Yeah, we put it in the camping section because thats what I actually use it for most, but this is an all-around EDC badass. Its textured and large enough to get a comfortable grip. Folders still arent technically as strong as a full-tang fixed blade but they are plenty strong enough to get the job done without worry. Its a full circle EDC get r done kind of knife and Id feel more than comfortable recommending this to pretty much everyone and anyone. The Benchmade Freek (actually known as the 'Super Freek') is the Bugout's big brother and delivers all of the same components but just makes them bigger. Like you said, hunters and frequent users may have a different take on it. Two thumb studs on either side of the blade allow for fast and easy opening with either hand. Okay, I know, that was a lead up to virtually nothing, but nowadays we have the AXIS lock which makes Benchmades folding knives exceptionally strong. But first, please take a few moments to sign up as a member of our EDC community below. Ever since childhood, Ive always loved to play with knives in my moms kitchen. In terms of ease of carrying and usability, this may just be the knife that sits the most comfortably in between those two attributes found on the market today. However, some find the full-sized Griptilian a little intimidating. For steller cutting, piercing, and prying tasks, this is the best Benchmade knife you can hope to find. The slim point is ideal for precision work and while its not as strong as a sheeps foot form its still tough enough for most everyday cutting jobs. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: M390Handle Composition: G10 or Carbon FiberBlade Length: 3.08Total Length: 7.03Total Weight: 3.52 ounces. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, benefits, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see this government poster: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal. Usually, locking mechanisms are good for around 50 to 100lbs of pressure but Benchmade, of course, took things many steps further and now their absolute minimum lock strength on any AXIS equipped knife is 200lbs, with most of their knives exceeding that. That spring is always under tension so be extra careful with the button! the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Incredible blade quality, assisted open, perfect combination of compactness/functionality, Light, simple, well-made, full size blade, full-function, Beautifully constructed, assisted open, good value, Pricey, blade lock mechanism not intuitive, Expensive, low profile handle, flexy plastic construction, Slender handle makes it hard to apply even pressure, thin blade is fragile, Immaculately constructed knife in a form-factor that is easy to carry and large enough for virtually every task, For a full-function, full-size pocket knife, this is as light as it gets, and is the premier option for all sorts of human-powered adventures, A slender, svelte pocket knife with great materials and a reasonable value, Proprietary Stainless (between 440A and 420), Assisted, ambidextrous thumb stud; back-of-knife finger tab, Scissors, nail file, small screwdriver, tweezers, toothpick, key ring. Benchmade is comparable to Bentley in the knife world and a brand like that is simply going to come with a premium for the name. However, it is not at the very top. The double-sided spear-point can be found here and is an excellent option as well, but only if its legal where you reside so make sure you check up on that before buying! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The original Freek, the 560, isnt available new anymore from what I understand and since the new version, the 560-1, encompasses CPM-M4 steel instead of what was previously used, thats why this version is dubbed the Super Freek, even though its not technically called that by Benchmade. The hardness gives the blade incredible rigidity and strength but requires a little love and care to keep in tip-top shape. I can see that each knife has some advantages and disadvantages, as evidenced by all the varying opinions here. Check out the beautifully crafted hand-built Damasteel Foray here. My Review: This knife isnt for everybody, thats for sure, however, if youre an avid hunter who would rather expend energy on the actual hunt itself as opposed to getting to your stomping grounds, this may be an alternative worth considering. Oh, and if you have butterfingers and youre always dropping your knives in the woods, only to take the next 15 minutes kicking leaves looking for your knife, you can grab this baby in some hot hunters orange and ensure you never lose your beloved Benchmade Altitude. These knives are exceptionally dangerous and have very little utility value. Keep a onein your pocket and a fixed blade in your pack. A folder is more compact and safer to carry, but when open and locked the blade is rigid enough for anything youre likely to ask of it. The second thing you might notice is the saw teeth on the back of the blade. Overall its a very nice handle that gives excellent grip, even when wet or slick with blood. However, if you dont want the hassle of opening a knife, no matter how smooth the action is, you can go for a sheathed fixed blade knife. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact TalentAcquisition@benchmade.com or 1-800-800-7427. Click, Skip to the beginning of the images gallery. Built on heavy-duty stainless steel liners, this is a knife to carry into the woods or around town for years to come. This is one knife that even a Marine wouldnt stand much chance against. Hold this thing in real life before you judge! I don't like the flimsy scales. Understanding the shape and the steel of your future blade will be the largest deciding factor of how the blade behaves when used in your specific environment and situations! With the purchase of a Benchmade knife, you have the option to mail in your knife when it gets dull or requires maintenance and Benchmade will have it back to you in less than two weeks looking and performing as if it was brand new. Its a bit harsh on the hand. Lets talk about some of the best technologies theyve designed and implemented over the years. Thats not a major drawback though, and for most people, its going to be more than made up for by the overall comfort and usability of the knife. Its lightweight and might feel flimsy at first. The attribute that dubs it a hunting knife is the modified drop point blade. To get the most out of the Barrage 583, Id suggest you break it in properly. If you think that 7.25 total length would be tough to conceal or a bit overkill, you can check out the Benchmade Mini SOCP here. This program is designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon. I mean seriously solid, as in I would be utterly shocked if you managed to seriously damage this thing. The action that runs on bearings is not going to be ideal if youll be exposing your knife to loads of dust and other debris, but if you arent and youre capable of keeping it relatively clean, the action is insanely smooth. A: Great high-quality steel such as 154CM and CPM-s30v are used to create Benchmade knives. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM-3VHandle Composition: Diamond Textured Rubber SantopreneBlade Length: 3.75Total Length: 8.25Total Weight: 4.51 ounces. How to Choose the Best Benchmade Knife for All Purposes? Particularly, if youre going to swim, camp, or go backpacking, dont pick wood or Dymondwood handle as moisture will make it unsuitable for a while. MADE FOR HUNTING: The North Fork 15031-1's drop-point, recurved blade is ideal . Benchmade has wisely kept the Mini Bugout's clip plain and simple. Lifetime guarantee We independently buy, test, and rate all the products we review. Is it worth it to pay extra for high-quality American made goods? A much smaller blade, somewhere not too far from three inches long, is the right size for most tasks. Build Your Ultimate Bugout for National Knife Day 2023. Moreover, while some might scorn the Spydie hole, its a good replacement for the thumb stud. Benchmade Bugout 535 7.46-Inch Folding Knife, Benchmade Mini Crooked River 15080-2 Knife, Benchmade Saddle MTN Skinner R/L Fixed Blade Knife, 7 Best Thermos Flask Reviews: Convenient On-the-go Beverage and Food Containers, 10 Best Level Reviews That Are Accurate for Professional and Home Use, 8 Best Chisel Set Reviews: Super Sharp Tools for Your Woodworking Projects, 8 Best Wood Filler Reviews: Complete Your Repair Projects like a Professional, 9 Best String Trimmer / Weed Wacker (Electric, Gas) Reviews and Buying Guide, 10 Best Garden Stool Reviews: Stylish and Practical Outdoor Furniture, 9 Best Workbench Reviews: Ultra-Functional Furniture for DIY Enthusiasts, 7 Best Keychain Flashlight Reviews: The Most Powerful and Portable, 9 Best Portable Air Compressor Reviews: Inflate a Tire in an Emergency, 6 Best Pond Pumps: High-Quality Pond, Fountain and Aquarium Pumps, 10 Best Rain Gauge Reviews: Be Water Smart with An Accurate Udometer, 5 Best Robotic Pool Cleaner to Buy Reviews and Comparisons, 8 Quietest Portable Air Conditioner Reviews: Ultra-Quiet Cooling Solutions, 8 Best Coco Coir An Essential Growing Medium, 7 Best Storage Boxes That Are Practical and Easy to Use, 7 Best Work Boots for Men and Women: Reviews & Comparisons, 7 Best Curry Comb Reviews: Pamper Your Horse with a Shiny Coat, 9 Best Nutcracker Reviews: Quick and Easy Nut Cracking Devices, 10 Best Woodworking Clamps to Keep a Solid Grip on Your Work, 6 Best Hiking Shoes for Men and Women: Reviews & Comparisons, Best Potting Soil for Any Plant Buying Guide and Recommendations, Ideal for hiking, camping, backpacking, and EDC, Great edge retention, good centering, and corrosion resistance, Drop-point/partially serrated blade is versatile, Smooth operating AXIS lock can be used one-handed, Available with a plain edge blade and green handle, Feels too lightweight for medium to heavy-duty cutting tasks, Opening mechanism can be a little stiff out of the box, Ideal for EDC, camping, and tactical applications, 154CM 58-61 high-carbon stainless steel blade, Black coating for additional durability and rust-resistance, Strong and durable drop-point utility-style blade, Exceptionally strong and fully ambidextrous AXIS lock, AXIS mechanism can be a little hard to open until you break it in, Handle feels too lightweight for heavy-duty tasks, Ideal for EDC, camping, and tactical scenarios, Superb edge qualities and rust resistance, Lightweight, contoured aluminum handle is comfortable to hold and use, Made from extra hard high-carbon stainless steel, Tough drop point/partially serrated blade, Sturdy and durable G10 handle is ideal for extreme temperatures, Premium quality extra hard CPM-S30V 58-60 high-carbon steel, First-rate edge retention and corrosion resistance, Comfortable contoured stabilized wood/resin backfilled handle, Stabilized wood can stand up to a range of harsh elements and environments, Exceptionally strong and smooth operating ambidextrous AXIS lock, Wood handle may be too soft to get a good grip, Exceptionally strong, highly responsive, and fully ambidextrous AXIS lock, Black overmolded Versaflex and dark gray Grivory handle is very strong, comfortable to use, and increases your grip, Made from very hard premium 58-60 HRC stainless steel, Great edge retention and good corrosion-resistance, Drop-point razor-sharp blade cuts through thick meat like butter, Exceptionally strong, highly responsive, and fully ambidextrous AXIS lock is designed for one-handed operation, Blade has a bit of vertical play in the locked position, Premium-quality extra hard CPM-S30V steel, Great edge retention and corrosion resistance, Precision drop-point construction provides extra strength and cutting versatility, Fully ambidextrous and easy gripping Grivory Versaflex handle, Molded from glass-filled nylon for superior durability, Scales can get stuck on a pockets material, Ideal for camping, survival, and tactical operations, Durable G10 handle is impervious to moisture and remains stable under extreme temperatures, Full tang design providing greater strength and reliability, Durable full grain leather sheath features a belt loop and D-ring, Thick handle may be a little hard to grip for small hands, Large, thick, and razor-sharp blade excels at skinning and meat removal, Exceptional edge retention and very good rust resistance, Improved jimping helps with tougher cutting tasks, Durable and comfortable stabilized wood handle, Well-balanced, full tang design provides greater strength and reliability than a folding knife, Newly designed bright orange G10 fiberglass sheath. My Review: The Barrage is an excellent EDC sized self-defense and general utility knife that sports a very well finished blade that is available with that lovely black Cerakote job Benchmade is known for or, of course, a polished satin finish. Features 3D-machined handle texture Contoured for comfort Increased grip and rigidity with only a 0.1 ounce difference in weight Refine by No filters applied The folding knife isnt just built for hunting, but also suitable for other uses as well.This Benchmade North Fork 1503 review explains everything about this versatile, tactical knife. I wouldn't call it a slicer like the bugout but it all depends on what your full purpose is farm work I believe you will enjoy the northfork the most and the wood scales are awesome plus full liners. Its no secret that the Saddle Mountain series was designed to be a hunters best friend. Check out the Benchmades official page for more information on the Lifesharp program here. Benchmade uses CPM S30V stainless steel that's known for its sharpness and ability to shed corrosives without enduring . Simply apply pressure to the thumb stud and boom, the blade flips into place almost effortlessly. The quality of a folding knife is ultimately among the most essential things you should consider way before you purchase a folding knife. My Review: First and foremost, the Saddle Mountain is more of a lineup of knives that just a single knife itself. This makes the knife practical for everyday use. Score: 4/10. The Bugout doesnt try and do anything fancy. The very first look convinces you that this knife would not slip from your grip. Blade Style: Ringed DaggerBlade Composition: 440HCHandle Composition: Full-Tang Handless DesignBlade Length: 3.22Total Length: 7.25. A lot of glass breakers you find as a kind of throw in function on many knives usually feels pretty lame but not this one, Im absolutely terrified to let it even look at a piece of glass and on top of that, its ultra-tiny and doesnt get in the way. My Review: Do I need to explain how Tactical a knife thats called the Tactical Triage is? While that large selection to choose from is great, most of our readers arent going to pony up thousands of dollars to buy and test them all. Are you going to wiggle, rock, and twist the blade often to get your job done? Due to the straight edge, it will be easier for you when you do need to sharpen the Barrage. North Fork is a great little folder but thickest through the handles. Due to its lightweight and versatility, this is the top folding knife of our backpacking knives guide here. Its also a little prone to chipping. Here you also see that the Bailout was intended for tactical use. It is ultimately one of the worlds best folding knives that are perfectly designed to provide uninterrupted long term use.The package offers a lifetime warranty, a comfortable wooden handle and a high quality CPM-S30V stainless steel blade. I have had a ton of them. The knifes drop-point blade is ideal for the avid hunter. All things considered, this is the best Benchmade pocket knife Ive come across. The Bugout has always come with a nice deep pocket clip which isnt as deep as some of the other clips they offer but it gets the job done nicely and has no play, something Ive learned to expect from all Benchmade products. This will give you more flexibility but lower edge retention. What Other Pocket Knives Should You Consider? This is the last self defense knife on this list, but we have an entire guide dedicated to self defense knives here if youre interested. Theres a lanyard hole at the pommel end, which is drilled through the liner and exposed by cutouts in the scales. By far my favorite benchmade edc even over my 940's. North Fork. The Axis Automatic mechanism is a little more aggressive than the Axis Assist and works by ejecting the blade immediately when the Axis tension bar is pressed. As I mentioned before, Benchmade has released this knife in tons of different colors and styles and if that 3.24 blade is a little too long for your Bugout loadout, Id strongly recommend giving the Mini Bugout 533 a look as well which can be found here. What kind of knife is Benchmade North Fork Drop-Point? The price of a Benchmade is primarily based on three things. A: One of the many advantages of getting a Benchmade knife is its warranty. Step 2 Construction:Along with size goes construction. This uses an internal sprung bolt that locks into the rear of the blade when its opened. My current daily carry is the SOG AE24-CP Aegis Mini, and if you are familiar with it or similar products, it is a spring loaded release and takes some thumb effort to get the blade out. . Moreover, users have said that the blade does not rust or corrode even if kept wet and used in rainy or humid weather conditions. Marine Approved is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Program. The Bugout, while certainly not a bargain-bin blade, is offered at one of the lowest price points in all of Benchmade's catalog, clocking in at $160 for the base model. You are using an out of date browser. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay informed! My Review: The Super Freek is well-known by its ultra-hard and super tough CPM-M4 steel blades that are certainly not for a beginner knife owner. How to Sharpen a Machete Most Effective & Easy Way at Home. Of course, this thing has virtually 0 self-defense properties and it wouldnt ever be a knife Id rely on for camping or survival but it is easy to carry on a keychain so that you always have a tiny suite of tools on hand at all times. Its a more substantial knife. Some of the reasons I personally prefer the Bugout over the Mini Grip include the longer blade length at 3.25 vs 2.91, the blade shape lending itself better for slicing, the weight reduction, and the awesome short carry clip. These are the fastest and least requiring effort to open and use a spring to flip the knife out immediately. The handle is rubberized Santoprene, and the texture wraps around the entirety of it. Slicing? I have both but usually find myself carrying the Griptilian 551. GearLab is reader-supported. These work by pinning two angled torsion bars against the tang of the knife that creates more tension on the blade as its closed. This is one of the best knives we have ever tested with a wooden handle, What makes a super pricey knife twice as good as one that costs half as much? Id say if youre torn between the two, dont let strength be the deciding factor, as I believe this knife will most certainly fit the bill no matter the task. Lastly, lets take a look at the Dymondwood handle. Have some money burning a hole in your pockets and you need something that your buddies are sure to gawk at? The assisted opening mechanism Benchmade uses is on a whole other level from the industry standard and the secondary locking mechanism ensures there is no accidental deployment of that ultra-sharp and ultra lethal spear point. After that, assembly and accurate alignment take place with all new lube and the knife arrives at your doorstep in two weeks or less. Carbon takes a better edge and holds it longer, but stainless needs less maintenance to keep the rust off it. While this bit might seem an unoriginal move on the designers part, theres no doubt that it works well. I carried a mini grip of one variety or another for several years. I love the bugout but will be upgrading the scales. Created for hunting The knife's drop-point blade is ideal for the avid hunter. For now, feel free to continue reading. A: You can purchase it from an authorized seller on Amazon. If that 3.45 blade is a tad too much and you prefer something a little more compact, you can check out the Benchmade Griptilian Mini 556 here. The owner of this website does not guarantee offers on this site, and all offers should be viewed as recommendations only. North Fork-1503 is exceptionally well-designed. Now, that is a simple question, with a complicated answer. What is a Spydie hole, you ask? It feels cheap to me in the hand and I just can't get past it. All you might think you care about, as it pertains to a knife's edge, is "is it sharp?" Check out our benchmade north fork backspace selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM-20CVHandle Composition: Anodized Billet Titanium With Triangular Scale TextureBlade Length: 3.5Total Length: 8.06Total Weight: 3.66 Ounces. This knife is also available with a little pizazz, offering a carbon fiber handle and beautiful accents. Some people are quite partial to G10 handles, while some prefer the lightness of glass-filled nylon or Santoprene. My Review: Oh boy the Bedlam is a beaut of a blade but I swear, this is not the knife for everyone! A final note here, most Benchmade clips are not compatible with the Anthem and the Anthems clip is not compatible with any other Benchmade knife Ive reviewed. The Fact is everything I love about slender pocket knives while still being one lean mean little blade. The Bugout was designed for the modern outdoor adventurer, incorporating the lightest, best performing materials in an extremely slim yet ergonomic package. [Easy] How to Clean Rust off of a Gun Without Damaging it? The Axis Dual-Action is kind of a blend between the two aforementioned Axis mechanisms. Speaking of sliding into your pocket, youll be getting a reversible pocket clip that will allow you to carry it on either side. While this one has a slightly shorter handle and will make your pinky finger dangle free, its expected for such a small knife. Final Note: In loving memory of the Benchmade founder Les De Asis who has made a massive impact on not only the world of knives but always gave back to his community and positivity impacted all those who knew him. Take a look at the specific factors you need to consider before choosing the best Benchmade knife for yourself.