Older Benchmades

[Benner]

Does anyone know if there is a good site about old and discontinued Benchmades?  Benchmade themselves list recent-ish discontinued products, but I'm interested in doing a little reading about even older models.

Thanks.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Benchmade used to have a forum with all kinds of info about their knives- I don't know if it's still around or not, but that might be worth looking into.

Def

[Benner]

I did find the forum, but it was a bit poop really. 

A benchmade wiki would be superb, but probably a little hopeful.

[AHB]

I did find the forum, but it was a bit poop really. 

A benchmade wiki would be superb, but probably a little hopeful.

What are you waiting for then..? 

[Grant Lamontagne]

I used to be a member of the BM forum and I know a little about some old Benchmades.  Maybe I could help?

Def

[Benner]

I was keen really to have a good nose at some of the really early blades they made, but was also curious to find out how old my Sentinel was which you may well know actually.

[Benner]

No joy then peeps. 

[Smitty44]

Maybe this will help http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/benchmade-sentinel-875-knife-50809092

[Benner]

Many thanks for the link. 

[Grant Lamontagne]

I was keen really to have a good nose at some of the really early blades they made, but was also curious to find out how old my Sentinel was which you may well know actually.

The Sentinel was produced in the late 90's for only a couple of years.  I know this, because I bought one for Whoey around '98 or '99 shortly before they were discontinued.  Unfortunately I don't have any exact dates.

Def

[GraysonK]

I was keen really to have a good nose at some of the really early blades they made, but was also curious to find out how old my Sentinel was which you may well know actually.

The Sentinel was produced in the late 90's for only a couple of years.  I know this, because I bought one for Whoey around '98 or '99 shortly before they were discontinued.  Unfortunately I don't have any exact dates.

Def

Out of curiosity, Def, do you happen to know what year the BM Ascent was made and/or discontinued?  There's no date stamp on mine. 

[Zack]

It was a SHOT show prototype in 1999 according to equipped.com.  But I have also seen reports of people owning them in 1996.  The 1999 version may have been the M2 version.  Not sure, but maybe that gives you a start.

[GraysonK]

Thanks Zack!!!

[Grant Lamontagne]

I bought my first Ascent in '98, and it was probably a year (or so) later that they switched to calling the Eclipse... or do I have the names backwards?  I remember that was also around the time that the Spyderco Hole trademark thing came up, and all the manufacturers like Cold Steel and Benchmade that were using round holes all said how they would continue to call it a "Spyderco Hole" out of respect even though Spyderco's trademark application was denied because it seems you can't trademark a hole.

The respect thing ended quickly, as all the manufacturers started using ovan holes almost immediately afterwards, probably so they didn't have to put "Knife features one handed opening via Spyderco style hole" in their literature.

As for when the Ascent was discontinued. I saw them into the early 2000's, but BM is famous for discontinuing knives then re-introducing them a week later with slight variations.  There were several variants of teh Sentinel  including the Darkstar, Mini Darkstar and some others I can't remember.

Def

[Styerman]

I like old Benchmade's much more than present ones . They made by far the best rendition of the Emerson CQC7 I have ever seen .

Chris