I was thinking this morning...

There is just not a lot that has gotten me excited about Benchmade this year. OK, I do know we had a LE AFCK run, but looking at the new products this year... Well I had to actually go to the "newest products" tab on the home site to remember what they were!!!

Now, this is not a slam, I love my Benchmade's and always will. Just some suggestions.

As I reviewed the newest products, I noted a few things:

1.) The majority of knives were branded knives made by Benchmade for other folks. Although this is great, the number of new and or interesting designs carrying the Benchmade logo were few.

2.)Those that did carry the Benchmade logo were non-knife tactical gear. Again, great... But can we have some knives wearing the Benchmade logo?

If you are listening, I do have a few suggestions as a loyal Benchmade fan who on average often buys EVERY new knife released.

Benchmade needs a homerun, out of the park new tactical folder. The Folding Abrams may be that knife, but why stop there? Building the clamored for, full size Pocket Rocket would put things over the top. A revisited solid handle bali!?!?

OK, Benchmade as a loyal fan, I am calling you out. I think it is time to build the world beating tactical folder you are able to build. I know you can, but will you do it?

I see a lot of attention and resources going to the HD line. Now I am not privy to the business side of this arrangement, and I am sure there are reasons why you need to do this... However the HD brand is a brand that non-HD riding folks don't feel right carrying an HD branded knife if we are not "part" of that culture. So a lot of good knives are just floating by.

In short... I need some new Benchmade's.

LOL. I did the same thing last week. I hit up the "New Products" section.

I agree with you Mark. ...not a slam either...just Jones'ing for fresh Benchmade meat.

Seems like for 2011 Roger's BM "Exclusives" page was more exciting than BM's "New Products".

BRING IT IN 2012!!!!!!!

I'm only one Benchmade fan, but I wasn't tempted to buy a single new-for-2011 Benchmade product this year. I didn't buy very many Benchmades in 2011, and I know I haven't bought any for at least 8 months. Benchmades make great gifts, and this year I gifted more of my Benchmades than I bought.

In the last 14 months or so, I spent the majority of my Benchmade dollars on discontinued models, most of which appealed to me more than the newly introduced ones. I'm hoping 2012 offers something of interest.

Did somebody say "Full size Pocket Rocket"...I`m down...Where do I send the deposit?

Well, lets see...

In the new products web pages the following are listed:

581 Barrage - bought several Best Benchmade EVER!
585 - bought several, terrific!
58Whatever WARN tantos - bought several, totally cool!
53 Bali - Marlowe! Bought it!
172 Tomahawk - Hohoho-hahaaa!! Got one!
Bone Folders - bought the handles
375 Abrams Fixed - will purchase
275 Abrams Folder - will purchase
176 SOCP Dagger - purchased
Subrosa - passed, but nice
MPR - passed, but outstanding
74x Onslaught - Awesome, but not my thing
860 Bedlam - Super awesome - may purchase
and of course the 806-1101s - but I don't think
benchmade can really take credit for those.

So, as heartily as I agree that the big pocket rocket needs to be the next Benchmade new model, I still found way too much to get excited about and spend money on this year. I must have bought a half-dozen Barrages getting the blade and handle combinations I wanted. Ditto Presidios and Bone Collectors. I know the 53 isn't that popular, but I love it myself, being a huge Marlowe fan.

Spent more money this year as well.Barrages are awesome.Missed out on the 805/806`s and the 710 M390`s it would seem.(that hurts the most,710M390...ahhhh, poor mans 805 )but thats a different thing.Had a 53 for two days,wanted to like it so much but,let it go...no liners and didnt want to locktite...not a bali guy..thought this would have been a great user..great blade shape.
Po..how do you love that Tomahawk ...is it chisle ground or is the apple seed mill on both sides? Want one very much but havent seen one in person..

Maybe I need to hold one PO, maybe it's more of a utilitarian-win but I just think if you take away the Axis-lock, anyone could have made the 581 (and I'm a huge Osborne fan). Plain spear point blade, with meh-styled scales... I dunno.




The Warn versions...this is going to hurt... but, again take away the axis-lock....it looks Cold Steel'ish Too FRN-plastic'y looking. Maybe it's not Cold Steel'ish...I don't know what it is...it's just too "familiar" looking...



...and I think the original point is highlighted by the number of "passed" and "not my thing"s that you mentioned.

I completely get get your point...not looking for a sh*t throwing match. I think the point might have been that 2011 didn't have a SUPERSTAR to some of us.

I think some of DJ's bad habits are rubbing off on me. I REALLY like the stylings of these!!!!!

...buuuuut, those steels....those not-so-premium steels.

quote:

Originally posted by Patrick:
...Po..how do you love that Tomahawk ...is it chisle ground or is the apple seed mill on both sides?...

I consider it to be quite awesome...I think the mass, haft length and head design are pretty much ideal. A lot of similar sized hawks come with hammer pommels, but I like the spike on the 172.

The hatchet head is dual appleseed ground. The spike is V-flat ground.

p.p.p.s. I'm being a bit snotty with the steels these days. Looking to save time between sharpenings and even touchups.