Benchmade Proper

O

Obcessed

Joined
Nov 14, 2018
Messages
103
The Banchmade Proper appears to be potentially great slip joint based on pictures, the steel and the fact the knife can be taken apart. The price of $120 M/L seems to be in the ball park and a few comments I have read indicates the knife is too high based on fit and finish issues. The other comments I have read state there are two issues that should be addressed to make it a great slip joint
1. A finger choil is needed for safety. The current choil allows the knife to cut a person if it closes accidentally which is related to the next item. The other plus would be ergonomics.
2. The back spring needs to be stronger.
Addressing the fit and finish is a Benchmade management issue. The workers are capable of doing top notch work given the opportunity to do so.
It would seem to me addressing these issues would make the Proper one of the best modern slip joint.
I for one will not drop that kind of money and turn around and make alterations.
 
I would disagree that a finger choil is “necessary” for safety. I can’t think of any tradtional Slipjoints with finger choils. The Syderco Roadie has a finger choil if you want to try a slip joint with one.

I have handled a half dozen Benchmade Propers and I would agree that the back spring is weak. I would even call it wimpy. They don’t have a satisfying snap when opening and closing.
 
I haven't looked into the Proper much aside from gazing at a few pictures. Based on what I've seen, the unsharpened part of the blade between the edge and the handle (with the blade open) doesn't appear to be designed as a finger choil. It's basically just the tang of the blade with a sharpening notch cut into it.

No wonder people are getting cut if they're using that as a finger choil.
 
I've not handled a proper so cant speak as to its spring strength. But personally I see a finger choil as an answer to a problem that doesn't exist. For centuries people have used friction folders the world over with no locking mechanism at all. I have had a slipjoint close on my finger twice in my life, both times I was doing something that shouldn't have been done. Of those two times I was only cut once and not badly, and I will note that I learned to keep my knive screaming sharp early on. Once the tang portion pinched a small blood blister on the side of my little finger. Thats right my pinky, I was holding it reverse grip and stabbed into tree.I was 10 and lesson learned lol. The other time I was old enough to know better but was using a Victorinox main blade to bore a hole using a twist motion. A Vic with an awl I would point out, I was just simply to lazy to close the blade and open the awl. If you are afraid of a knife closing by accident I would suggest a locking knife. One of my favorite knives since I acquired it is the GEC Calfpen, and I do appreciate that the straight edge blade locks.
 
sounds to me that these comments are all made out of assumptions, fit and finish are top notch, nothing wrong with back spring tension. if you are looking for safety keep your fingers off of the blade, remember anything sharp can cut
 
pholder said:
sounds to me that these comments are all made out of assumptions, fit and finish are top notch, nothing wrong with back spring tension. if you are looking for safety keep your fingers off of the blade, remember anything sharp can cut
Click to expand...
S30V is some nice steel too
 
"Weak" backsprings are a non-issue. "strong" backsprings are not needed. The only thing they do is make it difficult to open the knife.

The cutting action forces the blade open - not closed.

Personally, I prefer a "weak" spring over a "nail breaker".
I have less than zero desire to fight with my knife to open it when my hands are cold and/or wet.
I think the pulls on the average SAK (usually a "5") and a Buck 301 (between a "4" and "5") to be about perfect.

Consider all the friction folders used over the last several hundred years (or longer) that don't have a backspring.

Friction folders weren't/aren't known for closing and cutting or removing fingers when used as a knife for cutting things.
 
Would someone post a picture of this "imProper" knife please??:rolleyes::)
 
43B6747D-F712-4ED8-96EB-39639FC25629.jpeg

Here you go Charlie, it’s offered in a sheepfoot and clip blade. I’ve been slightly intrigued by the proper in the past, but never enough to make the purchase.
 
pholder said:
sounds to me that these comments are all made out of assumptions, fit and finish are top notch, nothing wrong with back spring tension. if you are looking for safety keep your fingers off of the blade, remember anything sharp can cut
Click to expand...
My comment wasn't made on an assumption, as the OP stated that a finger choil is needed for safety. They are not. The proper way to insure safety is proper use of the knife,followed by a locking blade if your still concerned. I have no love for or hate of the Benchmade. Honestly I think you assume I'm biased against it,I am not. I simply gave 2 examples of a knife closing on me to illustrate that it only happened because I was being stupid. Thats 2 times since I started carrying a pocket knife at age 10,I'm 40 now. So in 30 years of continuous carry only 2 instances both my fault.
Obcessed said:
Wow, just looking for a discussion on the Benchmade Proper.
Click to expand...
I only wanted to join the discussion, just wanted to point out based on experience that a choil isn't the best solution. The only way a choil would be effective is it would need to be at least an inch long. I wouldn't want to lose an inch of blade on an already short edge. These are all just MY opinions. The forum exists for the discussion of knives, and I welcome the discussion.
 
Two interesting knifes with interesting choil are the Spyderco UK and the Bestech Junzi. Spyderco got it right for $58. Bestech got it right in a pretty package for $175.
 
I have a clip point micarta version and I absolutely love it. I like my GEC bear traps as much as the next guy, and while I do think the spring is a bit too mushy, I can put up with it on this knife. There's just something about it in hand that I really dig.
 
I certainly don't need a finger choil for the sake of safety. But I do prefer a sharpening choil mated with a tang of similar or greater size. Does that make any sense? I don't quite know how to describe what I'm saying. Like on your average Victorinox SAK blade, you can choke up on the blade, and rest your finger between the frame and tang, without getting cut. If you try that with a Proper, you get cut by the sharpening choil.
 
Does anybody know the thickness of the grind, behind the edge of the Proper? I tend to worry about the grinds of tactical manufacturers. They usually end up being too thick for my liking.
 
Obcessed said:
The Banchmade Proper appears to be potentially great slip joint based on pictures, the steel and the fact the knife can be taken apart. The price of $120 M/L seems to be in the ball park and a few comments I have read indicates the knife is too high based on fit and finish issues. The other comments I have read state there are two issues that should be addressed to make it a great slip joint
1. A finger choil is needed for safety. The current choil allows the knife to cut a person if it closes accidentally which is related to the next item. The other plus would be ergonomics.
2. The back spring needs to be stronger.
Addressing the fit and finish is a Benchmade management issue. The workers are capable of doing top notch work given the opportunity to do so.
It would seem to me addressing these issues would make the Proper one of the best modern slip joint.
I for one will not drop that kind of money and turn around and make alterations.
Click to expand...

1. Finger choils are not needed for safety, they just shorten the blade's cutting edge. The safety reason sounds like marketing BS. Where'd you get that from?

2. The Propers I've messed with had fine backspring unless you want a rat trap :) Where'd you get the poor backspring comment from?

The Benchmade Propers I've played with had fine fit/finish for a micarta knife designed for use. Have you seen any poor ones?

Benchmade is the new whipping boy for OCD knife buyers who enjoy complaining to get attention. I've bought them for years, handled every model for 15 years and the fit/finish have been fine. Once in ~2000 I found a new BM Spike with a bluish tip, indicating the steel had gotten too hot. I pointed it out to the gun show seller and bought it at a deep discount. Benchmade fixed it for free with a new blade. Ten years later, some idiot snapped off the tip and Benchmade fixed it for $15. Both times TAT was under a month. Even GEC doesn't supply that level of service.

The biggest problem with the Proper is it's butt ugly. "Don't buy no ugly knife" It's a micarta turd :) Too modern to be traditional too.

For modern US slipjoints buy a used Case Bose. Fantoni makes a nice Italian made moden slippie, Dweller, originally designed by Loveless. There's some nice French ones too. I don't like Lion Steels offerings, too "blocky" and not "traditional" enough.
 
From what I see of it and what I've read about it, seems to be a pattern that ends up satisfying few tastes- Ancient or Modern.;) To my eye it's not aesthetically satisfying and that is important in a knife aspiring to be Traditional, it looks clunky but it doesn't look purposeful or Modern as such, and that kind of after thought nail nick... But a weak spring and poor snap? That's a death sentence and I for one dislike Friction Folders so that cat won't jump. The F&F should be good if it's a BM, steel will satisfy those not entirely hypnotised by carbon;) but it seems expensive for what it is and a lot appear to end up on the Exchange at reasonable price-suggesting they don't actually find favour with the users.

Lionsteel manage the interpretation of Modern and Traditional far better in my view. Excellent F&F use of modern steel and techniques, something credible and different and pleasing to use and look at. All subjective I know, but what else is there in much knife appreciation?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top