Question about Benchmade QC and sharpening

T

tk2x

Joined
Apr 13, 2007
Messages
4
Hi folks,

I ordered a Benchmade 710D2 online, and received it a few weeks ago.

When I got the knife, the blade was not very sharp..at all. It looked like it had a rough sharpening applied to it, but was not smooth or honed at all.

This was in sharp contrast to the Spyderco I got at the same time, which was razor sharp. I could run the Benchmade down the palm of my hand, applying a fair bit of pressure, and it did not cut. I have never seen a blade come from the factory this dull on any of my knives.

So my question is, is this normal for Benchmade? Is their quality control of sharpening processes that bad? I sent the knife back to the dealer, and they called me up and said that all of the 710's they have are like this. I'm not sure what to do, since I really like the dimensions and look of the 710.. But it doesn't cut!

Thanks for any suggestions.
 
Send it to BM. They'll straighten it out. Along with making nice knives, they have some of the best customer service in the business.
Sad to hear that all of the dealer's 710D2s were like that.

The 710HS that I bought years ago was the sharpest knife I've ever seen out of the box, and I've seen quite a few. The 940Ti that I EDC is the only knife I own that I haven't reprofiled. I've had pretty good luck with BM through a bunch of knives, and over ten years worth of model changes. Not perfect, but very good. If anything, their knives continue to get nicer, so I hesitate to make any kind of general statement about QC based on individual bad experiences--though yours doesn't sound good at all. Sucks to get a bad sample, especially when you're new to the brand.
 
Send it into BM. D2 will hold a great edge. When you get your 710 back I'm sure you will be pleased.
Sorry to here it came like that.
 
I just received a benchmite today, the coated one, and the blade was surprisingly dull, but after some work on a sharpmaker it was amazingly sharp. I love the thing now, so small and yet so damn sharp. Though the dullness was probably dull to the coating that was applied to the entire blade, post sharpening it seems. Then again, you should be age to use the knife when you get it without doing much to it or anything, especially a benchmade since they are $$$.
 
Just a note on usability of expensive items out of the box. Does anyone make high quality chisels that dont need to be lapped when they are new? Just a little irritating when a $7 RADA Cutlery knife comes mirror polished, but chisels need the faces lapped too smooth them up and give the same polish to the flat as can be put on the bevel. I only have a couple of chisels, but every sharpening reference I've seen for them recommends lapping the face, and it sure was required for mine.
 
I recently ordered a 710D2 and had the exact same problem. The dull knife prompted me to got out and buy a spyderco sharp maker. I sharpened my 710 with it and now it's crazy sharp. The sharp maker is great I've sharpen every knife I own.

This is the only benchmade that comes dull like this. I acually didn't notice how dull 710 was until my BM530 came in the mail. The 530 is sharpest pocket knife I own.
 
I've had mixed results with Benchmade out-of-the-box, but then I've had to sharpen every knife I've ever bought to get them to my standards, except one.
My newest, a limited edition Mcusa Cherry Blossom Damascus didn't even need a strop!
Greg
 
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