Our good friend Dave at Mimi's Jewelry has recently become a Benchmade dealer and needs to place a minimum order, which is of course, SOP for being a dealer these days.

Many of you know that in 2018 or 2019, Benchmade helped a police department destroy firearms in their possession, and once this word got out, the online gun community was up in arms.

Here's a thread I started in 2020 about it: https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...935/m/2290032274/p/1

Though it's been quite a few years and I am not holding a grudge as strongly as I once did, I've not forgotten the matter and I'm certain that some of you feel the same.

To be clear, we're allowing this group buy- not to benefit Benchmade, but to benefit our friend Dave, who has been exceedingly generous with the forum over the years. Karmas every month, and good deals on watches and jewelry to any members who contact him.

When Dave starts his group buy thread here in the Lounge, I expect members to be on their best behavior. I spoke with Dave today and he is aware of the feelings many of us have about Benchmade. If you've anything to say in this respect, say it to me, in this thread. If you don't want a Benchmade, then you don't need to be in his thread.

Thank you

Fuck Benchmade.

But also, Dave is a great guy and as a businessman, he needs to carry a variety of brands to reach customers. I support Dave and I think his offering any group buy on any brand is incredibly generous and gracious.

Why not help Dave out, like many others I look for alternatives, now's a good time since I stupidly left my Koburn knife I bought in 2020, in my F150 I traded in, or it's somewhere else, but for the life of me I can't locate it.

It might be time to look at the quality of the product, rather than focus on a mis-guided decision that the company made seven or eight years ago.

And of course, David has been so generous to us that we might want to put Benchmade's past action aside and help David when we can.

I probably won't take part in the group buy, mostly because I already have many Benchmade knives, having bought them over the years before their "fall".

But I do respect Dave's upcoming offer and hope he get's a good turn out.

It's frustrating what Benchmade did. My Benchmade 940-2 is very well designed. Still ends up in my back pocket more often than not. I don't wish to purchase more NEW Benchmade knives, but a couple of their designs are very well done, and wouldn't begrudge someone for also enjoying their blades.

Christmas present for my oldest

While I am one of those that hates companies making political statements instead of just doing business and normally put my foot down against such businesses, I cannot ignore what a great friend to the forum Dave is. Admittedly he’s helped me out several times in things that I have bought directly from him. He is a great business owner and I plan to support him with this buy. I can find a use for another knife, and if this buy helps him get his account started on a good note, then it is a win-win.

Thank you, Para.

Update:

My new representative visited the store, and I asked whether he was familiar with Benchmade’s history and its previous stance. He was not, and he was surprised when I explained it to him.

Benchmade recently entered into a new agreement with Owen J. Brown & Associates, which also represents several prominent Second Amendment-related brands, including HK, Benelli, Franchi, and Volquartsen.

He also told me that Benchmade’s owner recently passed away and that his son is taking over the company. According to my representative, the son is very supportive of the Second Amendment, which may indicate a meaningful shift in the company’s direction.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: davetruong,

Dave is being very modest in not sharing some unrelated, but certainly admirable news.

Mimi's was just voted by The Orange County Register as the number two jeweler in the county. When shops are everywhere, this is a very impressive accomplishment.

Awaiting Dave's thread.

I might jump just to support Dave. And I hope he gets a Spyderco dealership!

Checking if BM has steak knives...

I'm in for Dave.

If I were in the market for a new knife I would support Dave.

I swore off Benchmade for a while and while it’s not necessarily my first choice, I have bought a knife or two since. I’ll likely be looking for a knife or two in an effort to support David. I put Leatherman in a similar category but concede that sometimes they do have the best tool for the job.

quote:

firepower

Once again you have landed on a great decision. Telling folks to keep their bitching about Benchmade here rathher than in Dave’s thread will hopefully keep that thread cleaner.

Benchmade is still on my shit list, more for their lopsided political contributions than for helping a local police department implement a misguided policy. Being realistic, the guns were going to get destroyed whether Benchmade helped or someone else did it.

If one is being fully realistic, maybe it makes sense to put the balance of a company’s political donations to the commies in OR given that the state is overrun by them.

I’ll at least have a look as Dave is a first class dude and maybe helping him is more important than snubbing Benchmade.

Looking forward to Dave's BM thread.

HK Ag

My favorite EDC knives have always been Benchmade. I've lost two of them due to carelessness and would like to replace them, so I'll be waiting to see what's on Dave's list and what the prices are. I know they've gone up significantly since I bought the ones I lost. As slosig said, the guns would have been destroyed anyway. And, it's Oregon so the donations really haven't changed anything either. At least that's my take on it.

My EDC Mini Griptillion may get retired. I'm looking forward to Dave's offering to see if it's something I need.

Any chance it could be changed to Emerson? I’m not trying to be rude or anything, just asking. If it’s Emerson I am in. Benchmade will not get a dime from me. I don’t own any and all my knives are Emerson.