Who is buying these new Benchmades?

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Murdamook.3 said:
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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Perfect example of primarily determining value from blade steel. Not saying it’s wrong if that’s where you hold your value but that’s not the only determining factor. For example I’ve bought so many Emersons in the $2-300 and people have always said that’s crazy because it’s just 154cm steel. What a rip off. Well personally while not the latest and greatest, I have no problem with 154cm but I’m buying Emerson because of the stunning blade design and most ergonomic hanldes in the business imo. So it all depends on what it is your looking for and then what you’re willing to pay for it.
 
As much as I like Benchmade knives........
I agree......Benchmade has hit price points beyond the true market value.......
Although if Benchmade can sell enough knives.......
They will make money with lower production......
Time for us costumer's to vote no.........
They need a reality check!
Happened with the high end watch market.
 
Murdamook.3 said:
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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The kershaw magnacut and all their other steels are too soft. And kershaw is KAIs budget brand. Benchmade competes with ZT. And ZT is pretty expensive.

The Hogue Ritter makes your point now that it is available in Magnacut. Their 20cv and M390 chipped if you did anything more aggressive than buttering toast. I sold mine and got one in Magnacut which has been pretty good.

The Manix LW makes a lot of compromises for weight and is not a hard use knife. I like them and have a Manix LW salt on me right now but they aren't a competitor of the Griptillian. The regular manix is.

You can buy a new Bugout for about $135 on sale at REI, if we are using sale prices.
 
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 second that. My first nice knife was the benchmade grizzly creek. Which got alot of carry until I bought a spyderco. That BM still is a nice knife, not exactly what I'm looking for nowadays so it sits at home though.
 
DMG said:
The kershaw magnacut and all their other steels are too soft. And kershaw is KAIs budget brand. Benchmade competes with ZT. And ZT is pretty expensive.

The Hogue Ritter makes your point now that it is available in Magnacut. Their 20cv and M390 chipped if you did anything more aggressive than buttering toast. I sold mine and got one in Magnacut which has been pretty good.

The Manix LW makes a lot of compromises for weight and is not a hard use knife. I like them and have a Manix LW salt on me right now but they aren't a competitor of the Griptillian. The regular manix is.

You can buy a new Bugout for about $135 on sale at REI, if we are using sale prices.
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What? Kershaw runs it 62-64... as does houge I believe

BM is doing what? 60 ish?

I plan on buying a Kershaw Belair, them nailing the HT is one of my deciding factors
 
elevator man said:
What? Kershaw runs it 62-64... as does houge I believe

BM is doing what? 60 ish?

I plan on buying a Kershaw Belair, them nailing the HT is one of my deciding factors
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If they actually are doing it at 62-64 that is great. In the past kershaw made everything too soft.
 
Benchmade is still big with the tactical crowd a bit I think.

I see them in the high end military shops.
 
It's hillarious how often these kinds of "Benchmade sux" threads show up here.
I'd guess the average price of knives posted in the EDC thread is around $350. And most have never been used for anything more than opening a new knife box or slicing some fruit for a forum photo.

So why do knives keep getting more expensive?
You.

Am I buying a $500 Benchmade?
Nope.
But I don't care what anyone else does with their money. And most people don't care what you think of the knife in their pocket, or how many "likes" it might get on social media.

Hive Mentality dislikes individualism.
 
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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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Man, I’ve never really thought about it before since I’m new to the knife game myself but I think you absolutely hit the nail on the head in naming Benchmade’s target consumer.

I used to be one of those guys myself. There’s nothing wrong with it but most people are absolutely clueless about other makers and they are amazed when they see anything over 400-500 bucks. Actually more like 250-300 bucks or more.

Just about any actual gun/outdoor shop is going to be a dealer for them and they’ll be the most costly option they have. 99 out of 100 of those places will have them.
 
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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Agreed.
 
BillZee said:
As much as I like Benchmade knives........
I agree......Benchmade has hit price points beyond the true market value.......
Although if Benchmade can sell enough knives.......
They will make money with lower production......
Time for us costumer's to vote no.........
They need a reality check!
Happened with the high end watch market.
Click to expand...

Spillproof said:
It's hillarious how often these kinds of "Benchmade sux" threads show up here.
I'd guess the average price of knives posted in the EDC thread is around $350. And most have never been used for anything more than opening a new knife box or slicing some fruit for a forum photo.

So why do knives keep getting more expensive?
You.

Am I buying a $500 Benchmade?
Nope.
But I don't care what anyone else does with their money. And most people don't care what you think of the knife on their pocket, or how many "likes" it might get in social media.

Hive Mentality is the death of individualism.
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This. ^^^


I don't have a dog in this fight except to say that the overpricing has affected the market (*a bit) in terms of other Makers; kind of a, "Well, if BM can sell at that price...". $180 for S30V and grivory? Yeah, no thank you. Despite that, as y'all mentioned, why would they stop pricing their wares that high? If their fanboys keep buying 'em at those prices, let the good time roll!

The BMs that I own were gifts. And I can say, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the folks who gifted them to me were non-"knife" people who equated "price" with "value".


That's not to say that BM doesn't make a great product. Are they well-made knives? Absolutely. Are they worth the prices that BM charges? Not for my dollars.

Your mileage may vary.
 
DMG said:
The kershaw magnacut and all their other steels are too soft. And kershaw is KAIs budget brand. Benchmade competes with ZT. And ZT is pretty expensive.

The Hogue Ritter makes your point now that it is available in Magnacut. Their 20cv and M390 chipped if you did anything more aggressive than buttering toast. I sold mine and got one in Magnacut which has been pretty good.

The Manix LW makes a lot of compromises for weight and is not a hard use knife. I like them and have a Manix LW salt on me right now but they aren't a competitor of the Griptillian. The regular manix is.

You can buy a new Bugout for about $135 on sale at REI, if we are using sale prices.
Click to expand...

DMG said:
The kershaw magnacut and all their other steels are too soft. And kershaw is KAIs budget brand. Benchmade competes with ZT. And ZT is pretty expensive.

The Hogue Ritter makes your point now that it is available in Magnacut. Their 20cv and M390 chipped if you did anything more aggressive than buttering toast. I sold mine and got one in Magnacut which has been pretty good.

The Manix LW makes a lot of compromises for weight and is not a hard use knife. I like them and have a Manix LW salt on me right now but they aren't a competitor of the Griptillian. The regular manix is.

You can buy a new Bugout for about $135 on sale at REI, if we are using sale prices.
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The Manix 2 LW is absolutely a competitor to the Griptilian. Both have roughly the same build. The Endura 4 is a direct competitor with the Grip and a PD1 sprint is the same price as a base Endura.

I don’t care what ZT does. Your entire counter point regarding the Bel Air is conjecture about heat treat. It’s presupposition.

The Hogue/Ritter point is effectively the same. You’re supposing the cost of Hogue would have increased due to higher heat treat?
 
Alone said:
This. ^^^


I don't have a dog in this fight except to say that the overpricing has affected the market (*a bit) in terms of other Makers; kind of a, "Well, if BM can sell at that price...". $180 for S30V and grivory? Yeah, no thank you. Despite that, as y'all mentioned, why would they stop pricing their wares that high? If their fanboys keep buying 'em at those prices, let the good time roll!

The BMs that I own were gifts. And I can say, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the folks who gifted them to me were non-"knife" people who equated "price" with "value".


That's not to say that BM doesn't make a great product. Are they well-made knives? Absolutely. Are they worth the prices that BM charges? Not for my dollars.

Your mileage may vary.
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I obviously don’t know what’s driving Bm price increases but a few possible factors to consider is that could be the economy in general, we’ve all been to the grocery lately. Or maybe it has something to do with the new competiton coming from overseas with quality knives with top notch materials that now occupy the $100-200 range that Bm can’t compete with for obvious reasons.

I think it’s important to consider that price increases don’t always translate into larger profit margins. For example there’s a good possibility that those high quality knives with excellent materials from overseas may actually have a larger profit margin than the overpriced bm with cheaper materials. I think benchmade still makes great products and I think more than likely they’re doing what they think is needed or has to be done to stay in business in what has become a much more competitive market especially from overseas. Personally I don’t feel bm is raising prices in a greedy money grab.
 
There are dealers who understand MAP pricing and sell them cheaper if you know where to look. Paying MAP is throwing money away.

Certain models offer more value than others. My most recent BM was a mini Taggedout, it was about $200 for milled G10, Axis lock and S45V steel, pretty decent IMO. The Narrows is one model I don’t think warrants the inflated price.

The standard small Sebenza 31 is $425 these days and is decent value for what you’re getting. The “polished” blade option adds $75 or $100? And that similarly puts it in not good value for money category for me.
 
Alone said:
This. ^^^


I don't have a dog in this fight except to say that the overpricing has affected the market (*a bit) in terms of other Makers; kind of a, "Well, if BM can sell at that price...". $180 for S30V and grivory? Yeah, no thank you. Despite that, as y'all mentioned, why would they stop pricing their wares that high? If their fanboys keep buying 'em at those prices, let the good time roll!

The BMs that I own were gifts. And I can say, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the folks who gifted them to me were non-"knife" people who equated "price" with "value".


That's not to say that BM doesn't make a great product. Are they well-made knives? Absolutely. Are they worth the prices that BM charges? Not for my dollars.

Your mileage may vary.
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Exept that companies like Civivi make a killing. Because they are producing the quality without the price tag.
 
Who is buying these?
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Me, apparently. Well, not a Narrows, but I did just buy a Mini Crooked River as an upcoming gift for my wife. She saw one in an outdoor supply store recently and remarked at how nice it looked - entirely unprompted.

It cost me $230 from a dealer who wasn't able to publicly advertise that price and threw in a Benchmade torx kit for free. (What does that say about how dealers see the value in the required minimum advertised prices?)

First new Benchmade I've bought in 5+ years, since I was picking up extra 710s when they were discontinued. My initial impression is that fit and finish are good, and I think it will make a nice gift. $230 seems ok compared to the early 2010s when I could buy a 710 or 943 or 581 all for around $150, I guess.

Some pricing like on the Narrows or the new PSK I still don't get. But given how much more expensive everything else has gotten, including the knife competition, some of Benchmade's stuff and in particular their older models don't seem so outrageously priced anymore.
 
Civivi and others from there are not playing on the same field as others. Knifemakers from other regions have to deal with a lot more interference and a lot less help from the powers that be.
 
SharpBits said:
Civivi and others from there are not playing on the same field as others. Knifemakers from other regions have to deal with a lot more interference and a lot less help from the powers that be.
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Benchmade and Civivi are both in stores like wallmart now. Which has to be massive for brand recognition.

I would say in Australia you wouldn't find either of them in a non specialty shop.
 
This is interesting.

Benchmade competing against the Ozark trail. (Whatever that is)

Both apparently behind the counter in the same shop.

 
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