Benchmade drops H&K and discontinues popular models

[Grant Lamontagne]

Benchmade has announced that they are dropping many of their popular knives and have completely dropped the H&K line. 

http://knifenews.com/benchmade-discontinued-for-2017-list/

This seems like a pretty drastic change- I am hoping this isn't an indicator of major problems at Benchmade! 

Def

[Grathr]

That is a shame.
I reallly like the HK Ally I got fron Kampfer last year.

[kaput]

Benchmades a great knife company  . I don't perceive a little refinement is negative, although it can at time be perceived so.

I thought the onslaught and barrage looked really nice! 

As far as H&K, that could have been on their (h&k) behalf to stop production.

[captain spaulding]

I think its a good move. Not for the consumer, but for Benchmade. I never really liked the HK line and it seems the only real loss from there "popular" models is the Presidio line. Many like that line, but I personally always thought it was overpriced for what you get when speaking about the Presidio. I assume they are trying to streamline and only be known for high quality knives.

[kaput]

They could literally stay in business selling only Griptilians... lol

[charlie fox]

I own a couple of the H&K line and find them serviceable, but nothing super special. I'm always worried when I see a gun company putting out a line of knives; think about the Colt and S&W garbage put out by Taylor. At least H&K went with a decent manufacturer with prices to match their guns!

[SteelRaven]

I hope this doesn't effectively dissolve a great American knife company. I can understand if they want to drop the H&K stuff if that makes no money...but many thier most popular designs?

Sheesh...maybe I need to build a forge now.

I have several Benchmade folders and for the most part they. Remain unused. The one I carried for years was the original AFCK. Fast as a bolt of lightning for an inertia opening liner lock. Strong. But then I don't use folders as anything but folders. Not fixed blades, hammers, machetes, pry bars etc.

[SteelRaven]

The one thing that always bugged me was this "class" stuff. It seemed to be a waste of rescources to me. Offer your knife. Top drawer stuff. Offer maybe ONE lesser priced model with a simpler finish etc...

Leave it at that.

But that's just me, others feel different I'm sure. And now of course all Benchmades wlll go up in price and collector value. Cold Steel has done much the same with the stoppage of production on some of the San Mai line, made by Hattori in Japan.

The owner of that company is getting older and has health problems, so I think CS Did not intend this, but it is happening nonetheless.

[sLaughterMed]

Heres an interesting theory that I saw on another forum. I have no idea on the validity, but it seems to make sense, especially since HK is still looking to partner with another knife company.

  I'd guess HK wanted more money for the licensing, because the HK axis has boomed in popularity over the past year, and BM said no. Just a hypothesis on my part. HK has nothing to do with the knife besides the branding. BM makes the whole thing. They probably just said "Well, smurf it. We'll just change the logo, rename it, and keep making them".

[Aloha]

There could be some validity to BM decision to drop HK as when isn't money the deciding factor in business? 

[styx]

Didn't BM also make Harley Davidson licensed knives at some point and also just drop 'em?

[Sazabi]

Didn't BM also make Harley Davidson licensed knives at some point and also just drop 'em?

They did, yes.

[Grant Lamontagne]

SOG also made some HD stuff. 

I hadn't heard that Lunn Thompson was having health issues?  What's going on there?

As for the class thing,  well, there are expensive dollars and cheap dollars and businesses usually want them all.

Def

[Kampfer]

It is sad.
The H&K Axis 14715 is one of my favorite knives.
I would go as far as calling it the best of Benchmade.

[Grathr]

Heres an interesting theory that I saw on another forum. I have no idea on the validity, but it seems to make sense, especially since HK is still looking to partner with another knife company.

  I'd guess HK wanted more money for the licensing, because the HK axis has boomed in popularity over the past year, and BM said no. Just a hypothesis on my part. HK has nothing to do with the knife besides the branding. BM makes the whole thing. They probably just said "Well, smurf it. We'll just change the logo, rename it, and keep making them".

Hopefully that theory is correct.
But will the price increase if they call it the Benchmade Axis?

[Sea Monster]

The one thing that always bugged me was this "class" stuff. It seemed to be a waste of rescources to me. Offer your knife. Top drawer stuff. Offer maybe ONE lesser priced model with a simpler finish etc...

So how do you feel about LM Waves and Charges?

Vic Nylon, Cellidor, or Alox scales?

et-cetera.

I have no problem with offering various products at different price points (assuming there is a real relationship between the product and cost - like fancier materials, or harder to produce features....)



I don't have a benchmade, but I have seen their HK knives around - and that irks me more.

Stick to what you know.

HK Make guns - Not knives, not hats, not range bags. Do what you do.


I'm not sure what their relationship is - who owns the designs etc.
I'm perfectly happy for the relationship to end, H&K to go on making guns, and Benchmade to go on making knives.

[AimlessWanderer]

How long has this partnership been running? Maybe it's just an expiration of a contract that they've decided not to renew?

[Grant Lamontagne]

I see Spyderco has also discontinued a bunch of knives for 2017 too.

BEAD4LY - SMALL BEAD W/LANYARD

C07GP3 - POLICE 3 G-10

C123CFBAP - SAGE BOLT ACTION

C146CFBBKP - SZABO FOLDER BLCK

C160P - FOUNDRY

C164GPBN - NILAKKA

C167GP - FRICTION FOLDER

C168GP - BATTLESTATION

C171TIBLP - MIKE DRAPER FOLDER

C173GP - HUNGARIAN FOLDER

C178GP - KIWI 4

C179PBK - SPY DK BLACK

C179POR - SPY DK ORANGE

C183TIP - BURCH CHUBBY

C185TIP - K-2

C187CFP - RUBICON

C188ALTIP - DOG TAG FOLDER

C29PT - CRICKET TATTOO

C90PBK - STRETCH VG-10

C90PGRE - STRETCH ZDP-189

FB24SBK - JUMPMASTER

FB28GPBN - PUUKKO

MBKS - MANBUG SPYDEREDGE

MGGYP - MANBUG GRAY G-10

YUS101 - BALIYO PINK & ORANGE

Def

[Aloha]

Dropping SKUs is nothing new for any business with a large volume of SKUs.  Keep the ones that have large margins and drop the others.  HK and Benchmade very well could be a simple matter of no longer making sense for BM.  As far as different tier price points, its can be a great idea to attract customers to a brand.  It can also be a place where the margins are high enough to make sense.  The problem arises when the lower end item is not made to the level of quality of the company is known for.  Slapping a name on a product in no way makes that product related to the name, tho customers don't care. 

Was the HK line actually made my BM?  Was it HK trying to make knives by using BM name?

[sLaughterMed]

Was the HK line actually made my BM?  Was it HK trying to make knives by using BM name?

Brenchmade produced all the knives, with the HK logo on them. Its unclear exactly how involved HK was inthe the design and management department, but production was entirely handled by BM.

[SteelRaven]

 

SOG also made some HD stuff. 

I hadn't heard that Lunn Thompson was having health issues?  What's going on there?

As for the class thing,  well, there are expensive dollars and cheap dollars and businesses usually want them all.

Def

AFAIK, it's the owner of Hattori knives in Japan who makes/made many CS and Fallkniven blades who's ailing, and that's why the production of those models in San Mai ceased, I don't think LT is sick.

That dude can be a bit aggravating some times, and yes the advertising can be over the top, but I have a lot of respect for him.

Anybody who can miss a lick chucking a spear at an African Cape buffalo and side step it when it turns to attack, and then has the presence of mind to finish the job with a 454 Casull magnum.....that dude has the stones to back it up!!

I went back and read my original comment...it was a bit...foggy...

[SteelRaven]

And I gotta say if the same thing holds true for Fallkniven as it did for CS that sucks, cause I don't own a Fallkniven...yet