No more Benchmades for me for a while...

I consistently enjoy the offerings from ZT and Spyderco. Most recently I have really started to appreciate some traditional knife patters (Swayback Jack in particular). When I buy a knife, I look at the overall design, the materials used (steel), the thought to ergonomics, the overall longevity of the construction, and the potential uses it can afford me. This is a hobby for me, I love cutting tools. From the small Case Tiny Trapper that rides in my pocket almost every day to the ZT0303 that I carried this week, to the Paramilitary2 in S90V that sees regular use. I have to say, the extra features loosen up my wallet almost immediately.


knarfeng said:
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.
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Oh come on now, without the big old whoop de doos we'd all be sitting around with nothing to do or talk about ;)
 
Looks like my post didn't make it.

But the above mentioned nim cub can be had for $89.25 instead of the $119 that was quoted.

If you shop at a store that gives a discount like by using a coupon code then Benchmade's prices are almost exactly the same as before they implemented their MAPP pricing policy they started a little over a year. If you buy from a store that discounts the MAPP price then Benchmade is no more expensive than the other companies listed if comparing similar knives. In fact the Griptilian and Bone Collector series are quite cheap for what you get.

I find it interesting that there are routinely threads complaining about Benchmade and their pricing and how they are over priced. But I don't think I have ever heard anyone complain about ZT since they implement a similar MAPP pricing policy and I haven't seen any store that gives a discount and knife prices are similar no matter what store you are shopping at.
 
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I think I might take the plunge and finally get a benchmade onslaught because there is just something about it that really draws me too it.
 
I bought a new 440C 551 years ago - then, some years later, a D2 201. Both were embarassingly dull - I nixxed further purchases... until I found a NOS 630 Skirmish at a dealer. That came sharp! The flood gates were open - over two dozen followed over the last few years. No longer 'worried' about sharpness - I had bought a Spyderco Sharpmaker - I took more Benchmade 'chances' - two dozen of them - and they were all razors right out of the box. Okay, the only used one - a second 630 - needed help - but, in general, they were close to Buck/Kershaw/ZT in out of the box sharpness. Admittedly, I did get bargains - some were mismatched boxes - some were new old stock - and all but that 201 came from local B&M stores. None were bought at retail - or even close. I like Benchmades... especially, the ones I have.

I do have the luxury of 'test driving' new BM's locally. The 581, for example, looks great - but nearly jumps from your hand, it's 'assist' is that ambitious. The little 480-1 is a looker - but seems smaller in your hand (My wife gave me one for our anniversary - yesterday - after we had gone across town to look at one. It wasn't there - she had bought it the day before!). Still, the QC is great - their warranty is even better. You can beat their list price, too. It's all in what you 'want' - as others have said, 'need' for a pocket knife can be satiated by a far less costly choice. Sure, Buck, Kershaw, Spyderco, and ZT make great choices, as do Boker and Case. By all means, vote with your wallet - not everyone likes every knife. Probably my all-time favorite, a Buck 110 - whether the $27 basic from Wally World - or hundreds of $ on a Buck Custom Shop 110, is literally hated by some. Go figure.

Of course, you could say, "I no longer like Benchmades... I'm going with CRK's!".

Stainz
 
its a shame that the averager price for many newer benchmades are 175-200.00,like the 790 subrosa,or the new barrage.i remember getting the 800 afck for 60-70.00 back in the 90's,or even the emerson & leopards were in that range.the bm 710 was around 100.00 in the late 90s,too,i guess those days are long gone.thats why im at the point now where ill really research & mull over anything new that comes out, i dont want to have to wind up selling it a few weeks later.
 
Stainz said:
Of course, you could say, "I no longer like Benchmades... I'm going with CRK's!".
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I did this early, and I have never looked back. Benchmade is great, but it is a little pricey. I mean CRK is also quite expensive, but considering the tolerances and quality, its worth the jump.

Anyway, I was tempted to pick up a shot show Benchmade AFCK earlier this week...then I saw the new zt560 and decided to hold out for that instead. There are some nice blades out there for less from other companies than Benchmade which provide similar product quality and service. There is always a better bang for the buck. Some like the warranty and axis lock that the Benchmades offer and stick with Benchmade. To each his/her own.

On another note, have you thought of just keeping a smaller amount of more expensive knives? Like one CRK for light tasks and a Hinderer for heavy duty things? Personally, besides collecting and backups, I don't see the purpose of having like 5 knives in the same region of duty. Like a small CRK, mini grip, and manix 2? What can the mini grip/manix offer that the CRK cannot? The grinds are a little different but all will cut nicely. The locks are different but they all lock and have relatively similar blade lengths. I guess maybe if you are worried about losing the thing, but thats it. Sure it's nice to swap knives out like watches, but you really only need one watch to tell time. At least thats my take. All my things are users.
 
Will shoot BM the memo to scale back production based on this thread. (kidding)
It just depends where your at in the hobby.
If BM put out a model you just had to have, you would have it.
Same with any Co.
Very few here only own a single brand of knife.
Maybe a couple, but that's about it.
Too much variety out there these days to limit yourself.
Lock's, blade steel, design.........
Me, I am a sucker for 805's & 806's.
Not to mention all the others.......... LOL LOL
 
I understand where the OP is coming from. In my opinion most manufactures of knives are getting too pricey. I have stopped buying knives for now.
 
au5t3n5 said:
On another note, have you thought of just keeping a smaller amount of more expensive knives?
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Nope.:)
More knives=more better.:D
I've decided that a bigger amount of more expensive knives makes me happy (along with some less expensive ones which just work really well).
 
When I first started collecting knives I felt the same way as the OP. I was all about Kershaws because, to me, they offered the best bang for the buck. Now that I have a sizeable collection, I don't care so much about value. I want what I want, and I will pay what I need to pay to get it. For me I would rather have a smaller collection of knives that I really like than a larger collection of knives that I could take or leave. I really thinned down my collection when I realized that (thank god for the trading forum).

PS. Axis lock is just too good.

PPS. Because of Benchmades MAAP it can be hard to find good deals but if you search around you can do well. Ebay "Buy it Now or Best Offer" and GPKnives are your friends.
 
I paid $67 for my 556 Mini Grip...and thats the only knife I'll ever buy from them for now. It's a near perfect knife to me, but it shipped dull as hell (And they said I had to pay to get it sharpened as if it were my fault), and everything else they have is too expensive for me. I guess I love it regardless.
 
One benefit of buying local - you can inspect it. I don't get to do that when my wife buys me one. The BM 480-1 was neat - but, in hand, it wasn't 'me'. He offered it or the 581 Barrage for the same price - and happily exchanged it for me. I doubt any mail order source could beat his price... before s/t, of course. So, unlike all of the other knives my wife has bought me, I didn't keep it - I exchanged it for the 581 - and what a knife that one is! Sadly, I keep thinking how 'cute' the 480-1 was... I am an unabashed knifeslut.

Yeah, they cost more than a lot of Kershaws I've bought... but what knives! CRK is nice, too - my sole folder is a Wilson Combat ordered CRK Umnumzaan - the 'StarTac' -WOW! I still think, "I'm not worthy!" everytime I look at it, much less use it. Money can certainly buy great QC - and tight tolerances - not to mention fine materials. Do they cut better than a $27 Buck 110 from WallyWorld? Of course, the answer to that is no. Oddly, if the answer to that question is important to you, you may not appreciate a Benchmade, much less a CRK. My collection of CRKs is stable at two - including a fb Nyala - great bargain, actually - and in S35VN! My BM's may increase in number... they keep coming out with stuff I like - and lust for. YMMV.

Stainz
 
As far as Benchmade goes, I feel they charge a little too much from other dealers. From GPKnives and occasionally knifeworks, their prices are pretty good. I admit I felt a bit shafted when I paid $200 for the limited edition 710-1 and then they release the production 710-2 for $50 less. Though my recent purchases with the 583 Barrage and 890-111 Torrent has left me more than satisfied.

The Torrent in particular has taken up position as my EDC:
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Carbon fiber, aluminum coated with DLC, titanium liners, M390 blade steel, nickel plated hardware. And all for about $250. Though I wouldn't be as eager to pay the standard $340 price tag for it.

Though Kershaw's Tilt knife would seem to trump that with a titanium framelock, carbon fiber front scales, DLC coated titanium and blade, KVT, flipper, and Vanax 75 steel. However, Thomas mentions that such runs of those knives aren't money makers, so perhaps Benchmade's prices are actually set to make a profit.

I myself wonder if Spyderco didn't lose out on their run of the Para2 in S90V and Carbon Fiber, and the other run in CTS-20CP and Gray G10.
 
Noctis3880 said:
As far as Benchmade goes, I feel they charge a little too much from other dealers. From GPKnives and occasionally knifeworks, their prices are pretty good. I admit I felt a bit shafted when I paid $200 for the limited edition 710-1 and then they release the production 710-2 for $50 less. Though my recent purchases with the 583 Barrage and 890-111 Torrent has left me more than satisfied.
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Just to be fair, it's not Benchmade that charges those prices, dealers do. Some choose to make money on quantity, others do it by selling at MAPP. Buyers decide who they want to support by voting with their hard earned money.

The issue with 710-1 is not as simple as it may seem. Here's how it works. When a dealer orders a specific LE that configuration becomes exclusive to that dealer, no LE with those same exact features will ever be reproduced for another dealer or BM's regular run LE available to all dealers. BUT if that same dealer decides to extend the order BM will satisfy the request. Just the way it works... KW had success with the run and demand was much higher then original supply. Regardless though, your numbered 710 will/should not depreciate in value in years to come.

BTW that's a beautiful Torrent you got there!
 
The last Benchmade I bought was a Rukus 610 Stonewashed in late 2009. Personally I don't find their new designs interesting at all, though many of them and their limited runs have been getting exotic steels and handle materials.
 
Well, one thing you get for your extra money with Benchmade is a really cool packaging. Seriously, how cool is that blue (or black) drawer style box... ...and that little microfiber bag w/logo, drawstring, and barrel lock? The MAAP is playing hard to get, it's a a pain in the butt and I have to wonder if I really want a Benchmade bad enough to find a decent deal on one.

The packaging, MAAP, It's all about preserving their image. Of course you can get nearly as good for way less money. Look at Oakley sunglasses, you just about can't find them for less than retail. I just got some new Flack Jackets, are they worth $160??? No!! But they come in a cool box, with a nice case, and a microfiber bag, cool "O" logos everywhere. They feel like they're worth $160, of course a $10 gas station pair accomplishes nearly the same thing. Oakley has done a great job with preserving the value of their product, Benchmade not so much.

Not to turn this into a benchmade bashing rant but I've been disappointed with the quality of my last couple benchmades. A 950 Rift with an off center blade, and recently a 520 with a (little bit) off centered blad, bad finish on the black liners, scratches on visible on the bead blasted blade, and not all that sharp. Neither one are bad knives but my new Paramilitary 2 is flawless and scary sharp... ...just wish it had come in a cooler box.
 
ElConquistador said:
The packaging, MAAP, It's all about preserving their image. Of course you can get nearly as good for way less money. Look at Oakley sunglasses, you just about can't find them for less than retail. I just got some new Flack Jackets, are they worth $160??? No!! But they come in a cool box, with a nice case, and a microfiber bag, cool "O" logos everywhere. They feel like they're worth $160, of course a $10 gas station pair accomplishes nearly the same thing. Oakley has done a great job with preserving the value of their product, Benchmade not so much.
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I'd say Benchmade is doing relatively better than Oakley. For one, Oakley's warranty is laughable compared to the warranties that US knife companies usually offer (lifetime warranty, repair parts mailed to you, repairs are free). Second, the O's quality control isn't what it seems or used to be, though their marketing lately has been over the top. I'd say their advertising is like Dark Ops/Mantis, only less tactical, but yes with a huge focus on technology buzzwords that don't actually mean anything.

They're overpriced at any price that's at least 60% of they currently go for, IMO. This is coming from someone who owns the Ducati Straight Jackets, Plasma/Fire Juliets, and Plasma/Ice Penny.
 
I love the smoothness of the axis lock, but I find myself avoiding them cause I fear that the Omega Springs are going to fail.. and worst of all, fail without me knowing. Small wire inside the handle.. a framelock you can see whats going on at all times, and it isn't thin like an Omega Spring. I hope someone can tell me that I am just being paranoid so I can buy a Ritter Mk1 instead of a HEST/F.
 
I have read all of this thread and tried to come up with a valid reason why I should not buy more Benchmades. Fortunately, I haven't found a valid reason.;)
 
I always felt that BM was too proud of their stuff, and after having bought a couple my feelings were confirmed. I'll stick with Kershaw and Spyderco.
 
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