I’ve gotten good at identifying Spyderco Para 3 fakes, but I have been caught twice, both times returning the blades. Fakes are usually revealed in the fine details. The manufactured originals are extremely consistent, and ANY clear deviation from the norm strongly suggests a fake. It definitely helps to have a genuine item for comparison… If in doubt, it is also a good idea to buy from authorized dealers.
I see comments below discussing the advantage of buying a fake vs the costly real one. I get it and understand, just like driving a Shelby Cobra kit car - "why not"? But that reason why not extends to us collectors. I'm an avid backpacker, camper, outdoors person (avid, not expert). I have 5- knives that I USE. However, I have a few dozen, brand new knives that are my COLLECTION. We all collect some things, for me, it's better knives. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS INFORMATIONAL VIDEO. I have one "Benchmade" Bugout and was ready to buy a fixed blade Hunt. Both are fake- very disappointing, but good to know. My fake Bugout will become an EDC. Armed with this info, including the info on ID'ing a fake box, I will again search for a good price on a true Benchmade. The hunt is half the fun. C'mon folks, don't shoot the teacher just for passing on info to those who find value it it! Thank you Tim! This helps a lot.
So, to sum up. I can spend 30 bux on a knife that is probly the same quality as a 200 dollar knife, and both look great and do the same job just as well? Gimme the 30 dollar knife any day.
Great video. I did notice on the 940 black drawstring bag. That mine that I purchased direct from Benchmade has a similar color font to the fake bag (a duller grey color) compared to your real bag. While the font itself looked more like the real bag you have, mine has the color writing of the fake. Must be something that have or occasionally change.
Hi Shane, Thanks for the note, I’ve definitely noticed a subtle change in the bag color over time and sometime a different bag all together when the blade is sent back to customer’s via the warranty program. It’s very possible these bags are sent out when supplies are low.
@@bernalcutlery-sf thanks for your reply. That makes sense. I have been curious for a while why my bag is slightly different to most. Though I have no doubt that my knife is authentic. Just one of those little things that makes you over think 😂 I do live outside the U.S, so possibly how they send them here.
I love knives for sure, quality made, company history etc etc but nowadays the guys are selling $300 or $500 bushcraft, honestly… they are factory made not artisan made so clam down. For this price you can easily order one on your spec to an artisan. In France we are using Opinel No7 or 8 for 10 bucks, amazing sharpening and simple as you need outdoor, and if you loose it, it’s $10, you can do it.
The screws are NOT “your classic hex,” they are “your classic Torx.” Almost every modern pocket knife uses Torx screws (and looking closely, I can see that this one does, too)! Not knowing that undermines your authority.
Kind of agree. I got a knock off from temu to try it out and it's not bad at all. Was $22 instead of $310 and my friends couldn't tell the difference. They wanted me to mail it in for sharpening to see if it would get denied before they ordered some.
Just note that Benchmade reserves the right to impound any counterfeit products sent for warranty work as per their Counterfeit Goods Acknowledgement. www.benchmade.com/pages/counterfeit-goods-acknowledgement
@@bernalcutlery-sf Moral of the story - Learn to work on your own knives, which is why a lot of people are buying these clones in the first place. Because you cannot work on a genuine Benchmade or Spyderco without screwing the warranty.
Dude just open the F’ing box and review the knife. Stop pretending to be some forensics professor “teaching” is how to spot a fake. If I need to analyze the box with a microscope and do a full panel pathology on the ink that printed the pamphlet in the box maybe the “fake” I have is the same damn knife but manufactured with Chinese fingers instead of American fingers. Sheesh…. Just show us the knife. Is it good? Can you abuse either one and do they hold up to said abuse? That’s what we want to know! If you don’t want a fake buy it from BladeHQ, The End.
The fake one looks pretty dam good and alot less costly. I'll take the fake and get pretty much the same knife for 25 dollars compared to 170 dollars.😊
There's so many clues. But, all things considered, they've gotten prettyyy good at counterfeiting.
I’ve gotten good at identifying Spyderco Para 3 fakes, but I have been caught twice, both times returning the blades. Fakes are usually revealed in the fine details. The manufactured originals are extremely consistent, and ANY clear deviation from the norm strongly suggests a fake. It definitely helps to have a genuine item for comparison… If in doubt, it is also a good idea to buy from authorized dealers.
The real 748 Narrows is $500+.
The Temu knock off is $25.
And it is an excellent knife.
I prefer the fake ones. They are really so much the same it’s really negligible. For the massive price difference, give me the fake one all day long.
@@UltraMAGAandproudofitafter loosing a very sentimental bench made in the woods this summer I can’t carry a $200 knife anymore
It's straight trash! 👎
The blade quality is the same?
@@garonjohnson5922
No!
All those things you pointed out seem great. But if you don't have a box to compare it to rhen how are you gonna know that?
Sometimes not receiving a box from a retailer or online marketplace can be a tell as well!
I see comments below discussing the advantage of buying a fake vs the costly real one. I get it and understand, just like driving a Shelby Cobra kit car - "why not"? But that reason why not extends to us collectors. I'm an avid backpacker, camper, outdoors person (avid, not expert). I have 5- knives that I USE. However, I have a few dozen, brand new knives that are my COLLECTION. We all collect some things, for me, it's better knives. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS INFORMATIONAL VIDEO. I have one "Benchmade" Bugout and was ready to buy a fixed blade Hunt. Both are fake- very disappointing, but good to know. My fake Bugout will become an EDC. Armed with this info, including the info on ID'ing a fake box, I will again search for a good price on a true Benchmade. The hunt is half the fun. C'mon folks, don't shoot the teacher just for passing on info to those who find value it it! Thank you Tim! This helps a lot.
Thanks Glenn!
So, to sum up. I can spend 30 bux on a knife that is probly the same quality as a 200 dollar knife, and both look great and do the same job just as well? Gimme the 30 dollar knife any day.
😆 I just bought one for 40 bucks. All day long!!!
Great video. I did notice on the 940 black drawstring bag. That mine that I purchased direct from Benchmade has a similar color font to the fake bag (a duller grey color) compared to your real bag. While the font itself looked more like the real bag you have, mine has the color writing of the fake. Must be something that have or occasionally change.
Hi Shane,
Thanks for the note, I’ve definitely noticed a subtle change in the bag color over time and sometime a different bag all together when the blade is sent back to customer’s via the warranty program. It’s very possible these bags are sent out when supplies are low.
@@bernalcutlery-sf thanks for your reply. That makes sense. I have been curious for a while why my bag is slightly different to most. Though I have no doubt that my knife is authentic. Just one of those little things that makes you over think 😂
I do live outside the U.S, so possibly how they send them here.
i just grabbed a fixed adamas and i will have this video open again when i look over it
Awesome! Hope it helps!!!
No discussion about performance? With how similar the fake and real Benchmades look, hopefully price isn't the only difference.
I love knives for sure, quality made, company history etc etc but nowadays the guys are selling $300 or $500 bushcraft, honestly… they are factory made not artisan made so clam down. For this price you can easily order one on your spec to an artisan.
In France we are using Opinel No7 or 8 for 10 bucks, amazing sharpening and simple as you need outdoor, and if you loose it, it’s $10, you can do it.
if this tells me anything its to save some money and buy the counterfeit knife. Benchmade is way over priced!
Just another thing. On the real manual, there is a typo under the Servicing section “informationon”.. seriously. The fakes don’t have this typo.
I’ve seen that on some old ones! I just looked at the manual on a recent delivery from Benchmade and it seems that the typo has been fixed.
The screws are NOT “your classic hex,” they are “your classic Torx.” Almost every modern pocket knife uses Torx screws (and looking closely, I can see that this one does, too)! Not knowing that undermines your authority.
Screws are torx not hex.
You're right, thanks for the correction!
There is a difference in the quality of materials used especially the blade also benchmade will service ur knife for free blade sharpening handle ect
Thank you for this just got me out of buying two fakes 😊
Glad to help!
Fake Benchmade = bargain. Real Benchmade = rip-off. Simple.
Kind of agree. I got a knock off from temu to try it out and it's not bad at all. Was $22 instead of $310 and my friends couldn't tell the difference. They wanted me to mail it in for sharpening to see if it would get denied before they ordered some.
Just note that Benchmade reserves the right to impound any counterfeit products sent for warranty work as per their Counterfeit Goods Acknowledgement.
www.benchmade.com/pages/counterfeit-goods-acknowledgement
@@bernalcutlery-sf Moral of the story - Learn to work on your own knives, which is why a lot of people are buying these clones in the first place. Because you cannot work on a genuine Benchmade or Spyderco without screwing the warranty.
Fake benchmade = fkg trash! 👎
@@lombro1262Don't buy a fkg counterfeit then you don't have to worry about it!
Dude just open the F’ing box and review the knife. Stop pretending to be some forensics professor “teaching” is how to spot a fake. If I need to analyze the box with a microscope and do a full panel pathology on the ink that printed the pamphlet in the box maybe the “fake” I have is the same damn knife but manufactured with Chinese fingers instead of American fingers. Sheesh…. Just show us the knife. Is it good? Can you abuse either one and do they hold up to said abuse? That’s what we want to know! If you don’t want a fake buy it from BladeHQ, The End.
The fake one looks pretty dam good and alot less costly. I'll take the fake and get pretty much the same knife for 25 dollars compared to 170 dollars.😊
I never worry about buying counterfeit. I buy the product at the manufacturer’s website. I guess if you’re buying on eBay, etc, you assume the risks.