All About Pocket Knives

Yesterday at Cabelas I was talking to the guy behind the knife counter. He told me two Navy SEALS just back from Afganistan stoped in and were very suprised by the price of $400 for the Benchmade Infidel auto. They told him that Benchmade sells them to the troops in Afaganistan for $100. Not sure that even covers the cost of material and labor. I am even more impressed with Benchmade and presently own three of their knives. Will buy more.

A guy at the National Gun Show at the Dulles Expo Center was selling them for around $100. Full auto, I tried it out and might pick one up. Nice weight and size, box, paperwork and the whole 9 yards.

I own a few Benchmades and am waiting on a Osborne now, glad to here they are helping out too!

I carry a Benchmade 845 or 880BK each day depending on the ruggedness of use, the latter being more rugged with titanium liners. They are simple, well designed, hardworking knives. I am pleased to hear they offer the Infidel at what looks to be cost or below.

The Doug Ritter Griptillian by Benchmade is one of my favorite modern folders.

I agree with all of the posts that Benchmade knives rock. I was blessed with the opportunity to purchase an authentic 3300 Infidel OTF and I consider it to be one of my favorite and most carried knives. A colleague of mine asked me if I knew about the Benchmade imports from Hong Kong which at the time I hadn't. After a few google searches I found a site called DH Gate which hosts vendors seeling knock-off products and sure enough there were multiple vendors selling the Benchmade Infidel 3300 for between $43.81 and $47.41.....not a typo......under $50 with free shipping.

Here's a link to one of the sites selling the knock-off's:
http://www.dhgate.com/product/hot-bm-33 ... 3-5|null:8

Here's a link to a YouTube video comparing an authentic Infidel 3300 to the knock-off:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyYf7wimr6g

Being curious I ordered one of the knock-off's because I had to see for myself. About 2 weeks later it safely arrived from Hong Kong and as advertised it came complete with a Benchmade box, paperwork, sheath and knife that without close examination you would think it's authentic. Here's what I discovered:

1. The clip was the only visual giveaway, the real ones have a butterfly on the bent clip at the tip and the knock-off does not. The anodizing of the letters is also different.

2. The knock-off is heavier, the authentic ones weigh about 5 ounces and the knock-off is 7.5 ounces

3. There are some minor differences although it is a pretty darn good match.

Caveat emptor.......as the old saying goes, if it seems too good to be true it probably is.

Tom

So I guess the $100 price at the gun show was way to high. As you said if it sounds too good to be true it is.