What Benchmades do you think are and aren't worth it after MAP?

B

Balls Deep

Joined
Jan 2, 2014
Messages
342
So unfortunately, I didn't get into the Benchmade brand prior to their MAP pricing taking effect. I've just now gotten to a place in my knife collecting where I can afford to spend $100 or over for a quality knife which is where most BM prices were at. I'm not looking to start a controversial thread about whether BM's decision was ethical, good for the customers, etc.

I'm just curious to know what models users feel are still worth it after MAP pricing and which one's may not be. I haven't written off the brand by any means; reviews have always named Benchmade as being reliable and American made, 2 qualities I would spend a little more on.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the subject.
Thanks,
BD
 
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I guess I should be a little more specific. Manix 2 is aroung $90 with cpm s30v and bolt lock while full size griptillian is around $100. Doesn't seem like a great value comparison in this situation. However, are knives like the osborne or barrage still worth it with what they offer? As mentioned I haven't gotten into BM so I'm curious to know what knives users feel retain their value i.e. price to performance ratio after MAP.

I tried to find an existing thread for this topic but couldn't so I made one. If one already exists if someone could post a link I would check it out.
 
This whole issue turned me off from Benchmade. $100+ for a griptilian in 154cm? No thank you. For $10-$20 more I'll take my PM2. I sold all but two of my BM's.
 
K.O.D. said:
This whole issue turned me off from Benchmade. $100+ for a griptilian in 154cm? No thank you. For $10-$20 more I'll take my PM2.
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Ditto here.

I see no value in their line anymore. I bought a 710 just before the MAP went into effect. That's the last BM I plan to ever buy.

EDIT: There was a long thread about this just after the MAP policy was announced. It mostly turned into a Benchmade Bash Fest.
 
I'll join the choir. I picked up an M4 Mini-Grip just before the MAP went into effect. I thought that was going to be it for me and Benchmade. Then a top rated seller at eBay just sold ten 707 Sequels at the pre-MAP price and I grabbed one. Other than that, I have no plans to buy any more Benchmades.
 
This might be a weird way of looking at it but... The BM's that are not being complained about much are the ones that were released AFTER the price change. There was no "old price" to compare it to, so there doesn't seem to be as much talk about the pricing of the new releases.

I think the 586 and 581 are still worth it because they use G10 and Aluminum with M390 steel. The Contego in M4 and M390 still seem worth it. Many people seem to be liking the 940-1 in S90V and don't seem to care at all that there wasn't a coupon code available.

Plus you can find pre-loved BM's on the exchange here for a little more than they used to, so that is a good way to get around the MAP change.
 
Triage is overpriced at $150 for what it is. And although I am very attracted to them, I won't be buying any of the Hunt line folders even though the steel has been changed from the BC line. A mini grip at $90-110 is a tough pill to swallow and I think that is where BM will see a drop in sales. There are too many great small EDC knives in that price point to justify the expense. If I am in the shop case and I am looking at what BM offers at $110 and what other mfg are selling at that point or just under, there is no decision.
 
At the risk of being characterized as Bladeforum's resident curmudgeon - which I probably am - I don't think that any Benchmade knife is worth MAPP. I bought a large Griptilian in anticipation of the latest price hike, and it will be my last Benchmade.
 
Why do we keep poking a dead horse? Benchmade changed their pricing guidelines...move on.

I started using Benchmade's after the MAP Fiasco. I see others are pointing to Spyderco as a better alternative and I have no issue with Spyderco except that they don't make knives that I like to carry (so far). I had a PM2 and I would take a Griptilian over it. I just didn't like the knife. Right now I have a 940 in my pocket and although I agree it's a pricey knife (for me) it is one of my favorites. It carries sleek and slim, is light, but is still solid. It seems to me that BM, ZT, and Spyderco are the big three of production knives on the forums. I choose BM over ZT and Spyderco because in general I like their designs better. ZT's are heavy and overbuilt for the most part and Spyderco's just carry weird for me. Also BM takes care of their customers I've gotten numerous pocket clips, know that my blade can be sharpened for 5 bucks, free Omega springs if they fell, and can have my blade replaced for $30.00. Spyderco does not always have clips and they do not replace blades. ZT's customer service is about on par with BM but again the majority of their folders are super heavy and are assisted opening. I don't care for either of those things.

The "price increase" doesn't bother me because I wasn't around before and I'm not comparing the price of the knife I can buy now to the price of the knife I could buy before. I think the knife that I buy and the service I get is worth the current asking price.
 
I have 12 BM knives and have not bought a new one since last Nov and have no plans on getting any more.
I don't think they have many knives that are worth the price they are asking.
With that I wish them the best but they aren't getting any more of my dollars.
 
I have been buying Benchmade knives longer than some guys posting at BF have been alive. I've got a big pile of Benchmade knives, and I really like them. I consider myself a very loyal Benchmade owner. However, at Benchmade's current pricing, I don't think there's a single knife that's "worth" the posted prices. I've bought one Benchmade since the price increase, a 940-1 that I've been waiting for for almost a decade, but at the price I paid I consider myself well and truly (if voluntarily) abused.
 
Have previously owned many BM, including a couple of "gold class" that I bought new. Personally, their current pricing and catalog do nothing for me. My money for factory built knives is going to Spyderco and ZT.
 
I think the biggest question is the personal worth it has to you, theres alot of knives that are overpriced depending on how you look at it. I dont think a spyderco millie should cost around $150 when the manix 2 and para 2 are cheaper, but its worth it to me. I dont want to pay MAP but there are some bm's that I cant resist (810, 940-1, 710 to name a few) and I know once I get them I wont care how much they were because I will have an awesome knife that I'll enjoy for a very long time.
 
I'm loyal to my favorite designs... Good thing I have them in multiples because I will never buy a Benchmade brand new again.
 
Still worth it:
710

Still awesome, and worth it if you can afford it:
940
950 Rift
746 Mini-Onslaught

Models I don't own which seem worth it:
275 Adamas
810 Contego
 
powernoodle said:
At the risk of being characterized as Bladeforum's resident curmudgeon - which I probably am - I don't think that any Benchmade knife is worth MAPP. I bought a large Griptilian in anticipation of the latest price hike, and it will be my last Benchmade.
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JNewell said:
I have been buying Benchmade knives longer than some guys posting at BF have been alive. I've got a big pile of Benchmade knives, and I really like them. I consider myself a very loyal Benchmade owner. However, at Benchmade's current pricing, I don't think there's a single knife that's "worth" the posted prices. I've bought one Benchmade since the price increase, a 940-1 that I've been waiting for for almost a decade, but at the price I paid I consider myself well and truly (if voluntarily) abused.
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I have one knife that I think negates what you say about none of the Benchmade line being worth the MAP: The HK 14715. Yes, it is probably the only knife that is worth the MAP, especially since it's 3.6" D2 blade, Axis lock, full liners and G10 scales are only $2.20 more than a 154CM, partial liner, plastic handle satin finish full-size Griptilian (and less expensive than the coated Griptilian!). Heck, it's more knife than my beloved Rift at less cost! Had I not found a used Rift for less than a 14715, I would have gotten one.

Sadly, that is the only knife that comes to mind.:( As rugged as the Rift is, it isn't worth $165 in the current steel. Upgrade it to D2 or better and it might be worth it. Upgrade it to M390 and it would definitely be worth the MAP. In it's current form, however...

Some of the exclusives are worth the cost such as the 810-1401, but those have never had the discount code applied, so they cost the same before and after the price hike.
 
I personally don't think any of the BMs are worth the new post-MAP prices. I've picked up a couple on the secondary market at sub-MAP prices, but I won't buy BM new again. My 7505-132 was the last one. At $367, that was a good value. At the current price of $510 - not so much. I own about 20 various BMs. Glad I got them when I did.

I still like the brand. I just don't think they are a good value any longer. Too many knives from too many brands and too little money, so this just helps me decide where my $$$ will go.
 
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