Yeah, nah! Thanks for the honesty bro. I’m yet to own a single benchmade…I’ve been close a couple times but their lack of QC as opposed to their high prices put me off. And I’m not imagining it. I spoke to one of my country’s biggest Benchmade dealers and he told me that of all the brands he sells, Benchmade is the only one where he feels compelled to check every knife before sending it out ‘because their grinds, alignment and overall finish are very patchy.’ Not what I’d call a solid recommendation!
I'm 100% with you on that one. Had the sheepsfoot like a two years ago and was veeeerry underwhelmed. In addition to the weird back spring I think the blade needs to have a much thinner and slicier grind! Posted my thoughts on the grams and oh boy the Fanboys where out to get me xD also retail in Germany was close to 200usd which made this an even worse buy in my books.
Wow, what an abysmal walk & talk. No excuse when Rough Rider's & Frost's spring back better than that. That's a lovely Madison Barlow. Appaloosa bone? When I got my Cocobolo one, I wasn't expecting it to be so thin. Almost thin like the Stainless Steel Spyderco Police. Overall a long knife, but carries much smaller than you'd expect. I hope you have a wonderful new year!
Absolutely here for the increase in slipjoint content from you. I've been going down the same rabbit hole with covid, and now the slipjoints are pretty much all I buy these days.
@@nicolatesla768 much more useful than you'd think. They're almost always ground incredibly thin, so they're very great cutters. I find that I don't really need more than a 3" bladed slipjoint, and it's a helluva lot less threatening in public. Realistically, if I'm doing tasks with my folding knife that are too tough for a slipjoint to handle, I might as well just use a fixed blade.
I agree, personally I don't really like slip joint knives so I don't have many or much to compare the proper to, I prefer the modern take on slip joints, I like taking my knives apart to clean them and being able to fix any blade play being the main reason as to why I prefer modern traditionals. I don't mind the proper all to much, I again don't have much to go on, but the spring is underwhelming to say the least. Taking it apart is nice, the pins are captured which is a huge bonus in my opinion and the construction is fairly clean, I would have liked to see more attention to detail, like a flush back spring. But the proper is ok, I don't love it, but I don't hate it, I think like the bugout, the proper is hyped up a bit more than it needs to be.
Just got my first GEC on the secondary market a couple days ago. Bullnose #71. About the lowest price i have seen them go for on the secondary is about 90 and the highest is 150. I feel lucky to have found one at the lower number
Latest knife I ordered was a slipjoint (the Bexar from Tactile Turn/Knife Co.), and the reason was I was influenced by AKB to buy some clipslips, and that in turn made me wanna a couple of (quality) slipjoint/clipless knives, or three. 🙈 The clipslips are so nice that I want to let them house something equally classy.
Pre-eliminary thank you for this! Been looking at both traditional and modern traditional slipjoints for my first EDC. Considered the Benchmade Proper but let's see what you got to say Edit: Holy fuck that's a bad spring. I'll stick to the Otter Knives or Lionsteel or Bökers Manufaktur which are cheaper than the Proper (which cost roughly 50$ more here in GER)
Glad I decided not to buy one. Everyone says that back spring is hot garbage. Been trying to buy a #15 or #93 for a while now. It’s a grind. Happy new year dude 🤘
AKB. Just a heads up, your RU-vid overlords are failing to notify subs about this new vid. Also, you should plant bamboo in your yard, we need more ‘testing’.
For a budget option check out the Kershaw Culpepper. Is the fit and finish perfect? No. Is the blade steel crap? Yes. But it is it a pretty cool looking, nice for the price, modern traditional slip joint? I think so.
Cool review man. I have a Benchmade Small Summit Lake, a traditional lockback and that thing is so snappy it can almost jump out of your hand going barely past half stop in either direction.
I just want to say I love your GEC collection. I used to have a large Northwoods collection and I sold it off due to inflated prices and I kind of regret it.
I sent a knife in to benchmade for resharpening. They some how only sharpened the tip and sent it back to me. The then emailed my complaint to them and pointed out that the dotted the edge with marker that is still there. Sent me a shipping label to return it. About a month later I had a resharpened knife finally.
You are my number one stop for quasi intellectual knife chatter. My friend who knows nothing about knives thinks you are hilarious. I agree with him. Carry on, sir.
Reguarding the back spring "lacking springiness". Have you: Cleaned (either by flushing and with an old toothbrush, or since it can be dissassembled, by taking it apart) and lubed the joint? Reguarding the pull: Since the knife can be dissassembled (air quotes) "for cleaning", I will presume that like flippers and other one hand opening (air quotes) "modern" knives, the blade tension is at least somewhat adjustable before inducing unwanted and un-needed side to side blade slop. If this is the case, have you tried adjusting the liner/tang tension/pressure for a lighter pull. Since you are on a traditional knife forum, I will presume you are aware some "humans" prefer a "heavy" "8" to just under "9" pull (AKA: "Nailbreaker") while others prefer a "soft"/"light pull, such as the "3" to "4" of a Buck 301/303. (I've never seen much sense in fighting my knife to open it. ESPECIALLY if ("when") my hands are cold and/or wet. I am counted among those who prefer the "soft"/"light" pull, up to a "6". Since the backspring's ONLY job is to prevent the blade from partly opening in the pocket, and flopping partly closed between cuts/slices, I have no problem with the "3" to "4" pull of the domestuc Buck 300 series knives. (the offshore Buck 37x/38x/39x knives have a pull between "5" and "6".) Concerning the edge angle ... 20DPS/40 degrees inclusive?!? Is that due to the S30V blade steel, or because Benchmade (air quotes) "thinks" (air quotes) "people" are going to be chopping with it and want a DULL chopping tool? When I was taught to hand sharpen 62 years ago by parents, uncles, grand parents, great grand parents, and maternal great-great grandmother, they were unanimous: TEN degrees per side/20 degrees inclusive, +/- 2~2.5 degrees for knives and cleavers. 15 degrees per side/30 degrees inclusive for chopping tools; axe/hatchet/tomahawk, Adze, etc. Also, a burr was a BAD thing. I was taught to PUSH the edge on the stone, NEVER pull. "Simple" steels back then. 10xx, 440A and 425HC, for the most part. I've never switched to the more obtuse 30+ degrees inclusive so popular today. In the 64 years I've carried a knife, I've never had an edge chip. On the VERY rare rolled edge (maybe 4 times during that time ... excluding a Gerber that made it out of the factory with a blade that must have skipped heat treat ... a butter knife holds a better edge) stropping fixed the edge. Stropping with dry leather is usually enough to restore the working edge. I don't try for a 'hair popping"/"razor" edge. It is gone and your using the working edge after the first or second cut, anyway. The 20 degree edge is "sharper" longer than a 30 degree plus edge, too. Unrelated to Benchmade question: At the beginning of the video, you said "I have around 20 GEC knives..." My question is: HOW?!? For at least the last 3 or 4 years, when GEC drops a new knife, the POPULAR patterns (14/15/33/ and others are sold out at the dealerships in UNDER 2 (TWO) SECONDS. The only place to get them is the secondary market (primarally the big auction site) at highly inflated prices; AT LEAST 2x to 3x the drop's retail price!!! Considering a lot of folk at the knife forum I hang out at are complaining "As soon as I get the notification email, I go to my favorite forum supporting dealer, IF there is one left, I add to my cart and hit "checkout". They are sold out between putting it in my cart and check out. Someone else got the one in my cart!" As far as I know, those dealers don't have the big river site's "buy now" feature that takes you to the "purchase" button if your CC/DC, and shipping info is on file. Most (claim) they have lost interest in the drops, and don't even try anymore after two or three times. (Yes. Considering the dealers are "sold out" inside TWO SECONDS, AND the "Flippers" on the big auction site HAVE the knives (several of them ... in all available cover materials, no less) the moment the knives drop, it seem "logical" most - if not all the "flippers" selling at the highly inflated prices, are in fact registered dealers. The only way to get a GEC at retail seems to be get a forum or club knife (if you qualify) when the ordering stage opens. I have no intention of buying a GEC. For one, they are far outside my comfort zone pricewise. IF the forum knife is one I like, AND I have enough time to save up for one, (retired, very low monthly income after paying rent. NOT enough for a forum knife, to date) I might consider it. I can get a different brand that is just as functional, for a LOT less. (albeit, it will more than likely have stainless rather than 1095. ☹️☹️🥺) Reason for clicking on your video: I won a Benchmade 318 Proper in a give-a-way yesterday. I am not familiar with the knife.
I had a custom knife maker named Sean Yaw who “ fixed “ the knife for me. He said the design of the tang and backspring needed work and the design of this knife lends itself to a light mushy pull. I disassembled the knife oil and lubed it and it did nothing to improve the action. The Benchmade from all accounts is kinda a wishy washy spring - with a few people getting a strong one. My Proper is not perfect but it needed work on the tang and a new backspring to get it there. I have about 30 GECs now. I spent a bunch of time waiting for drops and getting them at the right time. For a while I was also in a club with a retailer where I had to buy every variation but at 120-180 a pop I could only sustain that for a few months. I do pay aftermarket prices for them- and if I can’t score one at retail I pass. Occasionally people still send me links to “in stock” places and I can purchase them. I haven’t bought one in about a year though. Thanks for the comment!
I was going to hold off to watch this so I could start off my Nrw Year with a a new AKB video. But to be honest I plan on being drunk in the nex few hours and hungover till the 3rd.
I own 100+ gec knives, and I never cared for this one. I didnt laugh at people posting pictures of it, there's just something that strikes me wrong about it. I think I'd rather a lionsteel or even a zt modern slipjoint. If I saw one of these somewhere for super cheap, however I might pick it up. Maybe a future flea market find? Lol.
I agree with you. I carry the sheep's foot, S90V, carbon fiber version daily (have the clip pint version too but find the sheep's foot to be most effective) and find it to be a superb knife. I respect all of the opinions, but can't agree with some of the silly negative comments people share. It leaves me to believe that most are arm chair reviewers and don't really put the knife to work beyond cutting a few pieces of paper or cardboard in the kitchen. The Proper has proven itself to be top tier.
I own the model with the sheepsfoot blade. It shows exactly the same problems you have described in your video. Therefore, I don’t understand why many influencers on RU-vid praise this knife.
Idk man, I love mine. I have the 319. I think it looks amazing, I like the micarta and blade shape a lot. Cuts well, haven't had any issues. You're not the first to say it doesnt stack up well against other slipjoints tho. Im not a really big into them, but for the the price paid those people are probably right. Im still happy tho, my main complaint is that for what you pay a good leather slip should be included in box. I have a pocket organizer for it so its all good, but still...
A deal? I don't mean to be rude, but that's a statement a sucker would make. Literally the exact opposite of a deal, particularly in today's market. Take a look at Twosun's slip joint models, you will likely have a bittersweet surprise when you realize how much more you could have been getting for your money.
I have a sheep’s foot Proper that had the blade reground by Tom Krein. He made it a nice slicey full flat grind. I was pushing the point into something and slammed that razor blade closed on my finger. Haven’t carried it since. Lol. But it is definitely too soft on that spring for a slip joint.
Trying really hard to support non Chinese makers but this lack of quality makes it really hard. Benchmade is cutting their own throat. They should not blame cheap Chinese labour. Hogue looks promising but a little too tactical for me from what I have seen so far. Spyderco’s high price/not available game has lost my interest. Have to keep searching I guess.
Every single Benchmade knife that I own looks like it was ground by a drunken five year old. Love them anyway! Is that a Microtech T-shirt? Sweet. Awesome video AKB!
Even though it’s at a considerably higher price point I was hoping you would spend a minute on the Hinderer Slippy. Now that is a very strange slip joint with basically no walk and talk.
I don’t own one, and at this point I’m not interested in it. Just too expensive. Sorry. Metal complex really likes hinderers maybe his channel is a little more your speed
After all these years and all the complaints on the backspring they still haven't done anything to fix it/improve it? Benchmade is struggling for sure. Didn't even prepare for the axis lock patent expiring. Hope they bounce back, but the market is changing super fast.
the worst thing i see in a folding knife design is a possibility to fold on your fingers, can't understand how people like formfactors with no care on that in general.
I'm a Benchmade fan, and was considering the Proper, so it's disappointing to hear a critical review like yours, but I get it. If I want to carry a slipjoint, I'll just pick from one of the many Case knives I have; they're inexpensive, built well for the money, and US made. Remember: "You'll continue to like 100% of the knives you don't review". I stole that from Wayne Gretzky.
That much for a relatively small slip joint pocket knife.... I'll stick with my cheap knives under $20 knives (I'm a bit of a klutz) but I'm not gonna knock someone for buying something they enjoy or like.
Back in my alcohol phase a bottle of Green Lable Jack and case of PBR made up my evening of proper liver damage. Benchmade must be going through the Gerber phase of quality designs....Al Mar Doug Ritter analogy follows..... Anyone else out there fantasize about a Paul Knife with 4 inch blade?...guess not. Thanks for another episode of brutal truth.
Benchmade: We made it and how dare you not like it. Have you tried any of the J.E. Made slipjoints? I have one and it’s excellent. Better snap than my Proper and S35VN and titanium.
I got the red one the first week they were released years ago owned it 3 days and sold it on Instagram to one of the gathering bunches of folks who had to have a Benchmade slip joint like any proper knife villain does… you know sell it before people learn it’s junk? It’s how it works lol
Do you have a post or video somewhere where I can go find out why the heck you and others now like slip joint knives? Now I did carry a SAK my entire life (lock blades were rare and pocket clips didn't even exist when I got my first couple SAKs) and I still do, and have caught flak from you specifically for it a few years ago. But I carry it for the tools, and blade to abuse, and also carry a larger lock blade with a pocket clip for the larger nicer blade. Is there some reason for using a slip joint? Or is the PBR a hint? It's just hipster retro cool or some such?
SAKs just aren’t my thing. I just like the unique covers and patterns, and they are interesting to me. As far as a hipster thing… you ever seen the sorts of dudes into slipjoints?
@@AdvancedKnifeBro Yeah I get it. SAKs are fugly. And you prefer a Leatherman type tool. In the 70's there were no such tools, and I picked up the SAK habit then. But why a slip joint at all, in present day?
I’m just bored by a lot of current offerings. I’ve already the best tactical locking knives. It’s fun to mix it up. Locks aren’t that necessary for most tasks. I like the wear the carbon steel accumulates and the character of the wood and bone and micarta scales.
From what I understand of traditionals, is the issue that the action is always mushy? If some were mushy and some tore your thumbnail off, that would be better, right? It would remind you that the knife required a lot of hand labor, but done in a way that did nothing to ensure a consistent final product. I'm surprised you didn't mention the UKPK with the modern slipjoint designs. You could have one in S110v for less than the price of the regular Proper.
So in the video i mentioned pull, and how it’s not a light pull- but on par with the other knives. The pull would be the part that rips the fingernail. That is not the same thing as a the mushy backspring that barely had tension when open. I thought I described all this reasonably well in the video.
@@AdvancedKnifeBro You did explain/show the action well. I was trying to make more of a commentary about traditionals in general. It seems like they can vary widely in the quality of operation. It also seems like buyers are ok with that, maybe because they feel glad to have gotten in on the 3 minute window the drop was available. Or because the randomness of the action reminds them of how it was hand made just like knives 100 years ago. I was trying to lampoon this by suggesting maybe a Proper that was random in its action would be more acceptable to traditional knife collectors than one where all examples have a mushy backspring. Maybe I have the market wrong, though (or am bad at jokes). But when I occasionally read forum posts about some GEC drop, it seems people get excited they managed to buy one, and then cross their fingers that the one they get isn't a piece of shit. It seems there are even long threads in which each recipient posts how good or shitty the one they received was once it arrives.
Sure. This review is more a culmination of my opinion but filtered through reading of others opinions, a consensus I feel is accurate among a lot of slip joint collectors, and what people expect nowadays out of a slipjoint. You for example don’t mind that it’s mushy, and it’s acceptable to you. So you can reject the premise as a flaw, and move on. You’re saying it does matter I care, but doesn’t matter that the knife is the way it is- I think. Take for example the matter of half stops. I don’t think that’s an agreed upon as good or bad by most collectors. Maybe I’ve heard more in favor of it than against- but I think that’s a thing that is more “it doesn’t really matter.” I have plenty of slipjoints that don’t have it. I dunno if you look below this video you’ll see a few I love it- and don’t mind. Some more like I love it despite its flaws. Some people hate it. I think the point of your comment though is you think my take is uninformed and or outside of collectors. Don’t know why- you don’t like my tone, you don’t like criticism of this knife, youre older and wiser, RU-vid knife reviewers suck… I don’t know and I guess it also doesn’t matter much either. Nothing matters, is that your point?
@@AdvancedKnifeBro No, I don't think your opinion is uninformed. If anything, mine is an uninformed generalization of slipjoint collectors, and I was attempting to make a joke based on that generalization (that slipjoints seem to vary widely in quality, and slipjoint collectors seem to view it as character or something). I didn't actually offer any opinion on the Proper itself, so perhaps I should. Other than SAK's and a cub scout knife from childhood, I've barely dipped a toe in traditionals. I didn't really like them. The one thing I do like about them is the blades tend to be quite thin. The Proper, at least from appearances, doesn't seem to even have that. Though I've never used it, and you and others have suggested it's actually fine as a cutting tool. So it would just be all the other aspects of it that don't interest me specifically. I'm not sure what part of my comments came across as a criticism of your opinions or review, but none was intended. I mean, I'm watching your video on a knife I find fairly uninteresting, so I must find your reviews to be enjoyable.
Ask any UK-based knife reviewer and they'll spit out a long, long list of problems with the Benchmade Proper. Unless you're really into modern slipjoints it can be easy to miss a lot of the Proper's bad design choices but if you compare it to its contemporaries; Hinderer XM-18 Slippy, Spyderco UKPK, Boker Tech Tool, Real Steel Luna/Stella/Solis etc. you notice how many better options there are out there. Proper's fine but it lacks a lot of the details a good slipjoint should have; no finger choil or kick to protect your hands, quality control issues, comparatively poor slipjoint action, and it's massively overpriced for what you get. If the Benchmade Proper is your only slipjoint you're probably not going to notice but if you want an actual good non-locking knife there are hundreds of better options out there for a fraction of the price.
All those problems may apply to the retail price, but when you pick up an s90v/cf version for $95 on the secondary it's hard to find a legit competitor from those "hundreds of better options" Add in a $26 set of titanium scales and it gets even better.
@@CNYKnifeNerd Real Steel Stella Premium will cost you the same and it comes with titanium scales from factory, S35VN, jimping on the kick, 2/3rd stop to protect your fingers, a deep carry pocket clip, and one of the smoothest actions you'll find on a slipjoint. You can like what you like but you can't say "oh well if you buy one secondhand and get lucky on the price and then swap in aftermarket parts it's a much better knife", because that's just moving the goalposts to defend a mediocre product.
That's disappointing. Not your review, but that the Proper has such a weak spring, then again Benchmade has been sort of hit and miss for me over the years.
