whats youre take on the infidel OTF?
- Thread starter JERRY
- Start date
- Status
VA27
Member
I have a mini Infidel. Nothing magical about it, it's a good knife. The double edge blade somewhat limits its utility. If I got the big one I'd go for the single edge. I have a Dalton Millenium that rides on my bail-out bag. I have a safe queen Schrade that was gifted to me, along with a Camillus survival knife, by one of our squadron pilots back in '69.
Autos are cool, but there are so many one-hand opening knives on the market now that 'cool' is about the only reason to own one. Not that that's bad. I'm cool with 'cool'.
Autos are cool, but there are so many one-hand opening knives on the market now that 'cool' is about the only reason to own one. Not that that's bad. I'm cool with 'cool'.
herrwalther
Member
- Joined
- May 1, 2013
- Messages
- 8,136
JERRY said:
The only place the Butterfly emblem is on the Infidel is the button side of the blade. They do not put an emblem on the pocket clip, merely "The Infidel."
They are good knives. But they share the inherent issues of all OTF knives: they must be balanced to work otherwise you have a paperweight, legal issues depending on occupation and where you live, quality ones like the Infidel are expensive, and they have little practical use.
Yep, the clips and blades are marked as herrwalther describes
lemaymiami
Member
I like Benchmade knives, have had a few, one of them is usually with me if I'm wearing clothing...
I long ago decided that I would forego auto blades (as much as I'd love to own one or two) for the following reason.... As a retired cop I was exposed to every kind of blade known in almost every situation -most were being lawfully carried -some had been used and a very few had been so thoroughly used you couldn't find any way to pick it up that didn't get your hands all bloody... The problem I noted pretty much universally is that auto blades tend to attract the attention of every one that sees or handles them - and in many places you either won't get your nice expensive blade back... or the folks you're dealing with will jump to conclusions about the citizen that happened to have it in his or her possession.... I'm old enough to have been able to carry a very sharp blade internationally and never thought anything about since it was a simple single blade pocket knife (never mind that it was an old Henckels with a 3.5" blade and the absolutely sharpest knife I ever owned....). All of that was before 9-11 and I passed through customs and everywhere else with it. I would never have considered for one moment that you could carry something like an infidel (or better) at that time...
I guess you could say that I've done without any auto blades for social reasons....
I long ago decided that I would forego auto blades (as much as I'd love to own one or two) for the following reason.... As a retired cop I was exposed to every kind of blade known in almost every situation -most were being lawfully carried -some had been used and a very few had been so thoroughly used you couldn't find any way to pick it up that didn't get your hands all bloody... The problem I noted pretty much universally is that auto blades tend to attract the attention of every one that sees or handles them - and in many places you either won't get your nice expensive blade back... or the folks you're dealing with will jump to conclusions about the citizen that happened to have it in his or her possession.... I'm old enough to have been able to carry a very sharp blade internationally and never thought anything about since it was a simple single blade pocket knife (never mind that it was an old Henckels with a 3.5" blade and the absolutely sharpest knife I ever owned....). All of that was before 9-11 and I passed through customs and everywhere else with it. I would never have considered for one moment that you could carry something like an infidel (or better) at that time...
I guess you could say that I've done without any auto blades for social reasons....
OP
OP
JERRY
Member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2003
- Messages
- 3,843
hso
I just watched a youtube video where the guy has two "infidels", one without the butterfly on the pocket clip and one with it. the one without it also had a slightly thinner blade..... the one without the butterfly emblem on the pocket clip was the one her stated was the fake. that the handle was a zinc alloy painted with a black enamel opposed to the lighter aluminum handled which was anodized.
what am I missing in that video? is that guy wrong? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLYNmUqD6Rk
I just watched a youtube video where the guy has two "infidels", one without the butterfly on the pocket clip and one with it. the one without it also had a slightly thinner blade..... the one without the butterfly emblem on the pocket clip was the one her stated was the fake. that the handle was a zinc alloy painted with a black enamel opposed to the lighter aluminum handled which was anodized.
what am I missing in that video? is that guy wrong? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLYNmUqD6Rk
Last edited:
With just a quick survey of several legitimate retailers/reviewers it appears some do and some don't have the butterfly on the clip.
Last edited:
OP
OP
JERRY
Member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2003
- Messages
- 3,843
hso, except for the benchmade web site, I cannot find the "silver blade" infidel with the butterfly emblem on the pocket clip..... leads me to believe they are selling the fakes, some may or may not know this but they are fakes none the less. I mean with so many fakes out there I worry I will get "stuck" with a fake because I have to buy it sight unseen.....
in person you can check/feel the true weight if its a fake, check the blade play/slop if its a fake, scratch the paint on the handle with your fingernail if its a fake.... but buying online you never know until you get it and are out the money.
in person you can check/feel the true weight if its a fake, check the blade play/slop if its a fake, scratch the paint on the handle with your fingernail if its a fake.... but buying online you never know until you get it and are out the money.
Last edited:
I know the owner at PVK and they wouldn't be stupid enough to sell fakes (especially of BMs).
One thing I noticed about the fakes is that the alignment of the "button" isn't perfect like it is on the real Infidels. That's not much to go on besides the narrower blade. Also, the paint is darker than the anodizing.
The lettering for THE INFIDEL is "tattered" in a very specific way (easiest way to tell a fake) and the butterfly on the blade is always perfect on a BM instead of having the top of the wings clipped by the grind.
Come to think of it, the lettering isn't tattered on the PVK pic!!!
One thing I noticed about the fakes is that the alignment of the "button" isn't perfect like it is on the real Infidels. That's not much to go on besides the narrower blade. Also, the paint is darker than the anodizing.
The lettering for THE INFIDEL is "tattered" in a very specific way (easiest way to tell a fake) and the butterfly on the blade is always perfect on a BM instead of having the top of the wings clipped by the grind.
Come to think of it, the lettering isn't tattered on the PVK pic!!!
Last edited:
OP
OP
JERRY
Member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2003
- Messages
- 3,843
thanks, it leads me to believe ALL the Infidels currently being sold on GB are fakes. they are all under or right at the $300 mark, but the PVK site as well as others who say they sell the real thing have the standard infidel at $400. makes me think the GB ads are hoping to take some chump's money when they see the name and its $100 less......
basically, there are no standard real BM Infidels for $300 NIB.
basically, there are no standard real BM Infidels for $300 NIB.
Last edited:
I'd agree with that assessment.
An "honest" person selling the knockoffs as knockoffs (although no honest person will sell knockoffs) shouldn't be asking more than $75-$100 for them.
An "honest" person selling the knockoffs as knockoffs (although no honest person will sell knockoffs) shouldn't be asking more than $75-$100 for them.
herrwalther
Member
- Joined
- May 1, 2013
- Messages
- 8,136
hso said:
Yup yup. I thought the "tattering" of Infidel on my belt clip was where it had scratched off due to pocket wear, and was quite displeased that Benchmade would allow the name of their knife to be scraped off by pocket lint. Then the clip broke off and I needed a new one. Benchmade was kind enough to send me 3 extra belt clips and screws at no charge. All of them had the tattering straight from the factory. Put that issue right to bed.
I also think it all depends on when you bought the Infidel too. For example, on the first picture posted by hso, there is lettering (serial number?) below the McHenry stamp. My Infidel (made in 2009 or 20010) has no such marking there. The D2 marking on mine is also higher up and on the "neck" of the blade before the actual edge. None of the replacement belt clips have the BM butterfly on them.
- Status
