After waiting...and waiting for the new 806 to come out after closely watching the first thread for awhile, I decided to give it a rest. Periodically I would check back, and then for about two month's I figured that Benchmade would make a product announcement about it or something, I went back to focusing on firearms, and stopped buying knives (waiting for the new 806 to be my next purchase)

Then today I checked the Benchmade forums.

-Knife Released to premium dealers only.
-Non-production
-ONLY 250 MADE OF EACH KIND!
-Selling for over $350 from those that got their hands on it
-No plans for a 154cm,d2 or more available model.

I am steaming mad, frustrated, and feel slapped in the face by this whole situation. I literally checked the forum a week before Benchmade's official pre-release post.

What happened to all of our good suggestions about actually making the knife AVAILABLE, REASONABLY PRICED, and not LIMITED LIKE A GOLD CLASS.

Yeah I'm sure you think I'm and idiot, or that I "wasn't committed enough" to getting one, but sorry after checking the forum for month's strait it was time to take a break.

Well then how about "just buy one man"

I WOULD IF THEY WERNT $350 f***ing dollars.

I know you guys that really wanted them that have to resources to pay the premium price have yours, and are happy with them. But what about guys like me who don't live on the Benchamde forums all the time, who can't pay the premium, but who genuinely wanted this great knife to make a comeback so they could buy one, USE it, or maybe collect it.

I feel like Benchmade just doesn't seem to get it. From what I was hearing from the beginning, everyone wanted an available knife, not some gold class safe queen... now we are left with this mess.

Sure it's my fault for checking the forums a month to late and not checking them everyday like I was in the beginning. Sure I could just buy one. But a part time wage college student with rent to pay just can't do that. But didn't everyone want an available knife!?! Did I miss something in the original thread that was near 100 pages long?!

To those that got one who really wanted one. Congratulations.

To those who are in the same boat as me. I feel you.

To those of you that have three in the safe. Use atleast one please

For those of you that bought them for nothing but to turn a gross profit on. **** you.

To Benchmade. I had the feeling my 950bk was going to be my last purchase.

So ends my rant. I'm sure I am not the only one who feels the same way. I hate being an internet crybaby, but I really think this post fits the bill for the situation.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: therift,

quote:

Originally posted by steveg30:

quote:

Originally posted by therift:
I feel like Benchmade just doesn't seem to get it. From what I was hearing from the beginning, everyone wanted an available knife, not some gold class safe queen... now we are left with this mess..

If you go to the announcement thread and read through it the reasoning for the size and the availability of the run was discussed. It pretty much came down to space in the production line and I believe availability of liners although I read that on a different forum. Maybe something else, someone can correct me if I am mistaken...

Should they have made them all P/E, probably. Maybe 1000 total, again probably. But from what I have read recently the AFCK wasn't a hugely popular seller so there is no point to bringing it back into production with 154 or D2. The fact that they decided to produce a knife that was out of production because of a thread in their forum is a pretty nice thing to do. So even though I didn't get one, I still thank them for that. The fact they gave fourmites the heads up was also a class act thing to do. I harbor no resentment to BM over the release of this knife.

I can't help but feel some resentment. Especially when it seems like this knife could sell so well. If the aren't enough materials, why don't they make them instead of continuing to make less popular designs, stupid red class knives, etc that they are producing right now. The AFCK seems to have such a strong following. Even people that I talk to that don't really follow Benchmade seem to remember the AFCK.

I'm glad the Benchmade did listen to the forum. But they seemed to miss the most crucial point that we wanted... a Knife that was available and affordable. However you do bring up a good point. At least they made it. Even if only 500 people in the world get it.

I can't pretend to know the complex reasons behind benchmades manufacturing and availability process, but it really seems like they could have made more. And I know they would sell.

I had a similar rant a few weeks ago. I feel better now. I now realize that BM is not like some other knife companies, and that is OK.

I just got a 930 Kulgera today and I really like it. It was available, and the price was right. I know if I have a problem with a manufacturing defect, BM will make it right. That is all they owe me, and all I will ever expect from them. If I happen to see a knife they make that I am interested in, and I can get it at a fair price, then we're in business. If not, C'est la vie.

I was at the Blade Show this year in Atlanta. The BM booth/store was pretty nice. Every "in production" knife I could think of was there, and for sale (just BM looking out for their dealers I guess ) The people manning the store didn't know much about the knives they were selling so I didn't get a whole lot out of my visit, and 10% off retail just didn't inspire me to open my wallet.
At a competitors display (put BM's store on your left and walk straight till you run into it), I actually spoke to the owner and his wife, who are both super nice people by the way. They displayed not only all the current models, but also prototypes of upcoming models (probably 20 or so knives that were not yet in productoin), and we were allowed to handle them. They seamed to really be interested in what we thought about them, what we liked about them, and what we would like to see in the future.

You probably know who I am talking about, and you can also probably guess who will get my money if/when I have to choose between one or the other.

But it's all good.

It does seem like benchmade is losing touch with it's customer base, in search of big military contracts,gimmicky brandings (harley davidson,HK).The fact that they did make the 806 is nice like many have pointed out, but woptie do, 250 pieces. But I totally agree with what you are saying. I feel the same way.

Is it BM's fault? The knives were made available, and were purchased, albeit at a premium. That's capitalism, and nothing says a limited edition should be available to all. Only a certain number were available, which drives the market for this model.

Those lucky few got some, can do what they want with them; it's their choice and no one else's.

bottom line is the community wanted something more available. and while we got them, only 500 where made.

yeah it was basically a forum knife.