Benchmade sits in an awkward spot for most buyers. Its knives cost much more than a Kershaw or a Buck, yet many people see the same Grivory plastic handles on them and wonder where the money goes. The answer is mostly in three places: harder, longer-lasting steels such as S30V and MagnaCut, tight factory tolerances in Oregon City, and LifeSharp, Benchmade’s promise to put a factory edge back on your knife at no charge, however many years you keep it.
Whether that’s worth it depends on how you use a knife. If it lives in your pocket every day and cuts something every day, you’ll feel the difference in edge life and in the AXIS lock, which is one of the easiest and safest folders to close with one hand. If it lives in a drawer and comes out twice a year to open a parcel, it won’t matter, and the extra money is better spent elsewhere.
Start with the Benchmade Mini Griptilian, the most sensible all-round Benchmade. For the lightest pocket carry, the Bugout is the alternative.
My Top 6 Benchmade Picks
The Benchmade that does everything well and nothing badly: a useful blade, a textured handle and the AXIS lock. If I could only suggest one Benchmade, it would be this.
Under two ounces for a full-size folder with S30V steel. The knife for hikers and anyone who hates a heavy pocket.
A slim reverse tanto in G10 that looks and feels more expensive than the Griptilian. The step up for people who carry a knife every day and want it to feel special.
A drop point skinner with a wood handle and a leather sheath. Premium steel for hunters who’d rather not sharpen in the field.
A long trailing-point blade made for breaking down game at home or in camp. Think of it as a premium boning and slicing knife for hunters.
Benchmade’s take on a do-everything kitchen knife, with a sheath so it can travel to camp. A curiosity for gear fans, not a replacement for a good chef’s knife.
What Benchmade Does Well
The AXIS lock
The AXIS is a spring-loaded steel bar that crosses the back of the handle and blocks the blade open. Pull it back with your thumb and the blade swings closed without your fingers ever being in its path. Lefties use it exactly the way righties do. My guide to folding knife locks explains why so many brands now copy it.
LifeSharp
Benchmade will clean, oil, adjust and resharpen any of its knives to a factory edge at no cost, no matter how old the knife is. You pay to ship it there, and you’re without your knife while it’s away, but it’s still one of the best after-sale services in the industry.
Premium steels as standard
Even Benchmade’s entry models use CPM-S30V, a powder steel that holds an edge far longer than the 8Cr13MoV or 420HC on budget knives. Higher up you’ll find S90V, M4, CPM-154 and MagnaCut.
American manufacturing
Benchmade has made knives since 1988 and builds its core models at its own factory in Oregon City, Oregon, according to its listings.
What Benchmade Does Badly
Plain handles for the price
The Griptilian and Bugout use Grivory, a glass-filled nylon. It’s tough and light, but it feels plain and a bit hollow on a knife that costs this much. The Bugout’s thin scales also flex slightly in a hard grip.
High prices across the range
There is no cheap Benchmade. If you only cut a box now and then, a Kershaw or a Buck gives you most of the use for much less money.
Omega springs
The AXIS lock relies on two small omega springs. They rarely fail, but when they do the lock gets weak. They’re cheap to replace, and Benchmade fixes them under warranty, but it’s a part other locks don’t have.
Benchmade Lines Compared
Benchmade groups its knives by color class. Here is how the classes differ:
| Class | Typical steel | Example models | Handle | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue (everyday) | S30V, MagnaCut | Griptilian, Bugout, Osborne | Grivory, G10, aluminum | Everyday carry |
| Black (tactical, professional) | S30V, CPM-3V, 440C | Adamas, Infidel, rescue hooks | G10, aluminum | Military, police, rescue |
| Orange (hunt) | S30V, S90V, CPM-154 | Saddle Mountain, Meatcrafter, Hidden Canyon | Wood, Santoprene | Hunting, butchering |
| Kitchen | CPM-154 | Station Knife, Meatcrafter kitchen | Composite | Cooking, camp kitchens |
1. Benchmade Mini Griptilian 556-S30V: Best Benchmade Knife
Who it’s for: anyone buying a first premium pocket knife.
The Mini Griptilian is the Benchmade most people meet first, and it’s the knife I listed for Benchmade in my best knife makers roundup. The 2.91-inch drop point is a size that works in an office and on a campsite, and the textured Grivory handle fills the hand well for such a compact knife.
The S30V blade holds its edge through weeks of daily cutting, and the AXIS lock makes it one of the safest folders to open and close with either hand. The clip is reversible, so lefties are covered.
The handle is the weak spot: it’s tough, but it feels like plastic because it is. Aftermarket scales are sold if that bothers you.
Key specs
- Blade: 2.91″ drop point, CPM-S30V
- Lock: AXIS
- Handle: Grivory (glass-filled nylon)
- Reversible clip; lanyard hole
- Made in Oregon City, Oregon; LifeSharp
Pros
- Right size for most people
- Excellent lock for either hand
- Long edge life
Cons
- Plain plastic feel
- Thicker than the Bugout
My verdict: the Benchmade I’d recommend before any other. Buy the Bugout only if every ounce counts.
2. Benchmade Bugout 535: Best Ultralight
Who it’s for: hikers, runners and anyone who wants a full-size blade at the weight of a small one.
The Bugout is one of Benchmade’s most popular modern designs. It pairs a 3.24-inch S30V drop point with a skeletonized frame and thin Grivory scales, so the whole knife weighs about 1.85 ounces. I picked it in my backpacking knives guide for that reason.
The blade is thin and slices very well, and the AXIS lock is the same as on the Griptilian. The slim handle fits a pocket better than almost any other knife this size.
The price of that lightness is a handle that flexes a little when you bear down, and thin scales that some people find too narrow for long cutting jobs.
Key specs
- Blade: 3.24″ drop point, CPM-S30V (58 to 60 HRC)
- Lock: AXIS
- Handle: Grivory, ambidextrous
- Weight: about 1.85 oz; reversible clip
- Made in Oregon City, Oregon; LifeSharp
Pros
- Extremely light
- Great slicer
- Slim in the pocket
Cons
- Handle flexes under pressure
- Narrow grip for big hands
My verdict: the best ultralight folder you can buy, as long as you carry it daily, not just on the trail.
3. Benchmade Osborne 940-2: Best Upgrade
Who it’s for: experienced carriers who want a refined everyday knife.
The 940 is one of the most admired designs in Benchmade’s catalog, named after designer Warren Osborne. It has a slim reverse tanto blade that’s surprisingly good at slicing, plus a strong tip, all in a thin handle that disappears in a pocket.
This version uses G10, a fiberglass laminate that feels more solid than Grivory and doesn’t care about water or temperature. The S30V blade and AXIS lock are the same as on the Griptilian.
It costs much more than the Mini Griptilian, and the clip is tip-up only. The reverse tanto shape takes a bit more care on a sharpener than a plain drop point.
Key specs
- Blade: 3.4″ reverse tanto, CPM-S30V
- Lock: AXIS
- Handle: black G10
- Reversible tip-up clip
- Made in Oregon City, Oregon; LifeSharp
Pros
- Premium feel
- Slices well for a tanto
- Very slim
Cons
- Costs much more than the Griptilian
- Tip-up carry only
My verdict: the Benchmade to buy once you know you love carrying a knife.
4. Benchmade Saddle Mountain Skinner 15002: Best Hunting Knife
Who it’s for: big game hunters who want one premium fixed blade.
The Saddle Mountain Skinner is a drop point fixed blade sized for field dressing, with a stabilized wood handle and a leather sheath. Its S30V blade keeps cutting through a whole animal far longer than a softer stainless knife.
The drop point shape keeps the tip away from organs when you open a deer, and the gentle belly makes skinning easy. LifeSharp means you can send it back after the season for a factory edge.
Wood looks great but is smoother than rubber when your hands are wet or bloody, so go slow. And for a knife that will get dirty, it’s a lot of money.
Key specs
- Blade: drop point, CPM-S30V, fixed
- Handle: stabilized wood
- Leather sheath with belt loop and snap strap
- LifeSharp
Pros
- Long edge life in the field
- Great skinning shape
- Handsome build
Cons
- Wood handle slicker when wet
- Expensive for a dirty job
My verdict: a premium hunting knife that you’ll keep for decades. Budget hunters can do the same job with a Buck.
5. Benchmade Meatcrafter 15505: Best for Processing Game
Who it’s for: hunters who butcher their own deer or elk.
The Meatcrafter is a long, narrow trailing-point knife made for separating muscle groups, trimming silver skin and slicing steaks. It sits somewhere between a boning knife and a slicer, and it comes with a sheath so it can travel to camp.
The blade is CPM-154 at 58 to 61 HRC, a stainless that’s tough and easy to keep sharp. The Santoprene handle is a rubbery composite that grips well with greasy hands, which matters more than steel when you’re cutting fat and meat for hours.
A good kitchen boning knife does much of the same work for much less money; my deer boning knife guide lists cheaper options. And the long point needs care around bone.
Key specs
- Blade: trailing point, CPM-154 (58 to 61 HRC), fixed
- Handle: dark olive Santoprene
- Sheath included
- LifeSharp
Pros
- Excellent shape for butchering
- Grippy handle
- Rust resistant steel
Cons
- Pricey next to kitchen boning knives
- Thin tip needs care near bone
My verdict: a joy for hunters who process lots of game. Occasional hunters should buy a kitchen boning knife.
6. Benchmade Station Knife 4010BK-01: Best Kitchen Knife
Who it’s for: Benchmade fans and campers who want one premium knife that moves between kitchen and camp.
The Station Knife is Benchmade’s idea of a do-it-all kitchen knife: a CPM-154 blade that’s part chef’s knife, part utility knife, finished with Benchmade’s SelectEdge grind and sold with a sheath.
The steel holds an edge much longer than most German kitchen knives, and the LifeSharp service applies here too, which no kitchen brand offers in quite the same way.
But it’s one of the most expensive knives Benchmade sells for its size, and it doesn’t replace a chef’s knife on a big board. I’d only buy it if you love Benchmade or need a premium camp-kitchen knife with a sheath.
Key specs
- Blade: CPM-154 (58 to 61 HRC), SelectEdge
- Gray PIM sheath included
- LifeSharp
Pros
- Long edge life
- Free lifetime sharpening
- Travels safely in its sheath
Cons
- Very expensive for one kitchen knife
- Not a full chef’s knife replacement
My verdict: a fun gear-lover’s knife. Most cooks get more from a classic chef’s knife.
Benchmade vs Other Brands
Benchmade vs Spyderco
These are the two big names in premium folders. Spyderco‘s designs look odder, but their thin full-flat grinds often slice better. Benchmade wins on the AXIS lock and LifeSharp. I’d pick by which lock and shape you prefer.
Benchmade vs Kershaw
Kershaw costs much less and offers assisted opening. Benchmade uses better steel across the range and has a better service program. The Kershaw Bel Air is the closest thing to a Benchmade at a lower price.
Benchmade vs Buck
Buck makes traditional, heavier knives in softer steel, at much lower prices. A Buck is the better gift or hunting knife on a budget; a Benchmade is the better daily carry.
FAQ
Is Benchmade worth the money?
Yes, if you carry and use a knife every day. You get better steel, tighter build quality, the AXIS lock and free lifetime sharpening. If you only need a knife now and then, a cheaper brand makes more sense.
Where are Benchmade knives made?
Benchmade makes its core knives at its factory in Oregon City, Oregon. Check the individual listing for older or special models.
What is Benchmade LifeSharp?
LifeSharp is Benchmade’s free lifetime sharpening service. Send your knife in and Benchmade cleans, oils, adjusts and resharpens it to a factory edge. You pay shipping to Benchmade.
What is the Benchmade warranty?
Benchmade covers its knives for life against defects in materials and workmanship. Damage from misuse, such as prying or batoning a folder, isn’t covered.
Which Benchmade is best for everyday carry?
The Mini Griptilian is the best all-round choice for most people. Choose the Bugout if you want the lightest knife, or the Osborne for a more refined feel.
Does Benchmade make automatic knives?
Yes, Benchmade makes automatics such as the Infidel OTF, but they aren’t sold on Amazon. My OTF knife guide explains the alternatives.
Final Verdict
Benchmade is worth it for daily carriers who will notice the steel, the lock and the service. The Mini Griptilian is where I’d start, the Bugout is the pick for light carry, and the Osborne is the upgrade once you’re hooked.
Not sure you need a premium knife? My folding knives under $100 guide has strong cheaper options.
Gary Portman founded knivesadvice.com in 2019. He learned to cook in his family’s kitchen as a kid and has used kitchen, pocket and outdoor knives ever since, from paring and fillet knives to survival blades he carries camping and hiking. He writes the site’s buying guides, brand reviews and sharpening how-tos to help readers find the right knife for the job. More about Gary.