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Benchmade Infidel Review: Breaking The Mold For OTF Autos

Dexter Ewing
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Benchmade Infidel Review: Breaking The Mold For OTF Autos

Breaking from the boxy OTF autos, the Benchmade Infidel cuts a unique profile that’s made it a hit among high-end knife lovers.

Out-the-front (OTF) automatic knives have long been popular with knife enthusiasts because they are different enough to be unique but not so odd as to be useable. OTF’s main mechanism of action is propelling the blade fore and aft in relation to the handle, as opposed to out the side in a radial fashion as most known automatic folding knives operate. Presently a few knife companies offer OTF automatics but there is one drawback to most designs (if you see it as such)—most have boxy handles.

This is primarily out of necessity. The handle shape in generally needs parallel sides to facilitate the fore and aft motion of the blade as it extends and retracts into the handle. And with the sliding switch actuation located on the spine, there isn’t much that companies can do with handle shape changes.

Enter the Benchmade Infidel, a high-end USA-made OTF with a curvy handle.

Benchmade Infidel Handle
Photo: Marty Stanfield – Marty Stanfield Photography

How did the company accomplish this? By relocating the actuation slide switch from the handle spine to the handle scale. Moving the switch opened up possibilities of experimenting with different handle shapes, even ones that enhance user grip and safety as well. The Infidel’s handle is curvy, yet symmetrical and sports a three-dimensional texturing pattern to boost hand traction.

Infidel Blade

The Infidel’s dagger-shaped blade measures 3.9 inches in length and sports a traditional grind for this style of knife and a symmetrical appearance. This truly is a dagger blade with edges sharpened fully on both sides. Benchmade opted for D2 steel for the blade, selected for its known edge retention and toughness.

Infidel Blade
Photo: Marty Stanfield – Marty Stanfield Photography

A fuller is machined down the centerline of the blade, enhancing the appearance and giving it a bit of an edgy attitude. The blade is finished with a black coating, serving as an additional layer of corrosion resistance, as well as a low profile, non-glare finish. For those who might not be aware, D2 is not stainless steel and requires a little extra care. This coating accomplishes this job.

Infidel Handle

The handle measures 4.8-inches long and it is machined from aircraft-grade aluminum for both strength and weight reduction. The overall handle shape is inviting with its multiple curves that define a forward guard of sorts to park your hand in place. Moving towards the middle, there is a slight contour that helps to fill your grip more, and the expanded section at the rear of the handle aids in preventing rearward sliding.

Like the blade, the handle shape is symmetrical and very pleasing in appearance when you factor the blade’s uniformity. The handle sports bi-directional machining patterns helping to hold your hand in place. If the machining pattern look familiar, it should. It is the same style used on Benchmade’s Presidio automatic folder.

Benchmade Infidel Clip
Photo: Marty Stanfield – Marty Stanfield Photography

To fire the blade, there is a stepped slide switch on the presentation side of the handle. The machining pattern on the switch allows for positive thumb engagement to deploy and retract the blade. The reverse side of the handle is smooth and you find a deep carry, fold-over style pocket clip affixed to the handle to carry the Infidel tip down in the pocket. The clip easily attaches to your pants pocket and holds the knife securely.

Using The Infidel

While it is possible to EDC a dagger blade OTF (though, be sure to check your local laws first on knife carry), I will have to caution against the fact that its use as a working knife is rather limited given the blade design. The dagger grind makes the tip devastatingly sharp and pointy (a good thing), it also leaves the tip more susceptible to damage or even breakage if the knife is used heavily. This is especially true when prying or twisting while cutting actions may be involved.

With certain tasks where puncturing and cutting—such as opening bags of mulch or topsoil—the Infidel definitely excels. Push the blade through the bag and pull it to the side to slice the top open. It all happens effortlessly. Opening mail, opening packages, cutting cardboard, breaking down cardboard boxes, and cutting shrink wrap are some tasks that the Infidel can also handle with aplomb.

Benchmade Infidel In Use
Photo: Marty Stanfield – Marty Stanfield Photography

The ease of extending and retracting the blade simply by moving the slide switch forward or backward makes using the knife easy. One thing to note regarding the handle ergonomics in general, the Infidel is glove-friendly. With some knife handles, the handle feels lost in your gloved hand. You cannot manipulate it easily, it feels too thin. With the Infidel, the handle design translates well to gloves.

The D2 steel is respectable in performance, offering enhanced edge retention and toughness against wear and impact. It’s a well-known steel, especially in the outdoor knife market, where large camp knives and choppers may be made from D2 for these very reasons. While you are certainly not going to do any chopping or batoning with an OTF, it’s nice to know the blade is that tough and can take a fair amount of abuse before it needs to be sharpened.

I have always had good luck with D2 and found it to be a very good-performing steel for its price. Since you’re not going to be engaged in heavy work with the Infidel, D2 is perfect and when it does come time for a resharpening, D2 sharpens up quicker than all your high-performance steels. Another plus!

Infidel Variations

For those of you who wish for a smaller Infidel, there is the Mini Infidel which has a 3.1-inch long dagger blade. All the material specs are the same as the full-size Infidel. The overall length is 7.1 inches, and the Mini Infidel is a very pocket-friendly design. It’s sized right for daily carry and for those with smaller hands. Size wise it’s not as imposing as the full-size Infidel but its smaller size allows it to get in and out of more daily carry tasks like opening packages, mail, and some general cutting tasks as you work around the home, yard, and garage.

Infidel Mini
Photo: Marty Stanfield – Marty Stanfield Photography

Additionally, there is an upgraded model with a few bells and whistles. Benchmade dressed up the Infidel by offering three shades of nature-inspired colors: Crater Blue, Woodland Green, and Flat Dark Earth. These limited edition knives come out in 1,000 batches, and are also equipped with upgraded blade steel to satin-finished, premium CPM S30V. This is a long-time standard steel in the knife industry, known for its toughness and extreme wear resistance.

Final Cut

The Infidel is one of the more interesting OTF automatic knives on the market. It combines style, function and quality materials to equate to a long-lasting tool that will stand the test of time.

The Benchmade 3300BK Infidel has an MSRP of $550.00. The 3350BK Mini Infidel has an MSRP of $500. The Flat Dark Earth, Woodland Green, and Crater Blue full-size Infidel have an MSRP of $650.00 each. The same colors for the Mini Infidel are $600.00 each.

Check Out More On Benchmade:

Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Review: Still A Cut Above The Rest

Dexter Ewing
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Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Review: Still A Cut Above The Rest

The Spyderco Paramilitary 2, simply known as the Para 2, is a part of the Military family of popular tactical folders in the Spyderco lineup. The Para 2 came about as a downsized version of the full-size Military model, answering the call from customers for a practical EDC option. 

Smaller it might be, but the Para 2 retains the essence of what makes the Military a popular working folder. And because of this, the knife has developed a cult following. However, it’s not simply a shrunken-down facsimile of its larger predecessor, having gone through several design improvements that have dialed in the knife to users’ needs.

In this article, we’ll examine exactly what has made the Spyderco Para 2 such a winner in the company’s lineup. And why, if you need a truly rugged everyday option—or just want a classic in your collection—the legendary knife more than fits the bill.

Para 2 Blade

To start things off, the blade of the Para 2 sports a useful clip point shape, enhanced with a full flat grind. Furthermore, the knife has a gradual distal taper from the tang to the tip, evident when viewed from the top. The length of the blade measures 3.4 inches long, enough length to take care of heavy work but short enough for comfortable carry in a pocket. 

Para 2 blade
A CPM S45VN stainless-steel blade brings toughness, excellent edge retenion and easy of sharpening to the game.

Constructed of CPM S45VN high-performance stainless steel, Spyderco picked the perfect material for a high-end knife. Compared to the gold standard of this class—S30V—S45VN proves a bit tougher, yet is remains easy to resharpen. That is if you have to. The blade’s toughness means it holds an edge extremely well, suiting it for long-haul work without interruption. A final point, S45VN is fairly renowned for its corrosion resistance, making the Para 2 excel in nearly any environment.

As those familiar with Spyderco can guess, the blade boasts the company’s trademark hole near the spine, at the rear. This has been the go-to deployment method for time immemorial on the firm’s knives. Rounding things out on the blade, there’s integrated chill formed by part of the blade and handle when the blade is opened. A choil permits the user to further choke up on the blade for extra control when needed.  

Para 2 Handle

Spyderco opts for a black textured G-10 for the handle, which endows it with a few assets. First, it keeps the knife nimble, cutting down on the Para 2 overall weight. But this isn’t at the expense of strength—G10 is tough as cut nails—and a solid purchase on the knife.

Paramilitary 2 handle
Dark, dashing and useful, the Para 2’s G-10 handled gives users a firm grip on the knife.

The handles are milled out, allowing the slightly undersized stainless steel liners to sit flush with the G-10. Nicely, this reduces the overall width of the handle but doesn’t sacrifice the lateral strength of the liners. Spyderco also turns its eye to weight reduction with the liners, porting them to further lighten the load—while not compromising strength. 

The handle shape itself is very ergonomic, like the full-size Military. There is an expanded, curved section that forms an integral finger guard to prevent your hand from sliding forward. The handle feels very secure in hand, and this inspires user confidence. 

Compression Lock

Compression lock
With an extremely strong lockup, the Para 2’s Compression Lock adds confidence to the system.

The Para 2 utilizes Syperco’s Compression Lock to secure the blade, a solid system that has several benefits. For those unfamiliar with the mechanism, it’s an in-house design that provides an extremely strong lockup. It operates by the lock bar wedging itself onto a ramp on the blade’s tang and a hardened steel stop pin. As an added benefit, the release is situated on the handle spine, just behind the blade within reach of the thumb and forefinger. Not only is the design ambidextrous, but it also facilitates fast and intuitive one-hand opening (with a bit of practice) and closing. 

Pocket Clip

A steel pocket clip is attached to the handle in the right-hand, tip-down configuration. However, Spyderco has what they call 4-way clip mounting with the Para 2. This means the handle is drilled and tapped to modify the clip’s position, thus the carry style. Again, this makes the knife lefty- and righty-friendly, as well as allowing for tip-up or tip-down carry. Understandably, this is another facet of the Para 2 has that a lot of fans. 

Para 2 clip
No matter how you carry or hand you use, you can move the clip to suit your needs.

The handle also has an open build, allowing you to effectively clean lint and other debris out of the inside of the handle by using either compressed air or tap water. The handle length is 4.8 inches, making the overall length of the Para 2 around 8.2 inches. I would consider any folder with an overall length of 9 inches to be large, so to say the Para 2 is a midsize folder is a stretch. It’s safer to say it’s on the upper end of being midsize. Still kind of compact, but large enough to handle some man-sized cutting jobs. 

Para 2 In Action

The flat ground blade with distal taper helps the blade sail through anything with ease. This is exactly the reason why the full-size Military is a favorite among knife users the world over. You’ll notice the blade bites in and does so aggressively and it just takes off. Shoot, I have even used my Para 2 and Military in the kitchen to aid in food prep at times. The Para 2 makes for an effective paring knife. 

Paramilitary 2 open
An all-time classic, the Para 2 offers users an option fit to tackle most jobs.

Outside of the kitchen, the Para 2 slices through cardboard, plastic edging, styrofoam blocks, and even strips wire with ease. Spyderco’s cutting edges out of the box are nothing short of perfect. The Para 2 can be put to work immediately without modifications to the edge. S45VN’s durability is out of this world. You’ll benefit from the enhanced edge-holding capability of this steel by not having to sharpen as often. However, all this depends on your frequency of use and that can vary from person to person. 

The handle ergonomics are very comfortable. The Para 2 didn’t leave any hot spots of any kind and is pleasurable to wield during extended periods of use. 

Final Cut

I think you will find the Para 2 to be an excellent daily carry choice for you, if you are looking for a working folder that is also a super comfortable EDC knife. As for how much the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 will set you back, the MSRP starts at $265.00 for the black G-10 handle/satin-finished blade as tested here. There’s also a camo handle for the same price, and black DLC coated versions for a bit more at $285.

More Spyderco Knives:

Kershaw Blur Review: Focusing On The EDC Classic

Dexter Ewing
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Kershaw Blur Review: Focusing On The EDC Classic

A mainstay in the company’s catalog, the Ken Onion-designed, USA-Made Kershaw Blur remains a clear EDC choice.

Kershaw’s Blur has been in the company’s line for several years and it continues to be a good seller for the company. You get it all with the Blur—a handsome look, useful blade shape, and made-in-the-USA toughness.

Devised by custom knifemaker Ken Onion, the Blur exhibits the hallmarks of Onion’s design with its recurve drop point blade and optimized handle shape promoting user comfort, as well as safety. Plus, you get a choice of several variations with the Blur. Each differs by blade steel and handle color, adding some style and flair to your daily carry arsenal.

Kershaw Blur Blade

The Blur’s blade measures 3.4-inches long and is made of Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel. For those seeking a higher-performance steel, Kershaw offers an upgraded S30V version. Though the base-model steel is no slouch, as 14C28N holds an edge well, yet resharpens fairly easily. The Blur’s blade has plenty of bite right out of the box, thanks to its hollow grind.

Kershaw Blur Blade
The Blur’s blade has plenty of bite right out of the box, thanks to its hollow grind. Photos Marty Stanfield

For deployment, the Blur uses ambidextrous thumb studs. These are custom-designed studs, with a unique slanted portion. This rake allows you to bump with your thumb and then back off immediately, so they won’t be in the way of opening.

Speed Safe System

Deployment speed doesn’t disappoint, thanks to Kershaw’s Speed Safe assisted opening technology. The Speed Safe system was developed by Ken Onion and serves as a way to quickly and effectively open a folding knife blade quickly with minimal user effort. Essentially, a torsion bar propels the blade open after the user initiates blade movement by pushing out on the thumb stud.

Kershaw Blur Handle

For those who appreciate a solid and comfortable grip (who doesn’t?) the Blur incorporates some interesting design elements.

Starting with the construction, Kershaw has opted for aluminum alloy, making the handle both lightweight and strong. The shape is also well thought out, offering an intriguing and aesthetically pleasing shape, that doesn’t compromise on comfort. It’s a good example of Onion’s profound understanding of knife ergonomics.

Blur Handle
A fluid shape, the Blur looks nice and fits the palm well. Photos Marty Stanfield

Furthering the usability, the Kershaw chamfers all the edges, ensuring there are no hotspots on the knife and textured rubber inlay inserts are a practical bonus, increasing grip traction tenfold with either wet or dry hands. Kershaw calls this material Trac Tech and it’s very similar to the self-adhesive grip tape you might find indoors in wet locations such as a swimming pool deck.

Interestingly, Trac Tech also helps with holding the knife to the pocket, making it a bit difficult to slide in and out. Depending on who you are and your particular activities, this can be a good thing or an annoyance. It is insurance from the knife falling out of your pocket, but it does slow retrieval time.

I like the use of Trac Tech on the blur simply because it gives the handle a more tactile feel to it.

Trac Tech in a Blur
Looking for more grip, Trac Tech inserts gives the Blur more bite. Photos Marty Stanfield

The general open build of the handle makes cleaning easy, especially when using compressed air or rinsing out under tap water. There is a pocket clip that helps to carry the Blur in the pocket and Kershaw gives you the option of either tip-up or tip-down carry but for right-hand carry only. Sorry lefties!

Final Cut

The Blur is a stylish EDC folding knife that doesn’t back down when there is tough work ahead. The recurve blade cuts very well, and its ample belly makes it an efficient slicer.

The hollow grind really thins the blade out nicely without making it too slender, and therefore it will cut through tougher materials with greater ease. It really excels at cardboard. I like this material for testing as it is a good standard because of its thickness and slight abrasiveness. Both aspects test the edge’s geometry.

Several Kershaw Blurs
Kershaw offers several colors and blade options, helping the Blur fit most folks style. Photos Marty Stanfield

The liner lock of the Blur is dialed in nicely, it hits the tang on the lower third of the width of the blade and allows for some wear as the lock breaks in. Yet, the lockup is very secure. The exposed portion of the lock bar that you contact to release the lock has traction notches on it so you can get a good grip on it. I thought was a nice extra touch on Kershaw’s part.

Overall, the only nit to pick is I wish the clip was designed to carry the Blur deeper in the pocket. Other than this, no real issues to speak of with the knife

When it comes time to purchase a Blue, this might be the hardest decision because of the variety of models. There are a ton of colorways for the handle—black, navy blue, and olive green. Additionally, Kershaw offers several blade options, including plain edge and partly serrated as well as stonewashed, blackwash and Cerakote black finishes. If that weren’t enough, you also have a choice of a tanto blade as well, if that’s more your speed. Heck, there’s even an option with a carbide glass breaker at the end of the handle.

Blur and cardboard
Still a classic after all these years, the Kershaw remains a solid EDC option. Photos Marty Stanfield

The Blur’s MSRP starts at $135 and goes up from there to as much as $185 depending on blade finishes. Overall, the knife presents an overall package—Onion design, high function, nice styling and plenty of options choices. What this adds up to, is an EDC option that should be welcome in anyone’s collection.

Read More About Kershaw:

Spyderco Tenacious Review: The Relentless Workingman’s Knife

Dexter Ewing
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Spyderco Tenacious Review: The Relentless Workingman’s Knife

Built like a top-shelf Spyderco, but at a fraction of the price the Tenacious more than lives up to its name.

Spyderco’s knives are about as high-performance as you can get in a production knife. They look at things from all angles, from blade grinds to handle ergonomics and how each plays an important role in the other. It’s a symbiosis of sorts. Therefore, most of their knives are on the pricey side but very well worth it.

The use of high-end materials with superior ergonomics and cutting-edge blade steels get everyone drooling, but there is one factor that spoils it for some. The high price.

“No thank you”, some might retort. Then resort to looking at other brands, whose offerings might be a bit cheaper and more within their budget range. Still, they crave Spyderco.

Fear not my penny-pinching friends.

Spyderco Tenacious neutral open copy
Affordable and capable, the Tenacious proves a capable workingman’s knife. Photo: Marty Stanfield

Spyderco had exactly you in mind when it unleashed the C122GP Tenacious. An excellent value folder from incorporating all the hallmarks of a Spyderco design and execution but without the scary high price tag. Essentially, it’s an everyman’s knife, with the elite performance the company has built its name on. 

How’s that for value?  

Spyderco Tenacious Blade

Starting with the modified clip point blade of the Tenacious, 8Cr13MoV stainless steel was chosen because of its great balance between edge retention, ease of sharpening and low cost. For those not familiar, 8Cr13MoV is the Chinese equivalent of the Japanese-made AUS-8. A lot of entry-level to mid-range knives have this steel. It makes a great choice for a working folder as 8Cr13MoV is relatively easy to resharpen and takes a good edge in minimal time.

The blade length is 3 â…œ inches, long enough to for serious work but short enough to carry easily in the pocket. Jimping on the thumb rest allows you to place your thumb there to apply downward pressure on the blade. The rest sample we were sent has a satin-finished blade, though, Spyderco offer the Tenacious with a black coated blade for low visibility, as well. 

Spyderco Tenacious Blade
A 8Cr13MoV drop-point blade offers respectable steel in a useful profile.Photo: Marty Stanfield

Additionally, partially serrated edge formats are available for enhanced cutting power. This blade design is a workhorse, with its flat grind and distal taper, which allows the blade to become a voraciously efficient slicing tool. Honestly, Tenacious in hand, you’ll be able to slice through your biggest and toughest cutting tasks with ease.  

Spyderco Tenacious Handle

Look at some other budget folding knives on the market and you can tell where corners were cut. One evident area is handle design. No so with the Tenacious.

Spyderco has some of the best handle designs on the market, the company has an intimate understanding of how to design a comfortable interface comfortable for extended hard usage. In this case, the knife uses a black textured G-10 phenolic resin handle for both reduced weight and an excellent grip. As a side note, the handle length is 4 7/16-inces long and overall, well thought out. In the hand, it proves comfortable, important with any knife. There are no hot spots to speak of and it seem designed for long periods of use without fatigue.

Spyderco Tenacious lock vertical copy
In addition to G10 scale, the Tenacious has a study double stainless-steel liner to provide the handle plenty of backbone. Photo: Marty Stanfield

Double stainless-steel liners provide a solid backbone for the handle, and a sturdy liner lock secures the blade in the open position for ultimate user safety. A radiused gripping area accommodates the fingers well and the perimeter of the G-10 is chamfered to reduce sharp corners for a comfortable grip. 

Four sets of clip screw holes are drilled into the handle, offering a have-it-your-way approach to pocket clip mounting. You can mount the clip for left-hand use or right-hand use and within these two, you can have either a tip-up or a tip-down configuration. The clip comes from the factory set up for right-handed, tip-down configuration.

Practicality Of The Spyderco Tenacious

If you are in any of the trades and use tools in your job—a knife being one of them—it’s very important to select your work knife carefully not just from a budget/financial standpoint but feature-wise as well. Just because it is a budget knife doesn’t mean it’s stripped down and basic. 

Budget knives can include some creature comforts that make work easier. The Tenacious packs in one hand ambidextrous opening, a secure blade lock, open handle construction with dual steel liners and textured G-10 handles. Furthermore it boasts a pocket clip with user-selectable modes of carry, and a properly designed blade that will cut efficiently. All this, in one knife.

Spyderco Tenacious clip_ copy
Righty, lefty, doesn’t matter. Spyderco enginereed a clip that caters to either hand and nearly any style of carry. Photo: Marty Stanfield

With this being said, the Tenacious lives up to its name as it is eager to tackle any cutting task that awaits. The MSRP for the Chinese made Tenacious is $86, which means it probably can be purchased online for around $60. This makes it a great bargain for a sturdy, well-designed work knife. And if you lose it, you are not out a lot of money.

If you have more expensive knives in your collection and are hesitant to beat on as a work knife, then the Tenacious fills that role well. What you have here is a midsize folding knife that feels good in the hand and cuts exceptionally well.

Final Cut

As an owner of quite a few high-end Spyderco models such as the Military, Paramilitary 2, Manix 2, Shaman, and a few others, I can honestly say the Tenacious performance-wise is almost identical. Bold statement, I know. But all Spyderco knives just have that feel to them—no matter the price. If you are a fellow Spyderco owner, you know exactly what I am talking about.

Spyderco Tenacious action 2 copy
Spyderco created an affordable gem in the Tenacious. Photo: Marty Stanfield

The 8Cr13MoV steel holds an edge well but don’t expect it to be like S30V and hold an edge for a long time. Maintenance in the field is possible with the right sharpener and the steel responds well to routine touch-ups.

Just do yourself a favor and purchase a Tenacious and put it to work. You won’t be disappointed. Spyderco did their homework with this budget-conscious folder that’s packed with features that also are found on their more expensive knives.  

More Spyderco Knives:

Benchmade Bugout Review: Getting A Handle On The EDC Icon

Dexter Ewing
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Benchmade Bugout Review: Getting A Handle On The EDC Icon

Is there a perfect EDC knife? If not, the Benchmade Bugout will do until perfect shows up.

When it comes to EDC folders, without a doubt the Benchmade Bugout is the king of the hill.

Its compact profile and just-right length make this model a popular hit with knife guys. It is all made in the USA with excellent fit, finish, and—perhaps key to EDC—Benchmade has cut its weight to the bone. Furthermore, the blade steel is premium level. In short, the Bugout is geared to go the distance.

So, if you haven’t yet checked out this icon, it’s high time you did. Because, if you take your everyday carry seriously, you owe it to yourself. We’ll lay a foundation for the knife in this article.

Bugout Blade

The Bugout is offered in two sizes—the Model 535, the company’s standard-sized version boasting a 3.2-inch blade, and 533 Mini, which pars the blade down to a very manageable 2.8 inches.

Benchmade Bugout Open
Standard-model Bugouts sport CPM S30V steel blades, however, S90V and M390 are available on higher-grade models. Photo: Marty Stanfield

The base models Bugouts use premium CPM S30V steel, a steel that is used widely for high-end factory knives. This is mainly due to its ability to hold an edge for an extended period, longer than most blade steels. Additionally, it is highly resistant to stains and corrosion.

As for the blade profile, the Bugout is a modified drop point and is highly adaptable to many tasks. Nicely, Benchmade outfits the knives with thumbstuds on either side of the blade, permitting ease of opening with either hand.  

Getting A Handle On The Bugout

The handle of the base Bugout is made from molded Grivory, making the Bugout a very lightweight folder. The standard size tips the scales at 1.85 ounces and the Mini at 1.5 ounces. Benchmade offers other handle material options, including anodized aluminum, carbon fiber, and CF Elite (a glass-reinforced nylon synthetic material that is lightweight and stiff).

Benchmade Bugout Spines
Given there is a thriving aftermarket for Bugout scales, the sky is the limit on the knife’s handle. Photo: Marty Stanfield

And if you have to have custom, there are aftermarket scales for the knife in a host of materials—titanium, copper, brass, bronze, G-10, and Micarta. In turn, you can truly have a one-of-a-kind feel and look to your Bugout.

Bugout Action

The Bugout uses Benchmade’s critically acclaimed Axis Lock crossbar lock, hailed by many as ultra-strong yet extremely safe because you don’t put any fingers in the path of blade travel. Add on to this, it’s easy to unlock with either hand, and you have a naturally ambidextrous across the board. The lock is simple, just pull back on one of the exposed lock bar ends at the back of the handle and then rotate your blade closed. Internally, two Omega-shaped springs provide constant tension for the lock bar on the blade tang to ensure positive lock engagement.

Benchmade Bugout Axis Lock
The Bugout is outfitted with Benchmade’s rock-solid Axis Lock crossbar lock, which has the added benefit of being ambidextrous. Photo: Marty Stanfield

As for other odds and ends, the handle’s checkering does a great job of preventing your hand from slipping. A deep carry, fold-over pocket clip carries the Bugout deep in your pocket and can also be switched to provide easy carry for left-handers. Integrated lanyard hole permits the use of Paracord for a lanyard if you are into that sort of thing.  

Using The Bugout

In use, the Bugout hits hard in spite of its ultra-lightweight stature. The flat ground blade bites in and is very effective. Opening mail, opening packages, peeling an apple, cutting up hose, cutting cardboard, or stripping wire—the Bugout won’t break a sweat. Perhaps the best way of thinking about the knife is as a minimalist working folder.

The higher grades of the Bugout have carbon fiber handles and milled aluminum handles, paired with S90V and M390 blades respectively. These upgraded blade steels offer high-performance cutting with excellent edge holding. The higher-grade handle materials give a bit more heft to the Bugout as well as an enhanced, high-tech appearance. It only makes sense to have upgraded blade steel with upgraded handle material. 

Benchmade Bugout Closed
Overall, the knife is lightweight, rugged and more than capable of tackling most task. In short, it’s dang near the perfect EDC option. Photo: Marty Stanfield

Even with the base model’s S30V, you still pack plenty of muscle for those long-cutting jobs. I like how thin the Bugout’s blade stock is combined with the flat ground blade bevel giving it plenty of bite to it. 

Some knife folks favor not a high performance without the bulk. I get it, it all makes for a comfortable everyday carry folder. For those of you who favor these kinds of knives, the Benchmade Bugout is for you. You have a high-end blade steel with a proven and popular blade lock, with a no-frills handle design. 

MSRP for the full-size Bugout starts at $180 and varies up from there depending on handle material and blade steel. There is also a Mini Bugout which scales the size down some to an even more pocket-friendly size.

Go here for more information on the Benchmade Bugout.

Bugout Model 535 Specs
Blade length: 3.2″
Blade thickness: 0.090″
Overall length: 7.4″
Weight: 1.85oz
Blade material: S30V
Handle material: Grivory

Mini Bugout Model 533 Specs
Blade length: 2.8″
Blade thickness: 0.090″
Overall length: 6.5″
Weight: 1.5oz
Blade material: S30V
Handle material: Grivory

More Knife Reviews:

Benchmade 940 Review: EDC Knife By The Numbers

Dexter Ewing
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Benchmade 940 Review: EDC Knife By The Numbers

Does it deserve its reputation as a definitive EDC knife?

What makes a great EDC folder?

Well, the obvious would be a highly useful blade shape paired with an ergonomically shaped handle. Then, make both out of high-grade materials for durability and longevity. It wouldn’t hurt to have a popular knifemaker scratch up the design and make certain the QA is in line.

Put together this amalgamation and the result might just be the Benchmade 940.

Designed by the late Warren Osborne, the production knife is some somewhat an outlier in his portfolio. The Texas maker is perhaps best known for his high-dollar art knives favored by discriminating collectors around the world.  Osborne’s 940 design was refreshingly non-tactical, especially for a company who a large presence in this niche.

Benchmade 940 half open
A top seller for Benchmade, the 940 has come to help define EDC knives. Photo: Marty Stanfield

Furthermore, it has a broad appeal for those who are serious about their daily carry knife checking all the boxes. It’s no stretch to call the 940 a workhorse of a folding knife.

Since its introduction in the early 2000s, the Benchmade knife’s popularity has skyrocketed to the point it has a sort of cult following. We’re going to take an in-depth look at why this is so. It is why the 940 might even be worth adding to your collection.  

Benchmade 940 Blade

The blade profile of the 940 is a reverse tanto, in which the edge and spine of the classic tanto design are flipped. However, it does somewhat look like a clip-point blade, albeit one with an extremely abbreviated downward-sloping tip.

Measuring 3.4 inches long, the blade uses CPM S30V premium stainless steel for the ultimate edge-holding capabilities. The alloy provides the muscle required for most daily cutting chores inside and outside of your house as well as offering excellent corrosion resistance.

Benchmade 940 blade half open
The 940 boasts thumb studs and Benchmade’s ambidextrous axis-lock. Photo: Marty Stanfield

Dual thumb studs provide an ambidextrous opening with either hand. Satin is the standard finish, though a black-coated blade is available at a minimal cost increase. The blade’s slender form factor allows the 940 to get in and out of a variety of cutting tasks with great efficiency. Not to mention, this svelteness doesn’t raise eyebrows in public like some bigger, more brawny tactical folder designs.  

940 Handle

In the handle department, the 940 uses aircraft grade T6 6061 aluminum, offering excellent weight savings while not compromising strength. The handle is given a very nice dark green hard anodized coating, which is both scratch-resistant and aesthetically pleasing. Milled channels in the handle provide a slim-feeling knife in hand.

A tip-up-only pocket clip mounting is available on both sides of the handle to accommodate both left-handed and right-handed users alike.

Benchmade 940 clip
The clip is situated at the butt of the handle for tip-up carry. Photo: Marty Stanfield

The blade is secured in the open position by Benchmade’s own Axis Lock—regarded as the original crossbar lock. It promotes a smooth opening and closing action as well as very positive blade engagement, securely holding the blade open until you release it. Ambidextrous thumb buttons on either side of the handle allow one to release the lock with either hand. The Axis Lock is truly righty and lefty friendly, unlike liner locks that are specifically for right-handers.  

940 Performance

Not only does the 940 perform very well, but the knife also carries like a dream. It’s lightweight and compact, allowing it to disappear while clipped to jeans, casual pants, or dress slacks. It doesn’t weigh you down by any means. The handle sits deep enough in the pocket, away from prying eyes but there still is enough to grab onto when you want to retrieve the knife and put it to use.

In use, I appreciate the way the handle drops down a bit, forming a finger guard of sorts to keep your hand in place. It also helps to index your grip, as well. The purple anodized titanium handle spacer provides a neat pop of contrasting color against the green. Traction notches above the pivot give enough friction to hold your thumb or index finger in place during tough cutting tasks.

Final Cut

A great testament to Benchmade’s manufacturing quality, every single 940 I have seen out of the box, the blade is centered in the handle, and the action is very smooth. These knives are really dialed in when they come from the factory.  

Benchmade 940 three models
Aside from the standard 940 (middle), Benchmade offers the automatic 9400 (bottom) and compact 945 Mini Osborne (top). Photo: Marty Stanfield

Benchmade also expanded the selection of 940 to include variants that have carbon fiber handles, G-10 handles, and even an automatic opening version with the model 9400, which utilizes a coil spring-fired blade and a button plunge lock as opposed to the Axis Lock. There’s also the model 945 Mini Osborne which scales the 940 down some, creating a nice, ultra-compact folding knife with a 2.9-inch long blade. It still opens quickly, and cuts efficiently.

MSRPs understandably vary with size and handle materials. However, the MSRP for the standard 940 is $240, which puts it on par with other USA-made folders on the market.

Get one and it became fairly clear why the 940 resides at the top of Benchmade’s catalog. Even better yet, you will not be disappointed with the knife as your everyday companion.

Benchmade 940 Osborne Axis Lock Specs
Blade length: 3.4″
Blade thickness: 0.115″
Overall length: 7.8″
Weight: 2.9oz
Blade material: S30V
Handle material: T6 6061 aluminum
MSRP: $240

For more information on the 940, please visit Benchmade.

More Knife Reviews:

Kershaw Launch 13 Review: This Auto Makes Its Own Luck

Dexter Ewing
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Kershaw Launch 13 Review: This Auto Makes Its Own Luck

An intriguing take on the wharncliffe design matted to a rock-solid action, the Launch 13 proves a cut above the rest.

Kershaw Knives’ Launch series of USA-made automatic knives has been a great seller for the company. Offering USA-made automatics in premium materials at a fraction of the price of what you can buy others in this class.

The Launch series is a collection of automatics of all sizes and all blade shapes, each is stirring. Their designs are modern and artistic in nature, adding a bit of excitement to your everyday carry rotation. One of the more intriguing designs is the Launch 13, which we will examine in closer detail here.

Launch 13 Blade

The Launch 13 is a slender design, with an angled wharncliffe blade. Most wharncliffes are straight, but the Launch 13’s blade is canted a bit to allow the easier use of the entire cutting edge while holding the handle at a natural angle.

Kershaw Launch Clip
Photo: Marty Stanfield

The blade itself measures 3.5-inches long and is ground from CPM154 stainless steel. This steel is a particle metallurgy version of 154CM, an alloy used widely in the knife industry and a long-time standard when it comes to high-end blade steels. 

The blade is flat ground and has a prominent swedge for a more aggressive appearance. The blade exhibits a two-tone finish, with the bevels and swedge having a satin finish look and the flats and spine black coated. 

The thumb rest portion of the blade spine has machined-in traction notches, which accommodate your thumb perfectly and provide a solid base in which to apply downward pressure on the blade to facilitate additional cutting power when needed.  

Launch 13 Handle

The futuristic-looking handle is machined from T6 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum that is both lightweight and strong. Perfect for knife handles. Kershaw gives the handle a black hard-coat anodized finish which provides the handle’s color, as well as boosts its scratch resistance. 

Launch 13 closed front
Photo: Marty Stanfield

The handle measures 4.5 inches long. It has a tapered construction from the pivot to the butt end. This not only makes the Launch 13 carry very well in the pocket but helps it fit the hand comfortably. 

The large finger recess situated in the middle of the gripping area on the handle is where your middle finger locks in, and the rest of the fingers fall into place naturally. In hand, the feel is awesome. It’s very secure and confidence-inspiring, tackling all your cutting chores.

The handle sports a couple of cutouts that helps to further lighten the weight. Additionally, the handle’s spine also has a few holes in it. This not only contributes to the minimal weight of the handle but makes it easier to clean the inside of the handle with forced air or rinsing with tap water. 

The edges of the handle are chamfered nicely to soften the edges and eliminate hot spots. Finally, a steel deep carry-style pocket clip is affixed to the very end of the handle to carry the Launch 13 deep in the pocket.  A custom machined triangular pivot bolt and large lock button round out this overall stellar package. 

Cutting Profile

In use, the Launch 13 is a powerfully efficient cutting tool. The straight-line edge and defined point easily score material or efficiently cut through using a pull stroke. Furthermore, the straight-line cutting edge does well whittling and carving.

Kershaw Launch 1 cutting cardboard
Photo: Marty Stanfield

Thanks to the Launch 13’s grip ergonomics, the knife feels rock solid in your hand during use. It doesn’t feel like this one’s going to get away from you the longer you use it.

Another great characteristic of the design is the canted blade. It might look a bit weird but get the knife in your hand and use it, then you quickly see the design makes a lot of sense. It allows for a more natural wrist angle during use, something not a lot of other wharncliffe blade folders offer.

CPM154 holds an edge well, but not as long as CPM S30V. Still, it’s a great choice for this type of knife. The blade steel and the straight-line cutting edge both make resharpening easy when the time comes, given there’s no belly or recurve to negotiate with the sharpener.

As for tasks, the Launch 13 is a great work knife for those of you who make use of a knife regularly while on the job or while doing handyman chores around the house or homestead.

Launch 13 Action

When it comes time to put the blade into play, a simple press of the firing button releases the blade and the coil spring propels the blade to the fully open position. The action is fast and smooth, and concludes with a satisfying audible Click when fully open. The knife’s plunge lock is very strong at holding the blade open and there is zero play.

Launch carving carboard
Photo: Marty Stanfield

For a midsize folder, it’s very lightweight. Coming in at 2.4 ounces, the Launch 13 can be carried with you all day without weighing you down. You really do not feel the knife clipped to your pocket as you move around. It just disappears! This is a very nice gesture as most knife users do not like to carry all that bulk around. 

Final Cut

In conclusion, the Launch 13 from Kershaw Knives is an exciting-looking automatic folder, made in the USA with premium materials. What is the MSRP you ask? The answer: $225. 

Kershaw isn’t the first manufacturer you think of when it comes to high-quality USA-made automatic folders. But, with its Launch series in general and Launch 13 in particular, maybe it should be.

If you love automatic knives, check out the Launch 13. It’s a worthy addition to any collection. And it’s not afraid of work either! 

Launch 13 Specs:
Use: Everyday, Work, Tactical
Type: Automatic
Style: Pocketknife
Designer: Kershaw Originals
Blade Steel: CPM 154
Blade Style: Wharncliffe
Blade Edge: Plain
Opening Action: Automatic, Opens With Push button
Lock Type: Push-button lock
Pocketclip: Reversible deep-carry (right/left, tip-up)
Handle Color: Black
Country of Origin: Made in USA
MSRP: $225

Check Out Kershaw Knives For More Information.

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