Benchmade Shootout issues

S

Srjs28

Joined
Aug 17, 2022
Messages
38
Hello, newbie here. I just received my Benchmade Shootout and I have to say, I’m actually disappointed. I’ll explain the 2 major issues, maybe others have same problems or I got a defective knife, hell could be fake but I don’t think so because it was a very reputable dealer.
First issue, upon the first time deploying the blade. I immediately grab the blade spine and checked for play. It was (is) very sloppy, something I wouldn’t expect from Benchmade. It’s very loose side to side, very loose forward and backward and slightly in and out.
Second issue, I cut one thing. I opened plastic packaging that was glued to thin cardboard and the finish on the blade is starting to come off. You can actually see bare metal through the coating. Ridiculous!
Anyone else have any of these issues?
 
That sucks man, especially since you're just getting into knives and this is probably one of your first real quality knives. Double action OTF's have blade play just as a general rule, how much they have is the question though. I've never had a Shootout, but it shouldn't be super sloppy. The only OTF that supposedly doesn't have blade play is the G&G Hawk Deadlock although they are very expensive. Like Sabre Cat said, I'd recommend sending it to Benchmade and tell them what happened with the coating and the blade play.
 
How about a picture of the damage to the blade's finish?
 
It's a Benchmade...

QC is spotty at best. If I remember correctly, the black coating they use is cerakote, and scratches easily.
 
The Shootout should have blade play on par with an Ultratech with the caveat that the handle material will flex. Your blade play may be normal.

The FDE finish is...OK. certainly not up to a DLC or something. Mine has scratched a bit after 2 weeks of use as a work knife.
 
Sorry, trying to post pics. I’m quite knowledgeable with knives, I guess I’m not a super collector or anything but I have a pretty good idea of what’s going on. I just have never really got into the online forum discussion stuff. Figured I give it a try and ask these questions here to get other people’s input. The play in this blade is really bad. I have heard all the rave about this knife and happen to come across a dealer that had some in stock so I pulled the trigger. Mediocre quality at best, even for mass production knife from Benchmade . Looks like I have to upload pics somewhere to post them here I take it.
 
And as far as the finish on blade,, there’s no way plastic should be able to “scratch” it off!
 
Steely_Gunz said:
The Shootout should have blade play on par with an Ultratech with the caveat that the handle material will flex. Your blade play may be normal.

The FDE finish is...OK. certainly not up to a DLC or something. Mine has scratched a bit after 2 weeks of use as a work knife.
Click to expand...
I have 3 Microtech knives and the blade play with all 3 are really equal and acceptable. I honestly think the shootout I got was made on Friday after lunch.
 
Srjs28 said:
I have 3 Microtech knives and the blade play with all 3 are really equal and acceptable. I honestly think the shootout I got was made on Friday after lunch.
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Also there is no flex in the in the handle, it’s all stems from the base of blade inside the handle
 
Srjs28 said:
Here are couple pics of finish
www.dropbox.com

Shootout blade finish-1.jpg

Shared with Dropbox
www.dropbox.com www.dropbox.com

www.dropbox.com

Shootout blade finish-2.jpg

Shared with Dropbox
www.dropbox.com www.dropbox.com
Click to expand...
That looks pretty normal to me for PVD after going through some tough material; plastic packaging can be tough stuff. DLC would stand up better; Cerakote would be about the same or worse; cheaper coatings would be worse still.

It's possible the black marks are staining on the PVD rather than scratches. I usually see this more often with DLC, where what look like scuffs will often just wipe off.
 
Dadpool said:
That looks pretty normal to me for PVD after going through some tough material; plastic packaging can be tough stuff. DLC would stand up better; Cerakote would be about the same or worse; cheaper coatings would be worse still.

It's possible the black marks are staining on the PVD rather than scratches. I usually see this more often with DLC, where what look like scuffs will often just wipe off.
Click to expand...
I was hoping marks myself after I saw them, actually I was assuming they were marks because I’ve never had any finish of a blade be removed so easily, even junk, gas station specials. But I was wrong, I used soap and nothing disappeared. That was the very first and only thing that knife has cut. Cheap Chinese plastic that somewhat is molded to what’s being packaged shape and size, glued to cardboard backing. It was very thin. I just pushed blade tip in through plastic and began to slice around the item keeping it close to the cardboard backer.
 
Dadpool said:
That looks pretty normal to me for PVD after going through some tough material; plastic packaging can be tough stuff. DLC would stand up better; Cerakote would be about the same or worse; cheaper coatings would be worse still.

It's possible the black marks are staining on the PVD rather than scratches. I usually see this more often with DLC, where what look like scuffs will often just wipe off.
Click to expand...
I meant to ask this in my reply to you just now. You mentioned that the evident scuff marks were pretty normal. I could see if the knife was older or had been used a lot. Then I would be ok with the coating’s condition/finish starting to wear off. But is it normal for that to happen with one cut, the only cut knife has seen? It would have been approximately an 8-10” slice if it were a straight consistent slice.
 
Weird. I have used my shootout as a daily carry quite often, and every mark left on the blade I have been able to eventually wipe off. I have not lost any of the finish yet. Blade is still a sharp as factory, and looks new. And the blade has no more play than any of my Microtech or Guardian Tactical Knives.
 
Same as DocJekl. I would be more concern about the blade play as OP said that it was much worse than his Microtechs.
 
Srjs28 said:
But is it normal for that to happen with one cut, the only cut knife has seen?
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For what you're describing, it does seem like a surprising amount of wear.

IMO worn coatings on knives look good, but if it bugs you now it will likely continue to bug you. Replacing the knife is probably a good idea.
 
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