Scratches on 710-1401 right out of box? and handle color issue?

S

superstack

Joined
Dec 16, 2016
Messages
24
Hello,

I recently picked up a Benchmade 710-1401 with M390 steel.
I noticed some weird scratches like marks near the tip of the blade.
Please see the pic.
Are these considered to be scratches? under normal lighting, it is kinda like little bright spot on the blade.
Not sure if I should send it back?
I also found quite a lot of small short random lines/scratches all over the flat of the blade, is it normal for this model?
My 710 D2 has no scratches at all on anywhere of the blade..

20161216_004008_zps5jseetcu.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]

20161216_003803_zpsp8pkfblb.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]

As for the handle, I know this kind of black and blue G10 varies on each single one, but upon some quick search online, I found that my Bnechmade 710-1401 handle has very less of black color, while all others have significantly much more black color in the middle of the handle than mine. please see comparison below
10082483_zpsjesmh5rn.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]

this is what mine looks like
20161216_004106_zpstubei3to.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]

In fact, by just google online, I could not even find one that has as less black color as mine..is it considered defects?

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
While it looks like your photos didn't make it, the light scratches on your blade are most likely created during the stonewashing process, and are commonplace. Due to the tumbling, no two blades are ever the same. That goes for the black and blue highlights in the G-10 molding process and I don't consider variations to be defects. But it's your call; if you don't like the knife send it back. You can use programs like Photobucket, which is a free service, to transfer your photos, it's pretty easy to use. Hope this helps.
 
jkarp_53 said:
While it looks like your photos didn't make it, the light scratches on your blade are most likely created during the stonewashing process, and are commonplace. Due to the tumbling, no two blades are ever the same. That goes for the black and blue highlights in the G-10 molding process and I don't consider variations to be defects. But it's your call; if you don't like the knife send it back. You can use programs like Photobucket, which is a free service, to transfer your photos, it's pretty easy to use. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Thank you pointing that out! I just edited the pics, hope it is working now?
 
Thanks for the pics. It looks like you've got a perfectly useable knife, and it should work just as well as it's neighbors in the photo. The stonewashing looks just like many in my collection, and neither the coloring of the G-10, or marks on the blade would constitute defective issues, IMO. But, again these are not inexpensive knives and you Should get what you want.
 
jkarp_53 said:
Thanks for the pics. It looks like you've got a perfectly useable knife, and it should work just as well as it's neighbors in the photo. The stonewashing looks just like many in my collection, and neither the coloring of the G-10, or marks on the blade would constitute defective issues, IMO. But, again these are not inexpensive knives and you Should get what you want.
Click to expand...

Do you feel any blade play on any of your collection of axis lock folders? I can feel a very little blade play on mine, both vertically and horizontally, if you grab the handle and the blade firmly and try to feel it. Not sure if it is supposed to be like that?
 
All these lessons in a short and cold afternoon. So, while side to side play is normal (say common, Joseph...) and usually adjustable by us mortals, radial play, or being able to grab the blade, carefully, and then rock the blade, is not, at least for me, a problem, unless it's bad enough to possibly affect the safety of the Axis lock. And if that's the deal the knife should be either returned, or replaced/repaired. Still sounds like you have options available, doesn't it? Let us know how it goes please.
 
jkarp_53 said:
All these lessons in a short and cold afternoon. So, while side to side play is normal (say common, Joseph...) and usually adjustable by us mortals, radial play, or being able to grab the blade, carefully, and then rock the blade, is not, at least for me, a problem, unless it's bad enough to possibly affect the safety of the Axis lock. And if that's the deal the knife should be either returned, or replaced/repaired. Still sounds like you have options available, doesn't it? Let us know how it goes please.
Click to expand...

I talked to Knifeworks when I first received the box and found out the seal was already cut opened. They said they open every single box for quality check. Later I found out the little blade play and scratches issues and talked to them again, and they replied that all they check is only the color of the G10 handle, only the color, nothing else, unless you ask them to check anything when you place the order..So they refuse to pay for any return shipping for either exchange or return. I am just curious what kind of 'coloring' of these G10 handle would be considered to be defective by Knifeworks...and since these G10 handle they all vary in coloring due to the process, then what is the point of opening up every box to check? I am still trying to find out the answers from them.
 
If you really want more black on it, you can sand the blue area where it meets the black on the outer contour of the handle. Go easy with 220 and finish with 400 or 600 grit. It will only take few thousandths of the G-10 at the color transition to get more black.

With layered G-10 you can end up with many variations. KW opens the box for a quality check, not a color check. Doubt they would have noticed the light marks near the tip.

As mentioned before, side to side play can be adjusted out and not affecting the action significantly. Vertical play is something Benchmade should address under a warranty return.

Are you collecting or using this knife? If you plan to use it, then I wouldnt worry much.
 
If it bothers you, send it back. I know it sucks to have to pay for it but you already paid a nice chunk of change for that knife and it will make you angry every time you look at it. Cost of buying something sight unseen sometimes. Priority mail is like $12 with insurance. I highly recommend insurance. I lost a package to leatherman for a warranty return that had 2 multi-tools in it without insurance that disappeared and the post office just shrugged their shoulders (this was before the included $50 insurance). Just eat the $12 and get a knife that pleases you.
 
Elite_KG said:
If you really want more black on it, you can sand the blue area where it meets the black on the outer contour of the handle. Go easy with 220 and finish with 400 or 600 grit. It will only take few thousandths of the G-10 at the color transition to get more black.

With layered G-10 you can end up with many variations. KW opens the box for a quality check, not a color check. Doubt they would have noticed the light marks near the tip.

As mentioned before, side to side play can be adjusted out and not affecting the action significantly. Vertical play is something Benchmade should address under a warranty return.

Are you collecting or using this knife? If you plan to use it, then I wouldnt worry much.
Click to expand...

KW they first said that they opens the boxes for QUALITY check, but when I told them that I still receive one with some quality issues, they then told me that they only check for the COLOR, not for scratches, not for blade play, not for any other real quality concerns... I actually felt shocked when I heard it from them..
I do not think I would go sanding the handle but thank you for the advice!
I planed to keep this knife on the shelf but now I am not sure..I guess I will talk to Benchmade and see if I could get an exchange directly from them since Knifeworks does not wanna take any responsibility of it.
 
I wonder if going directly to BM will help.......I don't know if they have any of that model on hand as it is an exclusive.
Joe
 
By the way, I forgot to mention that I notice there is a tiny gap between the belt clip and the handle, which means the belt clip is not touching the handle, so when you tap the belt clip, you can hear the little 'ding ding' sound when the belt clip strike the handle.. is there a way to fix that? is it a QC issue or it is normal?
 
Please bear in mind that though it is a dealer exclusive it is still a production knife. It appears to me that you are either experiencing buyers remorse or had unrealistic expectations of the knife in question.

I see nothing in your photos that can not be resolved with a few minor tweaks by the end user. Everyone has their own preferred feel to the blade action and the g10 variation is a natural characteristic of the scale material. The clip, eh, 30 seconds and a pencil and you'll be good to go.

All the best with your new knife.
 
In a day or two you will be read a thread that says " I bought a 400$ sebenza and the blade doesn't deploy like my 200$ axis lock! I'm disappointed and I'm sending this sucka back". Round and round it goes, function build function build. Butterfly like action with zero blade play.
Like someone mentioned above tighten the pivot a hair for the side to side---- stick a pencil under the clip and bend it down if you don't like the Morse code and give the axis lock time to " wear in" for the up and down play.
I've never owned a 710 but I'm sure they are fine knives... I would use it and enjoy it

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
 
dwdickey said:
Please bear in mind that though it is a dealer exclusive it is still a production knife. It appears to me that you are either experiencing buyers remorse or had unrealistic expectations of the knife in question.

I see nothing in your photos that can not be resolved with a few minor tweaks by the end user. Everyone has their own preferred feel to the blade action and the g10 variation is a natural characteristic of the scale material. The clip, eh, 30 seconds and a pencil and you'll be good to go.

All the best with your new knife.
Click to expand...

I have all these concerns is because I bought a 710 D2 from Amazon couple weeks ago, and that is like in a perfect condition, no scratches, no blade play, no nothing. So I was disappointed when I received this one and found out about these issues. It is not like I have been dealt with 20 benchmade knives already and still complaining and whining here. I just want to get some good advice and suggestion as a new Benchmade owner, plus I truly do not know what quality standard to expect for these knives, as they are not very cheap stuff.

As for Knifeworks, I was really surprised by what they responded to my questions, and the fact that they said they open each single box of these to just check for the coloring only?

I would like to hear about your tips for fixing the belt clip issue if you would like to share?
 
Should I be worried about the scratches that I showed on the pics? The 710 D2 I picked up earlier has no scratches on the blade at all, while this one has a lot of small scratches/line all over the blade, not sure if it is intentional or simply messed up at the factory? there are couple bigger ones are very noticeable like bright spots under lights.
 
willard0341 said:
In a day or two you will be read a thread that says " I bought a 400$ sebenza and the blade doesn't deploy like my 200$ axis lock! I'm disappointed and I'm sending this sucka back". Round and round it goes, function build function build. Butterfly like action with zero blade play.
Like someone mentioned above tighten the pivot a hair for the side to side---- stick a pencil under the clip and bend it down if you don't like the Morse code and give the axis lock time to " wear in" for the up and down play.
I've never owned a 710 but I'm sure they are fine knives... I would use it and enjoy it

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Should I be worried about the scratches that I showed on the pics? The 710 D2 I picked up earlier has no scratches on the blade at all, while this one has a lot of small scratches/line all over the blade, not sure if it is intentional or simply messed up at the factory? there are couple bigger ones are very noticeable like bright spots under lights.
 
superstack said:
Should I be worried about the scratches that I showed on the pics? The 710 D2 I picked up earlier has no scratches on the blade at all, while this one has a lot of small scratches/line all over the blade, not sure if it is intentional or simply messed up at the factory? there are couple bigger ones are very noticeable like bright spots under lights.
Click to expand...

Nope!

We are talking two completely different steels & m390 is some tough stuff, meaning that it's very possible and highly likely to respond quite different to the final finishing and some traces of grind marks & fine handling scratches may still be present in the finished product.
 
If you are so unhappy with your purchase send it back for another one or demand a refund. Although I think yours is perfectly usable and well with in the expectations for the model and price point. But it's your money and your knife and ultimately your decision as what to do.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top