Benchmade Narrows 748 WTF?

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John Phillips

John Phillips

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Alright, I’ve been a life long user and an overall fan of a lot of Benchmades, my 940-1 is still one of my all time favorites. However, they have lost their literal fking minds with the release of the Narrows 748 at a completely and utterly shocking price of $522. This beats the disaster release and disaster pricing of the Spyderco Stovepipe(and I love Spyderco but the Stovepipe was a total flop), I’m not comparing the Stovepipe to the Narrows in terms of knife design, only comparing these 2 based on the ridiculous pricing they were released at. The 748 is not a limited run, it’s thin and it’s titanium(so what), and they think because they finally FINALLY got around to using M390 after everyone else has been using M390 for the last 5-7 years, they think that’s worth $522??? Total and complete alternate universe reality from their decision makers.

Do they know understand who and what they are competing with at this price???? CRK, Hinderer, Medford, Demko, SHF, Sharp by Design, McNees…. oh yeah, I can place a custom order with Arno Bernard for an IMamba with Mammoth inlays or exotic wood, premium materials everywhere and a hand rubbed blade for around this price I believe.

This has the potential of being the greatest flop of all time for Benchmade at this price point combined with the already falling prices in the knife market. I might have considered this at $249 or so, but $522….. $522? Are they starting at $522 so they can actually start selling them at 50% off when people think they’re getting a tremendous discount?

Maybe they are pricing these based on the secondary market for the Anthem($400-$600)?

I’d bet a very very large amount of money that these sit on the shelves of all online and brick and mortar retailers. Furthermore, I’d bet that they’ll still sit on the shelves once they have to discount them to $399. What in gods name Benchmade.
 
You are not their target consumer/collector.
Many many people are priced out of most of the knives I see in images here... that is the nature of collectibles
 
John Phillips said:
they think because they finally FINALLY got around to using M390 after everyone else has been using M390 for the last 5-7 years
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Benchmade has been using M390 pretty much since its debut. There's been dozens of Benchmades, both regular and limited production in M390.

Also I guarantee when this knife is released, my Instagram feed, and this site are going to be full of people singing its praises. I also happen to dislike it, but Benchmade is a pretty smart company, and they don't just release products without doing their market research.
 
DrHarmony said:
You are not their target consumer/collector.
Many many people are priced out of most of the knives I see in images here... that is the nature of collectibles
Click to expand...
Your assumption is incorrect and I understand collectibles. I have many many many knives in the $500-$3000 range. I own many of the 940 limited runs that are $500 or more and was thrilled to buy them all, I’m 100% their target consumer. This price is insane.
 
The Stovepipe was a flop?

I bought one a year ago and have been carrying and loving it ever since.

The Butterfly tax has been getting pretty high lately tho.
 
They still have a Bugout modelnjn M390 too I believe. That being said I won't buy one of these just because my interests are way different. I'm more interested kn the Bailouts and the new Tagged Out models.
 
Perhaps the problem is too many rich people.

I say this because like most crazily overpriced objects that are placed on sale, the Spyderco Stovepipe is SOLD OUT at the three places I just checked.

I recon this Benchmade will sell out too - seems like there’s enough folks with enough money that companies can usually find buyers for these things.
 
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Just left St. Nicks Knives and they had 61 Benchmade models out for sale and absolutely zero in M390. I’m not saying they haven’t used M390 but it hasn’t been their go to super steel. Also, about half of them are s30v if you can believe that.
 
Yeah ...dang it !

And for what you gotta now pay for an egg used to buy the whole bird . 😒
 
Made in America costs money. Plus they have their warranty. I'm sure it will be less once it goes on sale but it's not that bad in reality. Plus you aren't being forced to purchase it. You are free to say it's not for you and to pass on it.

This is a very niche hobby and is based solely on wants vs needs. There is something for everyone in all bracket of price. We are spoiled by choice now. I'm just glad there are still good companies making products in the USA.
 
Silent H said:
Benchmade has been using M390 pretty much since its debut. There's been dozens of Benchmades, both regular and limited production in M390.

Also I guarantee when this knife is released, my Instagram feed, and this site are going to be full of people singing its praises. I also happen to dislike it, but Benchmade is a pretty smart company, and they don't just release products without doing their market research.
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There will be a “budget” version later in s30v and aluminum for $375. My guess.
 
John Phillips said:
Alright, I’ve been a life long user and an overall fan of a lot of Benchmades, my 940-1 is still one of my all time favorites. However, they have lost their literal fking minds with the release of the Narrows 748 at a completely and utterly shocking price of $522. This beats the disaster release and disaster pricing of the Spyderco Stovepipe(and I love Spyderco but the Stovepipe was a total flop), I’m not comparing the Stovepipe to the Narrows in terms of knife design, only comparing these 2 based on the ridiculous pricing they were released at. The 748 is not a limited run, it’s thin and it’s titanium(so what), and they think because they finally FINALLY got around to using M390 after everyone else has been using M390 for the last 5-7 years, they think that’s worth $522??? Total and complete alternate universe reality from their decision makers.

Do they know understand who and what they are competing with at this price???? CRK, Hinderer, Medford, Demko, SHF, Sharp by Design, McNees…. oh yeah, I can place a custom order with Arno Bernard for an IMamba with Mammoth inlays or exotic wood, premium materials everywhere and a hand rubbed blade for around this price I believe.

This has the potential of being the greatest flop of all time for Benchmade at this price point combined with the already falling prices in the knife market. I might have considered this at $249 or so, but $522….. $522? Are they starting at $522 so they can actually start selling them at 50% off when people think they’re getting a tremendous discount?

Maybe they are pricing these based on the secondary market for the Anthem($400-$600)?

I’d bet a very very large amount of money that these sit on the shelves of all online and brick and mortar retailers. Furthermore, I’d bet that they’ll still sit on the shelves once they have to discount them to $399. What in gods name Benchmade.
Click to expand...
That’s a lot of Bucks- see what I did there 🤣
 
pholder said:
That’s a lot of Bucks- see what I did there 🤣
Click to expand...
I was just thinking that Buck’s got this game down … produce a few very expensive ones for that itch, but keep your cred as a knife people can actually use. I know it’s not exactly equivalent, but it seems like Benchmade is trying to create a new ultra-mid-tech niche. And in fairness, they probably can. Brands can sell on a name if it’s strong enough.

Benchmade may also just be the first to admit where this is all headed. Spyderco has sort of followed suit. Even the Chinese brands are creeping up. Individual makers may have been gritting their teeth and will now say, “well, if a Benchmade is selling for that, mine better be more.”
 
Fortunately I am blessed, most of my knives were purchased when things weren’t crazy. At this point in my life I don’t need another knife. These are just luxury items, not necessity items. My other hobby is fishing, every year the price goes up for the license, yet I am not catching more fish. Eventually I will probably stop fishing and find another hobby
 
John Phillips said:
Alright, I’ve been a life long user and an overall fan of a lot of Benchmades, my 940-1 is still one of my all time favorites. However, they have lost their literal fking minds with the release of the Narrows 748 at a completely and utterly shocking price of $522. This beats the disaster release and disaster pricing of the Spyderco Stovepipe(and I love Spyderco but the Stovepipe was a total flop), I’m not comparing the Stovepipe to the Narrows in terms of knife design, only comparing these 2 based on the ridiculous pricing they were released at. The 748 is not a limited run, it’s thin and it’s titanium(so what), and they think because they finally FINALLY got around to using M390 after everyone else has been using M390 for the last 5-7 years, they think that’s worth $522??? Total and complete alternate universe reality from their decision makers.

Do they know understand who and what they are competing with at this price???? CRK, Hinderer, Medford, Demko, SHF, Sharp by Design, McNees…. oh yeah, I can place a custom order with Arno Bernard for an IMamba with Mammoth inlays or exotic wood, premium materials everywhere and a hand rubbed blade for around this price I believe.

This has the potential of being the greatest flop of all time for Benchmade at this price point combined with the already falling prices in the knife market. I might have considered this at $249 or so, but $522….. $522? Are they starting at $522 so they can actually start selling them at 50% off when people think they’re getting a tremendous discount?

Maybe they are pricing these based on the secondary market for the Anthem($400-$600)?

I’d bet a very very large amount of money that these sit on the shelves of all online and brick and mortar retailers. Furthermore, I’d bet that they’ll still sit on the shelves once they have to discount them to $399. What in gods name Benchmade.
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I'm equally confused about the magnacut being used in some of the new models. The CLA in particular. Don't know much about magnacut so I looked it up. A 5 on a scale of 1 to 10 for edge retention.and benchmade is asking 450.00. Magnacut seems to be a super tough steel but to me edge retention would be far more important on an edc. Seems to me they would have been smarter to make this blade in m4 or cruwear and kept the price around 280.00.
 
scdub said:
Perhaps the problem is too many rich people.

I say this because like most crazily overpriced objects that are placed in sale, the Spyderco Stovepipe is SOLD OUT at the three places I just checked.

I recon this Benchmade will sell out too - seems like there’s enough folks with enough money that companies can usually find buyers for these things.
Click to expand...
I thought the Stovepipe was going to be discontinued within a year… not discontinued and everywhere I look it’s OOS. I still need to pick one up as it’s one of my favorite KA models for a decade or so now.
 
I would say wait until you can get your hands on one before judging whether or not the price is warranted. If you own all those high end knives you say you do, you know there’s more that goes into them than just the materials. Besides the people who will like this knife enough to buy it regardless of the price, I guarantee you somewhere, sometime, someone is gonna buy it precisely because it’s $500.
 
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