Benchmade
Benchmade, a name synonymous with quality and precision in the high-performing knives industry. In 30 years, Benchmade has carved a niche for itself, combining traditional craftsmanship with innovative design and top-tier functionality. With a rich history rooted in a commitment to excellence, Benchmade is a beacon of American-made quality and ingenuity.
Buying Guide for Benchmade Knives
Benchmade offers an extensive selection of knives suited for all types of users. When choosing a Benchmade knife, first consider the intended use:
EDC Knives by Benchmade
This collection features everyday carry knives by Benchmade. One of the largest selections by Benchmade, these EDC knives are lightweight and convenient for everyday carrying around. Giving you a plethora of possibilities.
Outdoor Knives
This category of knives by Benchmade features knives for survival in the wild. Perfect for adventurous spirits who enjoy living on the edge. Choose outdoor knives if you’re looking for a knife that works for trapping, skinning, wood cutting, wood carving, and much more.
Tactical Knives
Made for tactical use by law enforcement, and military personnel, these knives benefit outdoor enthusiasts alike. These heavy-duty knives are multipurpose including uses like self-defense, emergency use, cutting branches, and other similar uses.
Benchmade’s Black Series caters to these types of knives.
Hunting Knives
Just as the name suggests a hunting knife is an especially crafted knife for use during hunting. From preparing the game for food to cutting up the meat or skinning the animal.
The choice of a hunting knife largely depends on the game being hunted. Small animals may require a smaller, sharper blade while larger game will require a tough edge.
Cutlery Knives
This fully customizable line of knives by Benchmade is a top choice for chefs and cutlery users. Highly durable yet versatile these knives give you the perfect you desire.
A Knife for Every Use
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, first responder, EDC user, or knife collector, there is a Benchmade knife for you out there.
Hikers & Campers
For hikers, hunters, and campers, Benchmade knives like the Bushcrafter are ideal for shelter building, firecraft, and food preparation in the wilderness. The premium steel blades hold an edge through rugged use, while the ergonomic handles provide a secure grip even in adverse weather.
Our Picks For Hikers and Campers
Mini Stimulus: A compact automatic knife, easy to carry and useful for quick tasks.
Claymore: An automatic knife with a drop point blade, suitable for a range of outdoor uses.
First Responders
Military, law enforcement, firefighters, and EMTs will appreciate Benchmade knives purpose-built for their demanding tasks. Assisted opening options allow quick access for emergencies, while ambidextrous controls accommodate left or right-handed users. The high-visibility orange handles on rescue knives aid visibility even at night or underground.
Our Picks For First Responders
CLAYMORE, AUTO, DROP POINT: Offering quick deployment, this automatic knife with a versatile blade shape, is suitable for a variety of emergencies.
Presidio II (Auto AXIS): Robust and reliable, this knife could be a valuable tool for first responders, giving them easy handling and durability.
Everyday Carry
EDC fans can choose lightweight yet durable Benchmade options like the Bugout for their everyday carry. The slim profiles are easy to carry while still offering useful blades perfect for unpacking boxes, slicing fruit, or opening packages on the go.
Our Top EDC Picks from Benchmark
Mini Reflex: This compact automatic knife is perfect for everyday carry, offering convenience and reliability in a smaller package.
Casbah: An automatic knife that combines practicality with ease of use, making it a great choice for daily tasks and general EDC needs.
Knife Collectors
Benchmade also appeals to dedicated knife collectors with premium steel collaborations with custom knifemakers and exclusive numbered limited editions. Unique mechanisms like the Benchmade Morpho raise the bar for innovation that aficionados desire in their collections.
Our Picks for Knife Collectors
3400BK AUTOCRAT: This high-end OTF (Out-The-Front) knife is a collector’s item, known for its sophisticated design and premium build quality.
8551BK Mediator: As a sleek and well-crafted automatic knife, the Mediator is a desirable piece for collectors who appreciate refined and high-performance knives.
No matter your intended use, Benchmade tactical knives deliver the exceptional fit and finish knife enthusiasts demand with the proven reliability to fulfil even the most challenging tasks.
What sets Benchmade knives apart from other brands?
With a dedication to excellence, Benchmade knives are in a class of their own. Meticulously engineered using only superior materials – including stainless steel blades and robust handles – each Benchmade knife exemplifies peerless artisanship.
From the flawless blade contours to the fluid mechanical movements to the contours perfectly contoured for the human hand, Benchmade attends to every detail so that each knife delivers superlative cutting and an unmatched user experience.
Lifetime Warranty
Every Benchmade knife comes with a lifetime warranty so you shop with peace of mind. Benchmade will repair, replace, or offer free service at their option for any knife returned for warranty work and found to be defective.
Axis Lock
The signature AXIS Lock mechanism provides smooth, secure blade deployment and lockup, while assisted opening features like the AXIS-Assist allows for swift, one-handed access from the flawless blade contours to the fluid mechanical movements to the contours perfectly contoured for the human hand.
Benchmade attends to every detail so that each knife delivers a superlative cutting and an unmatched user experience.
USA Made
Benchmade proudly manufactures all its products in the USA. Their premium knives and cutting tools are crafted by skilled workers right in the Oregon City facility. This allows for maximum quality control and attention to detail with each Benchmade product.
Benchmade Vs. Kershaw
When it comes to reliable and durable knives for survival and adventure, two respected brands to consider are Benchmade and Kershaw. Both companies offer quality products, though with different areas of focus.
Benchmade prides itself on premium materials and proven, classic designs that stand the test of time. As an American company, they manufacture all knives only domestically. This does come at a cost though, as Benchmade knives fall on the pricier end of the spectrum.
Meanwhile, Kershaw appeals to a wider demographic with their diverse selection of models catering to various budgetary needs. From affordable starter knives to high-end specialty blades, their extensive catalog provides options for all users. While not all manufacturing takes place in the USA, Kershaw upholds strict quality control on all products to satisfy customers.
In the end, your personal preferences and budget will determine whether Benchmade’s premium durability or Kershaw’s flexibility across price points makes for the better choice. Both brands are known for reliability, but with different strengths.
Standout Products by Benchmade
Claymore Series
Benchmade Claymore Mini
The Benchmade Mini Claymore is a pocket-sized, automatic knife with a timeless design. It has a textured push-button and handles for grip, a sliding safety lock, and an integrated safety to prevent accidental blade deployment.
The knife is laser-cut from high-grade steel and has a super-tough CPM-D2 blade.
Benchmade Claymore Tanto
The Benchmade Claymore Tanto stands as a remarkable embodiment of Benchmade’s dedication to superior craftsmanship and innovation.
This model features a robust tanto-style blade, an ergonomic handle for comfort, and a secure grip, made from materials like G10 or reinforced polymers, suitable for various conditions.
The Claymore Tanto’s multifunctionality shines through its suitability for tactical use, outdoor adventures, and everyday carry, enhanced by an automatic opening mechanism for quick, one-handed deployment.
Claymore Auto
The Benchmade Claymore Auto, a standout model renowned for its automatic opening mechanism, enables rapid, one-handed deployment, a hallmark of this knife.
Designed with high-grade steel like CPM-S30V, it has to offer exceptional durability and edge retention, with blade options that include styles like tanto, though it’s the auto-open feature that primarily sets it apart.
This knife is versatile, skewing towards tactical and outdoor uses, thanks to its quick deployment capability. Safety is paramount, with mechanisms like a locking system to prevent accidental deployment.
SOCP Dagger
The Benchmade SOCP Dagger, particularly the 176 and Mini SOCP models, is a highly specialized tool designed for the most elite warfighters and for close-quarters battle (CQB) or direct action (DA) operations. Its design, conceptualized by Greg Thompson for the Special Operations Combatives Program, emphasizes immediate availability and reactive use in high-intensity situations.
Design and Features:
Made of 440C stainless steel, the SOCP Dagger’s blade is 3.22 inches long and 0.175 inches thick, offering a balance of toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance.
The 4.03 handle design includes a ring at the top, allowing for versatile handling and compatibility with firearm use. The knife is remarkably lightweight totaling 3.24oz, making it highly portable.
Usability and Versatility for Everyday Carry:
The sheath clip has been improved for better retention on MOLLE webbing, pocket seams, and waistbands. It’s versatile enough to be clipped inside waistbands, on ballistic vests, or even woven into MOLLE/PALS webbing.
The Mini SOCP version, shorter by one inch, offers easier concealment and body adjustment, especially for inside-the-waistband carry.
The ring feature allows the knife to be used alongside a handgun, either in the gun hand or the support hand, making it a formidable tool for tactical scenarios.
Benchmade Autocrat
The Autocrat series is Benchmade’s line of high-end automatic OTF (Out-The-Front) knives, primarily designed for tactical and self-defence use. The Autocrat series is known for its automatic OTF mechanism, providing rapid blade deployment, which is a key feature for tactical situations.
These knives typically feature a double-edge dagger style, offering symmetrical precision, ideal for piercing and slicing in self-defense scenarios.
This series particularly appeals to users looking for a sophisticated, high-performance automatic knife, including collectors, tactical users, and those who appreciate advanced knife technology.
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FAQs
Are Benchmade knives lifetime warranty?
Yes, Benchmade provides an exceptional lifetime warranty covering the original owner against any manufacturing defects in materials or craftsmanship. The warranty exclusions include damage from misuse or disassembly.
Are Benchmade knives good knives?
Benchmade knives are one of the premium knives out there. Manufactured in the US and backed by a lifetime warranty these Benchmade knives are easy to use and built to last any adventure.
Where are Benchmade knives made?
Benchmade knives are made in Oregon City, US. All of the benchmark products are made domestically within the US.
Do Benchmade knives come sharpened?
Yes, Benchmade knives come sharpened and ready to use.
Why does Benchmade use a butterfly?
Benchmade’s butterfly logo relates to the company’s early focus on butterfly knives. When the company first started in 1979, it was called the Pacific Cutlery Corporation, and its primary focus was the production of butterfly knives solely.
How long does it take to get a Benchmade knife?
Benchmade does not have a long waiting list. Your order is shipped within two days of placing an order.
Is Benchmade Damascus real?
Yes, Benchmade does use Damascus Steel in some of their knives such as Pinnacle Gold Class Knife.
Why is the Benchmade Osborne so popular?
The Benchmade Osborne gained popularity due to it featuring an AXIS lock and one of the first knives to feature a reverse tanto blade.