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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
The NEW Benchmade Knife Co.
- Thread starter Knife11
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2002
- Messages
- 752
A few thoughts on the push dagger.
1. If I'm not mistaken, it's a double edged dagger. That makes it illegal in many areas. It may end up being a restricted item.
2. This piece was designed as a back-up emergency weapon. Why is better blade steel needed? It wasn't designed as a regular use item.
3. As with the BM autos, it seems to carry a higher price tag. Have you ever compared the 3550 to the 350 price? It seems that most of thier LE items are as such.
1. If I'm not mistaken, it's a double edged dagger. That makes it illegal in many areas. It may end up being a restricted item.
2. This piece was designed as a back-up emergency weapon. Why is better blade steel needed? It wasn't designed as a regular use item.
3. As with the BM autos, it seems to carry a higher price tag. Have you ever compared the 3550 to the 350 price? It seems that most of thier LE items are as such.
I am seriously dissapointed.
I like the tanto nimravus - but thats about it.
The push dagger is a fcking joke.
$180 for a piece of 440C with an injection molded kydex sheath? Give me a break. I can get that tanto nimravus, a larger knife, with better steel, scales and a larger sheath for almost $30 LESS than this light single piece of 440C with no scales. Thats bullshit.
And the "restricted item. Authorized personell only" stuff is absolute bull-sh*t.
I have news for those who buy into that crap - criminals already know every dirty trick in the book, and plenty more never written down. A criminal wont even spend $100 on a push dagger he's gonna have to ditch later anyway, he'll get a nice $7 special from Bud-K, stick whoever he wants to stick and throw it in the river, no fuss, no muss.
Besides - for the purposes and the prices there are better push daggers out there from Cold Steel and Anza - for $180 I will go hunting a custom maker, like Mickey Yurco or any of the others from the forums who do push knives and have entertain no such foolish notions as push daggers are extreme dangers to society in the hands on non LEO's.
If they honestly believe such non-sense Benchmade have lost their collective mind in this respect.
Odds are its a marketing ploy, and every one of their dealers will be selling these to whoever wants them (and many will, "ohh, restricted, gotta have me one o' them"), but still this draws yet another invisible line that promotes the idea "anyone not a police officer or military serviceman who carries or owns a "fighting/tactical knife" is a menace to society and out to do harm, bad bad people with baaad baad knives."
Beyond that, nothing much appeals to me. I like the quality of benchmade items (no factory made, un-scaled push dagger is worth $180 though), but I just cant wrap myself around a lot of their designs (most), and a lot of the displayed attitude.
Walmartizaton indeed - and PC-ification of the knife community too.
Screw it - I dont need a Benchmade that bad.
I like the tanto nimravus - but thats about it.
The push dagger is a fcking joke.
$180 for a piece of 440C with an injection molded kydex sheath? Give me a break. I can get that tanto nimravus, a larger knife, with better steel, scales and a larger sheath for almost $30 LESS than this light single piece of 440C with no scales. Thats bullshit.
And the "restricted item. Authorized personell only" stuff is absolute bull-sh*t.
I have news for those who buy into that crap - criminals already know every dirty trick in the book, and plenty more never written down. A criminal wont even spend $100 on a push dagger he's gonna have to ditch later anyway, he'll get a nice $7 special from Bud-K, stick whoever he wants to stick and throw it in the river, no fuss, no muss.
Besides - for the purposes and the prices there are better push daggers out there from Cold Steel and Anza - for $180 I will go hunting a custom maker, like Mickey Yurco or any of the others from the forums who do push knives and have entertain no such foolish notions as push daggers are extreme dangers to society in the hands on non LEO's.
If they honestly believe such non-sense Benchmade have lost their collective mind in this respect.
Odds are its a marketing ploy, and every one of their dealers will be selling these to whoever wants them (and many will, "ohh, restricted, gotta have me one o' them"), but still this draws yet another invisible line that promotes the idea "anyone not a police officer or military serviceman who carries or owns a "fighting/tactical knife" is a menace to society and out to do harm, bad bad people with baaad baad knives."
Beyond that, nothing much appeals to me. I like the quality of benchmade items (no factory made, un-scaled push dagger is worth $180 though), but I just cant wrap myself around a lot of their designs (most), and a lot of the displayed attitude.
Walmartizaton indeed - and PC-ification of the knife community too.
Screw it - I dont need a Benchmade that bad.
- Joined
- May 9, 2000
- Messages
- 29,205
CRKT do not make knives. They have them made by a Taiwanese manufacturer. This could be the smae manufacturer that makes the Benchmade knives, I really don't know.
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2001
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- 3,709
Give me a break, don't knock the knives unless you've seen them first hand. 
Personally, I don't see what the big deal is if Benchmade offers lower cost knives made overseas. Good, it's about time. No one bitches about CRKT knives being made in Taiwan (except for steel snobs complaining about AUS-6 and Zytel). Alot of good knives are coming out of Taiwan these days and all you have to do is take a look at CRKT, Gerber, Timberline, Buck, and Spyderco knives that are imported from that country.
Face it, not everybody can shell out $150+ on a pocketknife these days. At a local knife shop in my area, the owner himself has told me that he's had a hard time pushing higher priced production knives like Benchmade because most folks are buying CRKT, Timberline and Gerber knives (all made in Taiwan). Lots of folks see that you can buy a good solid knife between $50-$100 and it'll do the same job for them as a higher-end knife. Benchmade acknowledges that there is a market for budget priced knives and they're doing the right thing in order to stay competative.
I own several upper-end Benchmade, Microtech, Emerson and Spyderco knives and I love them all, but I also love my CRKT knives just as well. The fact that they're made in Taiwan doesn't bother me in the least. I look forward to seeing these new Benchmade knives particularly the Ambush and the Monochrome models and will probably buy them regardless. If they're at least comparable to CRKT, they should prove to be good knives.
The bottom line is if you don't like them, don't buy them. Benchmade will still make higher-end USA made knives as they have before, so all you steel snobs and elitists shouldn't worry.
Personally, I don't see what the big deal is if Benchmade offers lower cost knives made overseas. Good, it's about time. No one bitches about CRKT knives being made in Taiwan (except for steel snobs complaining about AUS-6 and Zytel). Alot of good knives are coming out of Taiwan these days and all you have to do is take a look at CRKT, Gerber, Timberline, Buck, and Spyderco knives that are imported from that country.
Face it, not everybody can shell out $150+ on a pocketknife these days. At a local knife shop in my area, the owner himself has told me that he's had a hard time pushing higher priced production knives like Benchmade because most folks are buying CRKT, Timberline and Gerber knives (all made in Taiwan). Lots of folks see that you can buy a good solid knife between $50-$100 and it'll do the same job for them as a higher-end knife. Benchmade acknowledges that there is a market for budget priced knives and they're doing the right thing in order to stay competative.
I own several upper-end Benchmade, Microtech, Emerson and Spyderco knives and I love them all, but I also love my CRKT knives just as well. The fact that they're made in Taiwan doesn't bother me in the least. I look forward to seeing these new Benchmade knives particularly the Ambush and the Monochrome models and will probably buy them regardless. If they're at least comparable to CRKT, they should prove to be good knives.
The bottom line is if you don't like them, don't buy them. Benchmade will still make higher-end USA made knives as they have before, so all you steel snobs and elitists shouldn't worry.
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2003
- Messages
- 2,790
I guess there could be a balance.
I mean, a cheap knife is, in a sense, disposable.
I'd like a cheap knife from a good maker that I wouldn't be afraid to beat the living scales off of.
Let's take the Victorinox Tinker, for example. These things are use hard, use long, and then retire items. At around 15-20 dollars at Wally World, they're meant for fearless use. Maybe Benchmade is targeting to that same demographic, and more power to them as long as they keep their good line alive.
I do prefer long-livers though. I'm looking into a Spyderco right now for my next EDC, and they're not expensive nor short-lived from what I hear. Buy if need be, I'd abuse a Tinker as much as Michael Jackson abuses kids to get the cut done, while I'd be VERY reluctant (refusing) to wreck a Sebbie.
My dream knife is a self-made small fixed blade like in that cheapskate tutorial i saw around here...I'd love to pound on one of those, it's not like you're wrecking a Becker or anything
I mean, a cheap knife is, in a sense, disposable.
I'd like a cheap knife from a good maker that I wouldn't be afraid to beat the living scales off of.
Let's take the Victorinox Tinker, for example. These things are use hard, use long, and then retire items. At around 15-20 dollars at Wally World, they're meant for fearless use. Maybe Benchmade is targeting to that same demographic, and more power to them as long as they keep their good line alive.
I do prefer long-livers though. I'm looking into a Spyderco right now for my next EDC, and they're not expensive nor short-lived from what I hear. Buy if need be, I'd abuse a Tinker as much as Michael Jackson abuses kids to get the cut done, while I'd be VERY reluctant (refusing) to wreck a Sebbie.
My dream knife is a self-made small fixed blade like in that cheapskate tutorial i saw around here...I'd love to pound on one of those, it's not like you're wrecking a Becker or anything
- Joined
- May 3, 2002
- Messages
- 6,192
Ahhhhhh. Bladeforums at it's best...
A new line of knives and a whole bunch of people giving their two cents and arguing about them. I love it.
I've been waiting for this new stuff on pins and needles...
I don't see anything I really like SO FAR except the Nimravus Tanto, but that doesn't mean I think they're doing anything wrong.
The low-end (red line) knives look like good stuff for the money. I probably won't buy one because I already have all the knives I need in that price range and have already developed a liking for a few favorites in the Spyderco, SOG, Timberline, CRKT lines.
I'm more inclined to buy something from the new Gold line if they come out with some good stuff, but all they had were those kitchen knives so far.
As far as the new Blue ones go, Osborne's designs just don't appeal to my personal taste.
I liked the Axis Mel Pardue, but since I have the auto...
There's LOTS of empty space on that website, though! You just know they're going to be adding more new stuff soon. I'm not going to get critical unless I really don't like anything from their new Gold line.
A new line of knives and a whole bunch of people giving their two cents and arguing about them. I love it.
I've been waiting for this new stuff on pins and needles...
I don't see anything I really like SO FAR except the Nimravus Tanto, but that doesn't mean I think they're doing anything wrong.
The low-end (red line) knives look like good stuff for the money. I probably won't buy one because I already have all the knives I need in that price range and have already developed a liking for a few favorites in the Spyderco, SOG, Timberline, CRKT lines.
I'm more inclined to buy something from the new Gold line if they come out with some good stuff, but all they had were those kitchen knives so far.
As far as the new Blue ones go, Osborne's designs just don't appeal to my personal taste.
I liked the Axis Mel Pardue, but since I have the auto...
There's LOTS of empty space on that website, though! You just know they're going to be adding more new stuff soon. I'm not going to get critical unless I really don't like anything from their new Gold line.
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2003
- Messages
- 252
I like the way Benchmade has broken down its line up. I don't need my knives broken down into any super-simplified color coded labeling system... but, I'm not most people. I already have just about every BM ID number memorized. I do think it will be great for knife newbies looking for their first knife. It will make marketing easier for their dealers as well, I would imagine. If this increases their sales/profit then I forsee them being able to continue investing in joint ventures and new products on the higher end for consumers like us, giving both us and the 'normal' knife customer more options, and better designs.
I don't have any plans to buy anything from their red-line at this point, though I do own a couple of the tethers already and edc the non-prototype constantly.
I also love the new Nimravus Tanto, and the 923, which is a great blade variation on my baby, the 921... right Thom
I don't have any plans to buy anything from their red-line at this point, though I do own a couple of the tethers already and edc the non-prototype constantly.
I also love the new Nimravus Tanto, and the 923, which is a great blade variation on my baby, the 921... right Thom
I like the looks of the Pardue "personal" Bowie-the push dagger is over priced but who knows the street price might come down a bit. There seems to be a good mix to suit everybodies needs and we all know that is what is needed to compete nowadays-just look at the Buck Knives line up.
- Joined
- May 3, 2002
- Messages
- 6,192
That reminds me...
Before I got into COLLECTING I used to carry CRKT knives. That was UNTIL...
I picked up a Benchmade Ares at a gun show and was TOTALLY awwwed with it! I sold all my knives and saved a bit to buy one.
That was the knife that began my REAL love for knives. If it hadn't been for THAT knife, I probably would still be carrying a CRKT and not collecting.
With that said...
I think with the new lower-end knives from Benchmade what they're giving up is that "AWWWWW" factor of discovering the difference between a "regular" knife and a "GOOD" knife.
They made that decision and that's fine, but I always considered Benchmade as being a jump up to "quality" knives from "other" knives. Benchmade, in my eyes, has been a standard of what a really good production knife should be. With their "Red" line; they've now blurred that line that used to differenciate (sp?) them from lower-end knives.
"Benchmade" used to mean quality only. It wasn't just a brand but a decision.
I'll probably miss the time when owning a "Benchmade" ment taking a step to a really good knife; ment something special.
calyth
#!/bin/sh of a man
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2002
- Messages
- 3,574
It's the matter of business sense.
And for the record, I'm quite interested by the Ambush.
CRKT also makes some decent knives at low prices (albeit they could work on the heat treat). Made in USA or Made in Canada or Made in China is just words to me. Quality is in a knife, not in words.
And for the record, I'm quite interested by the Ambush.
CRKT also makes some decent knives at low prices (albeit they could work on the heat treat). Made in USA or Made in Canada or Made in China is just words to me. Quality is in a knife, not in words.
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2000
- Messages
- 1,556
Even if the push-dagger sells for 50% MSRP on net sites (which it won't) that's still a cost of $90.
Give me a break.
Cold Steel Safe Keeper II and III both offer 420 Steel. Maybe the BM sheath is better than the Cold Steels... doesn't look like it though. They have a MSRP of $65 and $60 respectively.
Either can be found on the net for between $30 and $40.
So an upgrade to 440C and a BT2 coating makes the BM pushdagger worth three times as much??? The BM sheath is clearly injection molded, so that isn't really an upgrade from the injection molded Cold Steel sheath.
And someone please introduce me to the criminal that purchases Benchmade knives. Then introduce me to the criminal that wants to purchase Benchmade knives but their failsafe "restricted sales" policy stops him. Thank God Benchmade is looking out for everyone's well-being. Cops will sleep better at night knowing that criminals aren't allowed to shell out $100+ for a Benchmade pushdagger.
Give me a break.
Cold Steel Safe Keeper II and III both offer 420 Steel. Maybe the BM sheath is better than the Cold Steels... doesn't look like it though. They have a MSRP of $65 and $60 respectively.
Either can be found on the net for between $30 and $40.
So an upgrade to 440C and a BT2 coating makes the BM pushdagger worth three times as much??? The BM sheath is clearly injection molded, so that isn't really an upgrade from the injection molded Cold Steel sheath.
And someone please introduce me to the criminal that purchases Benchmade knives. Then introduce me to the criminal that wants to purchase Benchmade knives but their failsafe "restricted sales" policy stops him. Thank God Benchmade is looking out for everyone's well-being. Cops will sleep better at night knowing that criminals aren't allowed to shell out $100+ for a Benchmade pushdagger.
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2003
- Messages
- 252
That is also very true. When I first discovered BM, I was a knife virgin, and handling the quality of a blade like that (the 9000 auto before it was labeled as such) blew me away. I have to support them however, as I have NEVER been dissapointed with their quality after purchasing over 20 over their blades. Their quality has always been superior and reliable. I do understand what the pessimists are saying, and that is what echos in the back of my mind, but I like to have more confidence in my favorite knive company. Only time will give us the final answer, but then again, maybe all my X/25 serial numbers will skyrocket in value.
I don't understand why anyone is upset about the push dagger. An individual or company is free to place whatever price tag they want on whatever product they create. And if the market won't bear that price, the product will fail or the price will come down. It's a beautiful thing. If you don't want to pay $180, or more likely $100, for it, don't buy it. On the other hand, an Ascent (Pika) for $30 sounds pretty good compared to the one I bought for $65 a year ago. I'm glad Benchmade is doing this, good for survival and success. Good for them.