined
Nov 29, 2009
Messages
145
SHOT Show 2010 is only a few weeks away. Any idea what Benchmade has planned in terms of new offerings? Last year they unveiled 15 new knives at the show...
 
Unfortunately they were 15 bad ones.

Let's hope they get back to their roots and offer up the outstanding stuff they used to.

Or maybe they will "upgrade" past offerings with some decent steel and hardwear.

A Presidio with S30V would be Ultra, and desireable.

A 551H2O Griptillian would be desireable also, IF they put non-corrosive hardware, including Omega springs, in the thing. Until then, it's just another Grip. C'mon, even Spyderco got this part right with the Salt series. Hey Benchmade, we're not stupid.

I used to look forward to the new BM offerings. The last several years have been real dissapointments.
 
I disagree I really like many benchmade models. No they may not be the most innovative folders ever created. No they may not try out the latest and greatest new steels on their new knives. No I cant remember ever seeing a folding benchmade with a finger choil and the likes. BUT most are tried and trued designs that have been proving themselves for many years. Plus what production company is using a more user friendly, safe, secure lock that can be used with even thick gloves on and is 100% ambidextrous? However IF this new pricing policy of theirs goes through and ends up considerably raising their prices, I'm sorry to say but I probably will not be partaking much.
 
nevermind35 said:
However IF this new pricing policy of theirs goes through and ends up considerably raising their prices, I'm sorry to say but I probably will not be partaking much.
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Yeah, the one thing Benchmade has going for it is the fact that they're quality knives at an affordable price. If they jack up the prices we may as well migrate over to customs...
 
I think I may have been a bit too harsh in my last post. I really do like Benchmades. I mean look at what we got in the last couple years... The Rift, the Rukus, the Dejavoo, The Ritter Grip!!! Ya I definately am a fan of benchmade. In fact, screw it I just talked myself into ordering the one of the sprint run Ritter Grips in M4! Infact ya'll better get your butts on over to that site and pick up one yourselves. After all theres only 240 of the large and 240 minis being made AND in what 3 days the prices should be going through the roof!!
 
bearcut said:
Unfortunately they were 15 bad ones.

Let's hope they get back to their roots and offer up the outstanding stuff they used to.

Or maybe they will "upgrade" past offerings with some decent steel and hardwear.

A Presidio with S30V would be Ultra, and desireable.

A 551H2O Griptillian would be desireable also, IF they put non-corrosive hardware, including Omega springs, in the thing. Until then, it's just another Grip. C'mon, even Spyderco got this part right with the Salt series. Hey Benchmade, we're not stupid.

I used to look forward to the new BM offerings. The last several years have been real dissapointments.
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Well, since I already have a Presidio in S30V, I am going to hope they make a 520 in M4, possibly DLC-coated.
Better yet, I wish they start offering M4 as an upgrade on most models, like they did with M2 back in the day (the HS option).
I also hope they bring back the Ares and TSEK back from the dead.
And a new Snody-designed folder would be nice..

IMGP3567.jpg
 
LorenzoL said:
Well, since I already have a Presidio in S30V, I am going to hope they make a 520 in M4, possibly DLC-coated.
Better yet, I wish they start offering M4 as an upgrade on most models, like they did with M2 back in the day (the HS option).
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What's with everyone talking about M4 steel? Is it superior to S30V somehow? I thought the general consensus was that S30V was about as good as it gets...
 
S30V is good, but is not a "top" steel like S90V, S110V, 3V, M4 or even CPM-D2.
S30V has become the base steel for high quality knives, definitely not a premium steel.
 
Austinguy 23, All steels are a compromise. You have to give up something to get something. Even the tempering process is all about compromise. There is no "as good as it gets" each steel serves a purpose if executed properly.
TC
 
LorenzoL said:
S30V is good, but is not a "top" steel like S90V, S110V, 3V, M4 or even CPM-D2.
S30V has become the base steel for high quality knives, definitely not a premium steel.
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I disagree just because something new comes out doesn't degrade the quality of what was.
 
clearytja said:
Austinguy 23, All steels are a compromise. You have to give up something to get something. Even the tempering process is all about compromise. There is no "as good as it gets" each steel serves a purpose if executed properly.
TC
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If you're factoring in cost I might agree, otherwise no. Some steels are just better than others. Compare say 154CM to 440C. What does 440C do that 154CM doesn't do a little better?
 
I'm mostly a Spyderco buyer nowadays but I'm tempted by the Rift, especially if prices are going to go up next year.
 
AF said:
I'm mostly a Spyderco buyer nowadays but I'm tempted by the Rift, especially if prices are going to go up next year.
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You should have grabbed the M4 Rift from KnifeWorks, unfortunately it sold out pretty fast.
 
I've dabbled in Benchmades and have found them to be well made knives. Initially I was quite impressed with some models. That feeling seemed to fade the longer I used them. They cut just fine after some sharpening and will get the job done. However, it became apparent that they weren't designed as much with the user and function in mind as I would like. That's just my own subjective opinion.
Pricing, on the other hand, is a universally bad thing when the prices go up and other companies are putting out as good or better knives.
 
austinguy23 said:
What's with everyone talking about M4 steel? Is it superior to S30V somehow? I thought the general consensus was that S30V was about as good as it gets...
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M4 is the new 'must have' steel. It's good, but not my first choice for a folder. It is not stainless so it must be coated. Pivots receive a lot of wear and coatings wear off in that area. Most guys will never use their M4 folders in any kind of inclement conditions anyway so it probably doesn't matter to them. I have never seen an M2 Ritter that was used. Most of these sat in safes. The bulk of the M4's will likely meet the same fate.

M4 is better suited to a fixed blades.

Of course, INFI and 3V is better suited to large blades, and yet people still buy little 2.5" blades made with the stuff, when a good stainless like S30V would exhibit better performance overall in that size.
 
bearcut said:
It's good, but not my first choice for a folder. It is not stainless so it must be coated.
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I do like a carbon steel in a folder, but dislike coatings.
90% of the folders have stainless steel, a folder with a nice patina is something else.
Of course a "high tech" carbon fiber handle doesn't suit a patina on the blade ;)

bearcut said:
Of course, INFI and 3V is better suited to large blades, and yet people still buy little 2.5" blades made with the stuff, when a good stainless like S30V would exhibit better performance overall in that size.
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:thumbup: completely agree with you.

About using these these kind of steel with folders:
Most steels are though enough for folders, the folder will fail before the blade does

CPM-M4 is different because it also has great wear resistance at high HRC, witch is of course also important for folders
 
AF said:
If you're factoring in cost I might agree, otherwise no. Some steels are just better than others. Compare say 154CM to 440C. What does 440C do that 154CM doesn't do a little better?
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With the proper (and prolly a very thin margin for error) heat treat, 440C could likely out-perform S30V.
 
I have several older Benchmade knives and I find them to excellent high quality knives.

The last few years they seem to produce no models that I find appealing.

I'm sure the quality is still there; their designs just don't appeal to me any longer.


I hope that changes with the SHOT and the BLADE show in 2010.
 
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