Today we’re gonna be looking at two kings of the ultra-light pocket knife scene. The Benchmade Bugout versus the Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight. Despite the difference in price we can see these two knives being cross shopped very easily as they sport some of the same elements to appeal to folks looking for high-performance cutting in a package that won’t weigh you down.
The Bailout is a tactical spinoff of Benchmade’s popular ultralight Bugout Series, but a few tweaks have been made to emphasize even more strength than that original model. It’s designed for operators that need a solid tool that doesn’t take up a lot of space or weight, but it works just as well for folks that need a tactically oriented EDC or backup blade without the overbuilt bulk that many tactical knives can fall victim to.
While we would always recommend a good fixed blade for camping there’s plenty of scenarios where you’d want a good folder at your side as well. Not everyone is comfortable carrying a fixed blade or maybe you’re looking for a nice backup/complement to your larger knife. In some cases, you may not even be able to carry a fixed blade. Luckily if you need to go with a folder there are a ton of great options out there and we’ve pulled our top ten for you to consider.
We will lay out some of our top choices below, but first, we will lay out a few features you will want to look for when choosing a knife for the outdoors so you can choose your own if our suggestions don’t do it for you. Continue Reading
Balisongs, more commonly referred to as butterfly knives have been widely popular for some time now, and it is easy to see the appeal. They have their roots in the Filipino martial arts, but nowadays most people use them to perform tricks. You can see folks showing off their skills in movies and all over the internet. Thing is, it can be an intimidating hobby to get into. Not only can the tricks be difficult to master, but you also have to decide which butterfly knife to buy to get started. Experienced flippers have a lot of strong opinions on what is good or not, and sometimes it can be hard to sort through. If you are a beginner or even a novice looking to upgrade, we want to make it as easy as possible to enjoy this fun hobby, so here are a few options that range in price and performance that you ought to check out. Continue Reading
We joined Troy Hellman and Hans Albing at the Benchmade booth at SHOT Show 2019 to take a look at some of their new offerings. If you’re looking to pre-order yours, head over to KnifeCenter!
Easily one of the best deals of the year, our Benchmade Knife Company Year-End Sale has begun! If you want to pick up a knife from one of the greatest knife companies out there, head over to KnifeCenter to get the best deal. There’s still time to get your knives before Christmas! Check out our holiday shipping calendar so you can make sure your gifts are delivered before the big day.
Let us know in the comments which Benchmade you decided to pick up!
Nothing drives a knifemaker like a little competition, which is why great knife brands like Benchmade and Spyderco thrive off of a good-natured rivalry. They are constantly pushing themselves to create the greatest knives by using premium knife materials and the top knife manufacturing processes available, all so they can edge out the rest to take home the crown for the best knife. Two specific knife models have reached the apex of that goal: Spyderco’s Paramilitary 2 and Benchmade’s Griptilian.
While they may not have identical price tags, we chose the Griptilian and the Paramilitary 2 because they’re both American-made knives, the same general size, intended for similar tasks, and equipped with comparable locking mechanisms. Speaking of great knife locks…
The Griptilian comes equipped with an AXIS locking mechanism. The lockbar extends through the frame of the knife and is completely ambidextrous, and it allows easy one-handed operation.
Benchmade is one of the most widely recognized knife brands in the business – just one look at that distinctive butterfly logo tells you you’re holding a top notch blade. Benchmade has a unique origin story. Les De Asis, the owner and founder, originally wanted to create a high quality version of the cheap butterfly knife he played with as a kid. Once that design was created after working with gifted knife maker Victor Anselmo, he took his prototype to a local gun shop – whose owner immediately wanted 100 more. Thus, Bali-Song, Inc. was born, and that eventually led to the company we now know as Benchmade Knives.
Benchmade says that they have one ultimate goal: make the best knives in the world. We’ve always been wowed by their wide array of distinguished knife designs – I mean, have you ever held a Griptilian? It’s downright sexy. Choosing only five of their top knives is pretty tough, but luckily we did the work so you don’t have to. Buckle up and get ready to scroll through the best knives Benchmade has to offer. From the designs to the materials to the aesthetics, these five Benchmade knives easily reach the caliber expected of such a great knife company.
Benchmade Griptilian Folding Knife
What other knife can you kick off a Benchmade list with other than the famous Griptilian folder? Like many of Benchmade’s knives, the Griptilian features Benchmade’s patented AXIS lock, which is a 100% ambidextrous design that functions due to a riding, hardened steel bar that is machined into the steel liners. Not only is it strong, but it is also safe to use, as you can operate the blade without your fingers crossing into the path of the edge. The Grip’s designer, Mel Pardue, brought his passion for functionality to this design. The driving force behind Pardue’s collaborations with Benchmade is that less is more, and the focus has always been function over form. There are more iterations of the Griptilian than any other knife Benchmade offers. Our favorite is this upgraded design with G10 handles and premium CPM-20CV steel.
We may only be a little more than halfway through 2018, but we’ve been wowed by the number of incredible knives that have made their way onto the scene this year. We’ve picked what we think are the best pocket knives (so far) of 2018. These are definitely must-have additions to any EDC rotation.
Spyderco C227GP Brad Southard Hanan
A gracious gift, indeed! If you haven’t been brushing up on your Hebrew lately, that’s what Hanan means – and it pretty much describes this folding knife to a T. Designed by custom knife maker Brad Southard, the Hanan is one of the best gentleman’s folding knives to hit the market this year. Unlike most Spyderco knives, the Trademark Round Hole is much smaller than you’ll typically see, which is because this Spydiehole is mostly aesthetic. Instead, you’re going to rely on the flipper tab to deploy the blade. In our opinion, a gentleman’s pocket knife has to have certain qualities to make it worthy of the title – and the Hanan delivers that in spades. The two-tone G10/titanium hybrid handles are smooth and have an elegance that screams ‘class’. Plus, you can’t go wrong with S30V steel.
Why we picked it: Brad Southard is an amazing knife maker and designer, and his collaborations with Spyderco are no exception. This knife combines great design with high-end materials.
You know KnifeCenter is the largest and original catalog of cutlery, but did you also know we’ve been an educational resource since our launch in 1995? From day one, we’ve been an international hub with the latest knife news. One of our biggest goals was to not only be able to give you the largest collection of products, but also have all the information you’d ever need about knives and tools to make an informed purchase.
One thing we take very seriously is making it easier for knife newbies to enter the industry. That’s why we’ve created The Knife Guide – a series of videos that will cover a wide range of topics, from learning about knife parts to knife and tool maintenance (and everything in between).
We already have the first two installments ready and rolling on our YouTube channel!
The Knife Guide 01: Defining an EDC
This video will not only define an EDC, but will explain a little bit about folding knives, pocket knives, fixed blade knives, multi-tools, and some rules for choosing a knife or tool that’s the right fit for you. You can also check out all of the products that we used in the video, just in case any of them caught your eye or seemed like a good fit for a first-time knife or tool buyer.
The Knife Guide 02: What is a Folding Pocket Knife?
In the second installment of the series, we dug into exactly what a folding knife is – the parts, how they work, what additions impact the cost of a folding knife, the different types of locking mechanisms and how they function, and some of the trademarks you’ll see in folding knives from well known manufacturers like Spyderco and Benchmade. We pulled out some great knives to help showcase these features, that way you’ll know our recommendations and can feel confident picking up any one of these folders.
We’ll be adding new videos weekly on YouTube and featuring the products on our website. We’re going to talk about what a fixed blade is, the best way to sharpen steel, the different blade shapes and what blade types are best for specific tasks, the different types of steel and how they compare, the best knife handle materials, and more. We’re also eager to see what type of content you’d like to see in this series – nothing is off limits! Be sure to head to our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to let us know what you think and your recommendations for what you’d like featured in this series next!