A Benchmade knife is a fantastic survival tool for an outdoor enthusiast. Whether you love camping, hunting, or need a tough knife for tactical scenarios, a Benchmade knife is always primed ready for action.
The untamed wilderness can be a dangerous place, but with a superbly crafted EDC Benchmade knife by your side, you will be well prepared for any type of outdoor emergency scenario.
Introducing the Amazing Benchmade Knife
The Benchmade knife company is based out of Oregon City, USA. It is well known for designing quality knives and tools for all types of lifestyles.
If you are planning a hunting trip, a tactical or search and rescue mission, or you want a reliable EDC knife, you need a Benchmade knife in your survival kit, camping gear, or pocket.
The 10 Best Benchmade Knives
- Benchmade Bugout 535 Folding Knife
- Benchmade Griptilian 551 Knife
- Benchmade Reverse Tanto 940 Knife
- Benchmade Adamas 275 Knife
- Benchmade Crooked River 15080 Knife
- Benchmade Contego 810 Knife
- Benchmade North Fork 15031 Knife
- Benchmade Grizzly Ridge 15061 EDC Hunting Knife
- Benchmade Bushcrafter 162 Knife
- Benchmade Saddle Mountain Skinner 15001 Knife
Our Top Pick for the Best Benchmade Knife
Our top pick for the best Benchmade Knife is the Benchmade Bushcrafter 162 Knife.
Whether you work or play in the great outdoors, the Bushcrafter is an essential survival tool. Its superb design and ultra-functionality will empower you to stay prepared for any emergency, hunting, or tactical situation.
How to Choose the Best Benchmade Knife
Types of Blades
The most common types of Benchmade knife blades are a plain-edge blade or a serrated-edge blade.
Plain-edge Blade
A plain-edge blade is highly versatile. It can be used for cutting through a wide range of materials, meat, wood, plastics, etc. It makes clean cuts, gives you more cutting control, and is easier to sharpen than a serrated blade.
Serrated-edge Blade
If you need to saw through tough fibrous material like rope or animal hide, a serrated blade is the blade of choice. But it is not ideal for cutting through soft material like a tomato and it can be hard to sharpen.
Blade Finishes
Blades with a polished finish have a stylish reflective surface, is corrosion resistant, and are easier to clean. But these types of polished finishes can scratch easily. A satin finish blade is not as reflective as a polished blade. It has a good corrosion resistance, but scratches can also show on the surface.
Knives that have a black powder or titanium nitride coating look sleek and stylish and are highly resistant to rust. But the coating may wear off the blade over time. So whichever type of blade you choose, always clean, dry, and oil the blade to keep it in optimal condition.
Specific Blade Types
Clip-point Blade
The clip point blade has a clipped off blade end which gives the blade a tapered, razor-sharp edge. It is ideal for piercing animal hide and for stabbing as you can insert and withdraw the knife faster. The clip point blade may not be as strong as other types of blades so it is not designed for heavy-duty tasks.
Drop Point Blade
A drop point blade design, like the Benchmade Bushcrafter 162, has a solid and well-balanced design. Its sharp pointed end is thicker than the clip-point blade, which makes this blade highly versatile and ideal for a wide range of cutting tasks and materials.
Tanto Blade
A tanto blade has a high, extremely strong point with a flat grind so it is an excellent choice for stabbing or cutting through hard materials.
Folding Knives Versus Fixed Blade Knives
A manually operated folding knife is specially designed for anyone who needs fast access to the blade. With just a press of a thumb stud and a flick of the wrist, a locking mechanism, like Benchmade's unique AXIS lock mechanism, releases the blade which springs into action. Once you have finished with the knife, just press the thumb stud and the mechanism smoothly closes the blade again.
Blade Length
Blade lengths range in size from 2.97 to 4.40-inches. Shorter blades are ideal for intricate cutting tasks while a longer blade can be used for almost anything like cutting rope, feathering a stick, or batoning.
Blade Construction
Stainless Steel or High-carbon Steel
When it comes to Benchmade knives, it is all about the blade's edge.
Premium American-made stainless steel, like CPM-S30V, creates a razor-sharp blade with superior retention, good centering, and a high corrosion resistance. This type of blade is softer than high carbon steel so you will have to sharpen it more often with a quality whetstone.
High-carbon Steel
High-carbon steel, (like 56-58 or 58-61 HRC) is an incredibly hard material which makes the blade ultra-durable with a great edge retention. Extra hard steel can be more difficult to sharpen and can rust easily so you will have to take extra good care of it.
Handle
Handles can be made out of glass filled nylon, G10, which is a high-pressure fiberglass laminate, or wood. Glass-filled nylon and G10 handles are highly durable and easy to grip in wet conditions. The handles may have a textured surface with scales which give you an improved grip but some people may find it uncomfortable.
Wood is a good choice as it creates a solid and sturdy handle but it can be slippery in wet conditions.
The thickness of the handle is important for application-specific tasks. A slimline handle is perfect for hunting purposes but a thicker handle is better suited for tough cutting tasks or combat scenarios.
Sheath
Keeping your knife at your side for quick and easy access is important. A sheath allows you to safely store and attach the knife to your belt or tactical backpack and helps to maintain the blade's sharpness.
Best Benchmade Knife Reviews
1. Benchmade Bugout 535 Folding Knife
Whether you are planning to go hiking, camping, or a backpacking trip, the Benchmade Bugout 535 7.46-inch Folding Knife is a great knife for EDC purposes.
The 3.24-inch long and 0.090-inch thick premium-quality CPM-S30V stainless-steel blade is razor-sharp, has a great edge retention, good centering, and a high corrosion resistance. Its precision drop-point blade edge is designed for strength and versatility so it can glide smoothly through meat, cut firewood and twine, or slice an apple.
To provide a comfortable grip, the fully ambidextrous slimline Grivory glass-filled nylon handle has superior durability and an ergonomic, contoured, textured grip that fits well in your hand.
The manually-operated AXIS lock allows you to open and close the knife in one smooth action. For versatile portability, the knife has a reversible clip and a lanyard hole.
The Bugout knife is ultra-lightweight at 1.85-ounces, so it will not weigh you down. It folds into a compact 4.22-inch size which makes it the perfect EDC tool or weapon.
You can choose from a serrated or plain-edge blade and 3 different handle colors: gray, blue, and green.
Benchmade offers a lifetime warranty and a LifeSharp Service guarantee on the folding knife.
Pros
- High-quality
- Great value for money
- Incredibly tough knife
- Ideal for hiking, camping, backpacking, and EDC
- Strong chromium nitride coated stainless steel
- Razor-sharp
- Great edge retention, good centering, and corrosion resistance
- Precision drop-point construction for strength and versatility
- Fully ambidextrous Grivory handle
- Ergonomic textured, contoured design
- Molded from glass-filled nylon for superior durability
- Smooth operating AXIS lock can be used one-handed
- Reversible clip
- Lanyard hole
- Ultra-lightweight and compact
- Available with a plain edge or serrated blade
- 3 colors
- Limited lifetime warranty
- LifeSharp Service guarantee
Cons
- Expensive
- Feels too lightweight for medium to heavy-duty cutting tasks
- Opening mechanism can be a little stiff out of the box
2. Benchmade Griptilian 551 Knife
If you need a tough knife for EDC, camping, or tactical situations, you cannot beat the super stylish and durable Benchmade Griptilian 551 Knife.
The 3.45-inch long and 0.115-inch thick 154CM 58-61 high-carbon black coated blade is extremely strong, rust-resistant, and has great edge retention. Its razor-sharp drop-point utility blade edge gives you all-around cutting functionality, so you can use it to feather a stick for firewood, carve wood, or use it for combat.
Benchmade's exceptionally strong, fully ambidextrous manually-operated AXIS lock allows you to open and close the blade one-handed. The tough but lightweight glass filled nylon handle has a textured grip that feels comfortable in your hand. For ultimate accessibility, the knife has a reversible pocket clip and lanyard hole.
You can also choose from 3 different blade types: plain edge/satin finish, serrated edge/coated finish, or a serrated edge/satin finish blade, and 4 attractive colors: black, olive, orange, or sand.
Benchmade offers a limited lifetime warranty and LifeSharp Service guarantee to keep your knife in the best condition.
Pros
- High-quality
- Great value for money
- Very good price
- High task functionality
- Ideal for EDC, camping, and tactical applications
- 154CM 58-61 high-carbon stainless-steel blade
- Black coating for additional durability and rust-resistance
- Holds its edge incredibly well
- Strong and durable drop-point utility-style blade
- Tough glass-filled nylon handle
- Comfortable textured grip
- Attractive design
- Lightweight
- Exceptionally strong and fully ambidextrous AXIS lock
- Easy one-handed operation
- Reversible pocket clip
- Lanyard hole
- Available in 4 colors
- 3 different blade types and finishes
- Limited lifetime warranty
- LifeSharp Service guarantee
Cons
- AXIS mechanism can be a little hard to open until you break it in
- Handle feels too lightweight for heavy-duty tasks
3. Benchmade Reverse Tanto 940 Knife
The slim, stylish, and highly versatile Benchmade Reverse Tanto 940 7.87-inch Folding Knife is perfect for camping, EDC, survival, or tactical scenarios.
Made from premium-quality CPM-S30V 58-60 stainless-steel, the reverse tanto blade is 3.40-inch long and 0.115-inch thick, razor-sharp, and extremely well-balanced. It has a superb edge retention and rust resistance.
Designed for one-handed operation, Benchmade's innovative manually-operated AXIS lock is exceptionally strong and fully ambidextrous. The lightweight, contoured green aluminum handle is comfortable to hold and use.
You can keep the knife always ready for action with the reversible pocket clip and its compact size fits easily in your pocket.
The knife is available with a plain edge/coated finish, a plain edge/satin finish, a serrated edge/coated finish, and a serrated edge/satin finish.
Benchmade offers a limited lifetime warranty and a Lifesharp Service guarantee.
Pros
- High-quality
- Great value for money
- Ideal for EDC, camping, and tactical scenarios
- Extra hard high carbon stainless steel
- Extremely well-balanced
- Superb edge qualities and rust resistance
- Durable reverse tanto blade
- Razor sharp
- Compact design
- Exceptionally strong and fully ambidextrous AXIS lock
- Lightweight, contoured aluminum handle is comfortable to hold and use
- Reversible pocket clip
- Available in 4 blades types and finishes
- Limited lifetime warranty
- LifeSharp Service guarantee
Cons
- Expensive
- No other colored handle choices
- Blade grind can be uneven
4. Benchmade Adamas 275 Knife
If you are an Army Ranger or a Navy Seal, the Benchmade Adamas 275 8.72-inch Folding Knife is an excellent choice for tactical scenarios.
Built to last, the 3.82-inch long and 0.162-inch thick, razor-sharp 60-62 high-carbon blade holds an edge incredibly well and cuts through material like butter. The G10 handle is durable and has good stability for use in extreme outdoor temperatures.
The Benchmade’s exceptionally strong and fully ambidextrous manually-operated AXIS lock allows you to open and close the knife single-handedly in one smooth action.
For ultimate accessibility, the knife comes with a reversible pocket clip and a quality Cordura sheath.
The knife is available with a plain edge blade or a serrated blade, and two colors: black or sand.
Benchmade knife offers a limited lifetime warranty and a LifeSharp Service guarantee.
Pros
- High-quality
- Great value for money
- Specially designed for tactical use
- Extra hard and thick high-carbon steel blade
- Razor sharp
- Holds an edge exceptionally well
- Highly versatile drop point utility style blade
- Durable and stable G10 handle is ideal for extreme temperatures
- Comfortable to hold and use
- Exceptionally strong and fully ambidextrous AXIS lock
- Designed for smooth one-handed operation
- Reversible pocket clip and Cordura sheath
- Available with a plain blade or serrated blade
- Available in 2 colors
- Limited lifetime warranty
- LifeSharp Service guarantee
Cons
- Pivots can come loose
- A little bit heavy
- Thumb studs are very small
- The blade is a bit thin for heavy-duty tasks
5. Benchmade Crooked River 15080 Knife
The stylish and functional Benchmade Crooked River 15080 Knife is the perfect cutting tool for hunters, EDC, fishermen or survivalists.
Expertly crafted from premium-quality CPM-S30V 58-60 stainless-steel, the 4-inch long and 0.124-inch thick, razor-sharp blade has a first-rate edge retention and high corrosion resistance. Its lightweight design, strong clip-point, and longer length allow you to make quick and easy controlled cuts.
The ultra-durable G10 handle has a resin-soaked fiberglass body that is impervious to moisture and remains stable in extreme outdoor conditions.
For fast access to your blade, Benchmade's manually-operating ambidextrous AXIS lock allows you to open and close the blade smoothly with one hand. You can use the reversible split-arrow clip to attach the knife to your belt or use the lanyard hole to tie it your backpack.
The knife is available with a gray G10 handle or a stabilized wood handle.
Benchmade offers a limited lifetime warranty and a LifeSharp Service guarantee on the folding knife.
Pros
- Great quality
- Excellent value for money
- Ideal for hunters, EDC, a survival kit, or a tackle box
- Stylish and functional
- Premium quality extra hard CPM-S30V 58-60 high-carbon steel
- First-rate edge retention and corrosion resistance
- Elegant and strong clip-point construction
- Razor-sharp
- Long length gives good cutting control
- Ultra-durable G10 handle
- Durable resin-soaked fiberglass body
- Smooth operating ambidextrous AXIS lock
- Designed for one-handed operation
- Lightweight
- Reversible split arrow clip
- Lanyard hole
- Available with a gray handle and stabilized wood handle
- Limited lifetime warranty
- LifeSharp Service guarantee
Cons
- Expensive
- The blade may be slightly off center
- The wood handle may be too soft to get a good grip
6. Benchmade Contego 810 Knife
The incredibly resilient Benchmade Contego 810 Folding Knife is tailor-made for soldiers, law enforcement and search-and-rescue officers.
Built tough, the ultra-hard CPM-M4 62-64 high-carbon 3.98-inch long and 0.156-inch thick reverse tanto blade has excellent wear resistance, superior edge retention, and allows for maximum force to be applied to the tip. Its extra-long 9.28-inch length gives you good cutting control through a variety of materials.
Whatever emergency situation you find yourself in, the manually-operated Benchmade AXIS lock is highly responsive, exceptionally strong, and fully ambidextrous, so you can flip open and close the blade with one hand.
The large but comfortable G10 handle is impervious to moisture and remains stable under extreme temperatures. You can also use the strong carbide glass breaker on the pommel to break a car or helicopter window.
Ideal for everyday carry, the knife has a reversible tip-up pocket clip.
The knife is available with a plain edge/coated finish, a plain edge/satin finish, and a serrated edge/satin finish.
Benchmade offers a limited lifetime warranty and a LifeSharp Service guarantee.
Pros
- Excellent quality
- Great value for money
- Tough construction
- Perfect for tactical applications
- Extra hard high-carbon steel
- Reverse tanto blade style allows for maximum force to be applied to the tip
- Highly resilient
- Excellent wear resistance and toughness
- Good blade centering
- Superior edge retention
- Razor sharp
- Exceptionally strong, highly responsive and fully ambidextrous AXIS lock
- Designed for easy one-handed operation
- G10 handle is durable, impervious to moisture, and stable under extreme temperature
- Comfortable to hold
- Strong carbide glass breaker
- Available in three blade types
- Limited lifetime warranty
- LifeSharp Service guarantee
Cons
- Steel can be hard to sharpen
- Pocket clip can come loose easily
- Handle scales may feel a little rough
7. Benchmade North Fork 15031 Knife
With a durable design and an excellent cutting performance, the North Fork 15031 6.97-inch Folding knife is a fantastic tool for big game hunters.
This beautifully crafted knife has a premium-quality CPM-S30V 58-60 stainless-steel 2.97-inch long and 0.114-inch thick blade, which is extremely well-balanced, has superb edge qualities, and great rust resistance. The G10 handle is durable, impervious to moisture, and remains stable under extreme temperatures. Whether you pierce animal hide or carve meat, the drop-point recurved razor-sharp blade cuts through thick meat like butter.
The Benchmade's manually-operated fully ambidextrous AXIS lock is exceptionally strong, highly responsive, and is designed for easy one-handed operation.
Comfortable to use, the ergonomic lightweight handle has a textured easy-gripping surface. For ultimate accessibility, the compact knife has a reversible pocket clip and a lanyard hole.
The knife is available with a gray G10 textured handle or a stabilized wood handle.
Benchmade offers a limited lifetime warranty and a LifeSharp Service Guarantee on the folding knife.
Pros
- Excellent quality
- Great value for money
- Good price
- Specially designed for hunting
- Hard and razor-sharp CPM-S30V 58-60 HRC stainless steel
- Drop-point recurved razor-sharp blade cuts through thick meat like butter
- Exceptionally strong, highly responsive, and fully ambidextrous AXIS lock
- Designed for one-handed operation
- Ergonomic lightweight textured handle
- Reversible pocket clip
- Lanyard hole
- Available with a gray G10 handle or a wood stabilized handle
- Limited lifetime warranty
- LifeSharp Service guarantee
Cons
- A bit short and stubby
- The blade has a bit of vertical play in the locked position
- Can be hard to sharpen
8. Benchmade Grizzly Ridge 15061 EDC Hunting Knife
Stylish but functional, the Benchmade Grizzly Ridge 7.84-inch Folding Knife is specially designed for the hunt and everyday carry applications.
The premium-quality CPM-S30V 58-60 stainless-steel 3.50-inch long and 0.124-inch thick blade is razor-sharp, has a great edge retention, and high corrosion resistance. Its precision drop-point construction allows for greater strength and cutting versatility.
You will complete control over the knife as it is well balanced and has a good 3.77-ounce weight. The Grivory Versaflex ambidextrous glass-filled nylon handle has a superior durability and ensures a good solid grip.
The smooth manually-operated AXIS lock allows you to open and close the blade one-handed.
For versatile EDC, the knife has a reversible split arrow clip and a lanyard hole. Its compact design means it fits comfortably in your pocket.
Benchmade offers a limited lifetime warranty and LifeSharp Service guarantee on the Grizzly Ridge knife.
Pros
- Excellent-quality
- Great value for money
- Good price
- Specially built for hunters
- Premium-quality extra hard CPM-S30V steel
- Great edge retention and corrosion resistance
- Precision drop-point construction provides extra strength and cutting versatility
- Razor-sharp
- Fully ambidextrous and easy gripping Grivory Versaflex handle
- Molded from glass-filled nylon for superior durability
- Good weight
- Smooth manually-operated AXIS lock
- Designed for one-handed operation
- Reversible, split arrow clip
- Lanyard hole
- Limited lifetime warranty
- LifeSharp Service guarantee
Cons
- The blade can be hard to sharpen
- Scales can get stuck on a pocket's material
9. Benchmade Bushcrafter 162 Knife
If you are a survival enthusiast, the Benchmade Bushcrafter 162 9.15-inch Fixed Blade Knife is destined to be your new bushcraft buddy.
Built for hard work, the Bushcrafter offers you incredible functionality for tough outdoor conditions and activities like camping, hunting, survival, and even tactical operations. You can use it to feather sticks, batoning, create sparks for a fire, carve or slice through meat, cut through thin wire or twine, cut plastic explosives, or use the end to break a glass window.
The premium-quality CPM-S30V 58-60 stainless-steel 4.40-inch long and 0.164-inch thick, razor-sharp drop-point utility blade is extremely well-balanced, has superb edge qualities, and great rust resistance. The full tang design ensures greater strength and reliability than a folding knife.
The durable G10 handle is impervious to moisture, remains stable under extreme temperatures, and is easy to clean.
For ultimate accessibility, the full-grain leather sheath has a belt loop and a pocket for a Ferro rod. The plastic insert is designed to keep the blade securely positioned inside. You can also use the D-ring to attach the knife to your backpack.
The Bushcrafter's handle comes in 2 colors: green and red or sand.
Benchmade offers a limited lifetime warranty and LifeSharp Service guarantee on the fixed blade knife.
Pros
- Excellent quality
- Great value for money
- Ideal for camping, survival, and tactical operations
- Hard CPM-S30V stainless steel blade
- Strong drop-point, utility blade style
- Razor-sharp
- Extremely well-balanced
- Superb edge qualities and rust resistance
- Durable G10 handle is impervious to moisture and remains stable under extreme temperatures
- Full tang design providing greater strength and reliability
- Easy to clean
- Good balance
- Modern, good-looking design
- Durable full grain leather sheath features a belt loop and D-ring
- Comes in 2 colors: green and red or sand
- Limited lifetime warranty
- LifeSharp Service guarantee
Cons
- Expensive
- The thick handle may be a little hard to grip for small hands
- Steel can be hard to sharpen
10. Benchmade Saddle Mountain Skinner 15001 Knife
If you love to hunt wild game, the Benchmade Saddle Mountain Skinner 15001 8.73-inch Fixed Blade Knife is a fantastic cutting tool for hunting enthusiasts.
The premium-quality CPM-S30V stainless-steel blade has a superb edge retention and great rust resistance. Its well-balanced, full tang design provides greater strength and reliability than a folding knife. Specially designed for hunters, the large (4.17-inch long and 0.140-inch thick) radius blade excels at cutting, skinning and meat removal, and it is easy to clean. This knife is ultra tough and razor sharp, so you can even use it as a weapon to ward off a bear.
The durable black and gray G10 handle is impervious to moisture and remains stable under extreme temperatures. Its slimline design makes skinning and dressing game effortless.
For ultimate accessibility, the knife comes with a durable Kydex sheath and a lanyard hole.
The Saddle Mountain Skinner is also available with a stabilized wood handle
Benchmade offers a limited lifetime warranty and a LifeSharp Service guarantee on the fixed blade knife.
Pros
- Fantastic quality
- Great value for money
- Specially designed for hunters
- Perfect size for a hunting knife
- CPM-S30V stainless steel blade is extremely well-balanced
- Large-radius blade excels at skinning and meat removal
- Razor sharp
- Superb edge qualities and rust resistance
- Durable G10 handle is impervious to moisture and stable under extreme temperatures
- Sturdy fixed blade
- Well balanced full tang design provides greater strength and reliability than a folding knife
- Easy to clean
- Durable Kydex sheath
- Lanyard hole
- Available with a black and grey G10 handle or a stabilized wood handle
- Limited lifetime warranty
- LifeSharp Service guarantee
Cons
- Expensive
- Kydex sheath is not as strong as a leather sheath
Our Top Pick for the Best Benchmade Knife
Our top pick for the best Benchmade Knife is the Benchmade Bushcrafter 162 Knife.
Whether you work or play in the great outdoors, the Bushcrafter is an essential survival tool. Its superb design and ultra-functionality will empower you to stay prepared for any emergency, hunting, or tactical situation.
