I didn't.
Someone else tested it, and reported their findings.
No, it isn't. Eafengrow has been tested multiple times via XRF by the LuvThemKnives channel on YouTube. They are repeat offenders for false steel stamps. If you are lucky, it'll be 8Cr13Mov. If not, it might be 5Cr15. Better yet, just say "no" to Eafengrow. Stick with decent budget brands like Sanrenmu and Petrified Fish.
At least one of those knives was made by Petrified Fish and rebranded. PF is one of the better budget manufacturers and has only more recently become a known brand outside of China. The particular knife in question used 8Cr13Mov with about the best heat treatment you'll see for that steel. A good grind was also helpful.
When dealing with an unscrupulous company, it's hard to know for sure. Almost any blade steel can be made sharp at the factory. Edge retention testing can be complicated by the fact that most factory edges involve fatigue and true performance can take several sharpenings to emerge. The most reliable way to tell is to deal with known and reputable companies. Failing that, check the spreadsheet from LTK to see if samples have been checked via XRF. Otherwise, the easiest way to check for real D2 is with a mustard test. A blob of common yellow mustard placed on totally clean and oil-free steel with a satin finish for one hour will significantly stain D2 but not common substitutions such as 3Cr13, 5Cr15, and 8Cr13Mov. Of course, passing this tests involves staining the blade.
Good to know. I’ll avoid them in the future.
New D2 test says yes:
personally, for a $16 knife, it hardly matters what the steel is… the cheap knives all cut, and most dont rust…
This is also good to know. And I completely agree. At that price point, I just want something that looks good and feels well built. I’d of course prefer it to be D2 steel like it states, but I’m not going to be heartbroken if my <$25 knife isn’t actually D2 steel, just a little bummed.
These boxes always come from my Chinese shipper. Always something weird and wrong about them. Easy to spot though. I’m not measuring anything. I already knew I was buying a copy so no need for me to get into the, “how to spot a fake” worm hole. If you buy an expensive knife for $18, you can’t really complain.
I do have to say. the knife that came in that box, I have been hammering on at work for the last 3 months. It stays sharp and keeps on working. When I first got it I took it apart, cleaned and lubed it, and put a spot of blue loctite on the pivot screw and adjusted it accordingly. It hasn’t let me down yet.
> I already knew I was buying a copy
glad to hear it is working well.
when I bought the first one off ebay for $97
I did not know it was a counterfeit
Ebay required me to send the knife to Benchmade for Authentication.
It failed, and Benchmade confiscated my Ebay knife.
the one I got for $18 was my way of proving to myself, that the ebay knife was counterfeit. I like my clone for $18, not so much for $97. It is well made, inexpensive, and sharp.
now waiting for the letter from Benchmade, to send to Ebay, so they refund my $97 counterfeit, and stop the seller from fooling others like me.
Interesting to note the discussion on counterfeit knives.
During the 11/11 Sale, I ordered one knife from Petrified Fish Store on Ali Express. I was attracted to this shop by its rather unusual name brand.
A question for knife collectors who are also collecting flashlights: Is there any serious counterfeiting of expensive flashlights? So far, I have never encountered any discussion on this possible problem in the BLF.
I know there are fake batteries. But are there fake / counterfeit flashlights?
There were instances of “gray market” lights being sold whose warranties were not honored, but dunno if they were “legit” from the factory or cloned.
Then there were things like the Utorch/Manker debacle…
LTK is sometimes too kind to companies that lie about their steel content. Note that this video is over a year old and Eafengrow was actively trying to save face. They still occasionally fail in testing. LTK often refers to them as “Eafen Liars” when they do.
BTW, this testing is a regular thing. It’s worth subscribing to his channel. Batch 43 recently posted.
There are some LED Lenser counterfeits.
There are some weird things going on with brands like Ultrafire where it’s hard to know what is really their light and what is not.
There are also clones.
Aside from Utorch, I’ve also seen some fourtysevens clones. At one point there was a Jaxman Z1 clone called Cometa.
I read about a guy that paid $700 for what he thought was a Hanko, from VietNam. It ended up being a clone. He got a $640 refund from the seller… He was happy, because it came with a Dragon Driver.
there are also clones that look similar to the Prometheus Beta. And also clones that look like Barrel flashlights…
Usually these are not sold at prices of the Originals, and they come from Ali or other chinamart sellers… so they are not trying to sell for the price of the original. Hence the word Clone.
I would say Counterfeit if the host is misrepresented and resold as an Original… such as the Vietnam case…
coming back to knives
I have a Clone of Benchmade 555 that cost just $18.
I learned about it after buying the same knife for $97, as a Counterfeit on Ebay. Counterfeit is the word for a light being sold as a original, when in fact it is not.
Hope eBay refunds you. Nice if they booted the seller , but they probably won’t .
Tangram Amarillo - really nice little flipper for $24. Sharp, well-centered, great action (better than Kizer Lieb shown in pic), seems well built. JPN Acuto steel ??? we’ll see but for an easily pocketable knife I am liking it.
G10 handle is nice and grippy.
Gave my son atangram for his birthday. I showed him how to operate it and how it cuts so cleanly through paper. He won’t touch it now. I’m going to trade the knife for a cr123 light. Not as dangerous
“JPN Acuto” is Acuto 440. It is effectively the Japanese analog of 9Cr18Mov. It’s a decent steel. In testing, there was a lot of variation in hardness on the Tangram knives. Still, they tend to do pretty well in cut testing.
The Tangram Santa Fe remains one of my all-time favorite sub-$30 knives. I’ve given a bunch out as gifts and I put a ridiculous amount of use on mine before losing it.
> I’ve given a bunch out as gifts
are you familiar with the tradition regarding a coin, when gifting a knife?
why-do-we-give-somebody-coin-when-they-give-us-knife-gift
Ive heard of it both ways,
some cultures give a coin with the knife
… instead of requesting a coin in exchange for a knife
I’ve heard this but I don’t believe it. I’ve given almost every friend and family member a knife at some point.
conclusion of my ebay counterfeit saga:
short version:
I got a refund, Benchmade confiscated the knife, the ebay Seller continues to flip $18 clones for $95
longer version:
Update on the counterfeit mini griptilian I bought on ebay for $90, thinking it was real…
.
I sent it to Benchmade, they confiscated it, and sent me a letter saying it is counterfeit.
I logged in to ebay and started a refund request from the seller, and uploaded the letter.
the seller refunded immediately…
even though
the ebay robot says Im outside the return window from the seller, AND that the item is NOT eligible for Ebay Money Back Guarantee… (dont know why not)
the guy is still actively flipping knives on ebay, he has raised the price to $95 plus tax
https://www.ebay.com/itm/124868811777
I learned a lot… the seminar lasted 5 weeks, and was free after refunds.
No Benchmades were harmed… but they stole my ebay knife and offered no recourse… fortunately the seller refunded.
Im done saving the world from scammers, for today… LOL
Lessons learned, consumer options:
I can buy a (Fake) Benchmade Mini Griptilian Clone for $18 from DHgate,
or a (Fake) Counterfeit (the clone passed off as original) for $95 from Ebay,
or I can buy a genuine Benchmade from REI, for $110
emotional content
Im more pissed at Benchmade for stealing my knife, than I am at the seller, who gave me a full refund. And I decided not to give REI my money, this time.
so, I’m happy with the Clone I bought for $18 from DHgate, no regrets
Commendable for going through the BS to do the right thing .It’s too bad ebay can’t seem to do the same .The all mighty dollar is their concern, profit over morals .