(not sure if this is in the right forum) I don't know about you guys, but my experiences with benchmade knives have been somewhat very disappointing. my very first benchmade was a 707 Sequel, which was a fun blade and i liked the overall design and feel of it, but for some strange reason, the 154-cm blade would not hold, or take an edge. no matter what i did(even sent it in to be sharpened. came back the same way i sent it). i didn't even abuse the knife. it was very basic EDC tasks, and the blade just couldn't handle them. So i determined that it was just the bevel angle. i have noticed that a majority of BM knives have a very very shallow bevel compared to say, kershaws. Ended up selling the knife online. jump a few years and i see a griptilian in a store. fell in love with it. big knife, light weight, and it was an orange handle(got a thing for orange) so i buy it. within a week of yet again, basic EDC tasks, i notice the knife getting dull. i pull out the trusty ceramics, which work on EVERY other blade i have ever used them on, and go to work. after 4 hours of not getting anywhere, i give up. within that same week, another problem arises! i notice that there is some very significant side to side play! i think to myself "this shouldn't be happening, this is a benchmade! high quality, right?" i guess i was wrong. i return the knife under "defective" and get another one hoping that this one would prove me wrong....yet again, exact same issues. i tried tightening the sides with the blue box tool kit, and if it got to tight, then the blade wouldn't pop out like it was supposed too. too loose, and it played side to side. so now i am 0 for 3 for benchmades and it is not looking good for our future. about 6 months later, i get a steal on a mini grip. i think, well, maybe the side to side play was because the blade was so big on the full size. maybe this mini will be fine. i pick it up and start playing with it in the store. sharp as they get, no side to side play, and cool as ever. i then leave for army basic/ait, and come back 4 months later. knife is just where i left it and i pick it up and start carrying it again. lo and behold, 2 weeks later, what do i run into....side to side play and edge dulling. This made me so extremely upset with benchmade that i promised to never again buy a knife from them....and i have kept true to that. I had no idea what to do! i could have sent them in to get sharpened/tightened, but my very first experience with them didn't seem to get anything done. i mean, i have thrown close to $300 on these knifes, and they have not performed as well as my ZT 0650, which was $200, but the same exact steel. which, by the way, has not dulled since i got the knife almost 2 months ago, has been through who knows what with the stuff i have to do here in Korea. Does ZT use a different 154-CM than BM? I don't know, but i can guarantee you that if i ever get given/issued a BM, that thing is going right to the highest bidder and i'm getting myself another ZT. Benchmade, you disappointed me. here i was thinking you were high-end shit, while my sub $70 Kershaws are outperforming and outlasting your $100+ blades.
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Opinions of Benchmade
- Thread starter McCleaven
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2009
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- 2,237
To be honest it seems like the problem with the first two knives were issues with sharpening, rather than with the knife itself. I agree that on your third one, side to side play is unacceptable, and it should have been fixed by BM.
One thing with BM's is that there is an extremely fine line between side to side play, and over-tightening the pivot. If the pivot works itself loose again after you fix it, I'd recommend putting some loctite on the pivot screw. When I still had it, my Spyderco Sage 2's pivot screw would loosen up after just 40-50 openings and it would develop noticeable blade play--but loctite would have fixed that.
On the other hand, I'm not exactly a BM fanboy myself; I've had two broken omega springs on Axis lock knives I've had. Since they produce little else that is lefty friendly, I've pretty much steered clear of BM for a while. The 470 Emissary looks and feels nice though.
One thing with BM's is that there is an extremely fine line between side to side play, and over-tightening the pivot. If the pivot works itself loose again after you fix it, I'd recommend putting some loctite on the pivot screw. When I still had it, my Spyderco Sage 2's pivot screw would loosen up after just 40-50 openings and it would develop noticeable blade play--but loctite would have fixed that.
On the other hand, I'm not exactly a BM fanboy myself; I've had two broken omega springs on Axis lock knives I've had. Since they produce little else that is lefty friendly, I've pretty much steered clear of BM for a while. The 470 Emissary looks and feels nice though.
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2002
- Messages
- 752
I have carried a number of different benchmades and have yet to have an issue with them. I have an early production run Ritter Grip that I carry and use, and a 710HS that I carried and used pretty damned hard.
The 710 saw daily pocket time, and usually daily use, in my warehouse job for over 4 years. It's sat in my toolbox (dust, grime, wood chips, etc) and has yet to ever give me a single problem.
I have an early production 770 that I carry much more than I use. It's my 'evening' knife. I tend to sit there and flick it open and shut almost unconsciously, so it has been cycled thousands of times over the years.
I carried an 835HS for a few years. No, it's not an Axis lock, and the handles are Zytel if I remember corrrectly. The blade stood up to a crapload of punishment though. I never had a major issue keeping an edge on it unless I hit something like a hidden staple.
Mind you, these are all knives from a few years back. I haven't carried or used any of their more recent models, and I have heard of some issues more recently. The one thing that hasn't changed is their Customer Service. If something does need to be fixed they are top notch in trying to make it right. Some people will never be pleased no matter how much is done for them, but for those without a personal grudge, they'll fix us up every time. If one of my springs does eventually break, it won't stop me from carrying, using, and trusting that knife once it's been fixed after the years of trouble free service it's given me.
Just my 2¢ of course.
The 710 saw daily pocket time, and usually daily use, in my warehouse job for over 4 years. It's sat in my toolbox (dust, grime, wood chips, etc) and has yet to ever give me a single problem.
I have an early production 770 that I carry much more than I use. It's my 'evening' knife. I tend to sit there and flick it open and shut almost unconsciously, so it has been cycled thousands of times over the years.
I carried an 835HS for a few years. No, it's not an Axis lock, and the handles are Zytel if I remember corrrectly. The blade stood up to a crapload of punishment though. I never had a major issue keeping an edge on it unless I hit something like a hidden staple.
Mind you, these are all knives from a few years back. I haven't carried or used any of their more recent models, and I have heard of some issues more recently. The one thing that hasn't changed is their Customer Service. If something does need to be fixed they are top notch in trying to make it right. Some people will never be pleased no matter how much is done for them, but for those without a personal grudge, they'll fix us up every time. If one of my springs does eventually break, it won't stop me from carrying, using, and trusting that knife once it's been fixed after the years of trouble free service it's given me.
Just my 2¢ of course.
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2005
- Messages
- 2,753
BM knives are one of my most used and carried knives with the exception of my G-10 Delica I have been EDCing for a few months now.
This is my 710 that was my EDC for about 5 years with no problem. It has been through more stuff than any of my other knives. I have carried this 710 for weeks at a time while camping, and even uderwater while I am dredging for gold. I have pryed rocks apart while under water, batoned through a few small pine ttrees for traction when stuck in the mud, and pretty much abused the crap out of it over the years. It is still solid and it is my go to knife when I am doing dirty hard work. The D2 has been great for my uses, but does rust some when covered with sweat for days at a time. I have sharpened this knife a good bit which you can tell by the pictures.
There have been times after camping trips where I have to take the knife apart to clean it because it was used in mud and other nasty stuff, but after cleaning she is smooth as silk.
Try finding an older modle knife from BM and see if you get a better feeling from them.
Best of luck,
John
This is my 710 that was my EDC for about 5 years with no problem. It has been through more stuff than any of my other knives. I have carried this 710 for weeks at a time while camping, and even uderwater while I am dredging for gold. I have pryed rocks apart while under water, batoned through a few small pine ttrees for traction when stuck in the mud, and pretty much abused the crap out of it over the years. It is still solid and it is my go to knife when I am doing dirty hard work. The D2 has been great for my uses, but does rust some when covered with sweat for days at a time. I have sharpened this knife a good bit which you can tell by the pictures.
There have been times after camping trips where I have to take the knife apart to clean it because it was used in mud and other nasty stuff, but after cleaning she is smooth as silk.
Try finding an older modle knife from BM and see if you get a better feeling from them.
Best of luck,
John
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2006
- Messages
- 1,155
I am a huge benchmade fan. I have a bunch of them including a minigrip, a minirukus, a kulgera, a 943, a 210tk activator, a 710 and a subrosa. They all fight for pocket time to accompany my sebenza. They are all rock solid and without play. I only have two problems with them; they tread the gravity knife line with how easy they are to flick out, and once you adjust the pivot screw backs out far too easily, and their factory edges seem to be going downhill.
I'm not really a Benchmade fan.
I do recognize that they typically make pretty high quality blades but their design philosophy doesn't fit well for me.
I find in a lot of Benchmades that style takes precedence over function and that makes their knives less pleasing for me to use. For instance, the 530 is an awesome slim knife, but the special AXIS lock is difficult to unlock with wet hands and the thumbstud is near useless under the same wet conditions. Or the Skirmish, which is a cool integral lock knife, but the thumb hole is so polished your thumb is apt to slip out when you open it. And when you close it, the edge hits the backspacer. And so on. I've never had a Spyderco or a Kershaw where I felt there were some kind of usability defects like this.
I do recognize that they typically make pretty high quality blades but their design philosophy doesn't fit well for me.
I find in a lot of Benchmades that style takes precedence over function and that makes their knives less pleasing for me to use. For instance, the 530 is an awesome slim knife, but the special AXIS lock is difficult to unlock with wet hands and the thumbstud is near useless under the same wet conditions. Or the Skirmish, which is a cool integral lock knife, but the thumb hole is so polished your thumb is apt to slip out when you open it. And when you close it, the edge hits the backspacer. And so on. I've never had a Spyderco or a Kershaw where I felt there were some kind of usability defects like this.
- Joined
- Jun 29, 1999
- Messages
- 9,818
The axis lock is a brilliant design, IMHO, strong, accessible for either hand, and reliable. I've had no problems with either my 710 (D2) or Mini-Rukus (S30V). Both take a terrific edge. Great knives.
My first BM, a 551 Grip in 440C, came dull - as did my second, a 201 Activator+ in D2. By the time I got the latter, I had reasonned that a grown man should be able to master a double bevel edged knife's sharpening - and had bought a Spydie 'Sharpmaker' - the answer, to me. Years later, I now have thirty BM's - many bought as 'old stock' locally - but several new models each year. All came sharp. The 630 Skirmish is my favorite - I bought my only second hand BM as a 630 - my only 'backup', or second copy of a BM. I have carried one of the 630's, a 610 Rukus, a 710, or, a 150020-1 Bone Collector or, most recently, a 755 MPR as my EDC. In my book, they have been 100% reliable.
Stainz
Stainz
Greetings:
I ordered a Benchmade Onslaught and find it comical how stout the handle is in relation to the paper-thin blade. Surely a blade that thin would at least be razor sharp, but it wasn't. Tiny little bevel. I've also found it impossible to find an amount of pivot tension that allows the blade to flick out fast without the side-to-side play side effect.
I do like the 530 I have, though, except for the same paper-thin-but-not-razor-sharp blade issue. I've sharpened both blades but shouldn't have had to.
In general, since my rather recent foray into this money-pit collecting hobby, I've found the majority of knives I've bought to be a letdown in one way or another compared to their cost (with the notable exceptions of the Hogue G-Mascus EX-01, Lion Steel SR-1, Spyderco Endura Wave, DPx H.E.S.T fixed blade, and Cold Steel Spartan and Rajah II). I'm probably too picky.
Cheers,
Isaeus
I ordered a Benchmade Onslaught and find it comical how stout the handle is in relation to the paper-thin blade. Surely a blade that thin would at least be razor sharp, but it wasn't. Tiny little bevel. I've also found it impossible to find an amount of pivot tension that allows the blade to flick out fast without the side-to-side play side effect.
I do like the 530 I have, though, except for the same paper-thin-but-not-razor-sharp blade issue. I've sharpened both blades but shouldn't have had to.
In general, since my rather recent foray into this money-pit collecting hobby, I've found the majority of knives I've bought to be a letdown in one way or another compared to their cost (with the notable exceptions of the Hogue G-Mascus EX-01, Lion Steel SR-1, Spyderco Endura Wave, DPx H.E.S.T fixed blade, and Cold Steel Spartan and Rajah II). I'm probably too picky.
Cheers,
Isaeus
danseifert
Gold Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2011
- Messages
- 150
My honest opinion of Benchmade knives is that they generally nice, high quality blades. Good designs, quality materials, USA made, and the axis lock is awesome.
That being said, I've bought 5 in my life and 4 had quality control issues that were enough to make me return them. 4 out of 5 of them were dull. Benchmade simply does not sharpen their knives in an acceptable way, even the sharp ones have crappy geometry. Issues include sharpness, blade centering, blade finishing, general fit and finish, and blade play in one case. All of them were a little overpriced.
I'm at a point where any money that I'm tempted to spend on a Benchmade design will almost always be better spent on a Spyderco. I get better quality from overseas produced Spyderco's than I do from USA made Benchmades. Plus I get a razor sharp edge that is ready to work every time. Just my opinion.
That being said, I've bought 5 in my life and 4 had quality control issues that were enough to make me return them. 4 out of 5 of them were dull. Benchmade simply does not sharpen their knives in an acceptable way, even the sharp ones have crappy geometry. Issues include sharpness, blade centering, blade finishing, general fit and finish, and blade play in one case. All of them were a little overpriced.
I'm at a point where any money that I'm tempted to spend on a Benchmade design will almost always be better spent on a Spyderco. I get better quality from overseas produced Spyderco's than I do from USA made Benchmades. Plus I get a razor sharp edge that is ready to work every time. Just my opinion.
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2010
- Messages
- 798
Well, for my 551SBKSN, I found ceramic sharpeners dont work, but I bought a Smith's Diamond Sharpening Kit (Before buying this knife) and it works just fine to sharpen the 551. Maybe you should have tried diamond sharpeners. But, side to side play is unacceptable, I however have had no side to side with my 551. I haven't had vertical play either. The blade is perfectly centered and mine came Razor sharp. I would give my 551SBKSN an A or 5/5, 10/10. Its really a quality knife.
So, my general opinion of Benchmade is they make a quality product and I wouldn't trade my 551 for anything.
So, my general opinion of Benchmade is they make a quality product and I wouldn't trade my 551 for anything.
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2009
- Messages
- 2,696
My overall opinion of BM is that I really love a lot of their designs. They blend function with nice aesthetics very well.
What I don't like is the price tag, and then on top of that getting a knife with a more obtuse bevel than a non tempered, flea market, "ninja" knife.
What I don't like is the price tag, and then on top of that getting a knife with a more obtuse bevel than a non tempered, flea market, "ninja" knife.
- Joined
- May 4, 2010
- Messages
- 1,265
Benchmade makes great knives, but not all Benchmades are created equal in my eyes.
My first high end knife was a BM 950 Rift. While it was very well made, I'll echo the sentiments about soft heat treat on the 154CM. I wrecked the edge on that blade in no time at all. The ergos just didn't feel that great as well; it was a pig of a knife with a very thin hollow ground blade. The factory edge wasn't anything special, either. It just didn't seem to be what I was after in an EDC.
I stopped buying Benchmades for about a year, and got into Spydercos and customs. Finally, I decided to give Benchmade a second chance, and picked up a 710 in M390. This knife has completely changed my opinion of Benchmade! Much thinner handle and profile in pocket, way better blade shape(thinner, pointier, longer), and the steel! For the past 3 weeks straight, this has been my sole EDC. I've been camping, fishing, opening packaging, you name it. It came out of the box able to whittle free hanging hair, and will still slice through newspaper against the grain and shave no problem. I haven't touched the edge once yet. This knife has completely changed my opinion on Benchmade, and I couldn't be more pleased with it. It's up there as a favorite folder. And, it was only about $25-$30 pricier than the 950.
ETA: I finally touched up the edge on my Sharpmaker, and M390 sharpens up wonderfully. It feels way easier than the other high vanadium alloys I've been using (S30V, 20CP, even M4), and just seems to want to take a crisp edge. Ease of sharpening and crazy edge retention equal a home run for BM in my eyes.
My first high end knife was a BM 950 Rift. While it was very well made, I'll echo the sentiments about soft heat treat on the 154CM. I wrecked the edge on that blade in no time at all. The ergos just didn't feel that great as well; it was a pig of a knife with a very thin hollow ground blade. The factory edge wasn't anything special, either. It just didn't seem to be what I was after in an EDC.
I stopped buying Benchmades for about a year, and got into Spydercos and customs. Finally, I decided to give Benchmade a second chance, and picked up a 710 in M390. This knife has completely changed my opinion of Benchmade! Much thinner handle and profile in pocket, way better blade shape(thinner, pointier, longer), and the steel! For the past 3 weeks straight, this has been my sole EDC. I've been camping, fishing, opening packaging, you name it. It came out of the box able to whittle free hanging hair, and will still slice through newspaper against the grain and shave no problem. I haven't touched the edge once yet. This knife has completely changed my opinion on Benchmade, and I couldn't be more pleased with it. It's up there as a favorite folder. And, it was only about $25-$30 pricier than the 950.
ETA: I finally touched up the edge on my Sharpmaker, and M390 sharpens up wonderfully. It feels way easier than the other high vanadium alloys I've been using (S30V, 20CP, even M4), and just seems to want to take a crisp edge. Ease of sharpening and crazy edge retention equal a home run for BM in my eyes.
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Oddly, my 551 is my least favorite BM. Also, I got a Bone Collector in D2 before the 950 - and I like it better. I do get to checkout the stock before I buy, that 201 being the only BM I did not buy face-to-face. Some older one-of-a-kind goodies had to be bought - tno problems. I did find a brand new 520 Presidio & 9555 auto Rift in the $100/ea markdown Christmas stash at a local store - Mrs. Santa grabbed them for me. She even bought me the 171 Chopper... I made the mistake of looking it over last fall - she didn't hear the "That bwould I do with that" remark! It was a great Christmas!
I think she bought me a 480-1 Shoki for my birthday next month - it was marked $129 - then, it was gone! CF and M390 - great combo. Fine blade - but not a razor - it will meet the Sharpmaker next month!
Stainz
I think she bought me a 480-1 Shoki for my birthday next month - it was marked $129 - then, it was gone! CF and M390 - great combo. Fine blade - but not a razor - it will meet the Sharpmaker next month!
Stainz
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2010
- Messages
- 1,655
Benchmades offerings with tool steels and other high performance steels are far superior to what they offer in normal production designs. I received a 950BK-1001 about 3-4 months ago and it has been in my pocket every day I go to work. I can't say that about my last two Spyderco purchases, including the CTS-20CP para2, which actually has turned me off of Spyderco for the time being.
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2009
- Messages
- 44,314
I like some Benchmade knives more than others. I do like the 553, 556, 805, 806, 943, & 615. But, I really don't like the ergonomics on some of the designs. The 950 was one of the most uncomfortable knives I've ever owned. The bladeshape was awesome, but just not for me overall. I know that some people will sing it's praises morning, noon, and night. Personally, the TSEK and AFCK are my all time favorite knives from Benchmade. I like large folders, and these deliver.
As far as the bevels are concerned, I don't mind that they are obtuse. Sure, it would be nice if they were more refined, but I can sharpen them the way I want them with very little effort. Besides, it's fun and relaxing to sharpen knives. Be it on a stone, Edge Pro or Sharp Maker. I think their packaging is excellent. The foam coffins really do protect the knives from any kind of jostling during shipment, and they are very cool. The microfiber baggies are also a very nice little extra.
The warranty is excellent from what I've heard, although I have never needed to use it (thankfully). I really appreciate that as a knife company they can carry and stock spare blades for almost any knife (except of course the very early ones, long discontinued). I'm not crazy about the AXIS lock in general. Sure it works, but I prefer a strong back lock, liner lock, or compression lock any day. The bladesteel is ok, but there are so many choices out there now, continuing to use 154CM is a mystery to me. You'd think they could upgrade to CPM-154 at least or S30V for some models. The Heat rteat as mentioned can be hit or miss depending on the knife model.
As far as the bevels are concerned, I don't mind that they are obtuse. Sure, it would be nice if they were more refined, but I can sharpen them the way I want them with very little effort. Besides, it's fun and relaxing to sharpen knives. Be it on a stone, Edge Pro or Sharp Maker. I think their packaging is excellent. The foam coffins really do protect the knives from any kind of jostling during shipment, and they are very cool. The microfiber baggies are also a very nice little extra.
The warranty is excellent from what I've heard, although I have never needed to use it (thankfully). I really appreciate that as a knife company they can carry and stock spare blades for almost any knife (except of course the very early ones, long discontinued). I'm not crazy about the AXIS lock in general. Sure it works, but I prefer a strong back lock, liner lock, or compression lock any day. The bladesteel is ok, but there are so many choices out there now, continuing to use 154CM is a mystery to me. You'd think they could upgrade to CPM-154 at least or S30V for some models. The Heat rteat as mentioned can be hit or miss depending on the knife model.
Benchmade makes great knives! Majority of folders in my collection are from BM.
If your personal experience is not good - why not to switch to other brand. Plenty of choice! Different people certainly should have different preferences - otherwise it would all be so boring!
If your personal experience is not good - why not to switch to other brand. Plenty of choice! Different people certainly should have different preferences - otherwise it would all be so boring!
I have no issues sharpening blades and i have a fun time doing it. i have all the stuff. lansky diamond sharpener, 2 whet stones, a hard and a medium, and 2 ceramics, also hard and medium. I can touch up any blade with just the ceramics, but i shouldn't have to sharpen knife straight outta the box! or feel like i have to re-profile it! the bevel on the BM's is just so small! it is hard to eye it with the ceramic. and the problem with the side to side play my have been the fact that the 551 is a little on the cheaper side of things benchmade offers. i have looked at the 710 and the 940 i believe, but i find it hard to throw down that much when i have been so disappointed with the company in the past.