Who is buying these new Benchmades?

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I can't say what percentage of Benchmade's sales come from knife enthusiasts, but I've come to the conclusion that we are not their target market. I think much of their pricing is targeted towards the outdoor hobbyist (from hiking to hunting and everything in between) that sees Benchmade as a pinnacle of knife companies, and is willing to buy one at a big outdoor store for full price with a "buy once cry once" mentality. Many of them are likely not even aware of CRK and the likes. The Narrows, however, doesn't really seem to fit this category. Nevertheless Benchmade must have determined that enough of their fans will shell out that kind bread for the knife for it to make sense financially for them at that price point. I'm not one of them, but I don't begrudge an American company employing American workers setting their price wherever they see fit.

That's not to say that I find all of Benchmade's current pricing to be outrageous. I think the Idris Elbow (or whatever it's called) in Magnacut from the Water series falls right in line with an appropriate "Butterfly tax". I'll likely grab one at some point.
 
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Knives&Lint said:
I can't say what percentage of Benchmade's sales come from knife enthusiasts, but I've come to the conclusion that we are not their target market. I think much of their pricing is targeted towards the outdoor hobbyist (from hiking to hunting and everything in between) that sees Benchmade as a pinnacle of knife companies, and is willing to buy one at a big outdoor store for full price with a "buy once cry once" mentality. Many of them are likely not even aware of CRK and the likes. The Narrows, however, doesn't really seem to fit this category. Nevertheless Benchmade must have determined that enough of their fans will shell out that kind bread for the knife for it to make sense financially for them at that price point. I'm not one of them, but I don't begrudge an American company employing American workers setting their price wherever they see fit.

That's not to say that I find all of Benchmade's current pricing to be outrageous. I think the Idris Elbow (or whatever it's called) in Magnacut from the Water series falls right in line with an appropriate "Butterfly tax". I'll likely grab one at some point.
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I think this sums it up. BM is for non knife people who buy on brand recognition. Spyderco is for steel afficionados and those after performance. CRK, hinderer and many others are for others with a preference in a certain design or style. Some in-between brands filling the user knife/price appropriate roles like Kershaw and buck. My take on it anyhow. Lots of different niches for different brands in this industry, but I'd agree most of the folks on here picking between many many brands with their hard earned dollars, are not who BM is targeting.

Edit to say I'm generalizing a little here, I realize some of yall beat on your CRKs and they ain't for looks. But I also realize if you walk in a cabelas, most of the nice knives are BM behind the glass and Americans by default associate high price with high quality, even if not true, it's an assumption.
 
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Knives&Lint said:
I can't say what percentage of Benchmade's sales come from knife enthusiasts, but I've come to the conclusion that we are not their target market. I think much of their pricing is targeted towards the outdoor hobbyist (from hiking to hunting and everything in between) that sees Benchmade as a pinnacle of knife companies, and is willing to buy one at a big outdoor store for full price with a "buy once cry once" mentality. Many of them are likely not even aware of CRK and the likes. The Narrows, however, doesn't really seem to fit this category. Nevertheless Benchmade must have determined that enough of their fans will shell out that kind bread for the knife for it to make sense financially for them at that price point. I'm not one of them, but I don't begrudge an American company employing American workers setting their price wherever they see fit.

That's not to say that I find all of Benchmade's current pricing to be outrageous. I think the Idris Elbow (or whatever it's called) in Magnacut from the Water series falls right in line with an appropriate "Butterfly tax". I'll likely grab one at some point.
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Well put and sums up some of my own thinking (I will "over" spend all day long on Made in America...and just acquired the Leatherman Arc two days ago). Some of their models do seem to have "in-line" reasonable pricing for the development costs, materials, assembly labor. Perhaps these are aimed at the fringe bespoke crowd and Benchmade doesn't expect to recoup their investment with large numbers of sales. Then again, this marketing - see photo - isn't exactly aimed at the gentleman folder crowd.....or is it? :p
 

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elevator man said:
I think this sums it up. BM is for non knife people who buy on brand recognition. Spyderco is for steel afficionados and those after performance. CRK, hinderer and many others are for others with a preference in a certain design or style. Some in-between brands filling the user knife/price appropriate roles like Kershaw and buck. My take on it anyhow. Lots of different niches for different brands in this industry, but I'd agree most of the folks on here picking between many many brands with their hard earned dollars, are not who BM is targeting.

Edit to say I'm generalizing a little here, I realize some of yall beat on your CRKs and they ain't for looks. But I also realize if you walk in a cabelas, most of the nice knives are BM behind the glass and Americans by default associate high price with high quality, even if not true, it's an assumption.
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Agree with this but would just add that I think benchmade is also a big gateway into becoming a knife enthusiast. They were my first expensive knife and it’s been straight downhill from there. I have no complaints about bm, still love and have a few griptillians. The rest got sold to buy even more expensive knives that only a knife enthusiasts could justify the value. 😉
 
mitchnola said:
Agree with this but would just add that I think benchmade is also a big gateway into becoming a knife enthusiast. They were my first expensive knife and it’s been straight downhill from there. I have no complaints about bm, still love and have a few griptillians. The rest got sold to buy even more expensive knives that only a knife enthusiasts could justify the value. 😉
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I was a very early fan of the Axis lock as a lefty who is very ambidextrous and mostly carries my knife on my right side as I'm conceal carry in my front left pocket. I keep under the radar. Most days I have a Ruger LCP in a Recluse pocket holster inside left pocket or even back left pocket (it looks like a wallet). Then my knife is riding bottom of my right pocket. So thin and light is in for me on work days. In fact right this moment I'm carrying this Mel Pardue Design Benchmade, the 330S. I pulled it out to take these shots. It's one of my favorite knives - I don't usually use serrated blades, but this comes in handy cutting bunched up plastic wrap I deal with on a daily basis. It's probably 3/4" wide at the G10 scales.
 

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mitchnola said:
Agree with this but would just add that I think benchmade is also a big gateway into becoming a knife enthusiast. They were my first expensive knife and it’s been straight downhill from there. I have no complaints about bm, still love and have a few griptillians. The rest got sold to buy even more expensive knives that only a knife enthusiasts could justify the value. 😉
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Great point, and it didn't dawn on me to me until you mentioned it but my experience was similar and also mirrors what I mentioned in my previous post. My first nice knife was the Hk branded Snody folder, which I bought when I was way more into firearms than knives and just wanted one good knife. I researched a little and decided it was the "best", and it never occurred to me to buy another knife for a good five years or so until I dove head first into the hobby. I honestly still think this is my favorite Benchmade, and it has the best open/shut AXIS lock I have experienced. This was around 2005 I think, and before Hk became the "budget" Benchmade line. I wanna say I paid around $200 (or just shy of it) back then if I recall, and that was less than retail.

NRkXrEo.jpg
 
I'd much rather have 2 knives and pick the shape, steel, scales, liners, and sheaths down to colors of material. A bugout was the first decent knife I owned and I have a soft spot for Benchmade but they're insane at those prices.
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Benchmade was my gateway brand into this weird hobby. Then ZT…been on a traditional kick for a couple years…

I was buying Benchmades back when they were $100 - $120. Seemed like a good value back then. Just happened to throw this Griptilian in pocket today. M4 steel and I think it was $80 when I bought it. It’s been years since I bought a bench made.

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Sorry, my response was to DMG asking if I was offended by waygu beef and iPhone prices. I am lol
 
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Murdamook.3 said:
Oh, I’m sorry, do Kershaw and Hogue not have options with better materials for a significantly lower price? If you want to debate, you better have a firm grasp on logic and, based on your reply, that seems to be incredibly unlikely. Answer to the point and don’t answer like an injured child when someone questions the pricing of a brand you just happen to enjoy.

I’ve replied to two Benchmade threads posted on the same day. Other than that, I have zero history of posting on Benchmade and that probably extends to the account I lost access to that had 15 years of account history.

“Stop polluting muh ‘Benchmade too expensive’ threads with ‘Benchmade too expensive replies’!”
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Regarding KAI, I have had a bunch of kershaws and don't consider them to be in the same class. They are often Chinese and just aren't in the same class in terms of quality and materials. ZT is the direct competitor. The Griptilian is one of the most popular benchmades so I'll use it as an example. S30v Griptillian is $144 most places on the internet and is cheaper at stores that sell below map. The now discontinued 20cv Griptillian was under $200

That is very competitive with any ZT product. The full size Hogue Ritter map is $180 to $250.

A Spyderco Manix in S30v is $170.

Those are all comparable knives at similar prices. There are ZTs and spydercos that cost close to $500 but we will leave them out too.
 
Knives&Lint said:
Great point, and it didn't dawn on me to me until you mentioned it but my experience was similar and also mirrors what I mentioned in my previous post. My first nice knife was the Hk branded Snody folder, which I bought when I was way more into firearms than knives and just wanted one good knife. I researched a little and decided it was the "best", and it never occurred to me to buy another knife for a good five years or so until I dove head first into the hobby. I honestly still think this is my favorite Benchmade, and it has the best open/shut AXIS lock I have experienced. This was around 2005 I think, and before Hk became the "budget" Benchmade line. I wanna say I paid around $200 (or just shy of it) back then if I recall, and that was less than retail.

NRkXrEo.jpg
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Whoa, I’ve never seen that one before. That blade is absolutely awesome! Dibs if you ever get bored with it. My favorite benchmade I’ve owned was a nakamura. Absolutely loved it aesthetically but just didn’t fit in my hand so I made the tough choice to let it go. Now I wish I hadn’t.
DMG said:
Regarding KAI, I have had a bunch of kershaws and don't consider them to be in the same class. They are often Chinese and just aren't in the same class in terms of quality and materials. ZT is the direct competitor. The Griptilian is one of the most popular benchmades so I'll use it as an example. S30v Griptillian is $144 most places on the internet and is cheaper at stores that sell below map. The now discontinued 20cv Griptillian was under $200

That is very competitive with any ZT product. The full size Hogue Ritter map is $180 to $250.

A Spyderco Manix in S30v is $170.

Those are all comparable knives at similar prices. There are ZTs and spydercos that cost close to $500 but we will leave them out too.
Click to expand...

Good points, I think bm gets a little extra heat from enthusiasts in particular most notably from what I’ve gathered for price vs blade steel. As someone more concerned with ergonomics, design etc rather than blade steel I don’t really see any problem with their pricing on the majority of their lineup. However, the narrows in particular does seem a little ridiculous.
 
DMG said:
Regarding KAI, I have had a bunch of kershaws and don't consider them to be in the same class. They are often Chinese and just aren't in the same class in terms of quality and materials. ZT is the direct competitor. The Griptilian is one of the most popular benchmades so I'll use it as an example. S30v Griptillian is $144 most places on the internet and is cheaper at stores that sell below map. The now discontinued 20cv Griptillian was under $200

That is very competitive with any ZT product. The full size Hogue Ritter map is $180 to $250.

A Spyderco Manix in S30v is $170.

Those are all comparable knives at similar prices. There are ZTs and spydercos that cost close to $500 but we will leave them out too.
Click to expand...
The Kershaw Bel Air is made in the
US and is in Magnacut just like the Hogue Deka is, and both options are less than the standard Bugout. The Hogue/Ritter has 3D machined G10 scales and also is in Magnacut. The s30v Manix 2 is $160-$170, comes with full liners and G10. The Manix 2 LW in M4 right now is around $135.

You’re proving my point. I can get an FRN Grip in S30V for the same price as a Manix 2 LW in M4.

If you want to buy a Benchmade, go for it. I really don’t care what you do with your money. The thread is about the cost of Benchmade; I am answering to the topic.
 
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