Your blade must be sharp and stay that way. The Anthem is incredibly lightweight for its size and toughness and that clip is something seriously special. how to pass the achiever test; macavity: the mystery cat analysis I feel like the other two are good options, but the northfork feels like it has a "soul". Despite the manufacturer recommending this knife for hunting purposes, I actually consider this the best Benchmade knife for EDC due to its superb edge retention and sharpness as it comes out of the box. At first glance, it kind of looks like a silly gimmick, but after closer inspection, youll realize how incredibly helpful and handy having this tiny little tool on you can be. They would find the Mini Griptilian more comfortable and compact. And the same thing always ends up happening. Unlocking is achieved by two studs running in slots cut through the handle, one on each side. This knife is not made for everyone and is really focused on someone that really appreciates the design and form factor. The blades are crafted from the same ultra high-quality CPM-S30V and have the same versatile drop-point design but the Ridge encompasses a synthetic handle called a Dual-Durometer handle while the Creek has an old school nylon filled wooden handle. The hardness gives the blade incredible rigidity and strength but requires a little love and care to keep in tip-top shape. benchmade north fork vs bugouthavelock wool australia. 1. That passion has led me to build this site, Read on for my story. Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight vs Benchmade Bugout, New Benchmade 2021 knives: Mini Osborne 945, Bugouts and more, Carryosity #1 Knife Only Edition: Top 3 Benchmade 2020 knives, Shot Show 2020: the newest Benchmade knives, Victorinox Swisstool Buying Guide: more about the SwissTool collection, Zwilling Four Star versus Zwilling Four Star II, Spyderco Paramilitary 2 vs Spyderco Manix 2, Chefs knife vs Santoku. We Are Hiring! You can think of the Benchmade North Fork knife as a special edition of the Benchmade Mini-Barrage 585. Notable differences include fewer customizable options, the wooden handle, and the lack of assisted opening. The Bugout doesnt try and do anything fancy. Benchmade 940 EDC 2. Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You can also get any modifications made and they will only charge for the accessory, not the fixing. Compared to cheap knives that become rusted, dull, or broken easily, Benchmade knives are durable and tough. Thank you for your contribution. This puts the tang of the blade between the steel stopping pin and the AXIS spring-loaded bar, ensuring its fully locked and isnt able to retract in any manner under any usage without using the thumb button to move the tensioner bar out of the way. Theyre easier to sharpen, though. All you might think you care about, as it pertains to a knife's edge, is "is it sharp?" The handle has two attachment features. This program is designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon. Any outdoor memories you plan to make should include this knife and hey, perhaps those memories can be passed down through generations alongside the knife, as itll probably outlast your trekking legs. Its hard to explain, but this knife is pretty darn cool for the right person. Of course, blades consisting of M4 Tool steel do hold an edge for a really long time and can endure massive amounts of daily abuse before needing any care but its vital that you oil this bad boy up from time to time as CPM-M4 has traded in its protection from corrosion resistance for optimum strength. Q: What Materials Are Used to Create Benchmade Knives? These were actually designed later than the others and were requested by Benchmade enthusiasts. Both the Grizzly Creek and Saddle Mountain knives consist of S30V steel which is arguably one of the best stainless steels around for skinning due to their incredible tensile strength, ability to hold an edge even after heavy contact with joints and bones, and exceptional resistance to corrosion. This design reduces how many different parts are used, raises the overall durability of the knife, removes the need for liners and allows for far less hardware and mounting points, and makes for an overall exceptional ergonomic experience. If you dont already have a nice EDC, check out the loads of fantastic EDC knives weve reviewed above from Benchmade. Simple whittling would be "beneath" the capabilities of the North Fork if it weren't just so enjoyable to shave precise curlicues with the razor sharp blade. Many of these use their Monolock feature thats basically a regular locking mechanism but with the knife liner and the knife handle being made out of the same casting, thus increasing its strength and durability drastically. To no ones surprise, the Arvensis is probably one of the most well balanced 6-7 combat-focused fixed blades on the market that is affordable to the average person, and Im using affordable loosely, of course. Anyway, on to the design of the North Fork. We cannot discuss them all in this comparison. It is this size that seems to offer the best compromise of ergonomics and portability. benchmade north fork vs bugout. Pick something with a slightly lower HRC rating. LifeSharp service from Benchmade means whenever you need to sharpen, hone, or fix your Benchmade knives, you just send them to their factory and they fix it for you. Benchmade is largely more expensive than a lot of other comparable knife options because of the incredible quality and unbeatable technologies theyve implemented into their knives. First, the designers they employ and the complicated craftsmanship a lot of their knives consist of. Glass-filled nylon handles are generally a bit lighter than G10 handles as well as significantly cheaper than carbon fiber, so I believe the handle they chose fits perfectly with the ideology behind the knife, versatility, and usability above all! Start Your Benchmade Career Today. Build Your Ultimate Bugout for National Knife Day 2023. Benchmade North Fork 15031-2 8. All in all, this is the best affordable Benchmade knife if a fixed blade is what youre after. The Bugout has a very thin handle - it's fine for light tasks if that's all you need it for. It is a boutique piece of equipment, and losing such an expensive pocket knife out on a camping trip would certainly be a tragedy. The Bedlam features two blade finish options, one being a regular satin finish and the other being my personal favorite on this model, the black Cerakote, which matches up nicely to the hardware finish and the black G10 handles. The Tanto blades make these appear quite aggressive but in my experience, these knives perform quite well as a daily use blade and can endure quite some abuse. Benchmade Freek 560-1 Here Are the Best Folding Self Defense Benchmade Knives 9. Whats important is that you pick a knife according to what you need and you like, and youll definitely love what you end up buying. The Bailout, however, is enhanced with a tanto blade. I believe this is due to state by state restrictions on double-edged blades and of course, they cant hold inventory that fits each and every states laws independently. Now, just under two Benjamins for a 154CM blade does sound a bit pricey, but this blade encompasses a flavor in a pocket knife form factor that youll be hard-pressed to rival with anything else on the market today. Ships in 1-2 business days, custom lasermarking will add 8 business days. Or the Benchmade Bailout. It has a wide belly, so you can tackle heavier utility tasks without worries. I will note, when these do go dull (after ridiculous amounts of use) they can be a bit tricky to sharpen, but as with everything, patience is a virtue and so long as you keep these knives in tip-top shape, theyll glide right through anything you hunt. Tough types of steel that retain their sharpness well. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM-S30VHandle Composition: Glass-Filled NylonBlade Length: 3.45Total Length: 8.07Total Weight: 3.88 ounces. Benchmade knives are made in the USA and have amazing things and quality associated with their name. 5. My Review: As with many self-defense situations, sometimes a little deterrence in the form of striking the fear of death in someones eyes is all you need and I think thats what Benchmade was going for when they designed the ominous-looking Contego. Some people are quite partial to G10 handles, while some prefer the lightness of glass-filled nylon or Santoprene. I saw you listed those two knives above as alternatives, but just wanted to see what you may think again given my specific concerns. Overall its a very nice handle that gives excellent grip, even when wet or slick with blood. In fact, all the knives we tested are well made. 5 Jun. For now, feel free to continue reading. The Benchmade Bugout; all photos by. It's been in the box since I bought it. Something that really sets the Axis mechanisms apart from the rest is how strong they are. Evaluate whether the Benchmade North Fork-1503 you intend to get is engineered for high-quality.For instance, check whether the knife has a CPM-S30V stainless steel blade and a balanced handle among other key features associated with high quality. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM-S30VHandle Composition: Lightly Textured G10Blade Length: 4.4Total Length: 9.15Total Weight: 7.72 ounces. Blade Style: Drop-Point With Saw-Tooth SpineBlade Composition: D2Handle Composition: Bare Skeletonized and SlottedBlade Length: 4.2Total Length: 9.03Total Weight: 5.6 ounces. The Infidel is absolutely not an EDC knife nor is it for the untrained user. Absolutely! Agree with Matt. Valox is also a lighter material and easier to work with giving the designers and artists a little more room to add character to the knifes appearance and ergonomics. My Review: The Grizzly Ridge is essentially the same knife as the Grizzly Creek but with an arguably better handle. The opening notch and serrated thumb-rest are very efficient. The Benchmade Freek (actually known as the 'Super Freek') is the Bugout's big brother and delivers all of the same components but just makes them bigger. The 3V depends on personal prefernce but it won't break when prying and so on despite having a thin tip. You can refer to the reviews there to check if the seller is authorized or not. Pick a clip point. Stay on point with the latest products, offers and more! The edge itself has a wide, almost flat grind and a slight recurve before it arcs up to the point. 154CM was a tad surprising to me at first, but I think Benchmade is trying to reach a wide audience with this blade without sacrificing its menacing appearance and experience. When opening, the user simply needs to start opening the blade and at around 30 degrees, the tension bars fling the blade open themselves the rest of the way, kind of like the assist but with more user interaction. benchmade north fork vs bugout breaking news blue mountains. Both models are excellent, youll just need to choose what fits you the best! Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM-20CVHandle Composition: Anodized Billet Titanium With Triangular Scale TextureBlade Length: 3.5Total Length: 8.06Total Weight: 3.66 Ounces. The spring-loaded characteristics are made possible by utilizing two omega springs custom-built in-house at Benchmade that push the locking bar into place when the tang of the blade exceeds their allotted tension. This is not the case here, though, as the Fact is incredibly strong and since its crafted out of billet aluminum with a premium S30V blade, itll run right up there with full-size heavy-duty knives. The Barrage family is a set of beautiful knives that are raw and dutiful by nature. These materials differ in terms of weight and price, and thus offer little in the way of a fair comparison. Red Screw Set For Benchmade Bugout 535BK Bailout 537 Scale & Pocket Clip Screw screw4you. The main drive behind its design was to produce a tool with the performance for dressing out a deer in a small package. You can sharpen it in the field, but we recommend doing it at home and taking your time. Though the blade itself is short, the cutting edge is quite long, so its going to be useful in a lot of situations. The knife is of a Sheepsfoot blade, and its quite useful in daily utility works. I wouldn't call it a slicer like the bugout but it all depends on what your full purpose is farm work I believe you will enjoy the northfork the most and the wood scales are awesome plus full liners. This is not a knife that fits into that category. A: One of the many advantages of getting a Benchmade knife is its warranty. If I had to mention one downside to this blade, its the assisted opening thumb stud. My Review: This knife isnt for everybody, thats for sure, however, if youre an avid hunter who would rather expend energy on the actual hunt itself as opposed to getting to your stomping grounds, this may be an alternative worth considering. What kind of knife is Benchmade North Fork Drop-Point? Score: 4/10. Click Here To Learn More! That is until you get a hold on the Valox handles it comes with. Step 2 Construction:Along with size goes construction. Many people complain about the handle material but I don't care (the Grivory is also a bit thicken on the Bailout then Bugout). As part of the Hunt series from Benchmade, the North Fork joins the ranks as one of the most advanced hunting knives ever, thanks to its use of premium materials and the renowned AXIS locking mechanism. If youre looking for a boot knife or MOLLE compatible self-defense or combat weapon, this is the package for you. Its not only suitable for hunting but also tackles utility tasks and performs well as a cord cutter. Sure, sharp is sharp; the blade has a pointed edge, or it doesn't. My Review: The Super Freek is well-known by its ultra-hard and super tough CPM-M4 steel blades that are certainly not for a beginner knife owner. When you need a blade that is rigid, powerful, and ready to rock and roll when you need it most, the 154CM 4.5 fixed Tanto is the tried and true fighters knife. Benchmade North Fork Review February 5, 2015 GEAR INSTITUTE RATINGS 98 Construction & Materials 10 Ease of Use Steel Quality & Edge Retention 10 Durability 10 The Good Good value Well made Dymondwood handle scales Works well as back-up or secondary hunting knife The Bad Blade is too small to be a primary hunting tool Feels a bit small in hand At the weight (1.9 oz), you won't find a sturdier and more functional pocket knife. Throughout the list, Ill provide my thoughts on our favorite Benchmade knives across several different categories and throughout both fixed and folding knives in those categories if applicable. Final Note: In loving memory of the Benchmade founder Les De Asis who has made a massive impact on not only the world of knives but always gave back to his community and positivity impacted all those who knew him. Unlike cheap friction held blades, this one actually does hold in place quite well and despite having an amazing grip on the blade, its very easy to deploy. These are not an EDC style utility knife but more so something to use as a last resort in a sticky situation. Our test team (and likely you) like this feature. What You Should Know About Benchmades Lifesharp Program, Mini Bugout 533 a look as well which can be found here, Check out the beautifully crafted hand-built Damasteel Foray here, check out the Mini Freek found at this link here, Check out the Barrage that went on a diet here at this link, 15085-2 Mini Crooked River a look here at this link, Benchmade 15080BK Crooked River Gold Class, double-sided spear-point can be found here, For example, the Benchmade Bugout 535-191 Gold Class edition, Benchmades Gold Class custom built blades here, How to Unregister a Gun in your Name? It feels cheap to me in the hand and I just can't get past it. This is the knife made for the outdoorsman who wants that classic outdoor knife appeal combined with industry-leading versatility and durability. I will mention that the handle may sometimes catch on your pockets if its a real tight fit, due to the ergonomic pistol grip style design, however, I still recommend this as a solid EDC as I believe most people wont have an issue with deploying the knife and since its so light, especially the carbon fiber version, its super comfortable and easy to carry. The clip-point blade has origins dating back to the deadly scimitar days so its very fitting that Benchmade used this blade shape to design this blade as it really does feel a lot like a modern-day scimitar! Aside from the blade, the handle is another thing that demands attention. He started this website while transitioning out of the Marines, and since has recruited several other Marines to help him work on the Marine Approved website. Its extremely lightweight for a knife this capable, and due to the axis locking mechanism, its very user friendly as well. We will start with the fact that there are different editions of the Bailout and the Bugout. Youre paying some of that price tag as a royalty for them being well known and well respected within the knife community. If you have the full size grip I'd double down on the Bugout, very suitable office knife and anywhere else for that matter. Before buying the knife, check for design to ensure you are getting a well-balanced knife as intended by Benchmade.Otherwise, you might actually purchase a folding knife with a terrible design if you forget to check whether the Benchmade North Fork-1503 you are investing in is well-designed. Its no secret that the Saddle Mountain series was designed to be a hunters best friend. The North Fork 15031-1 is a manual knife that can be opened and closed single-handedly. Id say a mix of covertness, lethality, and fast deployment make for a pretty solid tactical platform, wouldnt you? Straight edges are great for versatile utility work. Its more durable and weather-resistant than a regular wooden handle, and it also provides great grip and adds to the visual appeal of the knife as a whole. That has now morphed into a love for studying and researching different aspects of knives. The All-Outdoors Guide team is comprised of enthusiastic experts that enjoy helping others that aspire to be better at outdoor fun. My Review: Oh boy the Bedlam is a beaut of a blade but I swear, this is not the knife for everyone! Particularly, if youre going to swim, camp, or go backpacking, dont pick wood or Dymondwood handle as moisture will make it unsuitable for a while. This is one of the best knives we have ever tested with a wooden handle, What makes a super pricey knife twice as good as one that costs half as much? On the other hand, serrated knives stay sharp for longer but are notoriously tough to re-sharpen. By the way, these are so slim that when paired with the included deep pocket carry clip they virtually disappear in your pant pockets making them very covert and yet ultra fast to deploy. Its sturdy G10 handle offers excellent grip when making your cuts and its 7.85-inch blade is perfectly suited for cutting through hard materials.Overall, the knife is a formidable rescue and hunting tool. They are, however, easy to sharpen in the field, even with limited means. Additionally, the variables are many. Despite preferring folding knives when it comes to Benchmade, I sure do appreciate their fixed blades. North Fork. The Foray Gold Class 698-181 with its marbled carbon fiber handle and hand-folded Loki Damasteel drop-point is one of the most beautiful pocket knives Ive yet to lay my eyes on that you can actually buy. If you dont have a good sharpener, I recommend you buy one alongside your purchase as you will undoubtedly need one. Due to the straight edge, it will be easier for you when you do need to sharpen the Barrage. As such you don't have to worry about that. Based out of Oregon City, USA, Benchmade has truly made a name for itself when it comes to crafting small and insanely efficient knives. Both models are the same shape a nicely curved, hand-fitting form with a deep finger cutout below the lock, and a front flare. You would be hard-pressed to find a good EDC of this level that can perform utility tasks this well. MADE FOR HUNTING: The North Fork 15031-1's drop-point, recurved blade is ideal . Personally, I prefer a subtle matte or black coated blade, even though they tend to get scratched quite easily. No matter what our readers want to learn and do, our team is here to help them accomplish those goals. My current daily carry is the SOG AE24-CP Aegis Mini, and if you are familiar with it or similar products, it is a spring loaded release and takes some thumb effort to get the blade out. This shape allows good control and protects against the hand slipping down onto the blade. The Benchmade Bailout, on the other hand, was designed for soldiers and other professionals who ask a lot from their tools. This is a very raw and rugged blade that actually surprised me in how utilitarian it is, despite clearly being designed to harm your enemies. The latter is layered from maple and Baltic birch laminations, pressure-bonded with resin into a wood-plastic composite thats completely moisture-resistant. If youre worried about nicks and dings showing up, a plain or brushed finish would be good for you. It feels a lot like super high-quality Balisongs with how it flips effortlessly and the sound it makes. Absence of a reliable sheath makes it unsafe to carry around, Buffalo Horn 6.5 Custom Handmade Damascus Folding Pocket Knife Review, Kershaw Clash Black Serrated-1605CKTST Review, MTech USA Ballistic MT-A705 Folding Knife Review, 15 Must-Have Items For Your Hunting Backpack, TAC-Force Spring Assisted Opening EMT EMS Orange Rescue Folding Pocket Knife Review, Schrade SCHF36 10.4 Inch Stainless Steel Fixed Blade Knife Review. The Griprilian is easily the best selling Benchmade knife for EDC usage- and the majority of Benchmade users would agree with me on this. Shop around the Knife Exchange or Fleabay and you can easily find a slightly used CPM-20CV 555/556-1 with G10 scales for not much more than a new Bugout and less than a new North Fork with some patience. The best Benchmade knife isnt the one with the most ratings or reviews, or the one thats the most pricey. The Wharncliffe design makes penetration and stabbing virtually impossible which means using this blade around sensitive material and even skin is much safer than a regular blade style. Its no secret that Benchmade knives come with a premium price tag and have many competitors that also offer fantastic knives but at lower prices. I just yesterday received my order of this knife from Amazon. Its not for everyone and its not the most versatile thing Benchmade has ever made, but it is beautiful and its extremely slim and low profile. This knife is also available with a little pizazz, offering a carbon fiber handle and beautiful accents. Here Are the Best Benchmade Knives for EDC 1. Another thing that contributes to making this knife a prime choice for hunting is the gut hook that folds into the handle. If breaking folding knives is a concern of yours, look to Benchmade! For the aluminium versions of the Bailout the backspacer is also enhanced with a glass breaker. Your message has been sent privately to our editorial staff for review. The drop-point blade makes North Fork 1503 a handy hunting tool for skinning and slicing wildlife. Well, many of their knives have another feature called the Benchmade Nitrous. Okay, fine, I will, but only because I really enjoy saying the word triage. Usually, Id error on the side of an automatic knife to fit the bill of a tactical rescue tool, however, with how easy and buttery smooth Benchmades single-handed opening actions are, I have absolutely no doubt in having this as a manual rescue knife. Are you going to wiggle, rock, and twist the blade often to get your job done? Basically, if you click on a product link on this site and buy that product we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our Privacy Policy for more details. For being a manual opening knife, this thing sure is buttery smooth and that thumb stud is perfectly implemented in a way that allows you to flip open the knife as you pull it from your pocket, making a seamless transition between its carried state and its deployed state. Disclosure. For those discerning users, the quality of the Benchmade North Fork is self-evident and will be well worth the cost. Start Your Benchmade Career Today. The north fork being my most number one carried knife of the 11 benchmades I have it just lends its self much better to hard work. If you like the frn handles of the Grip you have, you will like the g10 even more. The 154CM isnt my favorite steel and certainly isnt the best offered by Benchmade but it does excel in some areas such as being easier to sharpen than some of Benchmades favorite steels, like S30V. Top 10 Best Benchmade Knife Reviews in 2022 Benchmade Bugout 535 EDC Knife The first thing you need to know about this EDC knife is that it is an amazing knife if you just want to drop it in a pocket and forget about it. Is it worth it to pay extra for high-quality American made goods? You are using an out of date browser. The handle is simply just an extension of the D2 steel from the blade and although I personally like that, many Adamas owners actually wrap this bad boy up in some nice paracord. My Review: The Nimravus is host to one of the strongest penetrating points of any blade offered by Benchmade. Check out the Barrage that went on a diet here at this link. These knives are exceptionally dangerous and have very little utility value. If youre looking to get yourself the best Benchmade knife, theres a chance youll be ruined for any other knife brands, especially when it comes to EDC knives. My Review: Adding a little flavor to the list is the SOCP dagger and trainer combo offered by Benchmade. If you are ok with the blade steel of the North Fork (the Mini Barrage offers choices, the North Fork does not) and do not want the assisted opening function of the Barrage, the wooden handle of the North Fork may appeal to you. I carried a mini grip of one variety or another for several years. Its grippy and made of Valox, and though that gives this knife a sort of cheap feeling, it actually keeps the weight of the knife down. The Grivory handle is essentially as good as polymer, plus it doesnt get slippery even when wet. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support. Marine Approved is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Program. This is one of the best customer care programs any knife company in the market has to offer right now. You can check out the full review of this knife here. What this program really is, is a service for those of us too busy or lazy to sit down and properly maintain our knives. This method of identifying fake Benchmade knives is excellent because it works in-person as well as online. Its topnotch features combined with high performance ensure the folding knife suits your everyday needs.Overall, North Fork 1503 takes pride in being a product of a respectable brand and it is specially built for tackling multiple tasks.Whether you want a reliable hunting knife, a reliable outdoor companion or you want something to use for making precision cuts, this tactical folding knife is your best bet. The handle is available in two variants, both made up of scales attached to a steel frame; the 15031-1 has scales made from G10 composite, while the 15031-2 uses Dymondwood.