Blade Style: TantoBlade Composition: 154CMHandle Composition: ValoxBlade Length: 3.6Total Length: 8.35Total Weight: 4.51 Ounces. A: You can purchase it from an authorized seller on Amazon. For the g10 handles. Flipping this open with one hand quickly becomes second nature and is, in my opinion, more satisfying than even some of the best assisted-opening knives. Another Tanto blade knife, this Benchmade blade is for those who love a matte, understated dark knife for EDC usage. For self-propelled, wild travels, the Benchmade Bugout is arguably the best pocket knife we have tested. The main drive behind its design was to produce a tool with the performance for dressing out a deer in a small package. The assisted opening mechanism Benchmade uses is on a whole other level from the industry standard and the secondary locking mechanism ensures there is no accidental deployment of that ultra-sharp and ultra lethal spear point. I wont lie, it is a little heavy for those of you forgoing long treks, however, that weight is due to how solid and reliable the crooked river is while providing premium attributes such as that beautifully sealed wood grain handle and its ultra-strong AXIS lock. Best Hiking Watches Hiking Watches for Outdoor Adventures! Have some money burning a hole in your pockets and you need something that your buddies are sure to gawk at? My Review: Taking a more stealthy and slimline approach as opposed to the Contego, the Bailout is designed for exactly what its name implies. 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. In fact, all the knives we tested are well made. My Review: This knife is hard to use, not because its not versatile or strong but because its so dang beautiful! In all reality, this knife was designed to be abused and it will withstand constant daily abuse in harsh elements with no problems and thats why the Crooked River is a solid choice among outdoor sportsmen. But first, please take a few moments to sign up as a member of our EDC community below. The Arvensis is an excellent all-around general use camp knife with a rather ominous feel to it and I think youll agree! But that is basically all they have in common. Of course, this thing has virtually 0 self-defense properties and it wouldnt ever be a knife Id rely on for camping or survival but it is easy to carry on a keychain so that you always have a tiny suite of tools on hand at all times. Check out our benchmade north fork backspace selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Full Disclosure Here. Some recommended products may use affiliate links. The Fact wont be for everyone but something I noticed is that it would fit very well in a purse or handbag due to how slim it is so perhaps this would be a good way to get your girl into carrying a Benchmade! Pick something with a slightly lower HRC rating. Shotgun: Comparison for a First-Time Gun Buyer, What Are The Basic Parts Of Ammunition? 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. That drop-point is insanely strong due to S90Vs top tier tensile strength and hardness. Good luck! Benchmade knives are made in the USA and have amazing things and quality associated with their name. Weve already reviewed many Benchmade knives in other guides, including our favorite EDC knives here, camping knives here, and fixed blade knives here, but we have yet to truly focus on Benchmade alone. It is too small but got it on clearance from a big retailer for 46.00 new so it just sits in the box. Benchmade has taken this idea and, in my opinion, refined it to be as handy and as durable as possible given the current steel and knife technology. It does have a thicker heavier blade than the others but this in tun makes for a smooth balanced action and have little blade play. 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 thinner spine near the tip on the reverse-tanto allows for quicker and more nimble cutting through tight spaces and thus makes this knife extremely versatile for precise tasks like carpentry, woodwork, etc. Designer: Benchmade Mechanism: AXIS Action: Manual-opening Blade Steel: CPM-S30V (58-60 HRC) Blade Length: 2.97" (7.54cm) Blade Thickness: 0.114" (2.90mm) Open Length: 6.97" (17.70cm) Closed Length: 3.90" (9.91cm) Handle Thickness: 0.53" (13.46mm) Weight: 3.16oz. These materials differ in terms of weight and price, and thus offer little in the way of a fair comparison. 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. The blade provides impressive edge qualities and excellent rust/ collusion resistance capabilities.It has a well-balanced and ergonomic wooden handle, designed for more resistance to harsh outdoor conditions. If you make a purchase after clicking on a link I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. OnlyKnife.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. My Review: Benchmade seems to love making little one-off designed utility tools and this would be the case for the Aller 380. Thats not a major drawback though, and for most people, its going to be more than made up for by the overall comfort and usability of the knife. 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. A: One of the many advantages of getting a Benchmade knife is its warranty. 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. All of them are pretty durable, and grip depends on the shape or finish more than the material, so go for whatever youre comfortable with. If you have the full size grip I'd double down on the Bugout, very suitable office knife and anywhere else for that matter. I say this because it is my favorite carry of all time. No matter which sheath or set of handles you choose, the Saddle Mountain series is sure to be as rough and tough as you are with absolutely no exceptions. The Fact is everything I love about slender pocket knives while still being one lean mean little blade. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. The 15003-1 comes with a black molded Kydex style sheath that, in my opinion, would last longer and likely give you a bit more value. On the entire continuum of pocket knife size, the North Fork is near the top. I love the bugout but will be upgrading the scales. The Bailout, however, is enhanced with a tanto blade. Even when soaking wet, you never feel like youll lose grip and the lock is so strong you could support the weight of an average man on it all day without worry. Copyright All Outdoors Guide 2023 | About Us. The All-Outdoors Guide team is comprised of enthusiastic experts that enjoy helping others that aspire to be better at outdoor fun. The mechanism works by giving you the regular pull-down and open motion of the original Axis Lock but, by pulling the bar just a bit further, the blade springs out instantly. We Are Hiring! 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. The blade is namely made from CPM S30V. I recently bought a full size Grip, and I'm in love with it. This particular steel is especially strong in terms of tensile strength which allows this knife to be heavily abused and put through the wringer whether youre a camper, fisherman, or using the knife to work. JavaScript is disabled. What about Benchmade knives that dont have the AXIS features? 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. Benchmade North Fork (Scott Murdock) The blade and frame are equally tough. They would find the Mini Griptilian more comfortable and compact. The company is located in Oregon in the US. 2. Just be aware of this before you buy. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM-S30VHandle Composition: Glass-Filled NylonBlade Length: 3.45Total Length: 8.07Total Weight: 3.88 ounces. cpm3v is the steel used to craft the plain drop point blade. Made in USA. Check out the beautifully crafted hand-built Damasteel Foray here. There are no other features on the Benchmade North Fork. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); UFABET UFA089.COM. In his free time, he enjoys hunting, hiking, running, shooting guns, and reviewing gear. The Bailout is available with fine 'tool steels'. These knives appear basic and simple but are extremely over-engineered and will serve you well for many years to come. Throw it in your truck, keep it in your bugout bag, use it with your survival kit, whatever, this knife is so light and compact that youll forget its there until you need it! Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM S30VHandle Composition: Sealed Wood or Patterned G10Blade Length: 2.97Total Length: 6.97Total Weight: 3.41 ounces. Generally, Benchmade has a good reputation. I have all 3. Designed and manufactured by Benchmade, North Fork-1503 is an all-round compact knife featuring a recurved blade to help you with your cutting tasks. GearLab is reader-supported. the blade would come out without my intending it. It's been in the box since I bought it. At 60-62 HRC, these knives stay sharp for a long time, however, they also tend to be a little brittle, and difficult to sharpen later on. Despite being pricey, Benchmade North Fork 1503 still remains a high quality and extremely durable all-round folding knife. It is a boutique piece of equipment, and losing such an expensive pocket knife out on a camping trip would certainly be a tragedy. Now, the Fact wouldnt exactly end up at the forefront of an EDC list or really on any list, however, Im in love! Sure, sharp is sharp; the blade has a pointed edge, or it doesn't. Its satin-finished drop point blade uses S30V steel and features two jimped sections one by the thumb grip and one closer to the tip for ultimate blade control. Drop point blades are great for regular utility work, and if you dont need any piercing power, go for a Sheepsfoot tip. With a high quality CPMS30V stainless steel blade, the folding knife is exceptionally well-balanced. I wont talk too much on this knife as I believe the differences between the two are going to come down to personal preference. These materials differ in terms of weight and price, and thus offer little in the way of a fair comparison. 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. Grivory is basically a super hard plastic that Benchmade used for this knife due to its lightness without sacrificing rigidity. Some people are quite partial to G10 handles, while some prefer the lightness of glass-filled nylon or Santoprene. 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. Its most reliable when you use your finger and thumb to pull back both studs together, but it can also be easily operated with one stud. The differences are namely quite clear. It is just a simple blade in a handle. The drop-point blade makes North Fork 1503 a handy hunting tool for skinning and slicing wildlife. Strap this baby on with its included Boltaron sheath and youll hardly notice its there until you spring the Altitude into action. There is a choice you might care about, though, and thats whether you want a beautifully made custom Benchmade leather sheath or a lightweight and durable Kydex sheath to carry around this beast with. If theres anything better than the blade on this knife, its the glass-filled nylon handle. If youre willing to pony up a little extra cash, and I do recommend this if you can, you can find the stylish carbon fiber version of the Benchmade Nakamura here. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,055) $ 24.99. . OTF knives are pretty cool and Benchmade does a fantastic job designing them, however, I think the Infidel shines best as a true fixed blade as the very nature of the blade is based on combat and tactical usage. Privacy | Cookies | Terms. However, if youre wearing work gloves, that problem vanishes. The Benchmade Bugout; all photos by. The handle also has a lanyard hole at one end. 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. Basically, following this means youre looking out for extremely high quality and durability and you save up or sell something or do whatever you gotta do to get it and then youre good to go for a very long time without the need to buy another knife anytime soon. If youre a fan of Benchmades assisted opening and stunning wood handles, this is it for you. All images on our website are the property of their respective owners. By the way, Nimravus is the genus name of a long-extinct ancient saber-toothed cat that was known for its massive and ultra deadly dagger-shaped teeth, certainly a big cat youd only want to encounter if you had the knife inspired by its most lethal attributes. The Benchmade North Fork is a very neat little knife, perfect for everyday carry; it doesnt take up much pocket space and it isnt heavy either. For more information about us or joining the team, check out the About Us tab. This is one knife that even a Marine wouldnt stand much chance against. These work by pinning two angled torsion bars against the tang of the knife that creates more tension on the blade as its closed. Pick a Tanto tip, but remember its not good for prying. As I mentioned before, Benchmade has released this knife in tons of different colors and styles and if that 3.24 blade is a little too long for your Bugout loadout, Id strongly recommend giving the Mini Bugout 533 a look as well which can be found here. The Anthem is incredibly lightweight for its size and toughness and that clip is something seriously special. Looking through the reviews, I found that the customers absolutely love the manual opening action and that the blade was perfectly centered. 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. These were actually designed later than the others and were requested by Benchmade enthusiasts. 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. Disclosure : Everyday Carry is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Youll find that the Griptilian can do every single one of them. Where the blade meets the handles on the inside is covered by steel liners, ensuring the handles cant bow or bend and eliminating the flex you see in cheaper plastic-based handles. We are pocket knife experts that understand that you don't Pocket knife shopping is daunting. how to pass the achiever test; macavity: the mystery cat analysis The satin-finished 6061-T6 aluminum handle is also something Im quite fond of. Which just about always also means pleasantly functional. You can check out the full review of this knife here. Typically, I wouldnt ever recommend something like this to someone new to handling knives but this little kit is an excellent way to introduce a dagger style knife for self-defense. 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. Best Arcteryx Hiking Shorts Guide: Which Is Right for You? Opening and closing them is not a hassle because they have an excellent axis lock mechanism. Not only do I enjoy supporting hard-working people in the US, I think there is a notable difference in customer service, quality assurance, and overall attention to detail. [Easy] How to Clean Rust off of a Gun Without Damaging it? The Bugout is available with Grivory, titanium and CF-Elite. It is ideal for skinning and for making precision cuts. The angle(s) at which the faces of the blade meet determines the function of that edge. If breaking folding knives is a concern of yours, look to Benchmade! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay informed! The edge itself has a wide, almost flat grind and a slight recurve before it arcs up to the point. My Review: The Turret has been a Marine Approved favorite since it came out and thats due to the fact that this knife is an absolute monster no matter how you use it. Blade Style: Trailing-Point / Clip-Point / ScimitarBlade Composition: 154CMHandle Composition: G10 Pistol Grip StyleBlade Length: 4Total Length: 9.76Total Weight: 7.2 Ounces. The very first look convinces you that this knife would not slip from your grip. 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. How to Choose the Best Benchmade Knife for All Purposes? All Axis locks are ambidextrous and most of them are easily used with one-handed operation. It is this size that seems to offer the best compromise of ergonomics and portability. $200 for probably the best spear-point assisted folder consisting of CPM-S30V steel is actually a pretty good deal if you really enjoy this type of thing. This is the last self defense knife on this list, but we have an entire guide dedicated to self defense knives here if youre interested. The knifes drop-point blade is ideal for the avid hunter. More importantly, its great for a bit of carving work. Its essential for hunters wanting to dress their harvest. My Review: Oh boy Benchmade does not normally make large blades but when they do, you get something capable of fighting off the Taliban all by yourself. The idea here was to give the users more options and enable both automatic and manual use. The North Fork from Benchmade is well made. 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. The size is such that it clips relatively unobtrusively to your pants pocket. Moreover, if youre a fan of the G10 handle, youll love this. The Fact would be an excellent and easy to carry self-defense knife that has incredible utility value, close to that of a solid EDC knife. Never underestimate a good handle, since a sturdy, ergonomic, and grippy handle can make the knife so much better. I have linked out to the version with only one edge, which is also the serrated version. Is it worth it to pay extra for high-quality American made goods? We can be brief when it comes to the similarities: the handles of both knives look alike. However, if you dont want the hassle of opening a knife, no matter how smooth the action is, you can go for a sheathed fixed blade knife. benchmade north fork vs bugout. Check for Signs of Poor Workmanship and Defects. While Benchmade still offers knives with regular manual locking mechanisms, theyre rare and usually found on their lower-tier offerings. A little fun fact before we get started: The Benchmade Butterfly logo originated from the early days of the company when they specialized primarily in the creation of premium grade butterfly (Balisong) knives! Benchmade North Fork 15031-2 8. A quality blade will help with minor repairs to your gear, like cutting improvised tent stakes. 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. North Fork-1503 is exceptionally well-designed. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM-S30VHandle Composition: G10Blade Length: 3.48Total Length: 8.33Total Weight: 5.28 ounces. The Bugout doesnt try and do anything fancy. If you havent heard of Grivory handles before, never fear, I hadnt either until I came across this knife. Blade Style: Reverse-TantoBlade Composition: CPM-S30VHandle Composition: Smooth Anodized 6061-T6 AluminumBlade Length: 3.40Total Length: 7.87Total Weight: 2.90 ounces. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM-S30VHandle Composition: Textured G10Blade Length: 3.7Total Length: 8.6Total Weight: 5.81 ounces. No matter how hard youre going with the knife, it wont slip even if your hand is wet with water, sweat, or blood. Of course, this doesnt exactly cover you if you snap a blade trying to pry open a locker or a knife youve ground a divet in using a power grinder, but in the event that sort of thing accidentally happens, you can still send the knife in and they will repair whatever necessary for a relatively fair price.