Benchmade used to offer good values. They were attractive, durable, high performance designs made in America with premium materials and tight tolerances. I had a 2550 Mini Reflex Auto and it was one of the best knives I've ever owned. It was around $145 in 2015...bought it the day my god given right to self defense using the method of my choice was affirmed in my state. I tried the updated 2551 a couple years ago when I lost my 2550 and it was over $200 with tax, and the pivot was sloppy (even the dealer agreed it was poor QC and adjustment wouldn't fix it).
Their value proposition is horrendous now. They are asking ultra premium prices for plastic handled knives and old designs using mid grade steels with questionable quality control in my experience. The $125 bugout has a plastic handle. It's a great knife IF you replace the handles, but then it's $200+ and many other options open up. The $175 redoubt has a plastic handle. Maybe you thought you'd upgrade and get an auto, how about a $250 claymore? ERR, plastic handle. Ok, the $300+ shootout has to be well made right? Ok, this is embarrassing for a $300 knife...also a plastic handle. They must all then have super exotic blades then? Also, no. Many are D2, 154CM, or S30V. What about a Phateton? Well, it's $400 now but is essentially identical to what USED to be called the HK turmoil, which used to be $200 lol. What about the MIGHTY INFIDEL!? Sigh...it's nearly as much as a new Glock, with the same 15 year old design and the same D2 steel found in $30 chinese folders
The it's made in america so the cost is high argument is BS. There are many US made makers that offer much higher value, like Microtech, Guardian Tactical, Pro Tech, Kershaw US, and the list goes on. The Benchmade name was built to mean something, and now they're selling it out in the name of corporate greed.
Buy American but buy something else until they get back to caring about knives as much as they do money.
I've always wanted a Spyderco so I can practice my Spydy flick lol. Its admittedly less than stellar at the moment.
My encounter with the sloppy 2551 could have been a rare instance. Even still, QC should have caught it for a $200 knife. Despite that, I feel the shift to plastic components at these prices is in itself the quality decline, which is intimately woven into the overpricing in my opinion. They are two problems born of the same change. Go plastic but cut the price, or keep or raise the price but keep material quality high. Don't cut materials AND raise costs, significantly.
I'm carrying a Microtech UTX85 in M390 at the moment. Fantastic knife. Never misfires, and after 9 months of use without sharpening it, the blade is still LITERALLY sharp enough to shave with lol. I paid $250 for it from an official dealer, tax included. It has the same lifetime warranty, all metal construction, and was made in North Carolina.
If anyone is looking for a knife for personal carry, or as a gift, feel free to respond with preferences and a budget and I'll be happy to give some suggestions. You don't have to spend a fortune to get a quality pocket knife!
* * * IF ANY BENCHMADE ASSOCIATE IS READING THIS, THEY'D BE WISE TO RESEARCH HOW SEARS AND SPECIFICALLY THE CRAFTSMAN BRAND OF TOOLS FELL OFF THEIR PEDESTAL. THEY CHOSE PRICE OVER QUALITY, THEN HAD LOWER QUALITY AND HIGH PRICES, AND NOW STANLEY IS THANKFULLY TRYING TO REHABILITATE THE NAME * * *
Spyderco…
Not sure about a drop in quality but I do feel Benchmade is getting too expensive.
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Benchmade used to offer good values. They were attractive, durable, high performance designs made in America with premium materials and tight tolerances. I had a 2550 Mini Reflex Auto and it was one of the best knives I've ever owned. It was around $145 in 2015...bought it the day my god given right to self defense using the method of my choice was affirmed in my state. I tried the updated 2551 a couple years ago when I lost my 2550 and it was over $200 with tax, and the pivot was sloppy (even the dealer agreed it was poor QC and adjustment wouldn't fix it).
Their value proposition is horrendous now. They are asking ultra premium prices for plastic handled knives and old designs using mid grade steels with questionable quality control in my experience. The $125 bugout has a plastic handle. It's a great knife IF you replace the handles, but then it's $200+ and many other options open up. The $175 redoubt has a plastic handle. Maybe you thought you'd upgrade and get an auto, how about a $250 claymore? ERR, plastic handle. Ok, the $300+ shootout has to be well made right? Ok, this is embarrassing for a $300 knife...also a plastic handle. They must all then have super exotic blades then? Also, no. Many are D2, 154CM, or S30V. What about a Phateton? Well, it's $400 now but is essentially identical to what USED to be called the HK turmoil, which used to be $200 lol. What about the MIGHTY INFIDEL!? Sigh...it's nearly as much as a new Glock, with the same 15 year old design and the same D2 steel found in $30 chinese folders
The it's made in america so the cost is high argument is BS. There are many US made makers that offer much higher value, like Microtech, Guardian Tactical, Pro Tech, Kershaw US, and the list goes on. The Benchmade name was built to mean something, and now they're selling it out in the name of corporate greed.
Buy American but buy something else until they get back to caring about knives as much as they do money.
Can you give some examples? It looks like Kershaw US is assembled in the US but hilt overseas. Any similar Microtech knives with same steels etc? Microtech and GT look great but are the same price or more.
Benchmade is certainly overpriced, but so are many other brands these days. Moving to MAP with the BS excuse if protecting brick & mortar with the true motivation to just try and position the company as more premium. That plus the drop in QC and the award transition with the death of Les de Asis really hurt their image. But of course the biggest hit was the revelation of the political donations they make and the destruction of firearms for local pd. They used to have so many awesome collabs with Brend, Blackwood, Emerson, Elishewitz, etc. And in-house they were the best option for an affordable bali. The very idea that I bought a model 45 brand new for only $75 seems almost alien in reference to the market today.
But then Spyderco really isn't any better for a value proposition with their unending steam of dealer exclusives and sprints with the disappearance of the basic clipit model concept. Same minimum advertised price requirement while increasing those prices astronomically for even the most basic knife with zytel and vg10. Certainly can't replace my delica for the thirty bucks it cost.
I've owned about 400 knives over the last thirty years, and BM/Spyderco were my most owned brands at over three dozen each. I haven't bought a new one of either in about a decade. Hogue has elevated the griptilian design with Doug Ritter and you can get identical manufacturing (like literally the same staff and facility) if you buy other brands made by Fox, Joti, etc. instead of the international models for Spyderco. Closest I come is to grab a sprint in the secondary market or wait for them to clearance.
Can you give some examples? It looks like Kershaw US is assembled in the US but hilt overseas. Any similar Microtech knives with same steels etc? Microtech and GT look great but are the same price or more.
As someone who once made a living selling mid-grade to high-end knives, I can tell you that over the years, quality dropped as prices increased.
Also, be careful of the made in USA claims. Some of the companies meet this to a bare minimum, with many parts being made outside the USA and assembly done within the USA. Just enough parts % and assembly in the USA makes it legal to place "Made in USA" on it.
I will not go into the politics of it all. If you want to get into that, there are plenty of knife forums on the internet
These are great prices. I am a huge fan of the 14 Benchmades I own. However with their recent price increases I am not a fan of purchasing any more with the current prices. Its harder for me to justify and or suggest anyone to purchase a Benchmade.
What about 300 posts arguing about metallurgy to justify a $200 knife they use to open their mail from a bunch of people who couldn't find metals on the periodic table?
What about 300 posts arguing about metallurgy to justify a $200 knife they use to open their mail from a bunch of people who couldn't find metals on the periodic table?
Some of those posters do understand this topic quite well, both in scientific terms and in practical experiential terms. There are many many reasons people spend more on knives, and metallurgy is one of them. We are also aware of diminishing marginal returns, and some of us either value the hard use our knives do take, or CAN take. Value can be both objective and subjective.
It's ironic you making judgements about both people and a topic where you don't appear to fully understand either yourself.
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Their value proposition is horrendous now. They are asking ultra premium prices for plastic handled knives and old designs using mid grade steels with questionable quality control in my experience. The $125 bugout has a plastic handle. It's a great knife IF you replace the handles, but then it's $200+ and many other options open up. The $175 redoubt has a plastic handle. Maybe you thought you'd upgrade and get an auto, how about a $250 claymore? ERR, plastic handle. Ok, the $300+ shootout has to be well made right? Ok, this is embarrassing for a $300 knife...also a plastic handle. They must all then have super exotic blades then? Also, no. Many are D2, 154CM, or S30V. What about a Phateton? Well, it's $400 now but is essentially identical to what USED to be called the HK turmoil, which used to be $200 lol. What about the MIGHTY INFIDEL!? Sigh...it's nearly as much as a new Glock, with the same 15 year old design and the same D2 steel found in $30 chinese folders
The it's made in america so the cost is high argument is BS. There are many US made makers that offer much higher value, like Microtech, Guardian Tactical, Pro Tech, Kershaw US, and the list goes on. The Benchmade name was built to mean something, and now they're selling it out in the name of corporate greed.
Buy American but buy something else until they get back to caring about knives as much as they do money.
My encounter with the sloppy 2551 could have been a rare instance. Even still, QC should have caught it for a $200 knife. Despite that, I feel the shift to plastic components at these prices is in itself the quality decline, which is intimately woven into the overpricing in my opinion. They are two problems born of the same change. Go plastic but cut the price, or keep or raise the price but keep material quality high. Don't cut materials AND raise costs, significantly.
I'm carrying a Microtech UTX85 in M390 at the moment. Fantastic knife. Never misfires, and after 9 months of use without sharpening it, the blade is still LITERALLY sharp enough to shave with lol. I paid $250 for it from an official dealer, tax included. It has the same lifetime warranty, all metal construction, and was made in North Carolina.
If anyone is looking for a knife for personal carry, or as a gift, feel free to respond with preferences and a budget and I'll be happy to give some suggestions. You don't have to spend a fortune to get a quality pocket knife!
* * * IF ANY BENCHMADE ASSOCIATE IS READING THIS, THEY'D BE WISE TO RESEARCH HOW SEARS AND SPECIFICALLY THE CRAFTSMAN BRAND OF TOOLS FELL OFF THEIR PEDESTAL. THEY CHOSE PRICE OVER QUALITY, THEN HAD LOWER QUALITY AND HIGH PRICES, AND NOW STANLEY IS THANKFULLY TRYING TO REHABILITATE THE NAME * * *
Not sure about a drop in quality but I do feel Benchmade is getting too expensive.
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Their value proposition is horrendous now. They are asking ultra premium prices for plastic handled knives and old designs using mid grade steels with questionable quality control in my experience. The $125 bugout has a plastic handle. It's a great knife IF you replace the handles, but then it's $200+ and many other options open up. The $175 redoubt has a plastic handle. Maybe you thought you'd upgrade and get an auto, how about a $250 claymore? ERR, plastic handle. Ok, the $300+ shootout has to be well made right? Ok, this is embarrassing for a $300 knife...also a plastic handle. They must all then have super exotic blades then? Also, no. Many are D2, 154CM, or S30V. What about a Phateton? Well, it's $400 now but is essentially identical to what USED to be called the HK turmoil, which used to be $200 lol. What about the MIGHTY INFIDEL!? Sigh...it's nearly as much as a new Glock, with the same 15 year old design and the same D2 steel found in $30 chinese folders
The it's made in america so the cost is high argument is BS. There are many US made makers that offer much higher value, like Microtech, Guardian Tactical, Pro Tech, Kershaw US, and the list goes on. The Benchmade name was built to mean something, and now they're selling it out in the name of corporate greed.
Buy American but buy something else until they get back to caring about knives as much as they do money.
But then Spyderco really isn't any better for a value proposition with their unending steam of dealer exclusives and sprints with the disappearance of the basic clipit model concept. Same minimum advertised price requirement while increasing those prices astronomically for even the most basic knife with zytel and vg10. Certainly can't replace my delica for the thirty bucks it cost.
I've owned about 400 knives over the last thirty years, and BM/Spyderco were my most owned brands at over three dozen each. I haven't bought a new one of either in about a decade. Hogue has elevated the griptilian design with Doug Ritter and you can get identical manufacturing (like literally the same staff and facility) if you buy other brands made by Fox, Joti, etc. instead of the international models for Spyderco. Closest I come is to grab a sprint in the secondary market or wait for them to clearance.
Omg. Thank you. I scrolled through every comment to make sure I wasn't the only one with a perverted brain.
Yeah, for "training" 👀
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List of USA made knife brands:
https://www.knifecenter
*Many of these brands have international/Chinese model lines also such as Benchmade, Microtech, Kershaw, etc
** The list below is not the full list. Click the link, then hit filter and you'll see 121 brands listed.
Arcform
Benchmade
Boker
Bradley
Brous
Buck
Bear & Son
Case
Chris Reeve Knives
Cold Steel
Curtiss
DPx
Emerson
Gerber
Heretic
Hoback
Hogue
Kershaw
Ken Onion
Marfione
Olamic
Pena
Pro-Tech
Schrade
SOG
Spyderco
Tactile Turn
Taylor Made
Toor
Tops
Utica
Zieba
Zero Tolerance
Also, be careful of the made in USA claims. Some of the companies meet this to a bare minimum, with many parts being made outside the USA and assembly done within the USA. Just enough parts % and assembly in the USA makes it legal to place "Made in USA" on it.
I will not go into the politics of it all. If you want to get into that, there are plenty of knife forums on the internet
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It's ironic you making judgements about both people and a topic where you don't appear to fully understand either yourself.