Widow with Question about a Benchmade knife model #

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Convoy01

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I need to know the right names & model #'s of my hubby's knives so I can find pricing information. So...I've got a Benchmade knife and the box is marked is labeled 3550BT Mel Pardue, Auto. I can only find Benchmade Mel Pardue 3550BK knives...I can't find a 3550BT. Do the initials "BT" mean anything in particular??
 
the bt in the model # denotes the coating on the blade, it was the designation used on older knives. newer ones are marked bk instead
 
To add to what mrfields said above Benchmade uses letters with their model numbers to denote certain features. Models with “S” have blade serrations. So the base model you’re inquiring about here is a 3550, also known as the Stimulus, a push-button automatic knife designed by Mel Pardue with a black coated blade (the BT part of the model. A 3550SBT or 3550SBK designated model would have a black blade with serrations. A 3550S would have serrations, but an uncoated steel blade. Additionally, most manual (non-automatic) models have a three number model, whereas autos have four, such as your example. “LE” in some models denotes Limited Edition.

You might see models with “dash” numbers, like 940-1. These are usually variations of existing models with different blade steels and handle materials than the original model came with.

It can be confusing at first, but it starts to make sense after a while.

I believe the BT was a Teflon based coating, but could be wrong.
 
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If you come across any Benchmades without their original box, the base model number is usually printed under the butterfly logo on the blade.
 
Centermass said:
To add to what mrfields said above Benchmade uses letters with their model numbers to denote certain features. Models with “S” have blade serrations. So the base model you’re inquiring about here is a 3550, also known as the Stimulus, a push-button automatic knife designed by Mel Pardue with a black coated blade (the BT part of the model. A 3550BTS or 3550BKS designated model would have a black blade with serrations. A 3550S would have serrations, but an uncoated steel blade. Additionally, most manual (non-automatic) models have a three number model, whereas autos have four, such as your example. “LE” in some models denotes Limited Edition.

You might see models with “dash” numbers, like 940-1. These are usually variations of existing models with different blade steels and handle materials than the original model came with.

It can be confusing at first, but it starts to make sense after a while.

I believe the BT was a Teflon based coating, but could be wrong.
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Thank you so much for the info & for typing it all out. And you are right--this is all VERY confusing to me! But I had to learn stereo & Home AV components, plus photography stuff (cameras and lenses), so I'm hoping this knife stuff will register in my brain sooner rather than later!
 
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