The first thing you might notice is the lack of scales. The Axis Lock by Benchmade consists of a spring-loaded bar that can move back and forth in its designated slot that is between both liners typically high-quality steel liners. Great in case of an emergency, although you hope to never use it. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. There are no other features on the Benchmade North Fork. 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. Its a bit harsh on the hand. This Mini Griptilian also has the same impressive handle as the full-sized Griptilian. Ever since Benchmade set out to craft the best and most tactical knives in 1988, the company has never disappointed its clients for it has been manufacturing high quality knives each year.Benchmade North Fork 1503 is a relatively new entrant into the market, but the tactical folding knife is already winning the hearts of many folding knives users. The Griptilian is host to many of our favorite Benchmade attributes such as the AXIS lock, allowing tons of pressure to be applied on the spine of the knife without fear of locking mechanism failure. Its hard to explain, but this knife is pretty darn cool for the right person. If you consider best compromise of ergonomics and portability. Throughout the list, Ill provide my thoughts on our favorite Benchmade knives across several different categories and throughout both fixed and folding knives in those categories if applicable. At A Glance: Our Top 5 Best Benchmade Knives in 2022. A little fun fact before we get started: The Benchmade Butterfly logo originated from the early days of the company when they specialized primarily in the creation of premium grade butterfly (Balisong) knives! Ever since childhood, Ive always loved to play with knives in my moms kitchen. Its good for being used on a fishing boat where your hands and the grips are generally always going to be wet. The Bugout was designed for the modern outdoor adventurer, incorporating the lightest, best performing materials in an extremely slim yet ergonomic package. I have all 3. What kind of knife is Benchmade North Fork Drop-Point? The manufacturing is based out of Oregon City, Oregon ever since the company moved to the place in 2010. If youre like me and you arent a huge fan of partially serrated blades, you can find this knife with a plain edge as well and that may save you a couple of extra bucks! If you havent heard of Grivory handles before, never fear, I hadnt either until I came across this knife. When you need a blade that is rigid, powerful, and ready to rock and roll when you need it most, the 154CM 4.5 fixed Tanto is the tried and true fighters knife. Best Hiking Watches Hiking Watches for Outdoor Adventures! 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. It seems like they keep bringing it back with new styles, new grips, new colors, etc and I really like that because the Bugout has a special place in my heart. [Answered]. A large knife pretty much needs to be fixed blade, but with the size, were looking at theres a choice. No matter which sheath or set of handles you choose, the Saddle Mountain series is sure to be as rough and tough as you are with absolutely no exceptions. Im a huge fan of small slender blades because they tend to lack the tensile strength required for a rugged lifestyle. I've replaced my minis with a Bugout: Longer blade, slimmer in the pocket, lighter weight, easier carry. It is this that mainly sets the Mini-Barrage ahead of the North Fork. Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. That means although it has a natural wood base it wont swell or warp its just as stable as the G10 version. When you buy it, you will see a document certifying that your purchase comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Benchmade doesnt make a whole lot of spear-point folders but when they do, they cost an arm and a leg and probably result in a bit of hot temperament come checkbook balancing day with your significant other. My Review: Benchmade seems to love making little one-off designed utility tools and this would be the case for the Aller 380. Of course, what youre getting isnt even a full plastic design. This makes the knife practical for everyday use. My Review: Adding a little flavor to the list is the SOCP dagger and trainer combo offered by Benchmade. All Axis locks are ambidextrous and most of them are easily used with one-handed operation. That exceptionally high hardness level allows this blade to retain its edge even when highly abused for an extremely long time, making this blade very low maintenance and ready to go when you need it most. Bugout. It may not display this or other websites correctly. This is by far one of the smoothest and most incredible integral bodied knives we have reviewed thus far. That passion has led me to build this site, Read on for my story. Strap this baby on with its included Boltaron sheath and youll hardly notice its there until you spring the Altitude into action. The Infidel is absolutely not an EDC knife nor is it for the untrained user. Well, many of their knives have another feature called the Benchmade Nitrous. You can check out the full review of this knife here. Simply, I have to apply intended pressure to get the blade out, which is more reassuring to me given my concerns with the North Fork. Never underestimate a good handle, since a sturdy, ergonomic, and grippy handle can make the knife so much better. 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. Benchmade knives are made in the USA and have amazing things and quality associated with their name. What You Should Know About Benchmades Lifesharp Program, Mini Bugout 533 a look as well which can be found here, Check out the beautifully crafted hand-built Damasteel Foray here, check out the Mini Freek found at this link here, Check out the Barrage that went on a diet here at this link, 15085-2 Mini Crooked River a look here at this link, Benchmade 15080BK Crooked River Gold Class, double-sided spear-point can be found here, For example, the Benchmade Bugout 535-191 Gold Class edition, Benchmades Gold Class custom built blades here, How to Unregister a Gun in your Name? Best Alternatives to Yeti Cooler | Coolers Like YETI. Pick something with a slightly lower HRC rating. Customize your 535 Bugout knife with a plain drop-point or serrated drop-point blade, coupled with a CF Elite or Grivory handle. If you are not happy or you got a defective product, you can avail of a refund. Benchmade Saddle Mountain 15003-2 or 15003-1, Here Are the Best Tactical Benchmade Knives, Unique Benchmade Knife Designs and Notable Mentions, 30. Your blade must be sharp and stay that way. The Bedlam features two blade finish options, one being a regular satin finish and the other being my personal favorite on this model, the black Cerakote, which matches up nicely to the hardware finish and the black G10 handles. All others will prefer the Mini-Barrage. If you just want one knife and one knife only that exudes quality and is as versatile as it gets, the Benchmade Turret should be at the top of your list. This is a great mechanism for those of you who dont like the feeling of the blade springing out of its handle but more so would rather a bit of control and a bit of automatic spring action. Its grippy and made of Valox, and though that gives this knife a sort of cheap feeling, it actually keeps the weight of the knife down. For the aluminium versions of the Bailout the backspacer is also enhanced with a glass breaker. For carrying, of course, smaller like this is better. That is fully half of the job the Axis Lock plays. Benchmade Nakamura 484 7. It also comes super sharp out of the box, boasting a full flat grind. If breaking folding knives is a concern of yours, look to Benchmade! A: One of the many advantages of getting a Benchmade knife is its warranty. Benchmade OTF Knives for 2023 - We Review Our Favorites! Here you also see that the Bailout was intended for tactical use. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay informed! Designed and manufactured by Benchmade, North Fork-1503 is an all-round compact knife featuring a recurved blade to help you with your cutting tasks. These knives are exceptionally dangerous and have very little utility value. You have an outdated webbrowser. The quality of a folding knife is ultimately among the most essential things you should consider way before you purchase a folding knife. Keep a onein your pocket and a fixed blade in your pack. For more information about us or joining the team, check out the About Us tab. However, that is not the whole story. Spyderco folding knives tend to come with a thumb hole in the spine instead of a thumb stud to open the blade, and thats called a Spydie hole. For the price, you get great quality and lasting design. The lock ensures the knife opens and closes single-handedly. Q: Does a Benchmade Knife Have a Lifetime Warranty? Created for hunting The knife's drop-point blade is ideal for the avid hunter. I have the north fork, bugout, and gifted a mini grip. On the entire continuum of pocket knife size, the North Fork is near the top. Let us know what your favorite Benchmade knife is in the comments section below or if you think there is a knife we should add to this list. The North Fork offers fully ambidextrous use options thanks to the AXIS lock mechanism, dual thumb stud deployment, and reversible pocket clip. And it is ergonomics that set the Mini Barrage apart from other high-end knives we tested. Benchmade Knife Company, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veterans, age, disability or genetics. Where the blade meets the handles on the inside is covered by steel liners, ensuring the handles cant bow or bend and eliminating the flex you see in cheaper plastic-based handles. This coating has to be applied to these blades because, despite CPM-M4 being ultra-tough, the tool steel has an Achilles heel and that is corrosion. If that 4 blade is a tad too much for ya, you can give the 15085-2 Mini Crooked River a look here at this link which sports a 3.4 blade and shaves off about 2 ounces of weight! Take a look at the specific factors you need to consider before choosing the best Benchmade knife for yourself. - All Outdoors Guide, [] Benchmade North Fork: With a shorter but sturdier 2.7 inch blade the North Fork is a better solution if you want to give your knife some serious abuse, but it doesnt match the 1660 for sheer cutting power. Benchmade doesnt use CPM-3V very often as they generally tend to prefer S30V for its overall versatility and exceptional performance across the board, however, the 3V steel provides a slightly harder and more rigid platform for a stronger and more shatter-resistant point while sacrificing a little wear resistance, which is what the Bailout is all about. More importantly, its great for a bit of carving work. A: Their amazing quality is what made Benchmade knives stand apart from other kinds of knives. This is a greater feat. You can brush up on your blade shape terminology by visiting the Marine Approved knife blade shapes guide here and you can learn all about the steel used to craft your favorite blades in the Marine Approved knife blade steels guide here. If theres anything better than the blade on this knife, its the glass-filled nylon handle. I have both but usually find myself carrying the Griptilian 551. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM-S30VHandle Composition: Lightly Textured G10Blade Length: 4.4Total Length: 9.15Total Weight: 7.72 ounces. Its long and slender with a very high-class elegant finish that really exudes craftsmanship without being over-engineered or snarky in appearance. The Grivory handle is essentially as good as polymer, plus it doesnt get slippery even when wet. 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. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2PCS Handle Patch G10 Micarta Blade Scales Fit For Benchmade North Fork Knife at the best online prices at eBay! I wont talk too much on this knife as I believe the differences between the two are going to come down to personal preference. CPM-S30V, a Benchmade favorite stainless steel to use in their premium blades, is more than strong enough to slide right through bones and will hold an edge for many outdoor adventures. This is not the case here, though, as the Fact is incredibly strong and since its crafted out of billet aluminum with a premium S30V blade, itll run right up there with full-size heavy-duty knives. Its fully ambidextrous and grippy but isnt too abrasive on the palm. Have some money burning a hole in your pockets and you need something that your buddies are sure to gawk at? Speaking of sliding into your pocket, youll be getting a reversible pocket clip that will allow you to carry it on either side. This program is designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon. alain picard wife / ap calculus bc multiple choice / benchmade north fork vs bugout. The knifes drop-point utility blade is made from s30v steel, which is as sharp as you can get nowadays, and a lot of great Benchmade knives make use of this material. Any outdoor memories you plan to make should include this knife and hey, perhaps those memories can be passed down through generations alongside the knife, as itll probably outlast your trekking legs. Three screws on each side hold the handle together, and a hex bolt acts as the blade pivot. Before we jump into discussing the beautiful pieces of sharp and pointy steel offered by one of our favorite companies, you need to know the pros and cons of each blade shape as well as the steel they are made of. A note to my readers: These knives are designed to kill people. You can refer to the reviews there to check if the seller is authorized or not. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM-3VHandle Composition: Diamond Textured Rubber SantopreneBlade Length: 3.75Total Length: 8.25Total Weight: 4.51 ounces. Lastly, I certainly cannot go without mentioning the beautiful leather dangler loop sheath that comes with this knife. The handle is simply just an extension of the D2 steel from the blade and although I personally like that, many Adamas owners actually wrap this bad boy up in some nice paracord. Looking through the reviews, I found that the customers absolutely love the manual opening action and that the blade was perfectly centered. You might be asking yourself, there are so many factors to consider, how could you ever choose just one? Do you love tool steel and favour a tanto blade? They offer some real advantages, especially when youre working blind inside a cavity; its much easier to predict where the smaller blade is going to be, so youre less likely to find it sticking in your other hand. No ads. Carbon takes a better edge and holds it longer, but stainless needs less maintenance to keep the rust off it. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM-S90VHandle Composition: Full-Tang handleless with Micro Carbon ScalesBlade Length: 3.08Total Length: 7.38Total Weight: 1.67 ounces. luke86 Joined Mar 29, 2015 Messages 825 It will cut well for years and years, and Benchmade will sharpen it in a process that is also, well, smooth. Basically, following this means youre looking out for extremely high quality and durability and you save up or sell something or do whatever you gotta do to get it and then youre good to go for a very long time without the need to buy another knife anytime soon. These knives were developed to be used by first responders and contain the tools you would expect to use to pull someone out of a wrecked vehicle. I don't like the flimsy scales. You can also check out the SOCP Rescue tool at this link here. 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 I will note, when these do go dull (after ridiculous amounts of use) they can be a bit tricky to sharpen, but as with everything, patience is a virtue and so long as you keep these knives in tip-top shape, theyll glide right through anything you hunt. While this boasts a Dymondwood handle and a tough drop point blade with a serrated spine, the shining point of this knife is the folding gut hook that comes along. Menu If a leather sheath has any chance of surviving the life of a Benchmade Puukko 200, it has to have some help from nylon. For installation instructions, click here. However, make sure you dont go swimming with this in your pocket as the handle will expand and be unusable for a while. They will then sharpen the blade back to its original factory specs and then perform a deep clean and shine on each and every part. These high-grip sections make it easy to control the blade for fine cutting, even when its wet or slimy if you like to hold your index finger along the spine while skinning theyll give you some extra security. This kind of steel gives Benchmade knife blades good strength, long life, and resistance against corrosion. My Review: Oh boy, when I first saw this monstrosity I was pretty intrigued as to what the heck is going on with that blade, then I realized these were designed for aviation use and all I could think about was all the wack stuff Airmen have said to me. These are the fastest and least requiring effort to open and use a spring to flip the knife out immediately. Free shipping for many products! Carrying and utilizing the Griptilian on a daily basis is extremely easy and for that reason, I believe many people would agree, the Griptilian is one of the best values and best overall EDC knives offered by Benchmade today. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. The Griptilian doesnt exactly exude fashion or style but what it does do is get the job done. It has a blade length that measures in at 3.24 inches long, and the handle measures in at 4.22 inches long That brings the overall length on the Bugout to 7.46 inches when the blade is fully locked out. Its satin-finished drop point blade uses S30V steel and features two jimped sections one by the thumb grip and one closer to the tip for ultimate blade control. My Review: The Puukko 200 is a Scandinavian inspired general use utility knife with a fixed blade consisting of CPM-3V. As such you don't have to worry about that. The Bugout is available with Grivory, titanium and CF-Elite. The FRN handle gives a good grip, and a big thumbhole allows easy opening without studs getting in the way. It checks all the boxes for an excellent EDC knife by utilizing high quality long lasting S30V steel, a drop-point that is technically a bit modified as it has a slight recurve within its belly, and your choice of either a sealed woodgrain finish or the ever so popular G10 handles. The hardness gives the blade incredible rigidity and strength but requires a little love and care to keep in tip-top shape. And the same thing always ends up happening. The opening notch and serrated thumb-rest are very efficient. Hold this thing in real life before you judge! The drop-point blade shape at its core is very versatile and poses a lot of use cases, especially for general outdoor activities. Fortunately we can discuss the types of steel used. Benchmade Contego 810 10. The price of a Benchmade is primarily based on three things. If so the Benchmade Bugout is a great choice. I would like to hear your thoughts and Im sure other readers would as well! That is why the blades contain coatings. 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,055) $ 24.99. . My Review: Oh boy the Bedlam is a beaut of a blade but I swear, this is not the knife for everyone! In addition to making some of the most iconic and popular knives for everyday carry, Benchmade also has a long and storied history with their outdoor knives. Overstatement? Benchmade Knives Custom Handle Scales Custom Bugout Scales Custom Bugout Scales These custom scales fit any version of the 535 Bugout from Benchmade. I'm just a survivalist and knife lover. Both knives are enhanced with a lanyard hole. 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. Of course, theres more than one way to skin a cat at Benchmade and they went ahead and added in the AXIS opening method as well as an opening hole that acts similarly to a thumb stud. I like the low visibility these EDC blades offer. Moreover, the Tanto profile is great for piercing, and so that makes it the best Benchmade knife for self-defense in this list. Yeah, I know, that sounds lame, but sometimes having a professional do it for you is the way to go, especially when they can use tools and equipment that would cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy and operate. 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. It's a small, unobtrusive deep carry tip-up design that can be flipped to the other side if you're a lefty. I feel like the other two are good options, but the northfork feels like it has a "soul". Check out the beautiful Benchmade 15080BK Crooked River Gold Class. In order to compare them all side-by-side, weve created this guide encompassing each and every one of our favorites. Yeah, I didnt miss the 3 or 4 for that 1, it really does weigh less than 2 ounces. Made in USA. Benchmade introduced their first military knife back in 2002 and they introduced the knife with their AXIS Automatic lock tech they have patented under their name. What this program really is, is a service for those of us too busy or lazy to sit down and properly maintain our knives. The Adamas is certainly no knife for a beginner, however, to a trained fighter or someone looking for an ominous way to defend themselves, the Adamas is a strong go-to. How To Make A Switchblade Learn With Five Steps, How to Hone a Straight Razor Use for Silky Smooth Shaving. Absolutely! Despite that, I feel that this is quite a good Benchmade EDC. Build Your Ultimate Bugout for National Knife Day 2023 Benchmade OTF Knives for 2023 - We Review Our Favorites! This method of identifying fake Benchmade knives is excellent because it works in-person as well as online. The full tang construction makes sure that the blade is more durable and steadier than folded knives. That is, if the seller is providing real photos of the knife they are selling and not some stock photo or a picture taken from the Benchmade site. Traditional hunting knives have been a lot larger, but short blades like this are becoming a lot more popular. While this one has a slightly shorter handle and will make your pinky finger dangle free, its expected for such a small knife. Step 2 Construction:Along with size goes construction. The price is quite reasonable for a Benchmade, and the performance coupled with a modern aesthetic look makes it the best Benchmade knife for giving to someone who loves knives. Benchmade North Fork 15031 Knife Drop-Point Review, Things to be aware of before making a purchase. If you are ok with the blade steel of the North Fork (the Mini Barrage offers choices, the North Fork does not) and do not want the assisted opening function of the Barrage, the wooden handle of the North Fork may appeal to you. Imagine every little task you would expect an EDC knife to do, write it down if you need to. By the way, these are so slim that when paired with the included deep pocket carry clip they virtually disappear in your pant pockets making them very covert and yet ultra fast to deploy. Another big factor here is that CPM-20CV is slightly easier to sharpen than other premium steels like S30V or M390 which makes this knife a bit easier to maintain for those of you that are new to the premium knife world. All you might think you care about, as it pertains to a knife's edge, is "is it sharp?" Some recommended products may use affiliate links. But prolonged use would tell you how durable and efficient it really is. You must log in or register to reply here. Simply apply pressure to the thumb stud and boom, the blade flips into place almost effortlessly. In addition to federal law requirements, Benchmade complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. There are a couple of really good versions of the Freek. However, the wooden handle might start to look a bit beaten up. I wont lie to you, these arent exactly the saw-teeth youd want for camping or outdoor use, but they will cause wounds that a normal drop-point would never be able to cause, ensuring your assailant is immobilized and you are free to carry on. There is a choice you might care about, though, and thats whether you want a beautifully made custom Benchmade leather sheath or a lightweight and durable Kydex sheath to carry around this beast with. UPDATE:Also, as the reader Clayton mentioned in a comment to this review, the quick release is more sensitive than most knives (and isnt spring-loaded). No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. Kershaw 1660 Review - The Ultimate EDC Knife? All Benchmade knives and other products are guaranteed for life with the companys lifetime warranty.Confirm with your knife seller whether the Benchmade North Fork 1503 folding knife you have decided to purchase is guaranteed for life with the manufacturers lifetime warranty. Again, what is it that youll do with this Benchmade? Based on your love of the big grip, Mini-Grip is probably the best bet. Opening and closing them is not a hassle because they have an excellent axis lock mechanism. I think the name probably sums up why its in the EDC category but lets explore what makes this one of the most popular reverse-tanto blades on the market today.