seth
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Just Peachy
Posts: 977
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Post by seth on Oct 25, 2023 17:03:54 GMT
I've been wanting a Benchmade Fact for awhile. I once had an account with Benchmade so I googled it and got on what I though was their website. Turned out it was a fake website. It was something like benchmadeknives.com, and it looked like an official website. The "Fact" was on sale for a good price but not a suspiciously low price. I bought one. It took forever to arrive--because it came from China. Cosmetically, it looked like a fact, but the fit and finish were way off for a Benchmade knife. The pocket clip wiggles, the action is atrocious, and the scales were plastic instead of aluminum. I called Benchmade, and they told me this company puts up the fake website and manipulates the search algorithms to be a top result. Benchmade constantly is getting these websites taken down, but they pop up under a different url. I disputed the charge with my credit card company and got a refund. I did buy a real Fact from an authorized dealer in person. Here are the two knives: Can you tell which is the genuine one? The answer is: The one on the right. The knockoff box is nearly identical except it is blue (which some BM boxes are). Also, it lacks the foam cut-out. The manual and little stickers are identical. The bag is noticeably poorer quality. The knockoff blade is not completely stonewashed. The genuine knife has a much better action and solid construction. The pins on the knockoff are brass. Anyway, I thought I would share because the counterfeiters are clever. When I emailed them about this, they actually did apologize and agree to the refund. They didn't ask for their crummy knife back. So, how shall I dispose of it? Anyone have any destructively creative ideas?
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Post by mrstabby on Oct 25, 2023 19:10:38 GMT
It's interesting to me that some brands are copied so brazenly (Especially Benchmade and Cold Steel). EDIT: I have seen a few fakes for benchmade and Cold Steel, they copy the package so accurately, it's astounding.
Before you kill the knife, maybe test it how the steel wears. All reviews of fakes only concentrate on how bad the fit and action is, but how is the steel? Maybe cut some cardboard, maybe cardboard with tacks. Maybe try breaking off the tip. Maybe then try cutting a nail with it? Lastly, do you own a cannon or soda can launcher? Might be fun. If in doubt, shoot it....
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Post by Lord Newport on Oct 25, 2023 20:04:18 GMT
I've been wanting a Benchmade Fact for awhile. I once had an account with Benchmade so I googled it and got on what I though was their website. Turned out it was a fake website. It was something like benchmadeknives.com, and it looked like an official website. The "Fact" was on sale for a good price but not a suspiciously low price. I bought one. It took forever to arrive--because it came from China. Cosmetically, it looked like a fact, but the fit and finish were way off for a Benchmade knife. The pocket clip wiggles, the action is atrocious, and the scales were plastic instead of aluminum. I called Benchmade, and they told me this company puts up the fake website and manipulates the search algorithms to be a top result. Benchmade constantly is getting these websites taken down, but they pop up under a different url. I disputed the charge with my credit card company and got a refund. I did buy a real Fact from an authorized dealer in person. Here are the two knives: Can you tell which is the genuine one? The answer is: The one on the right. The knockoff box is nearly identical except it is blue (which some BM boxes are). Also, it lacks the foam cut-out. The manual and little stickers are identical. The bag is noticeably poorer quality. The knockoff blade is not completely stonewashed. The genuine knife has a much better action and solid construction. The pins on the knockoff are brass. Anyway, I thought I would share because the counterfeiters are clever. When I emailed them about this, they actually did apologize and agree to the refund. They didn't ask for their crummy knife back. So, how shall I dispose of it? Anyone have any destructively creative ideas? I like Benchmade knives and own several. My EDC is a Benchmade Griptilian combo blade. Benchmade does not make ANYTHING in china anymore. The chinese seller was your big huge red flag. I am glad you got your money back. Copperandclad and BladeHQ are the best places I have found to buy knives. There is too much counterfeiting to trust anyone selling at too low a price. I have no suggestions for destructive testing but I am sure a quick search on YouTube will yield lots of options.
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Post by randomnobody on Oct 25, 2023 20:18:34 GMT
Honestly, while knockoffs are terrible for being knockoffs, aside from a few small gripes your now-free knife might be perfectly serviceable for tasks you'd rather not use a good knife for.
I've had a Fact (genuine, bought second-hand) for a year or so now and it's a neat little knife. Until I started my new job, I carried it everywhere and even used it at work from time to time. It's not exactly a multi-function kind of knife, though...
At least you got a refund and now have a real Fact.
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seth
Member
Just Peachy
Posts: 977
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Post by seth on Oct 25, 2023 21:07:59 GMT
I like Benchmade knives and own several. My EDC is a Benchmade Griptilian combo blade. Benchmade does not make ANYTHING in china anymore. The chinese seller was your big huge red flag. I am glad you got your money back. Copperandclad and BladeHQ are the best places I have found to buy knives. There is too much counterfeiting to trust anyone selling at too low a price. I have no suggestions for destructive testing but I am sure a quick search on YouTube will yield lots of options. I didn't know it was from China until the package arrived 3 weeks after ordering. There was a label with a Texas return address over the top of a Chinese one. LOL
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seth
Member
Just Peachy
Posts: 977
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Post by seth on Oct 25, 2023 21:12:13 GMT
Honestly, while knockoffs are terrible for being knockoffs, aside from a few small gripes your now-free knife might be perfectly serviceable for tasks you'd rather not use a good knife for. I've had a Fact (genuine, bought second-hand) for a year or so now and it's a neat little knife. Until I started my new job, I carried it everywhere and even used it at work from time to time. It's not exactly a multi-function kind of knife, though... At least you got a refund and now have a real Fact. That's true. I have a couple of non-name "garage" knives that I don't mind abusing or cutting nasty stuff with. It would be interesting to see how this knife holds up over time. It has plastic grip scales (which is why the pocket clip is loose as it is screwed into them) and it doesn't feel as robust as the real fact. The axis lock pin is noticeably smaller too.
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rschuch
Member
Sharp blades are good to have, if Shire-folk go walking, east, south, far away into dark and danger.
Posts: 805
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Post by rschuch on Oct 25, 2023 22:34:36 GMT
The liners look really thin too. Yikes. I have several Benchmades I carry fairly often, as well as ZT, Brous, Hogue and the usual suspects. Couple of times (back when I collected them) a new design would appeal to me that would be cost prohibitive so I went to AliExpress and got the clones but, owning several of the real brand, I was always disappointed with what I got. You get what you pay for, but at least I knew they were clones and not the real thing. I never carry them and they just take up space, but you can't really sell them either. Just use it til it breaks or gift it to someone.
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Post by randomnobody on Oct 25, 2023 22:46:47 GMT
... It has plastic grip scales ... Oh, ew, gross.
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seth
Member
Just Peachy
Posts: 977
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Post by seth on Nov 7, 2023 21:53:14 GMT
So I did some destructive testing. First, I held the knife in an hammer grip and stuck into my work bench as hard as I could--wearing gloves and eye pro. It torqued sideways and this happened: As mentioned, the scales are plastic and just broke. The liners appear to be soft steel and they bent. Next I put the blade in a vice tip first and began pushing sideways. With not a lot of force this happened: It snapped in two places so it seems pretty brittle.
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Post by mrstabby on Nov 7, 2023 21:58:20 GMT
That's not good even for a cheap knife.
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Post by randomnobody on Nov 7, 2023 22:55:31 GMT
Okay, yeah, that's garbage. Wow.
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rschuch
Member
Sharp blades are good to have, if Shire-folk go walking, east, south, far away into dark and danger.
Posts: 805
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Post by rschuch on Nov 7, 2023 23:35:00 GMT
Yikes! Gotta be careful cutting pudding with those!
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Post by crazyjons on Nov 9, 2023 13:36:15 GMT
Good job getting rid of that thing instead of passing it down the line.
I'm a Benchmade believer, I have one of their liner lock pocket knives in my pants pocket right now, I purchased it in 1995 and have worn it nearly every day since. I use it for everything, slashing cardboard scraping gaskets cutting hoses, even as a screwdriver...oh and minor surgery when needed. I tested the balisong Blade with the Rockwell hardness tester at work repeatedly and it is RC 61. No wonder people would want to copy this knife!
I think I've got my money's worth out of it, LOL
Jon
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seth
Member
Just Peachy
Posts: 977
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Post by seth on Nov 9, 2023 15:32:25 GMT
I love Benchmade too. Spyderco and BM are my favorite pocketknives. I feel naked if I leave home without a pocketknife.
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Post by mrstabby on Nov 9, 2023 15:44:18 GMT
I wonder how hard the fake is. Is it too hard, is something wrong with the heat treat or the steel? The cheap chinese knives seem to try to exceed each other in hardness and the non-knife people fall for it. "This one is 60HRC, that 63HRC so it has to be better."
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seth
Member
Just Peachy
Posts: 977
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Post by seth on Nov 11, 2023 4:19:08 GMT
I wonder how hard the fake is. Is it too hard, is something wrong with the heat treat or the steel? The cheap chinese knives seem to try to exceed each other in hardness and the non-knife people fall for it. "This one is 60HRC, that 63HRC so it has to be better." I don't have anyway of testing it, but it seemed very brittle.
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