What's going on with the Benchmade Griptilians?

Ive had the same issues with sizes of grips. I got one that was perfect from cabelas. I will only buy them from there now. One reason is that all Benchmades sold there are in D2 steel and I prefer that. The other is so I can inspect it. I bring a torx driver with me so I can adjust it and see where it lands.
 
I've recently bought both, a Mini-Grip 555HG (from legit online retailer) and a Custom full size Grip 551 directly from BM. Both came dead perfectly centered. That said, I've had/seen others in brick & mortar stores that had definite centering issues. I was pleasantly surprised to get the Mini so well centered. Had the Custom come uncentered I'd have been significantly disappointed (considering its cost)... but it (the Custom full size Grip) was not only perfectly centered, but is probably the best built BM I've ever held. :)

The only real disappointment I have is with my Mini Grip's thumbhole "finishing". There's significant tooling marks/chatter inside the thumbhole surface. I initially thought I just got a bad blade that slipped through QC... but after visiting a brick & mortar and seeing 2 others in person which had the same issue and after doing an image search on Google and seeing the same marks over and over on the 555HGs I've pretty much just determined... that's how they are built (oddly I've never seen full size 550HG with this same issue... seems to be limited to the Mini Grip 555HGs). Oh well... still dig the knife. :)

Edit: I sent the Mini Grip into Benchmade to have the thumbhole marks/chatter fixed (or have the blade replaced) and also to have some side-to-side blade play removed. When I called to check on the progress the very nice lady at BM CS told me that those marks inside the thumbhole are "normal" and that the degree to which they are present is largely (her words), "luck of the draw". When I asked why my Mini Onslaught's thumbhole is free of such marks she didn't really have an answer (or why I've never seen any such marks on any Spyderco thumbhole, but I wasn't trying to be a smart @$$ so I didn't say that). She also told me they weren't going to replace the blade, but did polish the inside of the thumbhole to make them less noticeable. When I got the knife back indeed they had polished inside the thumbhole somewhat, but the marks are still clearly present. And regarding the blade play... still there. Don't think they even tried to fix it.:( Oh well... I still like the little knife... will just live with its flaws. I know BM is much vaunted for the CS and the only other time I ever dealt with them (just needed a new pocket clip which they sent out immediately and free of charge) they were great. But they pretty well failed on my Mini Grip IMO.
 
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I've had about 4 Griptilians since I started getting into knives. Never had any issue with any of them. Granted 4-5 is a pretty small sample size. Centering I can adjust with my torx bits. If its not as smooth as I'd like it, I clean out the pivot and relube it. Seems to have worked for me thus far. Sorry to hear you're having issues.
 
If there was a single thread about Benchmade's QC problems, and there were only three guys complaining about it, that would be one thing. In reality, the numbers of us experiencing mild to horrible fit and finish continue to grow and that's disturbing. Was there a time when this wasn't the case? Seems like I can't remember when, but many of my older models in the safe don't have these issues. And yes, my buying has dropped to nothing this year. That's a first in many years of collecting, sorry to say, and it won't change until things change.
 
jkarp_53 said:
If there was a single thread about Benchmade's QC problems, and there were only three guys complaining about it, that would be one thing. In reality, the numbers of us experiencing mild to horrible fit and finish continue to grow and that's disturbing. Was there a time when this wasn't the case? Seems like I can't remember when, but many of my older models in the safe don't have these issues. And yes, my buying has dropped to nothing this year. That's a first in many years of collecting, sorry to say, and it won't change until things change.
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I completely agree. It seems as terrible blade centering is actually more common than actually having a blade correctly centered as of late. Out of the two I have bought in the last month both have had issues. That's 2 of 2 which is 100% disappointment. Even more so since one was ordered from the custom shop which is COMPLETELY unacceptable and quite embarrassing for Benchmade in my opinion.
 
I just picked up my first Benchmade, it was a custom build off their website and it arrived today. The Blade is off center for sure but other than that it is a great looking knife, Im not thrilled about the handle though it seems like it would be easy to crack if it were to get hit or abused enough.
 
TacticalPerk said:
I just picked up my first Benchmade, it was a custom build off their website and it arrived today. The Blade is off center for sure but other than that it is a great looking knife, Im not thrilled about the handle though it seems like it would be easy to crack if it were to get hit or abused enough.
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You would think that they could at least get the custom build knives centered. As far as the handles being easy to crack, ain't gonna happen :D
They might feel cheap at first, but if you do some searching, you will find a few different videos in which people torture test the Grips, and the amount of abuse they can take is amazing...

Did you get a full size Grip ? They have a different feel than the minis do, because they don't have full liners.
 
338375 said:
You would think that they could at least get the custom build knives centered. As far as the handles being easy to crack, ain't gonna happen :D
They might feel cheap at first, but if you do some searching, you will find a few different videos in which people torture test the Grips, and the amount of abuse they can take is amazing...

Did you get a full size Grip ? They have a different feel than the minis do, because they don't have full liners.
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Yes I bought the Full size.

Im glad to hear that the handles are solid Im not knocking them but like I said first impression was that it felt like it would crack if dropped so good to read otherwise.

And I couldnt agree more about thinking the custom build would have a better centered blade, but nonetheless Im happy with it and look forward to putting it to use around the house and entering my EDC rotation :)
 
TacticalPerk said:
I just picked up my first Benchmade, it was a custom build off their website and it arrived today. The Blade is off center for sure but other than that it is a great looking knife, Im not thrilled about the handle though it seems like it would be easy to crack if it were to get hit or abused enough.
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Don't worry it won't crack.
 
No worries. A friend on another forum rolled over his Grip with his car and reported very little damage. The handle scales aren't fancy, but the material used is very strong.
 
Update… I just received my third Benchmade and although the blade centering is just fine, there is something wrong with the axis lock. It is somewhat sticky, or rough I guess, and the axis lock will sometimes stick in the open position. I have no idea what's going on with Benchmade these days, but they are obviously not sending out a quality product (although they are charging for one). I'm out... No more Benchmade for me.
Now all I have to do is figure out what other knife is going to take the place of the Mini Griptilian
By the way... Love my Spyderco PM2.
 
Topahi said:
Update… I just received my third Benchmade and although the blade centering is just fine, there is something wrong with the axis lock. It is somewhat sticky, or rough I guess, and the axis lock will sometimes stick in the open position. I have no idea what's going on with Benchmade these days, but they are obviously not sending out a quality product (although they are charging for one). I'm out... No more Benchmade for me.
Now all I have to do is figure out what other knife is going to take the place of the Mini Griptilian
By the way... Love my Spyderco PM2.
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I wouldn't give up yet. Sometimes they require some time to break in and/or some lubrication.
 
Topahi said:
Update… I just received my third Benchmade and although the blade centering is just fine, there is something wrong with the axis lock. It is somewhat sticky, or rough I guess, and the axis lock will sometimes stick in the open position. I have no idea what's going on with Benchmade these days, but they are obviously not sending out a quality product (although they are charging for one). I'm out... No more Benchmade for me.
Now all I have to do is figure out what other knife is going to take the place of the Mini Griptilian
By the way... Love my Spyderco PM2.
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This sounds normal for me. Factory grease in the pivot. Let it work in or clean it out and relube yourself if you'd rather not wait. It will get buttery smooth in no time.
 
Hmm...doesn't seem like something that would normally be an issue with a BM knife. I did notice when I attached the clip on my Delica 4 tip down that it pulled the liner closer to the blade on that side and was rubbing so I pulled the clip off. Could this be an issue of screws tightened down to hard?
 
I've purchased three new Benchmade knives this year (Ritter Grip (M390)/940-1/555 Grip). There were no fit and finish or sharpness issues with any of the knives.

Nothing is "going on" with Benchmade's level of production quality these days. The only thing "going on" is that there has been a small increase in the volume of minor complaints made by a vocal minority of knife-forum users, which just-so happened to coincide with Benchmade's pricing changes. Many complaining users are zealous advocates of other brands, including brands which chose to depart from these forums for various reasons. There criticism may stem from irrelevant motivations.

Benchmade is one of the largest volume USA knife manufacturers. It is disingenuous and silly to conclude that there are epidemic quality control issues based on a handful of online forum posts about minor, cosmetic issues with knives. Every quality manufacturer, short of CRK (perhaps), produces a small number of knives every day that have minor fit and finish issues. This does not mean the knives are low quality or that all products made by a certain manufacturer are defective.

If a consumer cannot fix minor centering or lock problems on an axis-lock knife, they are doing something really, really wrong. The lock is designed in a way that allows for slightly looser tolerances in exchange for fast deployment and reliability.
 
Very well said and what I have been saying in other posts for a while now too.

Give me a lupe, magnifying glass and a flashlight and I will find a flaw(s) or issues on any production knife.

If I posted or stared a thread every time I got a knife with a slightly off center blade or minor cosmetic flaw no brand would come out looking all that great.

In the last 30 day's I purchased 3 new knives, all the same brand, all had 'issues" ranging from a sticky lock that requires two hands to unlock on occasion, the ever dreaded off center blade (but not rubbing) and a grind on it that was sloppy, only half the blade seemed to get the polishing step.

And guess what? They aren't Benchmades but from another brand in the top three.

Of the last 8 Benchmades I've purchased only one had a slightly off center blade. Hardly an epidemic lapse of QC that is being portrayed these day's.

I'm sorry but I just don't think a slightly off center blade is the end of the world and if it does bother you, and you have a right to be bothered by it, or any issue for that matter, what ever happened to contacting the retailer, manufacture / maker first before starting a thread?

I always thought starting a thread was a last resort not the first. It's a courtesy, a respect thing I don't see happening much in this sub-forum.....
 
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Well... I cleaned, lubed, and adjusted... Knife is better, but there is still something wrong with axis lock. It's going back too.
By the way... the blades on the first knives I had were not "slightly off center"... they rubbed the scales. In the case of the full size it actually impeded closing. I did contact Benchmade before posting here... Two emails sent with no reply. But it doesn't really matter. I came to this site and this forum to share my experiences and get advice. I REALLY like the mini griptilian and I had always considered Benchmade a superior brand. I was excited to finally own one. I'm sure others have fine experiences with Benchmade knives, but with me they are 0 for 3. From where I'm sitting, that's a serious quality issue. I have recently bought other knives... a Spyderco PM2, Spyderco Manix XL, Kershaw Leek, and CRKT Ripple, I haven't had a problem with any of them and I'm no fanboy of any particular brand. 'Sorry if somehow my honest and respectful experience upsets someone... I don't know how to fix that.
 
When I buy a pen 10x/100x more expensive than some chinese or BIC pen i don't expect a refill to be off-centered. If it is it's a flaw.
When I buy a so called premium notebook I don't expect pages to be off centered. It they are the company is in serious trouble because of the flaws.
When I buy an MP3-player for a couple of hundreds bucks I don't expect buttons to be off-centered or sticky. If they are you guys be the first complaining about that over internet.
When I buy a watch I don't expect crown to be off-centered or rattle. If it is it's a flaw.
...
I can continue the list with almost anything ... except the knives. Off-centered blade with play? Dull as hell out of the box? Curved blade? Asymmetric grind? Who cares if it's made in USA!
If a blade if off-centered it means there is something wrong with construction. The blade itself can be curved (I had such an AFCK). I bought the straight blade why i got the curved one?
The problem can be with liners or washers and can get worse (if you use your knives of course) and it will. The community is yet to accept that the knife manufacturing as it is right now is
full of inadmissible flaws.
 
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