That passion has led me to build this site, Read on for my story. The quality of a folding knife is ultimately among the most essential things you should consider way before you purchase a folding knife. The knife is made for hunting, but it can still be utilized for other tasks and in various outdoor activities.Unlike other Benchmade knives, the folding knife is crafted to deliver great performance coupled with enhanced durability.Even some of the most popular folding knives cant match the degree of versatility offered by Benchmade North Fork-1503.Again, even the market leaders cannot tackle as many tasks as the ones this folding knife can tackle. 30 Best Benchmade Knives in 2023 (Ranked by Category), Here Are the Best Benchmade Knives for EDC, Here Are the Best Folding Self Defense Benchmade Knives, Here Are the Best Fixed Blade Self Defense Benchmade Knives, Here Are the Best Benchmade Folding Camping, Hiking, and Hunting Knives, Here Are the Best Benchmade Fixed Blade Camping, Hiking, and Hunting Knives, 21. Due to its lightweight and versatility, this is the top folding knife of our backpacking knives guide here. Hi, this is Jason Rhodes. It's my first Benchmade purchase, and honestly I'm a bit disappointed with it, considering the price point. Created for hunting The knife's drop-point blade is ideal for the avid hunter. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM-S30VHandle Composition: Textured G10Blade Length: 3.7Total Length: 8.6Total Weight: 5.81 ounces. But what is it that makes Benchmade different from other makers of small knives? JavaScript is disabled. Folders still arent technically as strong as a full-tang fixed blade but they are plenty strong enough to get the job done without worry. Most of the time youre better going with a stainless blade. The Bugout is available with Grivory, titanium and CF-Elite. This is a greater feat. Its most noticeable trait is the Dymondwood scales. A difference of two letters in total. No self-respecting sailor will ever be without a knife to help with rigging repairs or clearing damaged gear. Its unique flat top serrations are quite easy to sharpen even on a flat stone. Check out our benchmade north fork backspace selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Portability, regarding size, is also at direct odds with ergonomics. Something I think youll notice right out of the box is how strong and sturdy the knife feels while appearing elegant and sleek. I just yesterday received my order of this knife from Amazon. 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. Along with fire its one of the most basic tools when you have a knife you can manufacture almost anything else youre likely to need, including shelter. Benchmade Barrage Knife 583SBK - Part Serrated Black Tanto - Black Valox - AXIS Assist - USA Made $198.00 MODIFIED Benchmade Bugout 535 + AWT Anodized Cobalt Blue Aluminum Scales $229.99 MODIFIED Benchmade Bugout 535BK Knife + AWT Archon Custom Anodized Scales $259.99 MODIFIED Benchmade Bugout 535 Knife + AWT Archon Custom Anodized Scales $249.99 Never heard of that in any forums ether so I'm guessing if you give it a try on your North Fork you'll find it isn't the case. If you have the full size grip I'd double down on the Bugout, very suitable office knife and anywhere else for that matter. Menu Its not only suitable for hunting but also tackles utility tasks and performs well as a cord cutter. The first thing you might notice is the lack of scales. 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. The North Fork from Benchmade is a classy, functional piece of equipment eclipsed by the Mini Barrage only in that the MB has assisted opening functionality. I know carrying a knife this expensive is a bit risky and a little scary but if you gather up the courage to pocket this bad boy, youll be itching to deploy it just for the beautiful mechanical sound it makes and how good it feels to use. However, some users did complain that the axis locking mechanism on this model wasnt as good as expected, though a little tinkering usually takes care of that. Its ambidextrous, anodized, and feels very luxurious in the grip. 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. Its textured and large enough to get a comfortable grip. The razor-sharp, partially serrated blade is 3.6 inches, perfect for daily utility work. Its a more substantial knife. Both models use a full stainless steel liner to protect against wear, and if the blade does loosen at all you can tighten it back up with the bolt. That handle is a little squishy but you know what its good for? I have not tried the North Fork yet. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM S30VHandle Composition: Sealed Wood or Patterned G10Blade Length: 2.97Total Length: 6.97Total Weight: 3.41 ounces. BUT. it may be knocked off the throne by my mini crooked river. I love the bugout but will be upgrading the scales. Blade Style: Drop-Point / Drop-Point With Gut HookBlade Composition: CPM-S30VHandle Composition: Resin Filled Wood GrainBlade Length: 3.5Total Length: 7.84Total Weight: 4.76 ounces. Quality is just one of the many factors, another one is LifeSharp. That rescue hook is mean man, Im telling you, that thing slices seatbelts so easily it makes you second guess how good seatbelts really are. From my selection, youve seen how Benchmade tends to make either straight, plain edged EDC knives or ones with a partial serration. There are no other features on the Benchmade North Fork. These knives are easier to maintain than many premium level steels while offering ridiculously competitive pricing and an overall fantastic user experience. I will mention this about the clip, it isnt like the standard Benchmade deep carry clips and doesnt do well on exceptionally thin material like gym shorts but feels great and stays in place snuggly when used on thick materials like jeans or tactical pants. For the aluminium versions of the Bailout the backspacer is also enhanced with a glass breaker. At A Glance: Our Top 5 Best Benchmade Knives in 2022. This kind of steel gives Benchmade knife blades good strength, long life, and resistance against corrosion. This shape allows good control and protects against the hand slipping down onto the blade. If youre a knife enthusiast like many of us here at Marine Approved, you likely already appreciate Benchmades outstanding craftsmanship and customer service. That good old homegrown quality and attention to detail dont come cheap and although I dont know the specifics, the information found here on Glassdoor indicates average wages that far exceed what Id expect most foreign knife manufacturers to offer their employees. Shipping costs depend on order amount and shipping destination. The Rescue Tool is in the same form factor as the original SOCP dagger but instead of a spear-point blade, youll be getting a belt cutter and pry tool. The lock ensures the knife opens and closes single-handedly. I will say this, I do love assisted knives simply for the experience and although this knife is a manual two-handed opener, the blade is super heavy and the opening mechanism is so smooth that it delivers a very unique opening experience I have yet to see replicated by any other knife. 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. Lastly, I certainly cannot go without mentioning the beautiful leather dangler loop sheath that comes with this knife. My Review: The Nakamura is one of my personal favorites as I believe it blends the beautiful craftsmanship Benchmade is capable of with ultimate versatility and toughness. The best Benchmade knife isnt the one with the most ratings or reviews, or the one thats the most pricey. We can be brief when it comes to the similarities: the handles of both knives look alike. Another difference is that the original Freek came equipped with lower quality handles called Versaflex but the Super Freek comes with those G10 handles we all know and love so much. If you didnt read the spec sheet yet, let me blow your mind with the fact that this knife consists of a 3.08 CPM-S90V blade and it all weighs a whopping 1.67 ounces. My Review: Do I need to explain how Tactical a knife thats called the Tactical Triage is? GearLab is reader-supported. Their edge holds well, and they do not deteriorate or rust for a long time. 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. If you want to spend even more money on some of the worlds finest custom blades, check out Benchmades Gold Class custom built blades here. As such you don't have to worry about that. The edge itself has a wide, almost flat grind and a slight recurve before it arcs up to the point. Despite that, I feel that this is quite a good Benchmade EDC. The handle is rubberized Santoprene, and the texture wraps around the entirety of it. Okay, I know, that was a lead up to virtually nothing, but nowadays we have the AXIS lock which makes Benchmades folding knives exceptionally strong. Got feedback? Benchmade Anthem 781 3. The second thing you might notice is the saw teeth on the back of the blade. Between those two even with the variants of the mini grip, I would still choose the northfork all day. Benchmade Contego 810 10. That interesting texture you see near the spine of the blade is simply laser-etched tacticoolness to help you open it up if you do happen to feel like neglecting the giant hole since it was originally designed to be a two-handed manual opener. We will explain! You would be hard-pressed to find a good EDC of this level that can perform utility tasks this well. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You might be asking yourself, there are so many factors to consider, how could you ever choose just one? For more information about us or joining the team, check out the About Us tab. While that large selection to choose from is great, most of our readers arent going to pony up thousands of dollars to buy and test them all. 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. We only review top-scoring products, and top-performing pocket knives are all well made of excellent materials. Compared to cheap knives that become rusted, dull, or broken easily, Benchmade knives are durable and tough. Do you want random dudes to smile in awe and quickly ask Bro, is that a Benchmade? Maybe you do, maybe you dont, but thats the kind of brand recognition Benchmade has earned by delivering exceptional customer loyalty and overall quality. Check out the Benchmades official page for more information on the Lifesharp program here. Overall its a very nice handle that gives excellent grip, even when wet or slick with blood. It is light and relatively compact, especially considering that it has a full-size blade, full-function usefulness, and carrying options. But not completely stainless. Customize your 535 Bugout knife with a plain drop-point or serrated drop-point blade, coupled with a CF Elite or Grivory handle. That exceptionally high hardness level allows this blade to retain its edge even when highly abused for an extremely long time, making this blade very low maintenance and ready to go when you need it most. 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. Yeah, you do, because this knife is so sharp and the way its designed will slice right through even thick and tough leather in no time at all. Three tapped holes left and right just beside the lanyard hole mean the clip can be mounted on either side. The. r/Knife_Swap. That is, if the seller is providing real photos of the knife they are selling and not some stock photo or a picture taken from the Benchmade site. This is probably one of the sleekest and lightest self-defense knives on the market today that most people would also find quite handy in a wide array of non-life threatening situations. Another thing that contributes to making this knife a prime choice for hunting is the gut hook that folds into the handle. But that is basically all they have in common. 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 knife also does not need frequent sharpening at all and resists rust and corrosion like a champion. Check out the beautiful Benchmade 15080BK Crooked River Gold Class. The price is pretty dang high, you could get value and use out of much lower-priced Benchmade knives, however, the Anthem is one of a kind and truly is a piece of incredible engineering that, if its your flavor, is well worth the money. Dont buy a non-locking folder, though theyre dangerous. For legal reasons, many of the double-sided versions of this knife come dull. 4.5 out of 5 stars (2,274) $ 13.99. The manual axis lock can also be released one-handedly. My Review: The Puukko 200 is a Scandinavian inspired general use utility knife with a fixed blade consisting of CPM-3V. Its really as versatile as a 3.75 fixed blade can be without gimmicks or excess functionalities that youll likely never use anyways. The Bugout has always come with a nice deep pocket clip which isnt as deep as some of the other clips they offer but it gets the job done nicely and has no play, something Ive learned to expect from all Benchmade products. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: M390Handle Composition: G10 or Carbon FiberBlade Length: 3.08Total Length: 7.03Total Weight: 3.52 ounces. 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. A smaller angle cuts very well but won't last very long, which brings us to the other part of the blade and edge integrity. Posted by ; royal canin yorkie dog food reviews; parkland psychiatric hospital dallas, tx . A drop-point blade is a classic and effective shape for a hunting knife, and the North Fork makes effective use of it. These two are just the right size, with smooth hinges, easy one-handed operation, and locks that work easier and more reliably than any other test. Theyre easier to sharpen, though. If youre a fan of Benchmades assisted opening and stunning wood handles, this is it for you. Weve talked about super simplistic knives earlier on in this guide and I think Ive hit home some solid models for those of you who dont need extra goodies. I personally prefer the thumb hole over the harsher thumb stud. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. You help support OutdoorGearLab's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners. Most knives of such models are very compact so that you could easily carry them around while camping and hiking. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM-S90VHandle Composition: Full-Tang handleless with Micro Carbon ScalesBlade Length: 3.08Total Length: 7.38Total Weight: 1.67 ounces. For the g10 handles. The knife is of a Sheepsfoot blade, and its quite useful in daily utility works. Portability is a function of size, weight, pocket clip utility, and other carry options. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. It's a more solid feeling knife than its bigger brother because the liners fill almost all of the handle area. Lastly, this knife doesnt come with the typical Benchmade technologies we have come to know and love. Id say if youre torn between the two, dont let strength be the deciding factor, as I believe this knife will most certainly fit the bill no matter the task. Now you have a good idea of what sort of knife you should be looking for, but theres still a huge choice. Benchmade 535 Bugout drop-point fine-edge knife was designed with modern outdoor adventurers in mind, incorporating lightweight, robust materials in an extremely slim, yet ergonomic package. The CPM-s30v stainless steel blade is built like a tank, and it can take care of skinning your hunt very easily. Traditional hunting knives have been a lot larger, but short blades like this are becoming a lot more popular. Well, many of their knives have another feature called the Benchmade Nitrous. In addition to making some of the most iconic and popular knives for everyday carry, Benchmade also has a long and storied history with their outdoor knives. (89.58g) Features You May Also Like Mini Crooked River Family As low as $300.00 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. 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 clip is textured just like the single-piece body of the Anthem which is a very nice touch, something Id expect from paying this much but despite the price, it still feels over the top and like they really took notice of the small details.