Finally got a Benchmade

DigMe · #1 12-25-2007, 10:41 AM

It's just a mini-griptillian but it sure feels a lot better than my last two knives (SOG Pentagon, CRKT Crawford-Kasper Folder)! I got the modified sheepsfoot blade made of 154CM steel. It was a Christmas present from my wife. Love the axis lock.

Of course the first knife I wanted was one of the FL Knifemakers Blackwood models from Benchmade but the price was way beyond the modest limit that my wife and I set for spending on each other. I'm very happy with this one though. Maybe a Blackwood will come into my possession somewhere down the road.

On to the pics:

bc

syciprider · #2 12-25-2007, 10:50 AM

Nice.

I too would like to have a FL Knifemaker pig sticker one day.

RWP · #3 12-25-2007, 10:51 AM

Very nice knife. Merry Christmas!

Now don't cut yourself playing with it.

DigMe · #4 12-25-2007, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWP

Very nice knife. Merry Christmas!

Now don't cut yourself playing with it.

Funny thing...I bought it from New Graham Knives (www.newgraham.com) and it came with a little plastic magnetic New Graham Knives band-aid holder with several band-aids in it.

They sure know guys.

bc

burk48237 · #5 12-25-2007, 11:14 AM

Congratulations, Brad. I own a couple of Benchmades. While Spydeco and CK make some decent knives it is amazing the quality difference when you step up.

syciprider · #6 12-25-2007, 11:15 AM

Brad, what's a good fixed blade of around 3" to 4" for woods use? Under $100 please. I was looking at the BM Griptillian fixed ones.

**Pacman** · #7 12-25-2007, 11:16 AM

I own a Benchmade, and my next knife will be a Blackwood Skirmish I think. Great knives.

burk48237 · #8 12-25-2007, 11:17 AM

Which ones are the FL knifemaker designs?

DigMe · #9 12-25-2007, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burk48237

Which ones are the FL knifemaker designs?

The Blackwood models.

EDIT: Ruckus and Mini-ruckus, Skirmish

bc

DigMe · #10 12-25-2007, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syciprider

Brad, what's a good fixed blade of around 3" to 4" for woods use? Under $100 please. I was looking at the BM Griptillian fixed ones.

For fixed blades I swear by Bark River Knife and Tool. Great knives. I have a mini-canadian for skinning and it is really an awesome knife...the blade on that model is smaller than what you're wanting but they have the size you're looking at too. I'm sure BM has some great fixed blades (included the Blackwoods) but I'm a little more informed on their folders. You can't go wrong with Benchmade though.

bc

funkasaurus · #11 12-25-2007, 12:15 PM

Nice present! Benchmades are my favorite. I'll have to check out FL Knifemaker.

RWP · #12 12-25-2007, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigMe

Funny thing...I bought it from New Graham Knives (www.newgraham.com) and it came with a little plastic magnetic New Graham Knives band-aid holder with several band-aids in it.

They sure know guys.

bc

LOL I once bought a machete in a hardware store and was bleeding before I got it to the cash register.

Dr. Cheese · #13 12-25-2007, 01:43 PM

Although I am a long time Spyderco fan (the inventor of the round hole opening), I have really started using Benchmade as my main knives lately. My two favorite BMs are a Lum designed Mini Dejavoo with a flatground S30V blade and a NRA/Steigerwalt model with a D2 semi-stainless tool steel flatground blade.

Vince S. · #14 12-25-2007, 01:55 PM

Nice knife! I have a Gerber (not sure of the model) folder for general purpose use.

Can anybody explain the difference between a tanto blade and a sheepsfoot? What are their different purposes?

Dr. Cheese · #15 12-25-2007, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince S.

Nice knife! I have a Gerber (not sure of the model) folder for general purpose use.

Can anybody explain the difference between a tanto blade and a sheepsfoot? What are their different purposes?

Sheepsfoot is a utility blade that was first popular among sailors because Captains wanted blades without points in case crew members got cranky over long voyages and wanted to stab each other. The tanto is a Japanese blade that is meant to provide a strong point for piercing tough objects like thick protective cloth.

FL Knifemaker · #16 12-25-2007, 03:42 PM

I'm honored that you guys like my designs. Right now, out of the my Benchmade collaborations, I only have a 635 and the new Auto Rukus. I cannot keep a knife, visitors and customers clean me out of everything

Over the summer one of my German customers was visiting my shop and pulled a blade out of my junk pile. It was a set up piece for a new grind I was trying for my Skirmish model (the knife that the 630 and 635 are based on). The blade ended up about an inch short!! He begged me to finish it and shorten the frame to match. The frame is .160 thick titanium, the blade is .204 thick S30V with the mill scale finish left on the flats. Because the knife is based on a screwup, we decided to call it the "Mulligan". It's a serious, LARGE, heavy duty folder indeed

I just finished it last night and took some lightbox pics. He's a Maxpedition Gear dealer in Germany.

FL Knifemaker · #17 12-25-2007, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Although I am a long time Spyderco fan (the inventor of the round hole opening), I have really started using Benchmade as my main knives lately. My two favorite BMs are a Lum designed Mini Dejavoo with a flatground S30V blade and a NRA/Steigerwalt model with a D2 semi-stainless tool steel flatground blade.

Bob Lum past away about 3 weeks ago

He as a great guy and an incredibly talented knifemaker.

MJ5150 · #18 12-25-2007, 04:19 PM

Pardon my ignorance, but what would a knife like that set me back? Sure, I can look it up online, but I'd rather ask you all.

What is Benchmade? Is that a brand like Fender would be? FL Knifemaker, how do you play in to the Benchmade? Are your "Blackwood models" a line of Benchmade like how Fender has different "lines" of basses?

Again, excuse the ignorance please, and thank you for the answers.

-Mike

Dr. Cheese · #19 12-25-2007, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL Knifemaker

Bob Lum past away about 3 weeks ago

He as a great guy and an incredibly talented knifemaker.

That's terrible news! I used to have a titanium handled Chinese Folder made by Lum back in the day.

FL Knifemaker · #20 12-25-2007, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Pardon my ignorance, but what would a knife like that set me back? Sure, I can look it up online, but I'd rather ask you all.

What is Benchmade? Is that a brand like Fender would be? FL Knifemaker, how do you play in to the Benchmade? Are your "Blackwood models" a line of Benchmade like how Fender has different "lines" of basses?

Again, excuse the ignorance please, and thank you for the answers.

-Mike

The knife I posted above sold for 2K and after I posted it on our forum I had request to build several more. I'll probably do a total of 6. They are expensive but consider every part on the knife is made by me, from raw materials, in my shop, except for the frame screws and the lock detent ball! I don't make many big folders these days. That keeps the demand up and the secondary market strong.

Benchmade is a knife manufacturer located in Oregon. They produce, IMHO, the finest production knives in the world. My involvement with them is basically as a designer. Their 630, 635 and Rukus models are all bassed on my custom knife designs. Benchmade has quite a few custom makers on their design team. Digme's Griptillian was designed by the LEGONDARY Mel Pardue! Mel, Warren Osbourn, Bob Lum, Bill McHenry and others are people that us younger knifemakers have admired for years. Working along side them with Benchmade is truely one of the highlights of my career!!