The Benchmade Bugout; all photos by. The surgically sharp blade comes perfectly centered. Youll find that the Griptilian can do every single one of them. If you want to spend even more money on some of the worlds finest custom blades, check out Benchmades Gold Class custom built blades here. Keep 'em coming. The fidget factor and aftermarket options bumped up the score a little bit, but this knife isn't trying to be a looker. All you might think you care about, as it pertains to a knife's edge, is "is it sharp?" Our advice is to go with a locking folder unless you have special requirements. 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. JavaScript is disabled. Upon opening up the Benchmade Butterfly stamped sheath youll notice the inside is actually nylon. On the entire continuum of pocket knife size, the North Fork is near the top. Clayton - Thanks for the comment. My Review: The Benchmade Fact reminds me of a classy limousine in the knife world. Some of the reasons I personally prefer the Bugout over the Mini Grip include the longer blade length at 3.25 vs 2.91, the blade shape lending itself better for slicing, the weight reduction, and the awesome short carry clip. The Benchmade Knife Company is well known for creating superior blades, so I was eager to put the North Fork to the test. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2PCS Handle Patch G10 Micarta Blade Scales Fit For Benchmade North Fork Knife at the best online prices at eBay! Yeah, we put it in the camping section because thats what I actually use it for most, but this is an all-around EDC badass. As a result, you need to thank the handle for this knifes superb portability. In his free time, he enjoys hunting, hiking, running, shooting guns, and reviewing gear. And it is ergonomics that set the Mini Barrage apart from other high-end knives we tested. Never heard of that in any forums ether so I'm guessing if you give it a try on your North Fork you'll find it isn't the case. I carried a mini grip of one variety or another for several years. Make no mistake, these Valox handles are seriously high quality and are only going to be found in premium knives with premium price tags. Most of the time youre better going with a stainless blade. These knives come in two colors, Forest Green or Sand Tan, although if youre the type of person looking for this kind of knife, I doubt you care much about what color it is. I REALLY appreciate all the thoughts and opinions. Wrapping it all together is a very well built polymer sheath with a snap lock and that coveted Benchmade butterfly stamped on it. Its an ambidextrous knife. What kind of knife is Benchmade North Fork Drop-Point? 300 Beavercreek Road Oregon City, OR 97045. First, even right out of the box, there are different definitions of "sharp." A flick of the wrist sends the blade out, and it worries me that if I were to drop it by accident, etc. I've replaced my minis with a Bugout: Longer blade, slimmer in the pocket, lighter weight, easier carry. 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. Its so smooth that I cant help but to open it each and every time I pull it out! The S30V steel takes an excellent edge, almost as good as traditional carbon steel, and it doesnt need a lot of maintenance. (0.090" Bugout / 0.115" 940) As a slicer, the Bugout is fine, but IMHO, a daily carry knife should be able to handle all kinds of tasks from cutting to prying, and the ever most important, to shotgun that beer! In fact, it could be a knife even outside my list! No matter what our readers want to learn and do, our team is here to help them accomplish those goals. Were glad you dig this post! They look about as tactically cool as you can make a knife and the fixed blade variant of the original OTF is solid. I'm do not hunt regularly or work in an industry which requires knife work, etc. In short, it is smoothness. A folder is more compact and safer to carry, but when open and locked the blade is rigid enough for anything youre likely to ask of it. 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. On the back its straight for about half its blade length then curves gently down to give a fine, slim tip. 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. Drop point blades are great for regular utility work, and if you dont need any piercing power, go for a Sheepsfoot tip. Particularly, if youre going to swim, camp, or go backpacking, dont pick wood or Dymondwood handle as moisture will make it unsuitable for a while. I believe this is due to state by state restrictions on double-edged blades and of course, they cant hold inventory that fits each and every states laws independently. The first thing you need to know about this EDC knife is that it is an amazing knife if you just want to drop it in a pocket and forget about it. . No ads. This knife is a tad bit heavier for its size than what I would normally carry, however, the classic design is exactly what a lot of people are searching for in an EDC and as I said, its versatility can rival any of the top EDC knives around today. It's plenty sturdy IMO and the tiny pocket clip is fantastic. I wouldn't call it a slicer like the bugout but it all depends on what your full purpose is farm work I believe you will enjoy the northfork the most and the wood scales are awesome plus full liners. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support. Its small, but extremely well made, and packs in a lot of performance for a tool this size. That is until you get a hold on the Valox handles it comes with. Its not much in terms of versatility, although I suppose it is usable across many applications, however, its very clear this knife was designed to perform sustained damage in a combat situation. It is this that mainly sets the Mini-Barrage ahead of the North Fork. [Answered]. I know some users who absolutely appreciate this. I have owned 5 northforks and just about as many mini grips. The Ridges handle is accented with hunters orange so that if you ever lose your grip and drop it, you wont lose sight of it in the brush. Is it worth it to pay extra for high-quality American made goods? 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. Something I think youll notice right out of the box is how strong and sturdy the knife feels while appearing elegant and sleek. Take a look at the specific factors you need to consider before choosing the best Benchmade knife for yourself. It would need to be a fixed blade, and be more of a Survival knife type. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. luke86 Joined Mar 29, 2015 Messages 825 Come, lets take a look at the latest Benchmade knives that I think are quite impressive. 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! Being one of the largest and most successful knife manufacturers in the world, Benchmade has a wide selection of knives across multiple categories. Step 2 Construction:Along with size goes construction. Have some money burning a hole in your pockets and you need something that your buddies are sure to gawk at? I will mention that the handle may sometimes catch on your pockets if its a real tight fit, due to the ergonomic pistol grip style design, however, I still recommend this as a solid EDC as I believe most people wont have an issue with deploying the knife and since its so light, especially the carbon fiber version, its super comfortable and easy to carry. For the price, you get great quality and lasting design. If you like the frn handles of the Grip you have, you will like the g10 even more. It's been in the box since I bought it. If that 3.45 blade is a tad too much and you prefer something a little more compact, you can check out the Benchmade Griptilian Mini 556 here. However, make sure you dont go swimming with this in your pocket as the handle will expand and be unusable for a while. Need to do some piercing? The blade might seem unassuming and simple, with its plain edge and drop point, however, theres little it cant do. These are the fastest and least requiring effort to open and use a spring to flip the knife out immediately. My Review: The Anthem 781, to many, is just a pretty piece of expensive metal and thats unfortunate because I think this knife is far better than most people realize. Here you also see that the Bailout was intended for tactical use. When you need a blade that is rigid, powerful, and ready to rock and roll when you need it most, the 154CM 4.5 fixed Tanto is the tried and true fighters knife. It has a wide belly, so you can tackle heavier utility tasks without worries. The deep carry clip also makes it an ideal choice. 5. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, benefits, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see this government poster: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal. North Fork 1503 comes with Benchmade's AXIS lock, which is fully ambidextrous and extremely strong. Both knives fit the same use case and both knives are of the same exceptional Benchmade quality. If you already have a solid EDC and youre looking for something with a little flair and flavor, feast your eyes upon one of the gnarliest blades Benchmade has designed to date. 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. Features AXIS lock folding mechanism Drop-point, CPM-S30V premium stainless-steel blade (58-60HRC) Blue Grivory handles with anodized aluminum barrel spacers The main drive behind its design was to produce a tool with the performance for dressing out a deer in a small package. If the knife doesnt feel comfortable, then it is apparent the knife isnt manufactured by Benchmade itself. The differences are namely quite clear. Lastly, I certainly cannot go without mentioning the beautiful leather dangler loop sheath that comes with this knife. Lastly, lets take a look at the Dymondwood handle. benchmade north fork vs bugout breaking news blue mountains. The line is built upon a foundation of rigorous testing and research and development for use by real hunters. If youre looking to get yourself the best Benchmade knife, theres a chance youll be ruined for any other knife brands, especially when it comes to EDC knives. Step 4 Materials:Finally, consider materials. Personally, I prefer a subtle matte or black coated blade, even though they tend to get scratched quite easily. This thing almost looks like a throwing knife and to be honest, when you first hold it, thats probably what your first impression would be. Many people choose fixed blades over the folding counterparts because they believe the fixed blade is less prone to failure and is stronger overall and while that was true for a very long time, its still true! Build Your Ultimate Bugout for National Knife Day 2023. My final thoughts are this: This knife is not worth the money if youre looking for a tough and durable do-it-all EDC knife. Its most noticeable trait is the Dymondwood scales. Ever since Benchmade set out to craft the best and most tactical knives in 1988, the company has never disappointed its clients for it has been manufacturing high quality knives each year.Benchmade North Fork 1503 is a relatively new entrant into the market, but the tactical folding knife is already winning the hearts of many folding knives users.