Let's Talk Knives

Anyone get the email about the Benchmade Titanium Bailout?
Looks sweet but that is a hefty pricetag

Edit: here's the link
https://www.benchmade.com/products/537bk-2302

 

That is beautiful! Just imagine the stories this knife could tell!

 

Yeah, that’s too much, for sure. Especially with Benchmade quality reportedly going downhill.

 

Benchmade… eh

they are just selling there name at this point. 600 is mid tech territory and you can get such a better knife for that price point

 

I'll stay in my kiddie pool. I thought it was an interesting drop and folks here would enjoy seeing it. But I do agree its not worth that pricetag by any margin.

 

Agreed and hope I didn’t come off as “holier than thou”

I own a few benchmades they are great for what they are but not worth the money are asking, they have lost there minds marking up that knife 300 for titanium scales when you can get them aftermarket for 90ish

 

Not at all, I see what you post and understand completely that we shop in different markets

I'm super jealous and appreciate your posts cause it's unlikely I'll have any of those knives. I didn't even like paying over 200 for my Benchmade Claymore.

 

What I see going on with Benchmade is very similar to what I think happened to Buck knives in the ‘80’s. A really good brand ruined by their own success.
It’s very difficult to maintain good quality control concurrent with rapid growth.

 

I agree that your contribution is appreciated and most all of us like having collectors around!

My Benchmade knives are at least 20 years old, maybe 25. And are solid as the rock of Gibraltar

 

Not to pile on to the Benchmade hate, but I have an Arcane, and I think I'm totally over the crossbar/axis lock mechanism. It's a little clumsy to pull with just a thumb, and pulling it with the index and thumb means the other hand will be involved in closing it (or sometimes I use my thigh as a surface to pivot it closed). Maybe it's just that the spring is too heavy, but it's just not smooth and easy to operate. And that style of lock is getting popular with other knife makers.

It's the lightest folder I currently have, and the blade shape and steel are great, so there are things to like about it.

 

There’s good company in the kiddie pool! I have a knife from Ray, but otherwise keep my blades simple.

 

My knives don’t have any moving parts, so I consider them pretty simple. It would be nice get some machine tools and make folders, but probably not going to happen.

 

Benchmade has lost their minds. Their pricing has seriously outpaced their quality.

 

I have several Benchmades that I like very much. The Benchmade Bedlam is still my favorite knife. I paid less than 200 for all of them though.
They’ve just gotten outrageous the last few years. They have no business pricing their products in the neighborhood of CRK or Spartan. (Neither does Hinderer for that matter.)

 

I don’t own any, but I’ve heard Case has gone the same direction lately.

 

Yours doesn’t drop closed with one hand?

 

YES IT WOULD BE NICE RAY

 

How do you like the Claymore?

 

I’ve got about 6 case kitchen knives that I bought about 50 years ago from their shop in San Francisco. All great knives.

 

I wish I had waited cause the Mini Claymore more fits my needs. I like the Claymore but with work i had to take it out of my pocket often (FOD controlled areas) and I didn't like leaving that nice of a knife unattended. I now carry a SOG daily and I feel more comfortable with that.

 

How about a straight razor?

 

You just prefer a smaller blade?

 

@War Machine realized I really didn't say much about the Claymore... I like it, its a good knife but its only been used for cutting cardboard, tape, zip ties, and some fabric straps. Its a powerful action but it feels secure once you expect it. Benchmade supplied me with Loctite after I had a few screws back out, and that has been my only issue. Definitely overkill for my needs and uses so its kept safe while I have been using either a SOG Aegis or Flash (I alternate between which I carry). I prefer the feel of the Aegis but I'm very happy with both SOG knives.

 

I probably could do that. Does this interest you?

 

Of course you probably remember that I have said this before….
Tactical hawks
Shifter knobs
Cigar cutters

I know this is a problem but I’m trying to deal with it…

 

Its a 3" verse like 3.5" so I really wouldn't call it a smaller blade. Just for daily carry I wouldn't mind having less pocket space taken up especially since the difference in knife size won't affect my use.


I say all this and then go look. The Aegis, Flash, and Claymore are all about the same size closed

 

As you know, I’m in for a tactical hawk and a shifter knob.

 

I prefer larger knives. 3.5 is generally the minimum I use. Unfortunately that’s maximum size for a lot of brands since that’s the cutoff to be legal in every state.

 

I figured if you make a straight razor you’ll be one step closer to making folders.