Three good Benchmades in a row!! ...but not four :(

ElConquistador

ElConquistador

Gold Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2007
Messages
607
My first clip style knife was a Spyderco Delica in the early '90s, my first good knife was a Benchmade mini AFCK and I've been a Benchmade fan since. I've had several and have been very happy with Benchmade until the last few years. I bought and immediately flipped a 950 Rift and a 520 Presidio, both were so-so sharp and had off center blades. So I've stayed away from Benchmade until early this year when I bought a 915 Triage.

The Triage is great, I like the design, the quality is great, it came sharp, and it's orange. What's not to like. So after a disappointing experience with a ZT 0200 I decided to try a 275 Adamas. The Adamas is also great, love the design for a hefty knife, it came sharp, perfect grind, very happy with it. So, and I knew I was pressing my luck by this time, when the 810 Contego came out it looked like it had been designed and made just for me, it was everything I wanted. I pre-ordered a plain edge silver blade and began patiently waiting.

After a short time of "patiently" waiting I gave up and ordered a black serrated Contego, the first serrated blade I've owned, which was in stock. The Contego has been in my pocket since it arrived, it was everything I hoped it would be and perfect quality as well. It came sharp, perfect grind, and a centered blade. I liked it so much that I kept my pre-order and continued to wait patiently for the silver plain Contego...

...and this is where my story takes a drastic turn. The plain edge silver Contego arrived and was immediately the ugliest knife I have seen in some time. I don't know who's idea it was to take a black tactical type knife and give it silver hardware, liners, spacer, and pocket clip. It's hideous. But I ordered it sight unseen so that's my bad, I'll flip it on ebay or something. Then I open it... ...I don't know if you can really tell from the pictures but the grind is awful not symmetrical and the one side is very uneven, to top it off it's not sharp. And the deal breaker, the blade is so off center it touched the liner, it doesn't rub when you open it right handed but opening it left handed left a nice mark on the blade. Thankfully the seller was very good about taking the knife back. I still want another Contego, black plain blade, but I'm nervous to buy one without seeing it first.

Anyway, that's my sad story. For a few short months "Benchmade was Back"!!!... ...now the other Benchmade is back.

First the good, here's the crew:
003.jpg

005.jpg

009.jpg


Now the disappointing Contego. Sorry for the poor pictures, it was out of the box for all of 5 minutes before I boxed it up for return:
012.jpg

011.jpg

010.jpg

013.jpg

015.jpg

014.jpg


For what it's worth, I still like Benchmade and will continue to buy their stuff. I just wish they'd clean up their act and tighten up QC a bit.

I guess there's really no point to this post, just random thoughts on Benchmade.
 
Always the thing with online purchasing, excited to get whatever it is but a little nervous at the same time. I had two perfect Large Voyagers last October and a perfect Mini Recon 1 a couple months back, then a few weeks ago a Counter Point 1 that had several fit and finish no-no's....same story different brand. Even the slipped out Counter Point was extremely sharp and it was only $48 but I always want the knives to be as flawless as every $15-20 Victorinox or it ticks me off.
 
I bought a Griptilian about 3 weeks ago. When i got it, the blade was off center pretty bad. Not quite rubbing, but almost no room for a sheet of paper.
I tightened the pivot screw up to rid of bladeplay and it got worse.
So, i didnt care. I used it. After about 1.5 weeks into ownership, it began to actually wear in, and fix itself!
Now, it's so close to being on center (without my help) that i don't even care to send it back.
Should have gave it some time!
PS-It also came shaving-sharp. Shaved my arm even.
 
I don't see how having an off centered blade is a deal breaker. I can't remember how many knives I've recexived with off centered blades. It's one of the easiest things to fix, and it takes less than 2-3 minutes. I know a lot of people will say, "Oh, but why should I have to do that? I want my knife to be perfect!", and in a very demanding tone taboot.
I can only say that nothing is perfect obviously. But if it was not going to be used at all, I understand about the edge. It can be sharpened and corrected. Just my thoughts on it.
 
Take your knife and carefully (be anal about it, most companies will not send replacements) loosen off every screw on the handle, scales, clip, and pivot. Then shove some folded paper between the blade and handle, so that it moves the blade to the opposite side (I usually like it pretty tight, but not so tight that it looks like it's prying the handle apart).
Tighten all the screws, then remove the paper, and your blade will probably be more centered than it was before.

Another thing you have to watch for sometimes is the handle screws closest to the pivot adjusting pivot tension. I've had quite a few folders that need the first screw loosened off a quarter turn.
 
Joshua J. said:
Take your knife and carefully (be anal about it, most companies will not send replacements) loosen off every screw on the handle, scales, clip, and pivot. Then shove some folded paper between the blade and handle, so that it moves the blade to the opposite side (I usually like it pretty tight, but not so tight that it looks like it's prying the handle apart).
Tighten all the screws, then remove the paper, and your blade will probably be more centered than it was before.

Another thing you have to watch for sometimes is the handle screws closest to the pivot adjusting pivot tension. I've had quite a few folders that need the first screw loosened off a quarter turn.
Click to expand...

that's sounds so annoying to do shouldn't even have too for a new knife
 
RevDevil said:
I don't see how having an off centered blade is a deal breaker. I can't remember how many knives I've recexived with off centered blades. It's one of the easiest things to fix, and it takes less than 2-3 minutes. I know a lot of people will say, "Oh, but why should I have to do that? I want my knife to be perfect!", and in a very demanding tone taboot.
I can only say that nothing is perfect obviously. But if it was not going to be used at all, I understand about the edge. It can be sharpened and corrected. Just my thoughts on it.
Click to expand...

Darkstar2520 said:
that's sounds so annoying to do shouldn't even have too for a new knife
Click to expand...

Did I call this or did I call this?

Because nothing is perfect.
 
Joshua J. said:
Take your knife and carefully (be anal about it, most companies will not send replacements) loosen off every screw on the handle, scales, clip, and pivot. Then shove some folded paper between the blade and handle, so that it moves the blade to the opposite side (I usually like it pretty tight, but not so tight that it looks like it's prying the handle apart).
Tighten all the screws, then remove the paper, and your blade will probably be more centered than it was before.

Another thing you have to watch for sometimes is the handle screws closest to the pivot adjusting pivot tension. I've had quite a few folders that need the first screw loosened off a quarter turn.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I just adjusted my B/M Adamas, using this method and it went right to center. Took all of 3 or 4 minutes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top