Question about benchmade 300 axis flip Cabellas excl.

[Dredsen]

Hello all.

i have really gotten into knives lately, and this forum has been very helpful. this may be my first thread, and since i could not find anything on "benchmade machine marks" or "benchmade poor finish" ( a good thing) i decided to post.
please excuse my grammar i have an autoimmune dissease and its hard for me to hit type, and after 4 or 5 post previews i usually just hit post thread.

the last two weeks i have been struggling with which flipper to add to my collection. I narrowed it down to the Spidy southard and the bm300 axis.

i finnally ordered the southard but when at cabellas i handled this knife and found that i love the handle so much that it would be my first benchmade knife.

it was my understanding that the 300 axis was a 154cm stone washed hollow ground blade, however the cabellas edition appears to be different in steel and in color.

I have read about benchmade having excellent fit and finish, but was surprised that the part of the finish seems to have been skipped. the blade is fit , and is ground nicely, top edge is rounded off and the hollow grind is even.

above the hollow grind are what what i would call very rough marks, below in the hollow grind there are marks visible as well, but are uniform and shallow.

perhaps this blade missed a round in the stone wash machine ?

i am not picky, or here to fuss, but rather to learn if this was a mishap or just something common in the "blue" level blades.

i bought this as a collector blade as its a bit heavy for my edc and if it was a mistake that just makes the knife more unique to me.

on to the photos:

without flash:

with flash:

now i know the burger in the menu photo always looks perfect, but i notice the butterfly location in relation to the grind seems off. am i being picky for the "blue " level benchmades?

many google image results have the machine marks, i believe the proffesional photos to be photoshopped as they dont even appear stone washed.

i did find this photo, which is a good photo of the sort of flecked finish im used to in a stone washed blade. is this a special edition or a "gold level" version ?

i literally know nothing about benchmade, but indeed plan to buy more knives from this maker. i love the axis lock!

 

[dalefuller]

I don't have my 300s anymore, but the flats on my Rift, 585, both 525s, both Vollis, and my Hunt look pretty similar. This is a standard finish for many BM models. It's actually rather nice on users because they don't show marks nearly as much as a polished blade would.

From BM's web site:
SATIN FINISH: creates a low-luster sheen to the blade steel surface. Several common forms of satin finish include:

• Stonewash: the blade surface is refined using abrasive tumbling media or "stones" that leave a pronounced random "scratch pattern" on the blade. This finish tends to mask any scratches that may occur with use. Examples- Model 805, 813
• Scotchbrite: this finish softly blends the grinding lines on the blade leaving a pleasant "grained" or "brushed" look. Typically the graining pattern goes from spine to edge. Examples- Model 190, 4530
• Tumbled or Vibed: similar to a stonewash finish; this finish leaves the blades bright and smooth with a faint random scratch pattern. Examples- Griptilians, Bali-Songs
• Burnished: usually applied using non-abrasive media, whether by hand or in vibratory equipment. This finish refines the blade surface without much of a discernable graining or scratch pattern. Examples- Model 770, 941
• Hand rubbed: a finish typically done only by custom knife makers, it is similar to a scotchbrite finish with the main exception being that the graining goes from tang to tip.

Cabelas' exclusive was D2, IIRC, like the 300-1301 LE from a couple of years ago. The picture on BM's web site shows the exact same blade finish a grind pattern. I believe the one you have is perfectly normal.

 

[-Corey-]

The grind lines/machine marks are typical of all benchmade knives. I've got the Cabelas version of the 300 as well as the standard tan handle and the finish on both blades is identical. I glanced at a few other benchmades and even the blades that are mirror polished still have those lines visible.

That picture that you were asking if it's gold class...no that appears to just be the standard model 300. Taking the picture at different angles and in different lighting can mask certain details.

 

[RevDevil]

The laser markings can and will vary from time to time, it's just the nature of their manufacturing beast. Happens to other companies too. If that is an annoyance, then might want to study various examples before buying more. It might help to readjust your expectations when you see the way that several models are. Grind lines are not uncommon, but I would also add that it has no effect on the ability for the knife to do its job (cut).