No more Benchmades for me for a while...

thedukeoftank

thedukeoftank

Joined
May 17, 2010
Messages
109
I won't be purchasing another Benchmade for a while ...

Ok, so I know that this topic might come under some fire here, but this is my opinion. I'm not telling you that you should agree with me, I'm just telling you how I feel and what motivates my purchases.

Let me give you a little context so you can better understand my decision. As a life long knife guy, I have always carried a blade of some sort. Back then, my knives were the more affordable Bucks, Gerber & CRKT knives that you could commonly find at your local super store. I only had a few of them yet they served me quite well on a daily basis.

Somewhere between 2001 & 2003, a friend of mine picked up a Benchmade knife. Now, I don't remember what model it was but I do remember that I was quite impressed. I decided right then that some day, I'll buy myself a Benchmade.

Fast forward to a few years ago. I found myself in a much better job and so I decided to buy myself a few new toys to celebrate this salary bump. A Benchmade 551 was on that list.
From the first day I opened the package, it rarely left my pocket. It was the best knife I had ever owned and I was hooked. I bought a few more "value" blades that year but none of the could hold a candle to this thing. Then, last year, I purchased a few more Benchmades and the fun continued (a 950 Rift, a 556 Griptillion, a 530 pardue, a 940 Osborne, etc.)

Last year was also the year that the conflict started. I bought my first higher end Kershaw's (Blur S30v & Lahar), my first Zero Tolerance (0200) and my first Spyderco's (Tenacious, Delica, Endura & Military). I was blown away by these blades. I normally would have to spend $100-$150 to get this kind of quality and so my Benchmade purchases declined as my ZT/Spyderco/Kershaw purchases increased.

Now, I find myself at this decision. I personally cannot spend that much more on a knife while I can end get the same quality standards at a much more reasonable price. I would love some of these new beauties that were released this year but I'll be waiting until the prices come down.

So, unfortunately, we need to break up for now Benchmade... Because for me, you are playing too hard to get.
 
Although I've never owned a Benchmade I have considered them over the years but keep coming back to the fact that I can get an almost as good a knife for WAY less money. I'm not into spending big bucks just to get a certain brand name. Is a Buck Vantage as good as an equivalent model Benchmade? Maybe not quite but the price spread isn't worth the money to me. If spending $30 will buy me a knife about 85% as good as a $140 Benchmade I'll pick the Buck hands down any day. A good buck Vantage can hold it's own against many knives costing four to five times as much as far as I'm concerned so why spend all that money just to be able to say " I have a brand X knife?"
 
I would find it hard to go back to a liner lock after being spoiled by the AXIS lock system.:thumbup::D
 
I would give all my other modern locking folders away except Spyderco Sage 1 and Benchmade BM 930 Kulgera. Axis lock is handy and I love it, yet I always have back in my mind: "What if omega spring breaks?" Anyway, I do like Benchmade and Kulgera is near perfect knife for me, so I won't be buying Benchmade, unless they start make Rukus' again, well, not this year anyway. I bought 3 BM's this year and found near perfect knife with Sage 1.
 
Choosing a knife all about choices. Price is one of them.

I can buy a $20 Byrd or KaBar that will get the cutting job done. Anything more than that is extra features.

So you figure out what design features am I willing to pay for? What designs are what I want?

If you don't want to buy a Benchmade because it doesn't have the features you want (remember, price is a feature), then don't.

But I wouldn't make a big whoop de doo about it.
 
thedukeoftank -- I get where you're coming from and it makes for interesting debate but if it we're all about price/value there would be a lot of cool knives left for dead. Certainly cost is a big factor for most of us but I agree with knarfeng -- price is a feature. Sometimes it just comes down to exclusivity and joy of ownership. I have customs that don't have the tight fit of some of my Benchmades -- but still get jazzed by them.

All that said -- its a joyful feeling when you find a knife you really really appreciate and its affordable. Collect them all I say.
 
I've felt the same way lately--I still love Benchmade, but haven't felt compelled to shell out the money on them compared to what else is available on the market for the same or less. That being said I still love my 530 and carry it often, though my $25 CS Pocket Bushman gets carried with greater frequency these days. The Onslaught is pretty tempting though. Not many makers are brave enough to offer a blade that's both that wide and thin.
 
I get what you're saying. It all depends on how much enjoyment per dollar you get out of a knife. I love my inexpensive (not cheap) CRKTs, Bucks, Kershaws, etc. I love my Benchmades as well, because I dig the attention to detail and quality that is in them. I'm not saying you can't get the same quality elsewhere, just that I dig it. Sometimes I wanna carry something cheap and cheerful, sometimes I want to carry something that is over-the-top high end that is way more than what I actually need, it just depends on my mood. Let's face it: very few of us actually NEED anything more than a SAK, Byrd, Dozier, or Mora. This is a hobby based on want. There is nothing wrong with this; it is what it is and I like it. I don't think this thread is pointless, I think its a valuable insight into one person's collecting philosophy. It's not necessarily mine, and may not be yours, but it is a reasonable point of view.

Edit: BTW, I'd get much more enjoyment out of my Benchmades if I didn't have to reprofile every. Single. One. /rant
 
Yeah, do not quite understand what is the point here. What exactly is compared to what? Yes, Tenacious is quite cheap and still a good knife. So what? And you have bought Military - why? Do you get more knife per buck from it?
Some of my favorite knives come from Spyderco (Lum Chinese Folder) and Kershaw (Boa). But I do not see any reason not to have Benchmade I like.
Yes, Griptilian is probably 20 dollars more expensive than Endura. Are these two knives of the similar high quality - yes. Do they both have similar functionality - yes. Is the price difference justified? If you ask me - yes, it is justified. Look at the constraction. And the blade on Griptilian can be sharpened and is better at edge retention. At least it is my experience with my own two Griptilians and two regular Enduras (I have got two more made of ZDP but did not use them that much so fahr)
So I do not think that kind of conclusions are fair. We make our choices - for reasons of our own. And from my point of view, when it comes to the choice between Benchmade, Spyderco and Kershaw - that should be down to actual models. Comparison between various knives from various manufacturers can be fairly relevant. You can compare prices, sizes, steels, construction and even quality (for example, based on the country of manufacture). But talkind about the manufacturers in general - I doubt that it makes a lot of sense.
 
I tend to look at the bigger picture. Having family in England I know first hand that many of us in the good old USA take knife availability for granted. In England the Benchmade Axis lock may as well be a hand held nuclear grenade launcher. I am just glad that we have many different manufactures too choose from. We must work hard to ensure that our rights are not limited in any way. Politicians will try keep us from hurting ourselves until we all live in a land with no freedom of choice.
 
Are you paying MSRP or are you buying from a store that sells at a reduced price? If you buy from one of these online stores then Benchmade is no more expensive than Spyderco or ZT for knives with similar materials and features. You can get a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 with compression lock, G10 and S30V steel for $105. You can also get Benchmade Bone Collector with AXIS lock, sculpted G10 and D2 tool steel for $92. You can get a Buck Vantage Force with G10 and S30V steel and a liner lock for $70. You can get a Benchmade Griptilian with AXIS lock, FRN handle, and 154CM steel for $60.

I can list similar knives all day long. Sure you can compare a decent knife like a Spyderco Tenacious that has alphabet steel, liner lock, and is made in China to a Benchmade with AXIS lock, good steel, and made in the USA and the Benchmade will cost more. But that is apples and oranges. If you compare apples to apples and are buying from a store that discounts below MSRP then Benchmade are no more expensive than other quality knives. If you still don't think this is true then provide an example with knife features and a good price to support your argument. But Im just not seeing it personally.
 
I find some of their prices fair, others not so much. But I dont find many at all to be a good value. That's why I tend to buy Spyderco, Becker, Kershaw, etc. Its just my personal choice. People will vote with their dollars.
 
There are so many nice limited editions coming out from Benchmade. 805 & 806 M390 knives.... 710 M390. Classics.
 
@thedukeoftank
I feel you. I have the impression that Benchmade boosted their prices like one or two years ago. They haven't been cheap before but now I think some knives are at least slightly over priced like the nim cub for ~ 119 $. Dude just 20 $ more and I can get a semi custom knife like the Bravo I or the Swamp Rat HRLM; both knives with superb fit and finish. In 2009 I bought a fixed Grippy for around 70 $ - almost have the price of a nim cub and I guess both knives can compete with each other.
So long story short: I switched to other manufacturers as well (like Esee, Swamp Rat, BRKT, etc).

Like CSRevenant already said: When it comes to folders Spyderco & co seem to offer better bangs for the buck ;)
 
I only have 1 benchmade... a mini Ritter Grip... but it's my edc.

I won't buy another folder for that much personally, b/c I would rather spend the money on a custom fixed blade.

That said, I couldn't be happier with the blade or Benchmade's customer service. They did warranty repairs for me almost 5 years after the fact with no muss, no fuss. Gave me a new blade and had it back in my hands within just a few days. A+ company from my experience, but I only have the one knife.
 
I love the Axis lock. I have 940's and 943' with Carbon fiber, Aluminum, and Titanium handles. I love the ergonomics and the Osborne industrial sculpture. That being said, the blades are a little short and the best stainless I can get is S30V.
 
I completely agree. I only have a mini ambush, but I payed $40 for it, and my Kershaw Skyline dominates the thing. Not to mention, the lanyard hole is way too damn small.
 
I am kind of torn about benchmade. I think that if you want a knife that functions with a reasonable amount of reliability, then basically any knife will work. if you want to take it to the next level, then you start to get into the benchmades, ZTs, and Spydercos. I find that my ZT 0200 satisfies my needs, and i could get nothing anywhere close to as tough as it is for the price i paid for it. Benchmades are probably amazing, and i adore the AXIS lock, but the price increase is astounding.
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
Are you paying MSRP or are you buying from a store that sells at a reduced price? If you buy from one of these online stores then Benchmade is no more expensive than Spyderco or ZT for knives with similar materials and features. You can get a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 with compression lock, G10 and S30V steel for $105. You can also get Benchmade Bone Collector with AXIS lock, sculpted G10 and D2 tool steel for $92. You can get a Buck Vantage Force with G10 and S30V steel and a liner lock for $70. You can get a Benchmade Griptilian with AXIS lock, FRN handle, and 154CM steel for $60.

I can list similar knives all day long. Sure you can compare a decent knife like a Spyderco Tenacious that has alphabet steel, liner lock, and is made in China to a Benchmade with AXIS lock, good steel, and made in the USA and the Benchmade will cost more. But that is apples and oranges. If you compare apples to apples and are buying from a store that discounts below MSRP then Benchmade are no more expensive than other quality knives. If you still don't think this is true then provide an example with knife features and a good price to support your argument. But Im just not seeing it personally.
Click to expand...

This. I only buy Benchmade from two retailers and both are online. I think paying MAAP is over priced, I learned from experience with that. If you know where to look, such as GPKnives, you'll get a Benchmade for the roughly the same price as a Spyderco of similar size and materials. I'm a student, so I do a lot of research looking for lower prices and I give that money to who offers me the most bang for my buck and recently, its been Benchmade, excluding the Spyderco Navaja I picked up the other day :p
 
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