Gold Class Numbering

artisandave

• January 30, 2013 11:59

Hi all,

This is my first post as a new member. I've been a knife collector for a couple of years, and only recently purchased my first Benchmade. I've been blown away by the attention to detail and craftsmanship put into these pieces. As such I started looking at the Gold Class knives, much to my wife's dismay

I noticed that a lot of the Gold Class have a recurring numerical suffix, like 940-81, 690-101 etc. Being really geeky about stuff like this, I was wondering if anyone knows what these numbers mean. For example, does the "81" and "101" mean that a particular model was prototyped by a particular member of the Gold Class development team, or is there some other meaning?

I would love to know. Thanks everyone for your help.

0

• 

  vance

  • January 30, 2013 15:27

  Welcome!
  
  The Gold Class suffix (XXX-81) indicates the year of the project and the number of the variant for that year. Also, a two digit suffix indicates a Gold Class limited in contrast to a three or four digit suffix which indicates a limited edition.
  
  For example:
  
  210-81
  210-82
  210-83
  
  All three of the above are Gold Class limiteds that were produced in 2008. The -81 was the first variant produced and the -83 was the third.
  
  The same applies to limited editions: XXX-1301 would indicate the first variant limited edition of a model produced in 2013.
  
  Hope that helps!

  0
• 

  artisandave

  • January 30, 2013 19:09

  Thanks Vance, that makes a lot of sense.
  
  So if I've understood correctly then both Limited and Limited Editions are produced in short production runs such as 200 pieces. However, the Limited Editions are part of the regular range (Blue and Black Class), and the Limited are part of the Gold Class.
  
  As such an example of this years numbering would be XXX-131 for Limiteds, and XXX-1301 for Limited Editions.
  
  Is that correct or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

  0
• 

  vance

  • January 30, 2013 21:19

  Artisan_Dave,
  
  Sounds like you have it correct.
  
  Please note, I mis-spoke when I stated: "Also, a two digit suffix indicates a Gold Class limited in contrast to a three or four digit suffix which indicates a limited edition."
  
  Since 2010 the suffix for Gold Class Limited became 3 digits and the Blue and Black Class Limiteds became 4 digits.
  
  Sorry for the confusion!

  0
• 

  artisandave

  • January 31, 2013 09:31

  Thanks for taking the time to explain it to me Vance.
  
  It's always great to be able to learn more about finely crafted things from those who have the same enthusiasm for them. For me knowing the history behind a design, or the reasoning for a particular styling add a huge amount of joy to the ownership of such elegant cutlery.
  
  Thanks again.

  0

Please sign in to leave a comment.