Who is buying these new Benchmades?

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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.
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I am their customer. I like Benchmade knives. I buy expensive BM knives or thought I was (photos previously posted). I am voting with my wallet.

These are what I thought were “Gold Class” prices but for higher production, not all that special by my somewhat informed standards/opinion.

Now if they went into marketing detail about the hypothetical 20 ways or additional 50 production steps of labor needed to make these in a way that justifies the price, I may feel differently.
 
It's a No for me. Don't like the looks, don't like the Axis, don't like the company. US made doesn't mean anything to me, since I'm from Europe. I own a Griptilian 550 which I bought because it has a round opening hole and I wanted to try an Axis lock, then I forgot I had it and missed my window to return it so now I'm stuck with it ^^
 
Maximumbob54 said:
I have to assume that machining titanium in the US costs a pretty penny. All the US made knives I've seen with anything besides a flat slab of ti all have top shelf pricing.
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Three River Manufacturing (TRM)* can do it for less and are much smaller company. I think B'made is happy with their place in the market and I don't see them changing.

* from their website: "All TRM Atoms are manufactured and assembled in the USA utilizing US materials and suppliers. (Fat Carbon is manufactured in Lithuania. We proudly etch USA on every blade."
 
SharpBits said:
Three River Manufacturing (TRM)* can do it for less and are much smaller company. I think B'made is happy with their place in the market and I don't see them changing.

* from their website: "All TRM Atoms are manufactured and assembled in the USA utilizing US materials and suppliers. (Fat Carbon is manufactured in Lithuania. We proudly etch USA on every blade."
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What does the knife with the ti scales cost? My contoured G10 model was close to $280ish and the ti scales separate are $235.
 
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I think the Atom in machined Ti is last listed at $395. Their price is what you pay, no MSRP & MAP nonsense. Not inexpensive, but a decent amount less expensive. B'made's scale should allow them produce and sell it for less, but again, they are happy charging what they charge.
 
SharpBits said:
I think the Atom in machined Ti is last listed at $395. Their price is what you pay, no MSRP & MAP nonsense. Not inexpensive, but a decent amount less expensive. B'made's scale should allow them produce and sell it for less, but again, they are happy charging what they charge.
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That’s not always the case. Larger operations have higher overhead. A lot of times smaller operations can undercut larger ones due to less overhead. Hypothetically, trm’s ceo may also be their machinist. Larger overhead/lower profit margin is viable due to higher output vs lower overhead/higher profit margin is viable with lower output. Even locations of the companies can be a huge factor.

While the comparison may be simple the facts usually aren’t.
 
I have more of a gripe with charging more but not increasing the tolerances or quality. I gave away my old 2018ish bugout because I wanted an upgrade. After paying way to much for the replacement and the crossbar being to sloppy it got returned. Right after I bought black edition 818 that just feels awful due to the sharp edges. I just can't get over the cost and the in hand feel.

Now my Benchmade 401 Panther brings back good memories, but the quality isn't their either. $45 in 1996 wasn't cheap either lol.
 
I can not agree with you more.
luethge said:
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I wish @Benchmade would rerelease some of the older ones in upgraded steels - specifically the Presidio 2 and 910 Stryker , Cruwear, M4 or even S35VN steel would be incredible. Benchmade makes great user knives.. I think they’re losing a lot of potential customers at the newer price points. I’ll still carry and use my Benchmade stuff .. been carrying one since the mid 90’s, not stopping now.
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Benchmade is going far and far from me, what I like is some old models like BM910, 710, 610, 932,140, 145. there is good taste of design for these models.
 
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Sibyrnes said:
I think it is funny the way people here use Benchmade as their favorite Bad Guy. For those who seem to enjoy being upset about high prices, take a look at our Knife Exchange here for example. You'll see people spending hundreds of dollars on key chain trinkets, thousands on watches, and don't forget the GEC knives listed at two or three times their original price selling out in minutes!

Yet here we are, again, with seven pages(so far) of people whining about the price of something they don't need to buy.
I find it very entertaining - please continue.
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If you read my OP, I really was wondering who is buying these two models. Having been an original (at inception) buyer of Leatherman, Cold Steel, Spyderco, Benchmade, and Buck and Schrade back in Cub Scout days I’ve followed the maturing of these brands and the onslaught of newer and often really GREAT brands. I’m 55 years old.

I honestly had no idea this is a recurring theme of other threads - none. I love my Spydercos, Benchmades, Leathermans including the new Arc and don’t begrudge really any pricing - I’m a patriotic Capitalist American and no Commie after all. If they can charge high prices and make a lot of money, all the power to them. They’re just leaving me behind at this pricing for this type of build and so I was wondering, “What gives?”

Lots of good opinions here. And even a few people intending a purchase. I really wonder how well these will sell?
 
I like Benchmade and I have bought several of their knives but I am not a big fan of the materials they are using! They may be quality materials but for the kind of money they are asking, I have discovered other options like Demko, Spartan and even Microtech. It seems like you get a much more solid product from these guys vs. Benchmade. Even the Taiwan made Demko 20.5 has more value (or maybe perceived value) thank a $250 plastic Benchmade knife.

Although, I also don't see a lot of the appeal in the long list of $500 range EDC knives that all seem to have the same boring look and boring frame locks! No offense to anyone but I don't understand why anyone would buy these high dollar, cookie cutter knives when there are other options out there that are...well, more exciting? I don't even have a desire to own a Sebenza or Zaan because of this...they just seem plain, over priced and boring. Now if CRK came out with a new model that had a Shark Lock or Ram Lock...that would top my grail list! Again, please take no offense...this is just my opinion on the matter at hand! I may ponder over this but I would never discourage anyone from spending their hard earned money on whatever pleases them! Variety is the spice of 'Knife!'
 
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I’ve really enjoyed all the Benchmades I’ve owned in the past, and I am still EDCing the original Bugout I purchased in 2017. It’s still going strong as my only knife, so I’m not really the target market considering I haven’t bought a knife in a few years. However, I still like the new designs they come out with like the Mini Adira and the Raghorn. The prices keep going up sucks, but it is what is. The best value you can get from a knife is to pick one and use it every day.
 
RocketFoot said:
Even the Taiwan made Demko 20.5 has more value (or maybe perceived value) thank a $250 plastic Benchmade knife.
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Do you have a Demko Knife? If you do then you must realize it has as much "plastic" as any Benchmade knife and more than many! As the owner of a nice new Demko AD20S and a new Benchmade Adira I must say the two compare very closely, with the edge, in my opinion, going to the $200.00 less expensive Benchmade.

AD 20.5 ans Adira (1 of 1).JPG
 
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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.
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Too soft??? They run it at 61-63 IIRC
DMG said:
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.
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Too bad the steel wasn’t a little softer 🙁 probably wouldn’t have chipped on ya LOL
 
DMG said:
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Has coffee become this artisan crafted thing now though?

I walk in to a shop and get these specialist bean blends by trained coffee makers who put smiley faces in the froth.

That should theoretically cost more.

(It is not an artisan crafted thing I care about. But the country of origin of a knife is not something I care about either.)

Thinking about it. Production Knives are going the artisan route as well.

I remember when I did not know the designer of a Production knife. Now that is put forward in marketing.

And theoretically has worth.

Thinking about my Civivi vision. Which is a Sneck design. I don't know who he is.
 
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I wanted a Bugout and would pit micarta scales on it. But it’s just too much and Benchmade just raised their prices on them another $20 in July for the bare bones blue handled one.
I have a lost Kershaw somewhere in the house and am carrying a Buck 112 right now. I like the look of the 112 with micarta scales on it. As soon as this one store gets them back in stock they often have sales. Right now they do have the G10 version so there’s that. Kershaw has some nice affordable US made knives too.
 
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