What's the deal with BLEMS? Why buy one?

GatorFlash1

GatorFlash1

Joined
May 28, 2012
Messages
3,189
I really don't understand BLEMS or why folks buy them. Are Blems just cosmetic issues or is their some manufacturing defect that causes them to be considered less than top shelf? For an extra $10 I'd buy the knife that has passed QC. Is the price difference that much for some models between the good knife and the blem? And why do some manufacturers seem to have tons of blems for sale? Doesn't really speak highly of their manufacturing systems does it.
 
Normally blems are just a cosmetic issue and not a functional issue. On some models the price is about half of what a normal production piece costs so that allows people who intend on using the knife to check it out first hand if they couldn't afford the regular asking price. For instance, I bought a ZT0200 blem for about $80 in pretty much perfect condition. The 0200 didn't appeal to me at the $130 range, but I didn't mind spending $80. The companies with more blems may indicate manufacturing problems, or, most likely they have better QC practices so less "blems" get out into the wild
 
sometimes the saving can be great, and the flaw is just minor, a little rust on the tip, a small crack that is easy to fix in wooden handle( Himalayan imports does this). for a few minutes of your time you get a fully functioning blade at a discount.
 
You can get a good user knife with a slight cosmetic blemish, a blemish such that the first use of the knife would likely produce anyway.

IF you could buy a shovel for $10 less that had a small blemish on the blade, would you still pay the extra $10 just so YOU could put the first scratch on it when you dug your first hole?

You could also say that some manufacturers have higher standards about perfection than others, and in that case they might have more blems.

Keep in mind, some companies are making and selling tens of thousands of knives a month, so if you see "tons" of blems it might be that they are a small percentage of the overall build.

best

mqqn
 
I bought a BLEM Kershaw Skyline for under $20. I found no cosmetic or other defects. It is a wonderful and fully functional knife that takes and holds a razor edge. I'd buy another anytime.
Rich
 
It's kind of like some of the higher end men's dress shoes manufacturers. Frequently you can save yourself a couple hundred dollars by getting a shoe with a scuff or otherwise hard to see manufacturing defect (stitching is slightly off, etc.) for a shoe that will functionally last you decades.
 
They are usually cosmetic defects that have no effect on the performance of the knife. If its only a $10 difference then I would'nt bother, but I recently ordered a Survive! Knives GSO5 blem and it was almost $70 cheaper then a first quality knife and came with the same great warranty. If a knife is going to be a safe queen then a blem probably isnt a good idea but if its a knife thats going to be used then who cares if it has some cosmetic issues.
 
I understand why people buy blems though the practice is not for me. And it is not that I mind a blemished knife. I tend to buy a lot of knives used. I would rather buy a used knife with a warranty than a new blem knife with no warranty. YMMV.
 
craytab said:
I understand why people buy blems though the practice is not for me. And it is not that I mind a blemished knife. I tend to buy a lot of knives used. I would rather buy a used knife with a warranty than a new blem knife with no warranty. YMMV.
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The blem usually has the same warranty as the non-blem. Used knives (with very few exceptions) have no warranty.
 
afishhunter said:
The blem usually has the same warranty as the non-blem. Used knives (with very few exceptions) have no warranty.
Click to expand...

Got any evidence to support this? I would claim the exact opposite. The major companies out their will warrant a used knife even if you are not the original owner and even if in their warranty they say they will not.

fsatsil said:
Some companies do give a warranty on their blems.
Click to expand...

I am interested in who.
 
actually when I see a company that offers blems I think more highly of their manufacturing methods. They are showing they pay close attention to even the cosmetic details. Blems exist in ALL knives. Most are just sold under the "I hope they dont notice" pretenses. I cant say all. Some manufacturers wont sell blems period and only want their best out in the world. But that doesnt mean they dont exist, they just got used for testing or they got tossed.
 
Bingo!

Mike

mqqn said:
You can get a good user knife with a slight cosmetic blemish, a blemish such that the first use of the knife would likely produce anyway.

IF you could buy a shovel for $10 less that had a small blemish on the blade, would you still pay the extra $10 just so YOU could put the first scratch on it when you dug your first hole?

You could also say that some manufacturers have higher standards about perfection than others, and in that case they might have more blems.

Keep in mind, some companies are making and selling tens of thousands of knives a month, so if you see "tons" of blems it might be that they are a small percentage of the overall build.

best

mqqn
Click to expand...
 
Two reasons why I have bought blems.

Kershaw Ram is long disco'd and hard to find. KershawGuy had blems on sale for a great price. SCORE!

I wasn't sure if I would like the Blur. KershawGuy had blem Tanto Blurs on sale for $25 so I picked one up. Since then I've had 9 or 10 that I paid full price for. If it weren't for that first blem I would never have bought the others.
 
I own several Kershaw blems. I have yet to be able to distinguish them from non-blems, except for the xxxx on the blade. And they cost less. A collector may not want them, but for just about every other application they rock.
 
There can be several reasons to buy a blem...

They are essentially "new" condition, but at significantly lower cost. The blems typically are cosmetic, if noticeable at all. If the flaw compromises the safety or intended function of the knife, it would just be destroyed (ie. not even offered up as a blem).

If you plan to use it and aren't overly concerned with having a warranty (honestly, how many times have you really *needed* to send a knife in for warranty work?), then any cosmetic blemishes are not likely to be of concern anyways. Also, some companies may still send out small parts (pocket clips, screws, torsion bars/springs, etc.) even for blems.

If the model is discontinued or otherwise difficult to find, sometimes blems can provide a means to still get ahold of them.

If you plan to mod or customize the knife (which may very well void the warranty anyways), a blem can offer a bit more budget friendly way to go about it.
 
Lots of blems end up on that Bay web site selling just under or right at retail. Most don't come with a factory warranty, that's why they are originally sold as blems. Some will still warranty them.

Like most said, you won't notice on most what the blemish is, so watch them shady online sales places.
 
I don't like damaging or wearing out my things. With a blem, it's already messed up, at least a little, and I don't have to worry about using it, or modifying it. I got about $20 off my Himalayan Imports KLVUK because it had a tiny crack in the handle - a couple cents worth of epoxy fixed it, almost as good as new, and I felt free to refinish the rest of the handle.

Of course, price is also an issue. Just the other day HI had a Foxy Folly (which I would love to buy) going for around $200, and shortly thereafter they had a blem Foxy Folly for $95, all because it had a tiny, easily-fixed crack in the handle. Hell, sometimes they've got lovely knives going for half price because the kami forgot to mark'em - there's nothing actually wrong with the knife at all.
 
I've only needed a warranty once, on a CRKT Vertex which is long out of production. I bought it used, but CRKT never asked and just fixed it free, including shipping. You just better know the retail price before you buy a blem.
Rich
 
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