Benchmade Knife by Doug

I was just browsing the web and ran across this.

"...expected for release in mid-June."





AeroMEDIX

Why are we always the last to know? Sigh. I notice the blade looks remakably similar to the Sebenza. I like that it is an Axis lock. They make a great knife. Should be a winner.

You are the "last to know" because the @(#%*@)#$*! were not supposed to make that page live until later this week. Well, there you have it, secret's out. What can I say? I am not happy, but I have calmed down, they've pulled me down from the ceiling and it will be taken care of. We'll be making a formal announcement before long.

When I found your site a couple of years ago, I read the review on the BM 710. Until that time, I thought pocket knives were like the one my dad always carries... small, doesn't lock, etc. Then I saw the 710. Wow. :-) Sounds silly, I guess, but I clearly remember that as the moment I got hooked on expensive knives.

Sorry the secret's out early. But if this knife is available to the general public, I'm _definitely_ going to buy one. Heh. At least one. Do they come in different colors? <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Not yet...First step is to see if anyone will buy them. Actually, many anyones. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> IF it's a success, then we can consider other things. One step at a time.

A Griptilian with a drop point S30V blade.....you got me. That thing is as close to perfect as I could think of. A great alternative to the Sebenza, one that more people could afford. Benchmade is no slouch either, they stand by their work. I have about 11 or so benchmades and I love them, not only for the quality of the knife, but for the excellent customer service. You picked a winner there.

Ordered one, and a Pocket Survival Pak. Christmas in June. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the compliments. I am pretty pleased with how it turned out. Long, long time in the making, but worth the wait, I think. Hope you are right about it being a winner. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Guess we'll see how many folks can appreciate a practical utility knife.

I thank you, The Foundation thanks you and Sue, my wife, thanks you. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> With luck it will be Christmas in May. <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

It looks like a real nice knife, list priced a few bucks higher than the regular Griptilian (that's fine), but the sole vendor is only selling at full list, waaaaaay higher than what the Griptilian sells for at discounters (nobody really pays list). I think if you want to sell a lot of these, the way to do it is put it in the regular Benchmade distribution channel. I hope the exclusive deal with that one vendor is just temporary, and sooner or later the regular discount dealers will have them. I do like the flat ground blade and I think there's a terrible scarcity of flat ground folders (Spyderco Military is one of the few other good ones I can think of). So that by itself is enough to make this knife interesting.

Paul,

<sigh> This is why I am so pissed about this error, I've had no opportunity to make a proper announcement and explain it all. Benchmade has no interest, at least at this point, in distributing this knife through their normal channels. I've spent years trying to interest them, or anyone, in doing something like this. Not "sexy' enough, not perceived to be a big enough market. Aeromedix.com put up all the bucks to do the minimum production run, a substantial sum of money. "List price" is $139.95. The selling price of $104.95, in view of the S30V steel used, is not out of line. While it might cost a few bucks less if available through Benchmade's normal distribution, do to larger production runs, I doubt it would cost a lot less. Take a look at what other S30V bladed folders cost and consider that this blade is larger than most. If we do well with this, perhaps Benchmade might reconsider, though I am not holding my breath. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> In the meantime, I am very pleased that Les was willing to work with me and I can offer a knife with this combination of features for not much more than a C-note. In my opinion it is an extraordinary value. We don't have to sell thousands for this to be a success from our point of view and we're betting that there's enough folks out there who can appreciate the value and design to make this successful. Guess we'll find out soon enough. I'll be posting more information toward the end of the week.

I think that given the special efforts Doug has gone through to bring this knife to market, it is wholly unreasonable to expect it to sell at the same rockbottom price as knives made by the gazillion. Someone always complains...

I am one of what I suspect is many ETS regulars who dearly want a Sebenza, but simply cannot afford it. This new knife looks to offer the vast majority of the Sebenza's utility at a very reasonable price.

Doug: sincere thanks to you for your work on this knife. I think I'm going shopping for it right now...

Well Doug, you have one more sale, and I am sure there will be a lot more than you might expect. Benchmade makes a quality knife, their lifetime eversharp guarantee is great, and I love the Axis lock. I already own a TSEK, and wanted another knife. I had considered getting a Griptillian, and this made up my mind. Can't wait to get it.

I definitely want a Sebenza, but I probably wouldn't EDC something that expensive, so what's the point? For less than 1/3 the price I can get something I know I'll always have with me and won't be afraid to use.

It's odd that Benchmade isn't all over this. When I saw the pics posted here, I thought "Well, finally." A Benchmade with a blade shape I'm familiar with (thanks to ETS) and a metal I've heard good things about in a Griptilian handle. Gimme.

You're gonna announce on Blade Forums too, right?

I placed a lil preview on knifeforum this morning...

I'm shameless...

Matt

OK, the standard RSK Mk1 order page is back online.

Although I have knives with blades as long as the Swiss stainless steel bayonet I own, I like to be able to carry my knives and stay friends with the law at the same time.

Here in Milwaukee, WI, 3" blades on a folding knife, and no fixed blade knives are the law. I understand some places have smaller blade allowances for carrying a "pocket" knife.

I have a beautiful liner lock Gerber that has a very nice swept blade design which is ideal for skinning which I have always been afraid to carry because the blade is 1/16" over lawful size. It is one of my more valuable knives, initially because it cost so much back then, and now because it is an in demand collectors item. I don't want it to end up in some police impound room or in the possesion of some police officer who does not appreciate the beauty and practicality of the design, so I don't carry it.

Doug, if you do well with the 3.44" blade length model, consider a smaller blade length model between 2 1/2" & 3" that would keep "Johnny Law" at bay.

Bountyhunter

I understand completely and don't think for a second we aren't thinking along those same lines. One step at a time. <img src="images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

see what happens when you host a forum encoruaging the free exchange of thought and opinion.

in case no one has noticed ... we apparently are a tenacious lot ... and after the thread on erbwurst i do believe we could find just about anything if not everything.

Those of you wanting low cost Sebenzas might look at the CRKT version if those are still being made. That's a pretty exact, licensed copy of the Sebenza, including the frame lock, which to most users is the Sebenza's most interesting feature.

Congratulations on the great design, any plans to do a fixed blade version? <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


BTW, your page on the knife has a minor mistake in:

"Lightweight at only 3.82 oz. (108.29 g), it is 4.62 in. (20.48 cm) closed with an open length of 8.06 in. (11.74 cm)."

The numbers for closed and open length in cm have been interchanged. <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

There are plans and it is really cool. Whether we go forward depends on if this is a success and likely at least a year away.

Thanks for catching the typo, now fixed.

An Axis lock with dual studs, S30V, flat grind, drop point blade? WOOHOO!

and its proceeds/ development will help Doug/Equipped? ALRIGHT!

I keep a spyderco military IWB and the CPM440V has been extremely corrosion resistant. Even after many mountain bike rides where the blade was beaded with sweat, I just wipe it dry and occasionally rinse it off. The BG-42 sebbie recieves similar treatment (IWB against my sweaty skin) on bike rides and hasn't had any corrossion issues either, though make sure to clean it each time since it is my 'lifeline' knife <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ATS34 Blades, even when 'coated' all develop rust spots even when carried only in my pockets. I've been wanting to try out an CPM S30V blade and this looks like the perfect one.



I'll be very happy to add it to my collection of carried knives. At this price it will definitely find its way into my kits over time, I just hope there is still a supply available when I want to purchase a second or third.

My Sebenza is my 'go to' pocket knife for all tasks and I am constantly wishing it was truly ambidextrous, now I have that option.

Thanks for your enthusiasm. Hopefully, enough others will feel the same that this knife will be available for a while. We've had a few comments about it being "too expensive for a Griptilian" and they just don't get it, totally missing the point, to make a bad pun.

Doug, yes, I didn't notice the fancier steel and other changes at first. This is definitely a higher class knife than a regular Griptilian. I'm tempted to order one of the first-run units but I already have several nice folders and need to keep expenditures low for now. I like the blade shape a lot and will think about getting one of these if I sell off some other knives sometime. I think I would have stayed with the opening hole, but maybe you decided that studs are easier to open the knife with if you have gloves on. Either way is fine with me.

Your assumption on the thumb studs is correct. For everyday use, a thumb hole is perfectly adequate. In this case, the studs do make a difference with thick or knit gloves on. One of the "undocumented" features of the AXIS Lock is that you can just release the lock and open the blade with a flick of the wrist. However, for lots of reasons having nothing at all to do with practicality, we don't want to market it as such. But, I can tell you that many owners of AXIS Lock knives remove the thumb studs.

I have placed an order for one of these as I was looking for a new locking folder and this looks perfect. In reply to the comment on legality and EDC made by someone Spyderco are about to release a new model - the Spyderco Penknife specifically designed in conjunction with input from the BritishBlades forum. This knife is completely UK EDC legal. 3" non locking blade but with good blade steel etc to keep everone happy. I will be carrying this new Doug Ritter knifewhen I have a reasonable excuse (part of UK law don't know how the US sees this) and the Spyderco as an EDC when I don't.

After reading through the material on the Pocket Pack I suddenly had a question. Why aren't the handles a 'hi-viz' color? I assume marketability is the issue. Basic black is a bit more universal and everyone probably has their own preference when it comes to colors. Just one more thing for future production runs I suppose. Can't wait to receive both from aeromedix.