Why all the Benchmade stain?

A.P.F.

A.P.F.

Joined
Mar 3, 2006
Messages
7,132
It seems that lately there has been a rash of Benchmade malcontents on the forums. I have 15 Benchmades and 13 of those are Axis lock. None of the 15 show any problems with fit 'n finish, nor did they arrive dull. Is it me that is tripping over reality or am I just lucky?

As long as I am rambling on, I think that if I see one more post that complains about the 'plasticy' handle on a Griptilian, I will scream. Cowboy up people, it is a tool. If it performs well as a knife, what is the problem? [/rant]
 
Lol at the "plastic-y handle" thing. :p But yeah, I've noticed it too. For me, I'd gladly buy another Benchmade...if there were any designs that really grabbed my attention right now. The closest thing right now is the Onslaught...but I don't need it enough to justify the expense. I love all the ones I've already got, though!
 
Really? I haven't noticed that much. Fit and finish on the ones I've had or handled seem just as good as with other companies to me. But they do come really dull... maybe that just depends on what your threshold for sharpness is. FWIW, Benchmade always does a good job correcting any problems with their knives.
 
Iv never had a fit and finish problem with a benchmade!!! I will say I'm a bit bored with their new knives , I love the axis lock but every model feels the same to me where as spyderco has a different engineered lock on every model and each knife has it's own unique action and feel when opening .
 
I think its comes down to, what people perceive as problems. I have pretty realistic expectations when it comes to mid-priced folders. Other members will settle for nothing less than perfection. They want Sebenza-like finish and tolerances at the Griptilians pricepoint.

That being said, ive had 4 BM's and havent had any problems whatsoever. My Presidio came a little gritty and sticky, but after a day of opening/closing it broke in quite nicely.

There have been a pivot screw or 2 that came loose, but nothing a bit of loctite cant fix.

But that dosent mean, that BM dosent put out the occasional lemon, just like every other manufacturer.
 
Last edited:
The only problems I've experienced with BM was with a few rust stains and a loose clip, but casual maintenance clears that right up in my case. I will say that since my Presidio is my EDC knife the ridges on the aluminum handle are annoying and eats the hell putts pockets :)
 
I've had a Benchmade 51 with a relatively uneven grind. This was on an unmodified out of the box knife. It was also not as sharp out of the box as my much cheaper Kershaw. I forgot to take pics of the grind though and it is not longer in my hands. There is also a thread open about someones 710 m390 with bad blade issues that Benchmade further messed up during warranty and resolved that issue with the customer only after he complained about the unsatisfactory warranty results (so I guess at least Benchmade warranty isn't all that bad - in fact I have only had good results from them). Anyway, Benchmade is a mass producer. So there will be mistakes here and there but they try to fix it. No mass producer can avoid that.

I think the problem is similar to what Polecat said. People expect better fit and finish. Except I think that it is not people expecting higher finishes than the price entails like wanting a sebenza finish on a griptilian, but rather that companies like Kershaw can give you sharper, just as well made knives for cheaper (not talking about materials such as handles or blade steels, just fit and finish). Now I'm not being a proponent for Sanrenmu or anything, but apparently they are a company that, for only a few dollars, a fraction of what any Benchmade will cost you, can provide the user with excellent fit and finish. So sure, when people buy more expensive USA made knives they can and do expect a solid product. I too would be disappointed if my limited edition bm 710 m390 had blade issues. Knives NIB over $100 shouldn't have to have such problems like uneven grinds if other companies can provide knives for $10-$20 without those problems. Why would I want to buy a $100 knife, then have to spend more money out of my pocket to send it in to get fixed and tuned up to the way it should have come out of the box as well as wait a week+ turn around? I shouldn't. Why would I need to personally sharpen a $50 grip if a Sanrenmu comes shaving sharp out of the box for only $8? I shouldn't. Yes, sometimes a few slip through QC. But I can see why some people are a little disappointed. Maybe the people who are picky and unlucky just happen to be the knife enthusiasts on BF. Maybe there are more cases that people don't notice or do notice but aren't part of BF. I don't know.
 
Last edited:
I've always been happy with my benchmades. I have had two nimravuses and two mini barrages as well as a griptillian and all of them have been incredible knives. in fact the reason I had two of each of the nimravus and mini barrage was because I lost the first set and couldn'tthink of better knives to replace them.

and the grind out of the box is rarely a big deal for me. straight razors are sharp out of the box, doesn't mean they'll take another edge or hold one for any length of time. besides, it only takes about 20 minutes to put an edge on one that should last months with light use.
 
I guess I am one of those 'Hate the feel of my 551 (440C) Grip's plastic scales...' types. That wasn't the half of of it - it came, NIB and my first BM, dull! A few years later, #2 BM - a 201 Activator+ in D2, also came dull. Then, I got a Spydie Sharpmaker - and wanted a 630 Skirmish - knowing I could finally re-edge the dull BM's. I've bought 28 (twenty-eight!) BM's since that first dull pair - and never bought another dull one. All would pop hairs - some better than others. I am glad I persevered - BM has made - and still makes some great knives. Many of my examples were bought as new-old-stock - long after they had dropped the models. One, a 420 Resistor, actually came missing a screw (Kind of like me...) - my only QC issue ever (The first two being dull was the 'luck of the draw...'). BM has sent me screws and clips - gratis.

Oh - the 551 was my initial purchase - it had the AXIS lock - and was $50 inc s/t - also the most frugal way to try the lock. It remains my only plastic handled BM.

Stainz
 
I have noticed this forum for the most part, rags on BM. I haven't had any problems with F&F. BM's F&F is far superior to another major brand's USA made knives. As for the dull edges, well it seems those who complain are bad at sharpening. Why are you buying knives if you don't know how to sharpen them?
 
ibute21 said:
I have noticed this forum for the most part, rags on BM. I haven't had any problems with F&F. BM's F&F is far superior to another major brand's USA made knives. As for the dull edges, well it seems those who complain are bad at sharpening. Why are you buying knives if you don't know how to sharpen them?
Click to expand...

Whether or not people can sharpen as blade is not an excuse for an out of the box dull knife. If I can get a sharp blade from Kershaw for $15, I don't see why I would have to take a $100+ Benchmade knife home and sharpen before I can use it. That doesn't make sense.

Lets make an analogy. It's like buying a several thousand dollar racing bike with flat tires that you have to take home to pump before you can use when you can buy a hundred dollar bike at Walmart with pumped tires that you can ride right out the store? That doesn't make sense does it?

If I am paying a premium for steels, handles, etc, the blade should at least be sharp. Especially with the higher end steels that are a bit harder to sharpen. Sure Benchmades might be worth it once you tune it all up, but why the extra effort? If a company is selling a knife, they are selling a cutting tool, not a kit you need to take home and fix up to be a knife.
 
PropThePolecat said:
I think its comes down to, what people perceive as problems. I have pretty realistic expectations when it comes to mid-priced folders. Other members will settle for nothing less than perfection. They want Sebenza-like finish and tolerances at the Griptilians pricepoint.
Click to expand...


That sums it all up right there..

Completely unrealistic expectations and that comes from lack of knowledge on the subject.

There has been a lot of these type threads around lately and they are all pretty much the same....

Hopefully in time some of them will learn what reality is.

For the others I say what I always say, if they want that level of F&F and tolerances then open up the wallet wide and spend the money to get it because it's not going to happen at the price points they are talking about, they will need to spend one heck of a lot more.
 
Last edited:
I like a few of the BM designs, mainly the Mini Grip but really don't care for most of the current crop of their offerings. As far as sharpness goes, it is nice to get a new knife with the sharp edge out of the box but in years past it was a given that if you got a new knife you would have to put your own edge on it and I still put my own edge on any knife I get. I have no problem with dressing up liners with a bit of wet/dry paper or a file. I have also noticed that a lot of the folks compaining about fit and finsih are expecting way to much from a production knife, no production or customs are perfect. Another thing I have noticed is that a lot of the same complainers don't know at straight blade screw driver from a phillips or a torx driver. It also seems that some are not willing to learn how to do for themselves. Too many are looking for pocket jewelry when all they are buying is a tool no matter how muchy hype is pushed in the blades publications or the various forums. That's my .2 cents worth.
 
The only experience with different fit and finish I had where with the final batches of the 42. They tended to have rougher handles than earlier batches, but still performed as well.
 
My only problem with Benchmade is that all my favorites are discontinued: the Emerson tanto, the mini afck, both sizes of the skirmish...
 
I have 5 Benchmades which I love. They were sharp and with excellent fit and finish right out of the box. I will say that the five that I have were purchased 6 or 7 years ago. Like one of the above comments the only reason that I have not bought any recently is that none of the newer models really "trip my trigger"
 
I have always liked the designs that BM has. I own 4 and only two were shaving sharp. The odd thing is that those were the two less expensive models: Griptilian and Bone Collector. My 930 Kulgera was in need of sharpening right out of the box. My 480-1 Shoki is one of the most beautiful knives I own. Carbon fiber handles, blue anodized liners. I love the nak-lock and it has M390 steel. But the bevel is completely uneven. It did not pass a simple paper cut test out of the box. I can understand if a $60 knife is less than shaving sharp out of the box. But a $150+ knife should not have an issue like that in my opinion.
 
I have had no real problems with benchmade and it is my favorite full production knife company. The fit and finish on all of my knives was outstanding, not sebenza level but not sebenza priced either. All of mine came sharp, sure the edges could have been finished better on most of them and polished a bit but I could do that on my own.
 
My first Benchmade a 551 SBKSN Griptilian was amazing to me. Razor sharp, perfect Fit and Finish. The dealer also threw in a free 5 Hook, which was perfect and super sharp also. So, I just am not having the problems of other people. Maybe it was luck, IDK. But I do know Benchmade has a Repeat customer in me.
 
The only problem I've had with BM is that some of the knive's I've purchased from them had a seriously thick edge, so there for did not feel as sharp as I thought they should be. That problem was solved with a reprofiling session.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top