Why Won't Benchmade Let Me Love Their Ergonomics?

B

B.F.U

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So, I desperately wanted a Benchmade. I looked over specs and what not for a while, then came to the ever important "actually holding the knife" part of deciding. I don't know if I'm overly picky, but ergonomics are huge for me. I did not love a single Benchmade's ergonomics. I was looking at quite a few: the Adamas, Contego, 710, 530, Rift, Griptilian, Mini-Griptilian, 940, and whatever else the booth had. The Adamas seemed ridiculously wide to me, I regrettably didn't get to see a Contego, my hand didn't feel secure in the 710, the 530 felt too thin and short, I didn't like the handle shape (weird choil at the bottom) of the rift and it was a big wide, I don't really hate the Griptilian but it felt cheaper than the rest, the Mini-Grip was too short and seemed too thick for how short it was, the Onslaught was just ridiculous..... but the 940 felt the best. I ended up finding a good price (I think, is $150 good?) and pulled the trigger. I just got it, early, and I love it. I love the Axis, there's no parallel, and I love the blade. But I don't love the handle. I wish the choil was more rounded. I wish it didn't taper so much at the bottom. Strangely, I also wish the aluminum was a bit smoother.

Does anyone else have this problem of not loving any Benchmade ergonomics (I know this is probably the wrong place to ask this, I might move it to general discussion)? Am I just spoiled by the absolutely perfect (for me) ergonomics of the Native? Can anyone give any suggestions from my ranting for a Benchmade that I might love the handle (I'm thinking I should check out a Contego, but where can I do that?)?

HELP!
ALLHSS
 
I think Benchmade's ergos are great. The only knife from BM I have not liked the ergos on is the 530. They also make a wide range of different knives so almost anyone can find something. I don't think you will like the Contego if you didn't like the Rift, they are quite similar. You may want to try the 581 Barrage.
 
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Not every knife fits, I've owned most but a few like the new 300 just don't fit right. My advice is if you're interested in Benchmades and want to find out for sure which would work, pay a visit to your local dealer if there's one close by.
 
I dont have this problem. I do have trouble finding a spyderco that works for me though. I personally like the straighter handles that are on many benchmade models because most knives with "ergonomic" curves dont fit me. Even the military is slightly off and the handle is huge. I do like some of the smaller spydercos like the sage, caly 3/3.5 etc with big choils but I have to use the choil all the time and that makes the knife unsuitable for some tasks. Grip, triage, 710 and barrage are all great though. I dont have an adamas since I doubt Id ever carry a 7.7 ounce knife but Ive almost talked myself into one a few times because the handle looks perfect for me.
 
I can still remember the day about 5 years ago when I first laid hands on a Mini Grip. I had to have it, even though I had never paid more than $25 for a knife. I don't understand other people's distain for their ergonomics, but that is okay. I don't particularly like the feel of ZTs. Different strokes.
 
I have had several Benchmade knives that just didn't "sit" right in my hand. I have relatively small hands and many knives will make my hands hurt from constant use. My favorite is the HK Nitrous Blitz. The handle is kinda small and fits my hands perfectly.
 
For me the Grip and Mini Grip just don't fit my hand as well as my Spydercos. Even my little Dragonfly fits my hand better. I feel the handles of the Grips are too short and the rounded end just doesn't fit quite right. Probably aftermarket scales would be better for me, but I don't want to spent the cash right now. I like the fit of the Adamas better, but it is a thick beast. The Presidio Ultra fits me pretty good.
 
Everyone is different. The Native is one of the most uncomfortable knives I own and the Rift is perfection.
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
Everyone is different. The Native is one of the most uncomfortable knives I own and the Rift is perfection.
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That's so interesting. I was ready to buy the rift until I felt it in my hand, and the native's ergos is like perfection for me. Just goes to show, these general questions I'm asking won't help me too much. Still interesting to discuss though.
 
If you want the aluminum on the 940 smoother, just give it time. I've edc'ed mine every day since I got it about two years ago. Nice and smooth where I grip it now. Nice and "pocket worn."
 
Sometimes you just wont get a design it until you use it for a while.
That's the hard part for many folks & will keep them from trying some designs.
While some knifes may feel great in the hand, they can suck after you use them for a while.
It really is personal pref. but you really can't say much until you try the design.
What I have learned is you cant tell all that much about a knife by just holding it.
How does it carry? Clip use over time? how about the lock? Love it or hate it?
Blade geometry? Thickness? Weight? Scale texture? etc.
Best thing to do is buy the ones you like, then sell / trade if it doesn't work out.
You might be surprised what you end up liking.
My 1st Rift was a forum knife. Never thought much at all of the design, now I carry a Rift often.
Now I get it. LOL LOL
The 805 works best for me, but have a couple hundred others if I ever want to rotate it out for a while.
 
ALLHSS said:
So, I desperately wanted a Benchmade. I looked over specs and what not for a while, then came to the ever important "actually holding the knife" part of deciding. I don't know if I'm overly picky, but ergonomics are huge for me. I did not love a single Benchmade's ergonomics. I was looking at quite a few: the Adamas, Contego, 710, 530, Rift, Griptilian, Mini-Griptilian, 940, and whatever else the booth had. The Adamas seemed ridiculously wide to me, I regrettably didn't get to see a Contego, my hand didn't feel secure in the 710, the 530 felt too thin and short, I didn't like the handle shape (weird choil at the bottom) of the rift and it was a big wide, I don't really hate the Griptilian but it felt cheaper than the rest, the Mini-Grip was too short and seemed too thick for how short it was, the Onslaught was just ridiculous..... but the 940 felt the best. I ended up finding a good price (I think, is $150 good?) and pulled the trigger. I just got it, early, and I love it. I love the Axis, there's no parallel, and I love the blade. But I don't love the handle. I wish the choil was more rounded. I wish it didn't taper so much at the bottom. Strangely, I also wish the aluminum was a bit smoother.

Does anyone else have this problem of not loving any Benchmade ergonomics (I know this is probably the wrong place to ask this, I might move it to general discussion)? Am I just spoiled by the absolutely perfect (for me) ergonomics of the Native? Can anyone give any suggestions from my ranting for a Benchmade that I might love the handle (I'm thinking I should check out a Contego, but where can I do that?)?

HELP!
ALLHSS
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some I like, some I don't. Love the Rift, love the Contego. Didn't like the 710 and sold it. The Adamas is meant to be a thick handled knife, so it's going to feel like that. If ergonomics are that important to you, you might like the Bone Collector axis lock knife and the 581 Barrage. The other one you might like a lot is the 806 AFCK or 805 TSEK (both discontinued except for occasional LE models). My mini-AFCK is the perfect fit for me, and it feels like an extension of my hand. You might consider finding one of the old 812 models (mini-AFCK).
 
I own 2 Grips, a 940, and a Contego. The Grips do feel a bit on the cheap side. To me, this is not much of an issue as I use them pretty hard when they are next in the rotation. The Contego is a beast of a folder and the choil is a bit weird, but not so weird that I do not carry it. The 940 is easily my favorite though. EDC perfection (for me anyways). All of our hands are different though, what feels good in my hand may not feel comfortable or right in yours. And looks, quite a subjective topic altogether lol. To each his own I say.
 
ah yes i enjoy my natives ergos so much... i have a friend with the bone collecter grippy and its terrible. i have a scotch brite wheel i used on my sog trident 2.0 to round off some sharp edges, which i would do if i got a contego
 
goodshepherdknives said:
ah yes i enjoy my natives ergos so much... i have a friend with the bone collecter grippy and its terrible. i have a scotch brite wheel i used on my sog trident 2.0 to round off some sharp edges, which i would do if i got a contego
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Have you held the contego? It looks to me as if its ergonomics would be similar to a bigger native. The problem is, I would be far too worried I would mess up to sand a knife that expensive.
 
hunterlee said:
The 940 is easily my favorite though. EDC perfection (for me anyways).
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I am definitely coming around to the 940. I haven't decided on where to put my thumb yet, but I also haven't used it much. Have you had any blade play or centering issues?
 
ALLHSS said:
Have you had any blade play or centering issues?
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Blade play can be adjusted at the pivot screw. Use a very slick lube and you can tighten the pivot down farther. I had very slight blade play in my 520 Presidio when adjusted the way I wanted it (flick open with the lock instead of thumbstud) when using Tuff-Glide, CLP, or Weapon Shield. I applied some Nano-Oil to the pivot and tang, and tightened the pivot screw down more. I am still able to flick it open the way I want and there is now no blade play at all. I did the same with my Rift and mini-Grip. Not sure I want to use Nano-Oil with an M4 blade, after my latest rust test, but it is definitely slicker than anything else I've used. I may have to disassemble it and give FrogLube a shot to see if it will be as slick (and protect better).
 
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