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, US. 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 7.46-Inch Folding Knife
- Benchmade Griptilian 551 Knife
- Benchmade Reverse Tanto 940 Knife
- Benchmade 980SBK Turret Folding Knife
- Benchmade Mini Crooked River 15080-2 Knife
- Benchmade Mini Boost 595 Knife
- Benchmade Mini Barrage 585 Folding Knife
- Benchmade 15061 Grizzly Ridge Knife
- Benchmade Bushcrafter 162 Knife (Our Top Pick)
- Benchmade Saddle MTN Skinner R/L Fixed Blade 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.
Check the price on AmazonHow 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 such as a rope or animal hide, a serrated blade is the blade of choice. However, it is not ideal for cutting through soft material such as a tomato and it can be hard to sharpen.
Blade Finishes
Blades with a polished finish have a stylish reflective surface, are corrosion-resistant, and are easier to clean. However, these types of polished finishes can scratch easily. A satin finish blade is not as reflective as a polished blade. It has 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. However, 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, such as 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, such as 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 2.97-4.40-inch. Shorter blades are ideal for intricate cutting tasks while a longer blade can be used for almost anything such as 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, such as CPM-S30V, creates a razor-sharp blade with superior retention, good centering, and 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, (such as 56-58 or 58-61 HRC) is an incredibly hard material that makes the blade ultra-durable with 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 that 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.
10 Best Benchmade Knives – Reviews
1. Benchmade Bugout 535 7.46-Inch 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 great edge retention, good centering, and high corrosion resistance. Its precision drop-point/partially serrated blade is designed for toughness 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 blue 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.
As this knife is ultra-lightweight at 1.85-ounces, it will not weigh you down. It folds into a compact 4.22-inch size which means it can fit in your pocket or backpack.
The Bugout 535 is also available with a plain edge blade and a green Grivory handle.
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
- Made in the US
- Premium stainless steel
- Razor-sharp
- Great edge retention, good centering, and corrosion resistance
- Drop-point/partially serrated blade is versatile
- Fully ambidextrous Grivory handle
- Ergonomic textured, contoured design
- Superior durability
- Smooth operating AXIS lock can be used one-handed
- Reversible clip
- Lanyard hole
- Ultra-lightweight and compact
- Available with a plain edge blade and green handle
- 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 2 different blade types: plain edge/satin finish, or a serrated edge/satin finish blade, and 2 attractive colors: black and orange.
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 2 colors
- Two 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 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 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 980SBK Turret Folding Knife
If you are an Army Ranger or a Navy Seal, the Benchmade 980SBK Turret Folding Knife is specially designed for tactical scenarios.
Made for hard work, this heavy-duty knife has a 3.70-inch long, 0.124-inch thick, 58-60 high-carbon stainless steel blade, which is tough, razor-sharp, and has excellent edge retention. The drop-point/partially serrated blade design is very versatile and the black coating protects the blade from rust.
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.
The sturdy, durable, and comfortable olive drab G10 handle has a high resistance to heat and can withstand extreme outdoor temperatures.
Ideal for EDC, the Turret comes with a reversible deep carry pocket clip and a lanyard hole.
Benchmade knife offers a limited lifetime warranty and a LifeSharp Service guarantee.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Heavy-duty design
- Specially designed for tactical use
- Made from extra hard high-carbon stainless steel
- Razor-sharp
- Excellent edge retention
- Tough drop point/partially serrated blade
- Smooth cutting performance
- Versatile
- Black coating protects blade from rust
- Sturdy and durable G10 handle is ideal for extreme temperatures
- Comfortable to use
- Exceptionally strong and fully ambidextrous AXIS lock
- Designed for smooth one-handed operation
- Reversible pocket clip
- Lanyard hole
- Limited lifetime warranty
- LifeSharp Service guarantee
Cons
- Pricey
- A little bit heavy
- Bulky
- Pocket clip is not overly durable
5. Benchmade Mini Crooked River 15080-2 Knife
Stylish, functional, and lightweight Benchmade Mini Crooked River 15080-2 Knife is the perfect cutting tool for hunters, EDC, fishermen, or survivalists.
Expertly crafted from premium-quality CPM-S30V 58-60 stainless steel, the 4.00-inch long and 0.124-inch thick, razor-sharp blade is very hard, has first-rate edge retention and high corrosion resistance. Its strong clip-point/plain edge blade-style allows you to make quick and easy controlled cuts.
The contoured stabilized wood handle has been backfilled with resin and has stainless steel liners that make it ultra-durable and able to withstand a range of harsh elements and environments.
For fast and easy access to your trusty blade, Benchmade’s unique manually operated ambidextrous AXIS lock system is exceptionally strong and allows you to open and close the blade smoothly with one hand.
You can use the reversible split arrow pocket clip to attach the knife to your belt or the lanyard hole to tie the knife to your backpack.
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
- Functional
- Premium quality extra hard CPM-S30V 58-60 high-carbon steel
- First-rate edge retention and corrosion resistance
- Strong clip-point/plain edge blade
- Razor-sharp
- Provides good cutting control
- Comfortable contoured stabilized wood/resin backfilled handle
- Stabilized wood can stand up to a range of harsh elements and environments
- Exceptionally strong and smooth operating ambidextrous AXIS lock
- Designed for one-handed operation
- Lightweight
- Reversible split arrow pocket clip
- Lanyard hole
- Limited lifetime warranty
- LifeSharp Service guarantee
Cons
- Expensive
- Blade may be slightly off-center
- Wood handle may be too soft to get a good grip
6. Benchmade Mini Boost 595 Knife
Compact, solid, and sturdy, the Benchmade Mini Boost 595 Knife is tailor-made for campers, hikers, or fishermen.
This folding knife has a 3.11-inch long, 0.10-inch thick plain-edge blade that is crafted from CPM-S30V 58-60 high-carbon steel which has a first-class hardness, long-lasting edge retention, and its black coating ensures superior corrosion resistance. The drop-point blade has a smooth cutting action and offers you lots of functionality.
Whatever type of outdoor situation you find yourself in, the manually-operated Benchmade AXIS lock is highly responsive, exceptionally strong, and fully ambidextrous, so you can quickly flip open and close the blade with one hand.
The black over-molded Versaflex and dark gray Grivory handle is very strong, comfortable to use, and increases your grip. As this knife is lightweight and has a slim profile, it will not weigh you down and fits easily into a tackle box, backpack, or survival kit.
Ideal for everyday carry, the knife has a reversible deep-carry pocket clip.
Benchmade also makes a larger Boost knife that has an opposing bevel blunt pry tip style blade and a black/red Grivory handle.
The Benchmade Mini Boost knife is covered by a limited lifetime warranty and a LifeSharp Service guarantee.
Pros
- Excellent quality
- Great value for money
- Solid and sturdy
- Perfect for EDC applications
- First-class hardness
- Long-lasting edge retention
- Superior corrosion resistance
- Functional drop-point blade
- Smooth cutting action
- Razor-sharp
- Exceptionally strong, highly responsive, and fully ambidextrous AXIS lock
- Designed for easy one-handed operation
- Black overmolded Versaflex and dark gray Grivory handle is very strong, comfortable to use, and increases your grip
- Slim profile
- Lightweight
- Reversible, deep-carry pocket clip
- Available in a larger style
- Limited lifetime warranty
- LifeSharp Service guarantee
Cons
- Pricey
- Black coating can chip off easily
- Pocket clip is a bit bulky
7. Benchmade Mini Barrage 585 Folding Knife
With a tough design and an excellent cutting performance, the Benchmade Mini Barrage 585 Folding Knife is a fantastic tool for EDC and wilderness explorers.
The 2.91-inch long, 0.100-inch thick blade is made from premium-quality 58-61 high carbon stainless steel, which is very hard, has great edge retention, and good rust resistance. Whether you pierce animal hide or carve meat, the razor-sharp drop-point/partially serrated blade cuts through thick meat like butter and can be used for a range of materials. The black Valox handle with stainless steel liners is strong and remains stable under extreme temperatures.
Benchmade’s manually-operated fully ambidextrous AXIS lock is exceptionally strong, highly responsive, and is designed for easy one-handed operation.
Smaller and lighter, the Mini Barrage is comfortable to hold and use, the ergonomic lightweight handle has a textured easy-gripping surface.
For easy accessibility, the Mini Barrage has a reversible pocket clip and a lanyard hole.
Benchmade offers a limited lifetime warranty and a LifeSharp Service Guarantee on the folding knife.
Pros
- Excellent quality
- Great value for money
- Good price
- Ideal for tough tasks
- Made from very hard premium 58-60 HRC stainless steel
- Great edge retention and good corrosion-resistance
- Drop-point razor-sharp blade cuts through thick meat like butter
- Exceptionally strong, highly responsive, and fully ambidextrous AXIS lock is designed for one-handed operation
- Smaller, lighter design
- Ergonomic lightweight textured handle
- Reversible pocket clip
- Lanyard hole
- Limited lifetime warranty
- LifeSharp Service guarantee
Cons
- A bit short and stubby
- Blade has a bit of vertical play in the locked position
- Can be hard to sharpen
8. Benchmade 15061 Grizzly Ridge Knife
Stylish but functional, the Benchmade 15061 Grizzly Ridge 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 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 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
- 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 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 such as camping, hunting, survival, and even tactical operations. You can use it to feather sticks, batoning, create sparks for 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
- Thick handle may be a little hard to grip for small hands
- Steel can be hard to sharpen
10. Benchmade Saddle MTN Skinner R/L Fixed Blade Knife
If you love to hunt wild game, the beautifully crafted Benchmade Saddle MTN Skinner R/L Fixed Blade Knife is a fantastic cutting tool for hunting enthusiasts.
The premium CPM-S90V stainless steel blade is razor-sharp and has exceptional edge retention and very good rust resistance. Its well-balanced, full tang design provides greater strength and reliability than a folding knife. Specially designed for big game hunters, the large 4.20-inch long and 0.12-inch thick drop-point/plain-edge blade excels at cutting and meat removal. Improved jimping along the blade gives you increased control for tougher tasks.
Skinning and dressing game will be effortless as the durable and ergonomic stabilized wood handle gives you a comfortable, secure grip.
The Saddle Mountain knife also comes with a newly designed low-profile bright orange G10 fiberglass sheath so you can safely store the knife in your camping gear.
You can even use the lanyard hole to attach the knife to your tactical backpack.
Benchmade offers a limited lifetime warranty and a LifeSharp Service guarantee on the fixed blade knife.
Pros
- Fantastic quality
- Excellent value for money
- Specially designed for big game hunters
- Perfect size for a hunting knife
- Beautifully crafted
- Premium CPM-S90V stainless steel blade
- Large, thick, and razor-sharp blade excels at skinning and meat removal
- Exceptional edge retention and very good rust resistance
- Improved jimping helps with tougher cutting tasks
- Durable and comfortable stabilized wood handle
- Sturdy fixed blade design
- Well-balanced, full tang design provides greater strength and reliability than a folding knife
- Easy to clean
- Newly designed bright orange G10 fiberglass sheath
- Lanyard hole
- Limited lifetime warranty
- LifeSharp Service guarantee
Cons
- Expensive
- Handle can be slippery when wet
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.
Check the price on Amazon
