So I've noticed that benchmade has taken away all of the knives with titanium handles, and I'm a little worried that we may not see any of them in the future either, due to titanium being expensive. Does anyone know if benchmade is planning on making knives with titanium handles in the future? Can anyone speak to this?
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Why are all the TI handles being disco'd?
- Thread starter Legenda
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Like most manufacturers when a specific knife doesn't sell enough, they get disco'd. The Subrosa is another thwt is no longer in production, the 760 LFTi is another. However the 755 is still available. But it stands to reason that with the Axis lock being what it is, knives that utilize it would be better off with steel liners rather than Ti.
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Other manufacturers had insanely great pieces that were short runs. Thing to remember is, we are the minority. Most people out theree won't really spend more than $50-$100 on a knife. Spending $200 is unheard of, so in order for companies to stay in business, they need to produce stuff that will sell.
Unfortunately Rev speaks the truth. Price and sales will always drive what is brought to market. If it doesn't....it's goodbye company, as they won't stay strong long enough, to stay in business. As is the case in many businesses, they may be in the same business, but after a slightly different market share. Just because one company does one thing well, doesn't mean that another can duplicate it. If you get outside your market share, you get a bloody nose.
Rev also speaks the truth, when he says that we are a minority. Take BM for instance, why is it do you think, that their Grip is the #1 selling knife they have? Why not a Contego, or a 710, or a 940? Certainly they are better, but they are not as marketable. One last thing to consider, is that the very second you bring out a new product, there is a lifespan. Sometimes you never know how long or short it may be. Look at the 710 thread. I commented in there, about the extreme longevity of that knife. It's been around for like 14 years. That in itself is amazing. I know it sucks, there are a lot of things I would like to see come back too, but I just don't think it's in the cards for us.
Rev also speaks the truth, when he says that we are a minority. Take BM for instance, why is it do you think, that their Grip is the #1 selling knife they have? Why not a Contego, or a 710, or a 940? Certainly they are better, but they are not as marketable. One last thing to consider, is that the very second you bring out a new product, there is a lifespan. Sometimes you never know how long or short it may be. Look at the 710 thread. I commented in there, about the extreme longevity of that knife. It's been around for like 14 years. That in itself is amazing. I know it sucks, there are a lot of things I would like to see come back too, but I just don't think it's in the cards for us.
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So true, It's unfortunate but price really has so much to do with it I think. Most people just aren't willing to pay $100+ for a folding knife. No matter how good it is or supposed to be.
The Griptilian for example. For the price it's a great value and gives you many the quality materials BM is known for but it's also the cheapest BM "proper" knife they offer and I think price has an awful lot to do with it's popularity. It's cheap compared to a Rift, 710, Contego or any number of exceptional BM knives that are twice the quality and value. They are just more expensive and many for that reason alone pass them by.
Benchmade as been around for a long time and was very well established before the introduction of the Grip and in my opinion set many new standards for innovation, quality, strength, and reliability in a given class of production knives, but from seeing many of the posts lately, you'd almost get the impression the Grip is the only knife BM makes? Again I beleive this has more to do with price then anything else but that's the way the market works. What sells stays, what doesn't goes.
There's a whole world of exceptional knives in the BM line up. Real standouts in so many way's and on so many levels but as said, we, the enthusiast's, hobbyists, and collector's make up such a small part of the market it's no wonder so many of these great knives are no longer available.
It's a real shame so many truly great knives like the AFCK, TSEK, Skirmish, Rukus, and so many others I could name off the top of my head were discontinued well before their time because the market to keep them in production just isn't there.
Unfortunate but the way it is.
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They have some quality pieces, no doubt. I have a Grip, and it is a great knife. Hell, I wish they would make a Grip XL, with the oversized Axis in it, and about 15 percent bigger. Any clues how good that would sell? But I digress. It seems from my homework, and what others who have been around high end knoves much longer than I, that they have killed more great knives than they produce now. Shame for sure. I can't help but think that they would sell AFCK's faster than they could build them, at least for a year. They cold make some quick money doing this I would think. That's just one instance. Now I'm all depressed. LOL, thanks.
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I think you guys have it right. The Griptillian and it's variants are BM's bread and butter. I think their other higher priced models are more geared for the niche market made up of "us guys" that will spend $150 on up for an EDC knife whereas most folks would likely think that's insane to shell out that much for a knife. But they may turn around and shell out $300 to go to a football game and sit surrounded by 65,000 screaming drunks. Kiddin'. But I do watch my football on tv. I wouldn't go to a game for free. I would go nuts. 
Buts that's way off topic. Was just making a it's all relative comparison.
Buts that's way off topic. Was just making a it's all relative comparison.I prefer larger knives also, but unfortunately I believe we are in the minority. Many people are restricted from the larger folders due to blade length laws in their home states. There also are many people who just prefer smaller, thinner blades and this is possibly due to the general lesser cost of smaller knives. Overall, it just seems that there is a larger market (population wise) that wants to, can afford to, and is is legally able to purchase smaller knives than that for larger knives.