Prototypes to production - Are there any differences?
Is anyone aware of any Benchmade Prototypes that have been changed in some way when brought into production?
I’m sure there must be a handful of differences, but I could only think of the thumb disc being custom welded on the early Ti bladed CQC7 Protos, changing over to the screwed discs in production. Benchmade obviously switched the blade shape of the 757 Vicar, but I’ve still never seen the old blade with the recurve marked as a Proto...
I’m wanting to see how many production models we can find that differ from their Prototypes.
School me, please.
I’m sure there must be a handful of differences, but I could only think of the thumb disc being custom welded on the early Ti bladed CQC7 Protos, changing over to the screwed discs in production. Benchmade obviously switched the blade shape of the 757 Vicar, but I’ve still never seen the old blade with the recurve marked as a Proto...
I’m wanting to see how many production models we can find that differ from their Prototypes.
School me, please.
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My 757 was not marked proto 0 -
quote:Originally posted by wulfftruble:
My 757 was not marked proto
Right. I’ve seen quite a few of the old blades, none with any markings (Proto or FP). Come to think of it, I’ve still never seen any 757 protos.0 -
Thanks to the googler:
The 757 Proto appears no different than the production models.
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450 Terzuola prototype was bc1 coated, production model wasn't. Hopefully someone else has more info on it. Blade steel and handle materials may have been different too. Prototype was 154cm and maybe ti handle, I think production was 440 and aluminum. 0 -
I ya e only seen 1 original grind 757 and I had it. 0 -
I had the chance to buy a 757BK with the original grind in my local brick & mortar 3-4 years ago. Passed... 
If only I could have predicted the future...0 -
quote:Originally posted by Barbarq:
450 Terzuola prototype was bc1 coated, production model wasn't. Hopefully someone else has more info on it. Blade steel and handle materials may have been different too. Prototype was 154cm and maybe ti handle, I think production was 440 and aluminum.
Cool. Thanks.
Bill Hammer?
What do you know about this?0 -
Oh, and the 450 was labeled pre-production, not prototype. Hope this still counts. 0 -
I have two Benchmite prototypes, one labeled as a 310 and one as a 312. Never saw a 312 otherwise. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Chip:
I have two Benchmite prototypes, one labeled as a 310 and one as a 312. Never saw a 312 otherwise.
Nice.
Tell us more about that 312, would ya please?0 -
Apparently, the original 580 Barrage Prototypes were made with G10 scales, before switching to the plastic ones...
And the 910 Stryker Protos have subtle blade differences from the production models...0 -
There were a couple of the 73X protos that had some changes by production. I'll need to look back and check. 0 -
The prototype Skirmish had 3 holes. The production model has 4.
The original 710 handles were aluminum. The production model was G10.0 -
Were there any production Skirmishes with three holes? 0 -
Just the custom ones that I know of. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Patryn:
The prototype Skirmish had 3 holes. The production model has 4.
The original 710 handles were aluminum. The production model was G10.
Dang it, I was gonna say these two but Patryn got it.
There's also the related question of what models changed while in production, e.g. 42 going from T latch to spring latch.
I'd say that steel changes like the base grip going from 440C to 154CM or base Ritter going from S30V to M390 doesn't count, but that's just me.0 -
I have a Prototype 172 Hawk and it is sticking in my mind that the prybar end was changed a bit for the production model. I can't remember if mine has the changes or not. I'll have to pull it out and see. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Patryn:
The prototype Skirmish had 3 holes. The production model has 4.
The original 710 handles were aluminum. The production model was G10.
Ah yes!
Thanks Patryn, I didn’t even consider those.
Now that I think about it though, at least a couple more come to mind...
The uncoated 806M2HS AFCK prototype seemingly became the (coated) 806D2.
The 803 TSEK prototypes are GIN-1, and the production models are 440C.
(The 800BT2-Special AFCK prototypes with tanto blade never made it to production)0 -
quote:Originally posted by Fox184:
I have a Prototype 172 Hawk and it is sticking in my mind that the prybar end was changed a bit for the production model. I can't remember if mine has the changes or not. I'll have to pull it out and see.
Cool stuff, please let us know what’s up.
I always thought that they increased the angle of the prybar when they transitioned from the original 172BK to the forged 172FBK.0 -
Strange to me. Personally I think "prototype" is experimental. They must have some "issues" for making it to mass production. Besides that.
They seems "rare" but that is just too general word. I would say there are some many "rare" blades out there and become "not rare" anymore. It become a an "ordinary" thing.
The most important factor is you have to like the style and design and it fit into your hands comfortably not just the laser marker on the blade.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Patryn:
The prototype Skirmish had 3 holes. The production model has 4.
Original 2003 prototype variation had 3 holes, and the first couple first productions based off of that did to.These theoretically did not make it to the wild. Further the 2003 3 hole had gray as the base color, not green, which changed by the time the 3 hole FPs were made
There is a later set of prototypes with 4 holes however which are from 2004 and have 4 holes and the green base exactly as productionquote:Originally posted by Marty McFly:
The 803 TSEK prototypes are GIN-1, and the production models are 440C
Actually the proto and also all 500 first productions are Gin-1 (I have 3). Regular production is 440c thoughquote:They seems "rare" but that is just too general word.
As I understand it these are production prototypes, testing the fixture and whatnot. There are also R&D knives which vary from production if they make it which is more in line with what you're thinking of. Namely the s30v R&D 741 large onslaught0 -
Awesome.
Thanks for some good info, Sheepborg.0 -
Yeah, for history buffs, things that change during prototyping are also interesting. In the other famous example, the 710 initially had aluminum scales but they later did a proto run with G10. 0 -
The Ares had two subtle changes from prototype to production.
The proto has more material at the bottom of the front handle that covers up a little more of the choil, while the regular production curves backwards. Also, the backspacer on the prototype is made from the same burgundy/black G10 while regular productions use all black material.
Prototype:
regular production:
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quote:Originally posted by sheepborg:
Original 2003 prototype variation had 3 holes, and the first couple first productions based off of that did to...
Thank you so much, sheepborg. Really fascinating stuff.
I remember talking about those three hole FPs on here...Somebody had one. Pete...or Professor?
Was the move from three holes to four solely a matter of Blackwood Knives trademark?
That reminds me...we never got a Benchmade Fixed Henchman.
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The Darkstar is another one, Thumbstud location is totally different than the Prototype.
The 3 hole Skirmish which I still hold one was a Spyderco issue0 -
quote:Originally posted by Po:quote:Originally posted by sheepborg:
Original 2003 prototype variation had 3 holes, and the first couple first productions based off of that did too...
Was the move from three holes to four solely a matter of Blackwood Knives trademark?
Actually, as I understand it, it was more of an issue with Spyderco taking exception to the 3 hole Skirmish... and apparently a lawsuit ensued, resulting in the move to four holes...
It’s something I’ve never figured out entirely, but I enjoy the thought of BKC stickin’ it to the man by adding another hole. Call me easily amused.0 -
quote:Originally posted by agony:
The Ares had two subtle changes from prototype to production.
The proto has more material at the bottom of the front handle that covers up a little more of the choil, while the regular production curves backwards. Also, the backspacer on the prototype is made from the same burgundy/black G10 while regular productions use all black material.
That’s definitely something I had no idea about.
Leave it to the experts...
Thanks Agony.0 -
quote:Was the move from three holes to four solely a matter of Blackwood Knives trademark?
That reminds me...we never got a Benchmade Fixed Henchman.
Man a fixed henchman would be so sick... In talking to Neil he said that he was petitioning pretty hard to get a flipper version of one of his full size designs, it just never panned out for other reasons which are unrelated to the issue of holes
I will say, it is the case that it was an issue with spyderco over what would have been trademark, which only requires things be meaningfully similar in style. It could be argued that adding the extra hole makes the deign a bit less spyderco so I presume that was how that whole thing was settled. This was 2003, which came after 3 years of benchmade not using the round hole with the introduction of knives like the TSEK and later the oval hole AFCK axis in 2002. I think BM was trying to get clever with it and it didnt work out and adding a 4th hole was the most amicable outcome that maintained the design of the helion (skirmish).
Of note also, the mini skirmish was intended to have only 2 holes and there exists at least one of those prototypes. It was also moved to 4 holes, further reinforcing the idea that 4 holes was billed as a design feature rather than being too close to spydercos round hole trademark.
I talked with Eric Glesser about it and he put it simply 'Ah yes, the skirmish... that caused the... skirmish'0 -
quote:Originally posted by Marty McFly:quote:Originally posted by Fox184:
I have a Prototype 172 Hawk and it is sticking in my mind that the prybar end was changed a bit for the production model. I can't remember if mine has the changes or not. I'll have to pull it out and see.
Cool stuff, please let us know what’s up.
I always thought that they increased the angle of the prybar when they transitioned from the original 172BK to the forged 172FBK.
My Prototype appears to be the same as production. I'm pretty certain that an earlier prototype had a different prybar end at the bottom of the handle.0
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