[Rayshot]

I need someone to check me or confirm some of the price gouging going on in the knife world.

Here is where I decided to check if the value matched the price of a well known knife brand.

Currently I have a relatively small preference window for knife configuration and blade shape (compared to what is out there). But I liked what I saw in the Benchmade 535s

I have seen Benchmade with some high prices for folder knives. I found a very low price for a Benchmade 535s and decided to take my chances and find out if the value (Quality) would match paying the high price.

Price $114.00 and up more at retail websites

Pro- It opens and closes easily.

- probably a good steel (not real knowledgable about steel quality

Con- The scales are plastic and it is not a full metal lined with scales. I can literally bend the knife scales with ease when the blade is out. The only metal is at both ends of the knife to hold the blade on one end and the clip on the other.

Thankfully I only paid $30.24

COMPARE; For about the same amount (about $30) I bought an Ontario Rat of similar size and the Rat is built like a tank in comparison.

YAHOO for Ontario BOOOOOOfor Benchmade (criminals)

I don't think I will ever buy from Benchmade. In view of what is out there giving far more for the money than what I have seen from this Benchmade product. NO WAIT! What I didn't see in this product!!!!

 

[Unionman66]

I don't have either of these knives so take this for what it's worth, but from what I've read the Ontario Rat series is one of the best values in folding knives. A D2 Rat2 was on my Christmas list but Santa didn't come through. I carry a Spyderco Delica which I love, but for what I use it for I'm not sure it's really any better than my Kershaw which was less than 1/3 the cost.

 

[Scrat]

I carry the RAT every day. I have the AUS-8 model. I've had it for maybe a year and I love it. I think I paid $35 It's Rock solid. The AUS 8 is easy to sharpen (I don't mind sharpening frequently) I don't think I've never had an overall better knife for the price.

I do also really like Kershaw, but I've had them get kind of wobbly at the blade over time. Could probably replace the bushings and they would be fine. I usually accidentally drop them in a lake or something before they get to that point anyway.

Every now and then I window shop for a $200 benchmade, then I close my browser window, delete my search history, and apologize to my RAT for my indiscretion.

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[Stankard757]

Same here not into expensive knives. Usual edc is an Aus 8 Rat 1. At work I carry an older CRKT titanium scaled m16 13T or its big brother. I've been carrying both for about 12 years. Neither has let me down and are as tight as the day I bought them.

Last year my department gave us really nice Bencmade automatics. The blade wobbles, its heavy and has big a$$ aluminum scales. It lives in my glove box of my Pov never even used it.

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[raventree78]

I really like this Ganzo Chinese knife a friend gave me. I am a huge fan of the axis type lock and the RAT handle shape and this is apparently the only way to get them combined the steel isn't a super steel but holds an edge well and sharpens easy enough. It is my junkyard knife as it is currently to big for me to edc with out the worry of police harassment. Thinking of shortening it down like I did my Spyderco Tenacious

Here is a link to one from eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/GANZO-Firebird-F727M-440C-steel-G10-Wood-Axis-Lock-Folding-knife/264737472615?hash=item3da3954067:g:broAAOSwjOVexXPx

 

[Valery]

The Ontario Rat and Buck 110 are my favorite pocket knives. Benchmade uses premium steel for blades, which are not needed in everyday life, but they greatly increase the price of the product.

 

[Royleonard]

I've always liked good knives until it dawned on me that I was wasting a lot of money on stuff you can do with a razor blade or a utility knife. Now I carry a buck 110 for stuff I can't do with the above and it rarely comes out of my pocket. It seems to me the best knife is a razor blade .

 

[SLING-N-SHOT]

Same here not into expensive knives. Usual edc is an Aus 8 Rat 1. At work I carry an older CRKT titanium scaled m16 13T or its big brother. I've been carrying both for about 12 years. Neither has let me down and are as tight as the day I bought them.

Last year my department gave us really nice Bencmade automatics. The blade wobbles, its heavy and has big a$$ aluminum scales. It lives in my glove box of my Pov never even used it.

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LEO Mike ?

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[SLING-N-SHOT]

I've always liked good knives until it dawned on me that I was wasting a lot of money on stuff you can do with a razor blade or a utility knife. Now I carry a buck 110 for stuff I can't do with the above and it rarely comes out of my pocket. It seems to me the best knife is a razor blade .

I'm kinda with you on this [mention]Royleonard [/mention] , my EDC is a Spyderco Paramilitary with deep carry clip, and I always have it on me, but I also carry a folding / locking razor knife that I use for pretty much all cutting chores.
The Spydie rarely sees any action and just stays sharp & ready

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[StringSlap]

My personal opinion is that you should be able to find a reasonably priced knife to suit your needs. Something from CRKT, Ontario, Kershaw, Rough Rider, Marbles, Ganzo, etc. I've been carrying a pocket knife since I was 7 years old. As an adult mostly RR, Marbles, CRKT and Kershaw. Not once have I ever felt that I needed anything "better" than one of those. Never felt under-knifed. Never found myself using a knife and saying to myself "Man if I only had a Benchmade". Same deal with slingshots, right? A natural fork does everything a custom does. It just comes down to personal preference, pride of ownership and bragging rights. Some people get hung up on brand names. Some need the newest, biggest, bestest. I want the best value for my money. Big name doesn't mean high quality. Compare current Case quality to Rough Rider. Sure Case uses higher quality steel and stays sharper longer, but so what? I'll sharpen more often and pocket the difference. Or more likely grow my collection of "cheap" knives!

 

[MOJAVE MO]

Hey Ray! I am far from being a 'knife pro' but I did notice something was 'off' in your photo. I am willing to bet that your Benchmade might be a Benchmark or worse just a bad copy of what has been traditionally a well made and very expensive knife. Check out the Benchmade Logo on the only Benchmade I own.

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[StringSlap]

Hey Ray! I am far from being a 'knife pro' but I did notice something was 'off' in your photo. I am willing to bet that your Benchmade might be a Benchmark or worse just a bad copy of what has been traditionally a well made and very expensive knife. Check out the Benchmade Logo on the only Benchmade I own.

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I think you're right, MM. A quick search showed some super cheap knockoffs of the Benchmade Bugout 535.

 

[MOJAVE MO]

Hey Ray! I am far from being a 'knife pro' but I did notice something was 'off' in your photo. I am willing to bet that your Benchmade might be a Benchmark or worse just a bad copy of what has been traditionally a well made and very expensive knife. Check out the Benchmade Logo on the only Benchmade I own.

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I think you're right, MM. A quick search showed some super cheap knockoffs of the Benchmade Bugout 535.

I seriously hope there is a special place in He*l for those that profit from stealing others hard work, products, and ideas.

 

[Rayshot]

Hey Ray! I am far from being a 'knife pro' but I did notice something was 'off' in your photo. I am willing to bet that your Benchmade might be a Benchmark or worse just a bad copy of what has been traditionally a well made and very expensive knife. Check out the Benchmade Logo on the only Benchmade I own.

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I hear you. I took better photos of all the packaging and the trademark. I can't seem to copy the picture off the Benchmark website so I included the link. If it isn't a genuine Benchmark, then someone is copying everything from packaging to using Benchmarks address and all.

Benchmark link; https://www.benchmade.com/bugout-family.html

 

[MOJAVE MO]

Hey Ray! I am far from being a 'knife pro' but I did notice something was 'off' in your photo. I am willing to bet that your Benchmade might be a Benchmark or worse just a bad copy of what has been traditionally a well made and very expensive knife. Check out the Benchmade Logo on the only Benchmade I own.

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I hear you. I took better photos of all the packaging and the trademark. I can't seem to copy the picture off the Benchmark website so I included the link. If it isn't a genuine Benchmark, then someone is copying everything from packaging to using Benchmarks address and all.

Benchmark link; https://www.benchmade.com/bugout-family.html

IMG_2604.jpg

IMG_2605.jpg

I agree. It seems like you've received the real deal. I don't know their product lineup but it is a shame they'd release a design that is so far away from their original form.

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[HunterSon]

I have Spyderco, Benchmade, Cold Steel, Ontario, Kershaw and many others. The high end ones are toys really and get fondled more than used. My favorites are the OKC Rat D2 and the Spyderco Paramilitary. One of them is always in my pocket.

 

[urbanshooter]

Some knives just have great value and that Ontario you have there probably satisfies most people. I can see that it was made with AUS8 steel while the Benchmade uses CPMS30V... Going by the steel alone, the Benchmade's is superior though I am going to say - not by much. The Benchmade one has a marginally higher hardness (HRC) and hence will hold its edge a little better than AUS8 which is a utility steel (nothing wrong with that). For some, edge retentention is worth paying for.

With folders, we are also paying for its folding mechanism and ease of operation. That Benchmade has what they called an axis lock (I think) and that's a great system. You can flick the blade open and close with one hand. The Ontario on the other hand looks like it uses a very basic liner lock which is like a spring detent lever. Between the two, the Axis lock will be less fiddly and is more secure. Locking security is a critical factor for most people.

Another aspect of folder quality is seen in the blade centering position as it is closed. Compare them, you should see a difference. This is a bit of a nitpick standard but knifenuts look for centering with a folder. Uncentered folders will just produce scratched blades over time. Centered mechanisms is also less likely to develop too much play over time since it doesnt fight with itself so much to get in and out of deployment cycles. A nature of a liner lock blade is that it probably never centers though...

Of course there are also things like the finishing of the grind - is it symmetrical, is it clean? Sharpness out of the box. And generally how well the knife steel was finished... We would also look at surfaces, angles and corners...

As for the scales. The "plastic" is probably G10 or nylon? I am not sure but there is some trade-off with weight. Having a steel lining inside doesnt necessarily make it better? But if it flexes too much, it's never good. Question though if it flexes during use or when we are forcing a flex?

There are other aspects of course but I dont want to be a bore with details ... By the end of the day we each perceive value differently and look for different things. Don't pay extra for something you don't want. Those features that cost extra doesn't necessarily make it a rip off though because it may be valued by someone else. If it isn't, the product will just fail on the market as a lousy proposition... But the truth is, something more expensive doesnt necessarily make something better... "better' is relative anyway. Just use what makes you happy!