Benchmade Knives are, as the company says in its own words, “Yours, for life.” If anything goes wrong with your knife, they will take it back, assess what needs to be repaired or replaced, address the issue, and then send it back to you.

Benchmade’s is one of the best warranties in the industry, bar none, and ranges alongside other great warranties like those offered by ESEE Knives and White River Knife and Tool Company, to name just a few. 

But, at the same time, you still don’t want to deal with a broken or rusted blade, or any other issues that are entirely preventable. That being said, here are 7 things never to do with your Benchmade Knives, so that hopefully you won’t need to send them in for repair or replacement. 

• Don’t throw them. This is a big one. Knives that are intended to be carried should not be thrown, as they are generally heat-treated to a higher hardness than is desirable in a throwing knife. On top of that, you’ll massively stress the locking mechanism on a folding knife if you throw it. 
  
  
• Don’t pry with them. This is probably the single biggest sin that most knife owners are guilty of. We’ve all pried more or less with the tip of a folding knife, and never once has it ever been a good idea. It stresses the tip, which is a naturally fragile part of the knife, as well as the lock. 
  
  
• Don’t baton with them. Strictly speaking, you can lightly baton with a folding knife so long as the lock is disengaged, but even then it is a bad idea. The AXIS Locks of Benchmade Knives are very strong, but you should still never baton with one. That is a good way to destroy the knife; reserve batoning for fixed blades. 
  
  
• Don’t over oil them. You might think a lot of oil equates to love and care for the tool, but oil will clog up the pivot mechanism and worse, it will attract lint, dust and other dirt that can wear out the pivot mechanism. Less is more here. 
  
  
• Don’t put the knife away with a wet blade. Many Benchmade Knives are made with very corrosion resistant steel alloys, but that is still no excuse for putting one away wet. Wipe the blade off before you stow it and prevent rust the easy way. 
  
  
• Don’t stick the blade in the ground. Never stick the blade of any knife or edged tool in the ground, unless it is expressly designed for that (like a shovel). The sand and other abrasive agents in the ground will make quick work of the edge, and on top of that, there are moisture, salts, and other compounds in the earth that will accelerate corrosion. 
  
  
• Don’t let the knife get too dull. A sharp knife is a safe knife because you don’t have to strain with it, and straining is when slips happen. Keep your knife sharp and it will not just be more enjoyable to use, it will be safer, too. 

Shop Benchmade Knives at River’s Edge Cutlery 

Now that you know what not to do with Benchmade Knives (or any folder, for that matter) hopefully you’ll experience fewer hiccups on the daily. But if you landed here looking for a place where you could round out your current inventory with a new folder, check out River’s Edge Cutlery.

They don’t just represent the best brands in the business; they know their market and will make personalized recommendations if you ask them, so get in touch with them if you have any questions. 

For more information about Demko Knives and Shirogorov Knives Please visit: River’s Edge Cutlery.