Benchmade Cutters? Anyone the proud owner?

[El Presidente]

 

I am happy with my Palio but would love to hear from members who have forked out moola for a Benchmade cutter. 

From our friends at Cigar Journal

BENCHMADE ADDING REGULAR PRODUCTION 1500 CIGAR CUTTER NEXT MONTH

Over the last two years, Benchmade Knife Co. has sold a variety of high-priced, limited edition cutters using a similar single guillotine design. Now, the company is adding a regular production version at a much more affordable price.

CONTINUED

 

[BigGuns]

Coincidence you saw this and shared it on the same day an old thread about the Les Fines Flames cutter was revived.  Benchmade certainly makes some quality blades (I have no doubt superior to the LFF), but I'm wondering if the flaw in this cutter style is design, not craftsmanship.  I'm curious to know if it, too, gets to a point where the blade is crushing the stick into the frame of the cutter like the Les Fines Flames, rendering it more of a mauler than cutter.  Looking forward to hear some feedback.

[JY0]

For $250 I'd want to be able to sharpen it. I can't tell if the blade's cutting edge is straight or concave.

[Benson]

I was intrigued by these, they even make a smaller, more utilitarian version here: 

https://www.bladehq.com/item--Benchmade-Aller-Fum-e-Friction--103602

My issue, at least in my mind, is that I wouldn’t want to risk dulling my cutter by ever using it as a knife. I do really like the look and style, but originally this blade was $400, for that money I just got a Xikar XO and another box of CC.

I would definitely like to hear about performance on these, as well as the Les Fines

[jackupster]

I dont have one of their cutters but I carry one of their pocket knives. High quality and worth the price IMHO. I know you can send your knife to Benchmade for repairs or sharpening if you pay the shipping. I'd consider one but I prefer my Xikar Xi3 with 2 blades.  

[Goodfortune]

I love the look. I own several Benchmade knives and can’t say enough good things about the quality. I really wanted one of the original releases, especially when they were showing up on auction sites for about half price ($500ish), but the review turned me off for the price. https://halfwheel.com/benchmade-1500-181-cigar-cutter/286742/
 

Hopefully they made some modifications and this new version is better. I always have my eye out for a new unique cutter. 

[Doctorossi]

14 hours ago, BigGuns said:

Benchmade certainly makes some quality blades (I have no doubt superior to the LFF), but I'm wondering if the flaw in this cutter style is design, not craftsmanship.  I'm curious to know if it, too, gets to a point where the blade is crushing the stick into the frame of the cutter like the Les Fines Flames, rendering it more of a mauler than cutter.

Exactly. El Pres mentions he's happy with his Palio. I'm happy with mine, too, and one of the primary reasons is the opposed dual-blade design that prevents such problems.

I don't think I'd want one of these Benchmade models at any price (the price of victimized cigars!). I've heard terrible things about Palio since the company was sold, so I wouldn't want a new(er) Palio, either, but I love my old one.

[topdiesel]

Benchmade knives are nice.  I would purchase a quality every day carry knife from them and use that to cut my cigar before I would purchase their cigar cutter.  However, it is nice to see a quality knife maker at least trying to enter the market.  I would like to see spyderco make a cigar cutter.

I agree with others that it should be around $100, but they probably figure there are plenty of cigar folks who will slap down that kind of money on a cutter and they are most likely correct.

another good knife maker tops knives has the 208 clipper which also has a bottle opener.  Similar design.

https://www.topsknives.com/208-clipper

 

[bmf30180]

11 hours ago, Psiman said:

I have heard they are very good at splitting cigar wrappers and not good cutters. same steel they use on their lower line knives and should be priced at no more than $100. I would buy from knife makers Fox out of Italy before I would buy a Benchmade cigar cutter. Fox stuff is far better and a lot less money

Thanks for this.  I just ordered the Fox-747

[SCgarman]

I have been using the same Zino Davidoff double edge guillotine cutter for the last 25 years. Was a gift and at the time cost 50 USD. It is still plenty sharp and has definitely paid for itself many times over. I have no reason to buy anything else. 

[Doctorossi]

1 hour ago, Psiman said:

My finger nails still work great as well and they don’t stop working or growing. 

I can't speak for yours, but my fingernails are a very underrated cutter. 

[CigarAsh]

I have a bunch of Xikar double guillotines - but one of my sons got me this for Xmas a year or two ago. Except for small format cigars, I have become a devoted lover of the V cut for my cigars. One of these days I'll actually look inside of the thing and realize all the caps I cut don't just magically disappear.