Spyderco Forums

Hi all,
I'm looking at a Benchmade (model 30??) on a local Craigslist for $80.
At $80 it strikes me as a "too good to be true price"-but like a slow moving train wreck, I can't look away.
At this point I'm trying to determine if it's real or fake, does anyone have the knowledge to give me a real green or red light here?
I'll attach the pics I have of it, but he said he doesn't have the box or paperwork for it.
Thanks for any feedback in advance!
-AK

It looks legit to me, which means exactly zip. I know they used those weird inverted serrations on one of my old part serrated Spikes.

That is 100% fake. Stamping is incorrect, should be lasered, finish is off, blade is pinned instead of torx screws.

Thanks guys!
I guess there's always a reason for it to be too good to be true....

Perhaps BM fans over BF can have more accurate opinion, but let me try.

I had BM 239s (?) zamak handled with blade similar to the one shown (except that 239 is 4 incher). This was many years ago, the finish, polish & stamp looks the same. Since it's only based on memory it might be inaccurate. My guts tell me it's real. Pinned SS BM balis are not unusual.

Gah! Now I don't know which way to go with this, it's sad that there are so many fakes and rip offs in the knife industry that it makes something like this so disputable.

Yeah, tough call. If I live & work in US, perhaps I can afford to take the risk. Not with current exchange rates.

You may want to check older balisong threads over BF archives. I used to have plenty of them, but at that time there weren't much counterfeit ones, and my most expensive was the mere 239 zamak mentioned.

I also noticed the larger holes are not countersunk, so it's of a cheaper model. The higher end ones have flush pin (polished off blended nicely with handle) and the larger holes are countersunk. The more economical ones are like in your photo.

I can't be sure though if they are at same era or one after another. Adding complications is that there were Pacific Cutlery (pre BM) made also with very similar models.

Some old collectors like Dawkind or Chefget over BF might have better memory about this, or even still have some in their collections.

The news is in, it's a fake.
And folks at the BF really don't like it if you ask around if it's real or fake. Just an FYI for anyone who shares the same problem. Your best bet is to buy the real or fake knife and then find out on your own if it's real or fake after spending the money.

And if you send an email with photos bechmade ?
Like they can help you with authenticity.
A greeting

Very close counterfeit.