{"id":1707,"date":"2023-12-09T00:00:47","date_gmt":"2023-12-09T00:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=1707"},"modified":"2023-12-09T00:00:47","modified_gmt":"2023-12-09T00:00:47","slug":"benchmade-bugout-review-is-the-knife-worth-the-price","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=1707","title":{"rendered":"Benchmade Bugout Review \u2014 Is the Knife Worth the Price?"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By Ryan Domke<\/a><\/p>\n

I<\/span>n 2017, Benchmade released the Bugout, which quickly became one of the best-selling EDC knives. According to Benchmade, \u201cThe Bugout was designed for the modern outdoor adventurer, incorporating the lightest, best performing materials in an extremely slim yet ergonomic package\u201d. I would say the design idea came to fruition beautifully.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now, I didn\u2019t hop on the bandwagon right away. My average knife at the time cost $50 or less, so the thought of spending $180+ seemed a bit crazy. After all, the knives I had did what I needed them to do, and I didn\u2019t have to stress if I lost or broke one.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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When spending time outdoors, the Benchmade Bugout makes for a great companion. It is lightweight and easy to carry, making it solid for hiking over long distances.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fast forward a few years, and I wound up talking myself into buying a Bugout. I figured if I was going to get one, I might as well order a custom one so it\u2019s just the way I wanted. I used Benchmade\u2019s interactive custom knife builder and ordered it straight from the source.<\/p>\n

\"opening\n<\/picture>
Many of us carry knives daily for utility use. While Benchmade\u2019s quality might seem to be overkill for such a common task, the Bugout handles opening boxes with ease.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s accompanied me on many adventures, helped me complete countless tasks and has held up great from a functionality and finish perspective. But, is it worth the price tag? Let\u2019s take a closer look to help you decide for yourself. <\/p>\n

Finer Details of the Benchmade Bugout<\/h2>\n

Due to the large success of the original Bugout, Benchmade has come out with several models. Some have different handle materials, blade steel or hardware finishes. The one we\u2019re looking at today is a custom version of the standard 535 model.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"benchmade\n<\/picture>
The deep-carry pocket clip on the Benchmade Bugout ensures the knife remains discreet when carried.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It features a drop-point blade made out of S30V steel, that has a black Cerakote finish. When it comes to knives, the steel used for the blade is extremely important. S30V is regarded as one of the most versatile dollar-for-dollar steels out there. It has a really nice balance of corrosion resistance and edge retention, and is also not too difficult to sharpen the knife yourself.<\/a> You may find better steel options, but you\u2019ll have to be prepared to see the price of the knife jump in return.<\/p>\n

\"bugout\n<\/picture>
Benchmade uses a thumb stud and Axis Lock on the Bugout folding knife. Both of them are machined with steps to improve traction when used.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One aspect of the blade itself I\u2019ve been extremely impressed with is the\u00a0Cerakote finish<\/a>. It shows barely any blemishes or scratches after the last couple of year\u2019s use. I\u2019ve had my fair share of pistol slides Cerakoted, and half of them have looked pretty rough after a couple of training sessions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The \u201cGrivory\u201d scales that make up the handle are essentially a very strong plastic made out of nylon mixed with fiberglass. While they are durable and very lightweight, they do have a bit of flex to them. Some people have complained that they are able to \u201cpush them together\u201d in the center. I can attest that is true, but I\u2019ve never had it cause any issues.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"benchmade\n<\/picture>
The scales of the Bugout are rather smooth with minimal checkering in the center of the faces.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lastly, let\u2019s touch on the hardware. Benchmade\u2019s Axis Lock system is my favorite of any blade lock on the market. Unlike the common liner lock or frame lock, you never have to put your fingers in the way of the knife to close it. You simply use the ambidextrous thumb studs to disengage the spring-loaded bar, and the blade drops shut to a folded position.<\/p>\n

The mini deep-carry pocket clip is minimalistic and helps keep your knife discreetly tucked. Its black oxide finish does show wear easily, but winds up developing a nice patina.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While all of the features look great on paper and in photos, the main point of a knife is to cut, right?\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Blade Style<\/strong><\/td>\nDrop-Point, Cerakoted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Blade Steel<\/strong><\/td>\nS30V<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Blade Length<\/strong><\/td>\n3.24 Inches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Blade Thickness<\/strong><\/td>\n0.09 Inches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Open Length<\/strong><\/td>\n7.46 Inches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Closed Length<\/strong><\/td>\n4.22 Inches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Handle Material<\/strong><\/td>\nGrivory<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Handle Thickness<\/strong><\/td>\n0.42 Inches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Clip Position<\/strong><\/td>\nTip-Up<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Clip Finish<\/strong><\/td>\nBlack Oxide<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Clip Type<\/strong><\/td>\nMini Deep-Carry<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Locking Mechanism<\/strong><\/td>\nAxis Lock<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/strong><\/td>\n1.85 Ounces<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

A Knife Is More Than Just Looks<\/h2>\n

Remember, the Bugout isn\u2019t meant to be an off-grid survival knife like a fixed-blade Ka-Bar. With that being said, I\u2019ve never run into an \u201ceveryday task\u201d that it wasn\u2019t able to handle. From electrical cords to boxes, zip-ties to meat and everything in between, it\u2019s handled it all.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"cutting\n<\/picture>
The author easily sliced through Cat 5 ethernet cable with the Bugout knife. Cutting wire may not be the best use for a blade like this, but many of us have been in a pinch and needed to do it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u2019ll admit, the edge on mine has seen much sharper days, but it\u2019s still chugging along fine. If you\u2019re not comfortable sharpening your own knives or simply want it done professionally, Benchmade offers a LifeSharp guarantee where it will re-sharpen your knife to a factory edge for free, for the life of the knife.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When using it to cut, the contour of the handle paired with the slightly checkered texturing does help to maintain control, but could be improved. Especially when needing to apply extra pressure or when cutting in wet conditions, I think even some slight texturing on the edges of the scales in addition to the faces would be nice.<\/p>\n

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Due to its positive features, in addition to its size and weight, it\u2019s become one of my most carried knives. Coming in at only 2.1 ounces (since I added a couple of aftermarket parts) and a thickness of only 0.42 inches, you essentially forget it\u2019s in your pocket. I have plenty of other items in my pocket(s) at all times, so the lighter and thinner, the better.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"cutting\n<\/picture>
As delivered, the Benchmade knife sliced through paper easily. At the end of the testing, the author found the blade would still cut paper, though not quite as cleanly.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On a side note, I know I titled this section \u201cMore Than Just Looks\u201d, but let\u2019s be honest, who doesn\u2019t love to customize their gear to make it look better? Glow Rhino makes tritrium thumb studs and lanyard plugs. They do add to the aesthetic of the knife, and also help you find your knife in the dark.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Final Thoughts on the Folding Knife<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve made it this far, you can probably tell I\u2019m happy with my Bugout overall. After all of the time I\u2019ve spent with it, I can honestly see why the price tag is what it is. I\u2019ve had and still have plenty of other more affordable knives that simply have not held up like this one. Additionally, they are not as comfortable to carry.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"benchmade\n<\/picture>
Even if you are not in a \u201cbug out\u201d situation, the author found the Benchmade knife is a good value for a range of uses.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you\u2019re in the market for a new EDC knife to help you tackle your simpler everyday tasks plus a little more, I would definitely suggest checking out the Benchmade Bugout. I don\u2019t think you\u2019ll be disappointed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the \u201cGo To Forum Thread\u201d link below to jump in and discuss this article and much more!<\/em><\/p>\n

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By Ryan Domke In 2017, Benchmade released the Bugout, which quickly became one of the best-selling EDC knives. According to Benchmade, \u201cThe Bugout was designed for the modern outdoor adventurer, incorporating the lightest, best performing materials in an extremely slim yet ergonomic package\u201d. I would say the design idea came to fruition beautifully.\u00a0 Now, I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1707","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1707"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1707\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}