This article dives deep into the world of Benchmade knives, exploring the brand’s top selections ideal for daily carry. Whether you’re an experienced knife enthusiast or a newcomer looking for a reliable EDC blade, this guide will help you navigate Benchmade’s renowned lineup, highlighting models that combine durability, functionality, and innovative design to meet diverse user needs and preferences. Discover which Benchmade knife will become your trusted companion.
The All-Around Performer: Benchmade 940 Osborne
The Benchmade 940 Osborne is, without a doubt, an iconic knife. Often considered the quintessential EDC blade, the 940 offers a beautiful blend of aesthetics, functionality, and robustness into a relatively compact package. The reverse tanto blade, constructed from premium steels, lends itself exceptionally well to various tasks. From opening packages and preparing food to more demanding cutting chores, the 940’s blade geometry excels. The handle, typically milled from aluminum, feels secure and ergonomic in hand, promoting comfortable and controlled use.
What differentiates the 940 from much of its competition is its unique profile. Its slim design allows it to carry comfortably in the pocket, avoiding bulk and avoiding drawing unwanted attention. Despite this sleek build, the 940 feels solid once deployed, inspiring confidence during use. Its reputation within the knife community for durability, precision, and timeless elegance make it a perennial top choice for those looking to invest in a high-quality EDC knife that will last for years.
Compact and Capable: The Benchmade Bugout
The Benchmade Bugout is a lightweight champion, designed to disappear into your pocket until you need it, making it an exceptional choice for anyone prioritizing comfortable and unobtrusive carry. The Bugout is often described by users as remarkably "light for its size." Featuring a slim and minimalistic handle made from durable materials like Grivory or now even carbon fiber, it manages to stay incredibly lightweight without sacrificing grip or performance. This knife stands out for its balance between carrying comfort and capability.
The Bugout’s blade, commonly a drop-point shape, is perfectly suited for everyday tasks. It’s thin enough to perform very precise cuts but stout enough to handle more challenging work when the need arises. Furthermore, the AXIS lock mechanism ensures a secure and reliable lock-up, demonstrating Benchmade’s focus on both safety and user-friendliness. For those who want to carry quality and performance without a lot of weight, the Bugout is a strong option.
Rugged Reliability: The Benchmade Griptilian
The Benchmade Griptilian series is known for its robustness and versatility, representing a workhorse in the Benchmade collection. Designed to withstand the rigors of daily use, the Griptilian comes in a variety of blade shapes and handle materials, making it adaptable to the individual user’s specific requirements. Whether you need a blade for tactical applications, outdoor adventures, or general daily cutting tasks, the Griptilian provides reliability you can lean on.
The Griptilian also features the AXIS lock system, which offers smooth operation and solid lock-up, contributing to ease-of-use whether you’re right or left-handed. Its comfortable handle design provides a secure purchase even with gloves, while its blade shapes (such as drop-point and sheepsfoot) allow functionality for a wide variety of different applications. This knife is truly built to handle whatever tasks you might come across everyday as well as those unexpected or more difficult ones you may encounter in your day-to-day activities.
The Tactical Choice: Benchmade Adamas
The Benchmade Adamas line, while not strictly the typical "every day carry" for everyone due to its size, is engineered for hard use and demanding situations. It is constructed with tough, rugged materials built for high performance and is often favored by those working in demanding fields like military, law enforcement, or those who regularly encounter harsh field conditions. It’s a tool designed to withstand what other knives might buckle under.
The Adamas knives boast sturdy blades often made of premium steels chosen specifically for their strength and edge-holding capabilities. The handles are also typically designed for a secure and stable grip, made from durable materials like G10. Furthermore, the design of the Adamas often incorporates a strong lock mechanism and is available as either a folder or fixed blade depending on your task. Its robust design paired with incredible strength makes it a real contender for those who need absolute assurance that their knife can handle even the toughest jobs.
The Elegant Everyday: Benchmade Proper
For a traditional design with modern performance, the Benchmade Proper slipjoint knife offers both style and practical function. It stands out for its classic, non-locking design while incorporating high-quality materials and Benchmade’s renowned craftsmanship. The Proper can be a wonderful choice for individuals who prefer a non-threatening knife that’s still dependable as opposed to the more tactical designs of some other offerings.
Featuring smooth handles crafted from materials such as Richlite or Micarta, the Proper provides an ergonomic and comfortable grip. The focus on simple, clean lines is very much in line with the purpose of any slip-joint design and also makes it look and feel incredibly refined. The knife is a perfect example of classic design coupled with modern engineering. The emphasis here is on having a reliable, non-threatening every day carry with a feel of old-world craftsmanship made with modern manufacturing standards.
Premium Performance: The Benchmade Anthem
The Benchmade Anthem is an example of high-end craftsmanship, representing Benchmade’s mastery of manufacturing and design. It’s usually sought after by those who appreciate intricate construction, attention to the smallest detail, and exceptional performance. The Anthem stands out for its innovative integral handle design, where a single piece of titanium is milled to form both the frame and part of the lock mechanism. This provides incredible strength while being surprisingly lightweight.
Beyond the handle’s complex design, the Anthem offers high-end blade steel that often has a high-level of polish and provides impressive edge retention. The blade is also designed for smooth operation, gliding effortlessly on it’s custom bearing pivots. This construction choice results in a premium blade that looks, feels and performs at a higher level than many other EDC knife contenders. The Anthem is an investment for those seeking the pinnacle of Benchmade’s design capabilities and high performance capabilities.
The User-Friendly Option: Benchmade Mini Griptilian
The Benchmade Mini Griptilian provides all the advantages of the original Griptilian, but in a more compact and pocketable size. It’s highly favored by people who find the full-size Griptilian too large for their particular needs or people who have hands that are more naturally suited for a smaller blade. Like its larger counterpart, the Mini Griptilian is available in a variety of blade shapes and handle scales which allow all kinds of people to find the perfect version for their needs.
The Mini Griptilian also utilizes the AXIS lock mechanism, known for its smooth action and reliability, which also makes it well-suited for right and left handed users. This is also why it’s commonly considered to be a strong contender for those individuals seeking a dependable EDC blade they could use everyday, without worrying they might damage anything with it. It is designed to perform well in daily tasks while being able to handle some unexpected situations, making it a very smart choice for daily use.
Affordable Utility: Benchmade CLA (Composite Light Assault)
The Benchmade CLA, or Composite Light Assault, knife offers a more budget friendly design without skimping out on quality performance. This knife is typically designed with a focus on practicality and durability, appealing to individuals seeking reliability without premium materials or more complex designs. It’s a robust option that incorporates functional design elements to cater to EDC use, but at a kinder price point as well.
The CLA features a durable blade designed for everyday utility. It has also been designed with handle materials chosen to be impact resistance as well as long lasting and able to withstand all of the different applications you might find in a normal day-to-day carry. While it might not have the same level of high-end refinement as some of Benchmade’s more expensive options, the CLA is a robust option and built to handle the wear and tear of consistent use. This makes it an excellent option for those working with a more constrained budget.
Conclusion
Benchmade offers a diverse selection of knives catering to various needs, preferences, and styles. From the iconic all-rounder of the 940 Osborne to the rugged durability of the Adamas and the elegant utility of the Proper, their line up includes a selection for anyone seeking a reliably built blade for everyday carry. The lightweight Bugout appeals to those prioritizing comfort, while the Griptilian series caters to those who value robustness. The premium Anthem showcases Benchmade’s best in innovation and design, while the CLA provides dependable functionality at a more accessible price point. Whether you are looking for a knife that is lightweight, heavy-duty, traditional, or cutting-edge, Benchmade has a knife that is sure to meet both your wants and needs. When it comes to finding the perfect everyday carry companion, with all the options available, the question then becomes, which Benchmade is right for you?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What makes Benchmade knives so popular for EDC?
Benchmade knives are renowned for their high-quality materials, exceptional craftsmanship, and innovative designs. Their use of premium blade steels, sturdy lock mechanisms (such as the AXIS lock), and handle designs that promote comfortable and secure grip, position them as a preferred option for individuals seeking reliable and high-performing every day carry knives.
How do I choose the right Benchmade knife for my needs?
Consider your daily tasks and how you intend to use your knife. If you need a lightweight, discreet option, the Bugout or Mini Griptilian might work well; if robustness is a priority, the Griptilian or Adamas could be better. Traditionalists might prefer the Proper. For those seeking peak performance, the Anthem is at the top of the list. Additionally, consider your budget, handle preference and blade shape when assessing different options across the Benchmade line.
What is the AXIS lock, and why is it useful?
The AXIS lock is a proprietary Benchmade locking mechanism that provides smooth and ambidextrous operation. It is a very reliable locking system that features a steel bar that moves forward and locks into the blade tang when deploying the blade, securing it in place for use. The AXIS lock is considered to be both very strong and very simple to use, making it a very popular feature of many Benchmade knife designs.
How often should I sharpen my Benchmade knife?
The sharpening frequency depends largely on how often and how hard you use your knife. However, keeping your Benchmade knife sharp improves functionality and safety. Generally, you should sharpen your blade once you notice a reduction in sharpness or a change in cutting performance. A good recommendation is to lightly strop your blade after each day to clear the edge of minor burrs and maintain it’s edge.
What materials are commonly used in Benchmade knife handles?
Benchmade utilizes several handle materials, such as G10, Micarta, aluminum, titanium, and Grivory. Each material provides different benefits which can affect the overall feel, durability, or comfort level of your knife. For instance, G10 is a very tough composite, while aluminum is lightweight and durable, and titanium is very lightweight, durable and corrosion-resistant.