Benchmade initial thoughts

Status
Not open for further replies.
Bartojc

Bartojc

Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2014
Messages
1,513
Location
Michigan
As I posted in another thread I purchased my first Benchmade this weeks and received it yesterday morning. I've been wanting a Benchmade for years. Friends have them and love them. I've used and own Case, Spyderco, Schrade, CRKT, Buck just so you know what I am using as a baseline. Case is my default pocket knife. I have a number of them, and 99% of the time if my pants are on there is a Case in my pocket. :)

My Benchmade is a Mini-Barrage. It is my first ever assisted opening knife. My first thought upon opening box was "that's bigger than I thought it would be for a mini". Even though I did look at the specs and measure my Case mini-copperlock for comparison I was a little surprised at the size.

For the size it seems very light. It seems tight with no side to side play. The edge on it is acceptable and is what I expect for a tool of this caliber. The handle/grips seem cheap. They provide decent grip both with the texture and the grooves. I'm sure they help provide the knife with its light for size feel, but they do feel a little on the cheap side to me.

Upon opening the axis lock seemed very "gritty" So much so you could absolutely not get the knife to open without manually pulling the lock back and the pushing on the thumb lug. A drop of oil and some working of the lock seemed to help, then this morning it works like it should. I'd guess the oil has evacuated whatever grit was holding it up as it seems to work as it should this morning. It works so well now that it is slowly winning me over.

In summary the size issue is totally my fault. I bought online and really had never seen this model. It'll work clipped in my jeans pocket which is what I bought it for. With the weight or lack of weight you don't even know it is there. Honestly though with the cheap feeling sides and the gritty lock it left me wondering what the big deal is with Benchmade. I'm sure it'll last for a long time, and I love that they are made in the USA. I have to admit though that for over $120 I'm not as impressed as I had hoped. Maybe it'll win me over as I use it and carry it more.

-Jeff
 
Thanks for the review. I've had my eye on several different Benchmades, but hadn't really considered that one.
 
I’ve been a BM fan since my first Axis lock in 2000. I don’t have one now but I’ve got my eye open for one or another. I want another Ares but that is an old design that was discontinued many years ago.
 
I recently traded into a Benchmade Autocrat, my first automatic. I'm impressed with the quality and function. EDC now in my right hand hip pocket.
 
20210724_110102.jpg

These are the three Benchmade Knives that I own. A 710, a Griptilian and a Bugout which was a retirement gift from my wife.

They all seem to be good quality knives but the only other knives I really have to compare them to are my Buck 110 series knives.

The two knife reviewers I follow (Nick Shabazz and Gideonstactical) speak very highly of their fit and finish and the precision with which they are manufactured and the quality of their steels but I honestly can't think of any application I would have for a pocket knife that the difference between a Benchmade and a Buck would make enough difference to notice.
 
Last edited:
I have 4 Benchmade knives. 2 out of production and 2 in production. The warranty on their knives more than makes up for the price tag. I have sent back my Infidel a few times to be fixed, rebalanced, and sharpened. My Adamas folder is another great knife, albeit hefty. Very similar in size and weight to my Kabar Mule lockback, but with a better mechanism. My two out of production knives were budget models and no longer supported. I am thinking of getting one of their long run knives like a Griptillian as a long term use knife.

My current knife is a new SOG Trident AT. And it is almost perfect for everything I could hope to use it for. It made it out of the factory missing it's pocket clip which is hopefully on the way.
 
Update...

Now that it is opening the way that it should the Mini-Barrage is growing on me. I'm liking it more than the first day. I'm sure it'll be fine.
For the the size I was thinking a Mini-Bugout would have been closer to what I had in mind. Same price range as what I spent but no assisted opening. I didn't need assisted, it was just a gadget that I wanted. Sometimes my wants get me in trouble :)

-Jeff
 
I go back and forth between thinking Benchmade is my favorite brand or Spyderco. I have too many of each including a Barrage and Mini-Barrage. I like the Axis lock of Benchmade but prefer the hole-in-the blade of Spyderco. Both companies make versions with both features.

I predict more Benchmade knives in your future.
 
You have no idea how close I came to buying a Mini-Crooked River from REI a couple of days ago. I had a 20% off coupon that expired on Monday along with a $60 dividend good for anything in the store or online. My cost would have been $140 instead of $250. But I resisted the urge and used the 20% off coupon for something else. The $60 dividend is good for a year, so I saved it for later.

I have other similar sized knives that fill the same role. But they don't look as nice.
 
jmr40 said:
You have no idea how close I came to buying a Mini-Crooked River from REI a couple of days ago. I had a 20% off coupon that expired on Monday along with a $60 dividend good for anything in the store or online. My cost would have been $140 instead of $250. But I resisted the urge and used the 20% off coupon for something else. The $60 dividend is good for a year, so I saved it for later.

I have other similar sized knives that fill the same role. But they don't look as nice.
Click to expand...
Well, I applaud your will power. What model was it?
 
Well, I applaud your will power. What model was it?
Click to expand...

It was a smaller version of the one you linked earlier. The full size Crooked River is a big knife with a 4" blade. The smaller version is still 3.5".
 
My Benchmades:

Griptilian, Barrage, Violi and Osborne. Griptilian and Barrage are 154CM. Violi and Osborne are S30V. I can tell no real difference between these two steels in taking and holding an edge or sharpening. Newer super steels maybe, but these are damn good and damn good is good enough for me. There's a missing Mini Barrage still waiting for me to find it somewhere out in the yard. The Barrage and Violi are assisted opening which is a nice feature when you need a one hand open/close knife. All but the Osborne have my name engraved on the blade, which was real nice when I was still working and would lay a knife down in our shop or at a job. Helps keep knives from growing legs.

Benchmades are for sure good knives. I read about spring problems with the axis lock but three of these have been around 10 years plus and no issues here. The Osborne is significantly lighter and easier to pocket. It's carried more than any of the other three now. Prefer the arrow pocket clip so switched the Osborne and Violi clips, that's why the clip on the Violi looks so new.

benchmade.jpg
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

marksman13
  • Locked
Benchmade Presidio 5000SBK troubles...
Replies
2
Views
876
M-Cameron
M
U
  • Locked
Lost and Found
Replies
6
Views
857
jeepnik
jeepnik
D
  • Locked
DO YOU CARRY -- Point UP or Point DOWN ???
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
shfttrsh
S
R
  • Locked
Benchmade Customer Service !
Replies
9
Views
1K
76shuvlinoff
76shuvlinoff
R
  • Locked
Maybe the best Benchmade ever?
Replies
12
Views
4K
hmphargh
H
Back
Top