benchmade was founded on the balisong....now they only offer one full sized bali?

benchmade if you're reading this....why not still provide at least a few more balis for customers to buy.... especially along the lines of a 43?

I would assume there are quite a few issues at play here...

Since Benchmade cut it's teeth with Bali's early on, the market has become quite restrictive. Entire markets are closed to them. They cannot export them, many states (including large markets like CA) they cannot be sold or shipped to.

During this time, ICE continues to hassle knife makers. Spyderco is a case in point, ask them how bad it was and still is. If one screw or pin is imported for the knife, they have you by the...

In reality, the market is too risky. Tomorrow another state could interpret their laws to outlaw butterfly knives, at any moment The Switchblade Act could be turned against them. If too much of the product line is invested in Bali's... Not good.

Unlike auto's that have an application in LEO/EMS/and Military circles, the butterfly knife has limited to zero market with these folks. Doubt any police administrator wants a beat cop flipping a Bali, same with an EMT... And don't think the Military wants them around. So in a moment, the knife could become unsellable.

Bottom line, the market for Bali's has become too limited and unstable to invest a large part of the product line in.

Nice input Mark your points make perfect sence... I would also add the Cost of production on the Bali's would be quite more than take for example a standard 710, given the extra time and materials it takes to make a Bali it makes perfect sence for Benchmade not to expand on there Bali production line...

Selling out to who?

And what extra time and materials it takes to make a bali?

The market is small and I'm happy Benchmade still offers some good balis.

Big brother.......

Both Jedi and Mark bring up good points. I do wish BM would make more balis though.

quote:

Originally posted by MCM:
Big brother.......

Yeah, that's it.

And MCM lol

There is international market. Well, with the same problems in some countries as well. But more or less reliable market overall. BM should pay more attention to international market and develop their activities toward this market in countries where bali is legal.

Sad to say, Mark hit it on the head. It is unfortunate, but they are really viewed as weapons to the uninformed, and unenlightened (and that's probably about as nice as I can put it.....I've got other words, but I won't use em here).

I defintiely think there is a market so far as the collection end of it goes, but sadly, for the "average user/collector" on the street, it can get pricey.

With that said however, there are a lot of folks out there with some "found money" these days . But it's far and in between.

For the record, I'm not a big fan of the balis myself. I think they're cool looking, and I suppose there are some practical applications to it (outside of the "weapon" thing). They just never struck my fancy.

I don't see BM changing their position so far as new models coming out.

At least for now anyway. Never say never