Month: February 2013

What’s the best [whatever]?

If I had a nickle for every time I’ve been asked that question…. Chances are, you’ve asked it yourself.

Here’s the scenario: A potential customer calls or comes in. They know they want something, but they also know that they don’t know enough to come to an informed decision, and so they want my help. This is a good thing, because unlike shopping at a faceless billion dollar fulfillment group, they actually would like to get the opinion of someone who knows what they are talking about.

First, let’s narrow it down a bit: What do you want the item to do?  Be realistic about your expectations; if you are opening boxes all day, you are going to want something that holds an edge and is ergonomic.  If you wear a suit in an office environment, you don’t want something that looks large and threatening.  If you are using a flashlight for long hours, you want something rechargeable or failing that, something with the longest possible battery run time you can get.  Similarly, you don’t want a shoulder bag for extended camping, nor would you want a heavy backpack for short trips into the city.

The next question is typically “What sort of budget do you have?”  I’m a firm believer in get the best quality possible for the money that you are going to spend. I’d much rather see a customer not make a purchase in haste and waste their money on something of low quality, even if it costs me a quick sale. Why? Because when that low quality item fails them, then they have to spend their hard earned money again, and (on top of that) they are mad because I recommended something that failed!  When in doubt ask my opinion. Opinions are free, so make use of my product knowledge.

When you are paying for an item, typically there are a number of factors that figure into the end price.  The materials. Quality of construction. The Name / Reputation of the manufacturer. Demand. Warranty service. Etc. If two items are made of the same materials, and have similar quality of construction, but their prices are wildly disparate, ask why they are such different prices.  There’s no magic that goes into manufacturing these days; it’s modern techniques and commodities, so there’s no magic there.  Do your research and think before buying.  Sure, the $400 fixed blade looks really cool, but do you really need it, or will the $100 one made out of the exact same materials work for you?

Finally, make sure you are happy with what you are going to spend your money on. Consider the practicality of your purchase.  Don’t spend so much money that you are going to be heartbroken if the item is lost or stolen or damaged during use.  Don’t buy something so heavy that it stays home on your dresser.  Don’t buy something that eats $5 batteries every hour it is in use.  I can’t emphasize it enough… if something doesn’t feel right or isn’t comfortable to use, it’s going to wind up left behind at the first opportunity and will do you absolutely no good when you need it.

So you want to build a bug out bag. Build skills, then buy gear.

Every week or so I get a customer in the store who is uncertain.  They feel the need to become better prepared.   They aren’t sure how they are going to do so.  So they come in for advice.

Here’s the thing: you can blow thousands of dollars on gear that isn’t going to do you a damn bit of good if you haven’t built the skillset to use it.

The time to learn how to survive is not when the shit has hit the fan.  When your family is hungry, cold, and soaking wet, that space blanket you bought isn’t going to do you much good.  If you can’t build a fire, or make water potable, or apply a pressure dressing, or build a lean to, or any of a dozen basic tasks, you are going to be out of luck.

I can sell you the latest and greatest survival knife. Hundreds of feet of 550 cord.  I can sell you an $80 survival kit, and a $170 medical bag, and a $200 rucksack and thousands of dollars in flashlights and optics and assorted other stuff… but my advice is free and the thing that is going to cost you the most is your time.

Go take a Red Cross Basic First Aid class. Learn CPR.  Teach yourself how to tie knots and what they are appropriate for.  Get out in the backyard and make a fire every single day – do it in your barbecue if nothing else.

The life you save may be your own.  Gear costs money, but skills have to be earned through sweat and blood and practice.

Benchmade Discontined Product List

Here’s a list of the products discontinued from the Benchmade 2013 Lineup. Notable mentions: All Harley-Davidson products are gone, Black Handled Bone Collector Models are gone, Emissary replaced with black handle version, Warn products also gone.

  • Benchmade Bedlam – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 860BK
  • Benchmade Bedlam – Silver Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 860S
  • Benchmade Bone Collector Fixed Blade – Skinner – Green Black G10 Handle / Partially Serrated Edge – 15005S-1
  • Benchmade Bone Collector Fixed Blade – Skinner – Wood Handle / Partially Serrated Edge – 15005S-2
  • Benchmade Bone Collector Fixed Blade – Skinner w/ Guthook – Green Black G10 Handle / Partially Serrated Edge – 15010S-1
  • Benchmade Bone Collector Fixed Blade – Skinner w/ Guthook – Wood Handle / Partially Serrated Edge – 15010S-2
  • Benchmade Bone Collector Large Folder – Black G10 Handle / Partially Serrated Edge – 15020S
  • Benchmade Bone Collector Large Folder – Black G10 Handle / Plain Edge – 15020
  • Benchmade Bone Collector Small Folder – Black G10 Handle / Partially Serrated Edge – 15030S
  • Benchmade Bone Collector Small Folder – Black G10 Handle / Plain Edge – 15030
  • Benchmade CSK II Combat Survival Knife – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 158SBK
  • Benchmade CSK II Combat Survival Knife – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 158BK
  • Benchmade H2O Dive Knife – Black Handle / Partially Serrated Edge – 110SH2O-BLK
  • Benchmade H2O Dive Knife – Black Handle / Plain Edge – 110H2O-BLK
  • Benchmade H2O Dive Knife – Yellow Handle / Partially Serrated Edge – 110SH2O-YEL
  • Benchmade H2O Dive Knife – Yellow Handle / Plain Edge – 110H2O-YEL
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson Black Box Tool Kit – – 985060F
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson G10 Large Pika – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 13402SBK
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson G10 Large Pika – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 13402BK
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson G10 Large Pika – Silver Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 13402S
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson G10 Large Pika – Silver Blade / Plain Edge – 13402
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson G10 Small Pika – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 13412SBK
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson G10 Small Pika – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 13412BK
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson G10 Small Pika – Silver Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 13412S
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson G10 Small Pika – Silver Blade / Plain Edge – 13412
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson Large Field Sharpener – – 985061F
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson Levitator Clip Point – Flat Black – 13300BK-1
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson Levitator Drop Point – Chrome – 13310-1
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson Madcap – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 13420BK
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson McHenry & Williams Hardtail – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 13100SBK
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson McHenry & Williams Hardtail – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 13100BK
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson McHenry & Williams Hardtail – Silver Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 13100S
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson McHenry & Williams Hardtail – Silver Blade / Plain Edge – 13100
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson McHenry & Williams Mini Hardtail – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 13150SBK
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson McHenry & Williams Mini Hardtail – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 13150BK
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson McHenry & Williams Mini Hardtail – Silver Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 13150S
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson McHenry & Williams Mini Hardtail – Silver Blade / Plain Edge – 13150
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson McHenry & Williams Mini Hardtail Valox – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 13150SBK-1
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson McHenry & Williams Mini Hardtail Valox – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 13150BK-1
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson McHenry & Williams Mini Hardtail Valox – Silver Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 13150S-1
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson McHenry & Williams Mini Hardtail Valox – Silver Blade / Plain Edge – 13150-1
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson Multiblade – – 13655
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson Nagara – – 13740
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson NightShift Drop Point – Silver Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 13410S
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson NightShift Drop Point – Silver Blade / Plain Edge – 13410
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson NightShift Spear Point – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 13400BK
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson Small Field Sharpener – – 985062F
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson Steigerwalt LFK – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 13220SBP
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson Steigerwalt LFK – Silver Blade / Plain Edge – 13220
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson T-Rod – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 13450BK
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson T-Rod – Silver Blade / Plain Edge – 13450
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson Tether Knife – Black Blade – 13212BK
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson Tether Knife – Silver Blade – 13212
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson Ti-Fender – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 13900BK
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson Ti-Fender – Silver Blade / Plain Edge – 13900
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson Venom – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 13175SBK
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson Venom – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 13175BK
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson Venom – Silver Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 13175S
  • Benchmade Harley-Davidson Venom – Silver Blade / Plain Edge – 13175
  • Benchmade Heckler & Koch HK Fugitive – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 14950SBK
  • Benchmade Heckler & Koch HK Fugitive – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 14950BK
  • Benchmade Heckler & Koch HK Ink Pen & Light Combo – 14003 – New for – New for 2012
  • Benchmade Heckler & Koch HK Multitool and Flashlight – 14443T-COMBO – New for 2012
  • Benchmade Heckler & Koch HK Nitrous Blitz – Silver Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 14460S
  • Benchmade Heckler & Koch HK P30 Folder – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 14650SBT
  • Benchmade Heckler & Koch HK P30 Folder – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 14650BT
  • Benchmade Heckler & Koch HK Scorch Knife / Flashlight Combo – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 14925SBK-COMBO – New for 2012
  • Benchmade Heckler & Koch HK Soldat Drop Point – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 14411SBK
  • Benchmade Heckler & Koch HK Soldat Drop Point – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 14411BK
  • Benchmade Interdiction Kit (4 tools) – 124/8 BLKH-COMBO – New for 2012
  • Benchmade Interdiction Tool & Safety Cutter – 124/8 BLKH – New for 2012
  • Benchmade Killian Tomahawk – – 172BK
  • Benchmade Lerch / Steigerwalt Subrosa – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 790SBK
  • Benchmade Lerch / Steigerwalt Subrosa – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 790BK
  • Benchmade Lerch / Steigerwalt Subrosa – Silver Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 790S
  • Benchmade Lerch / Steigerwalt Subrosa – Silver Blade / Plain Edge – 790
  • Benchmade Lone Wolf Swale – Partially Serrated Edge – 40001-200
  • Benchmade Lum LFTi – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 760SBK
  • Benchmade Lum LFTi – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 760BK
  • Benchmade Lum Onslaught – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 741SBK
  • Benchmade Lum Onslaught – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 741BK
  • Benchmade Lum Onslaught – Silver Blade / Partially Serrated – 741S
  • Benchmade Lum Onslaught – Silver Blade / Plain Edge – 741
  • Benchmade Nakamura Shoki – – 480
  • Benchmade Nakamura Shoki – Carbon Fiber Handle / M390 Steel – 480-1
  • Benchmade Nimravus Cub II Drop Point – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 147SBK
  • Benchmade Nimravus Cub II Drop Point – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 147BK
  • Benchmade Nimravus Cub II Tanto – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 148SBK
  • Benchmade Nimravus Cub II Tanto – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 148BK
  • Benchmade Osborne Emissary – – 470
  • Benchmade Pardue Griptilian Tanto OD Green Handle – Silver Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 553SOD
  • Benchmade Pardue Mini Griptilian Blue Handle – Silver Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 555SHG-BLUE
  • Benchmade Pardue Mini Griptilian Blue Handle – Silver Blade / Plain Edge – 555HG-BLUE
  • Benchmade Pardue Mini Griptilian Drop Point Blue Handle – Silver Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 556S-BLUE
  • Benchmade Pardue Mini Griptilian Drop Point Blue Handle – Silver Blade / Plain Edge – 556-BLUE
  • Benchmade Pardue Tanto Presidio – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 523SBK
  • Benchmade Pardue Tanto Presidio – Black Blade / Plain Edge – 523BK
  • Benchmade Pardue Tanto Presidio – Silver Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 523S
  • Benchmade Pardue Tanto Presidio – Silver Blade / Plain Edge – 523
  • Benchmade Safety Cutter – – 8BLKWSN
  • Benchmade Safety Cutter – ADC Soft Sheath – 15BLKWADC
  • Benchmade Safety Cutter – ADC Soft Sheath – 7BLKWADC
  • Benchmade Safety Cutter – ADC Soft Sheath – 8BLKWADC
  • Benchmade Safety Cutter – Black Finish / Hard Sheath – 5BLK
  • Benchmade Safety Cutter – Black Finish / Soft Coyote Sheath – 5BLKWSN
  • Benchmade Safety Cutter – Black Handle / Black Belt Mounted Sheath – 7BLKBLT
  • Benchmade Safety Cutter – Coyote Soft Sheath – 15BLKWSN
  • Benchmade Safety Cutter – Orange Handle – 7BLKW-ORG
  • Benchmade Safety Cutter – Orange Handle / Black Belt Mounted Sheath – 7BLKBLT-ORG
  • Benchmade Safety Cutter – Silver Finish / Hard Sheath – 5
  • Benchmade Safety Cutter – Silver Finish / Soft Black Sheath – 5W
  • Benchmade Safety Cutter – Soft Sheath – 15BLKW
  • Benchmade Safety Cutter – X15 Steel – 7BH2OW
  • Benchmade Safety Cutter – X15 Steel / Soft Sheath – 7H2OW
  • Benchmade Warn Auto Escape Tool – Red – 30110-1
  • Benchmade Warn Barrage Tanto – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 583SBK-1
  • Benchmade Warn Barrage Tanto – Silver Blade / Plain Edge – 583-1
  • Benchmade Warn Mini-Barrage Tanto – Black Blade / Partially Serrated Edge – 587SBK-1
  • Benchmade Warn Mini-Barrage Tanto – Silver Blade / Plain Edge – 587-1
  • Benchmade Warn Safety Cutter – Red – 9CB-1

Supplies limited to what’s on hand, please call for availability