If the knife doesnt feel comfortable, then it is apparent the knife isnt manufactured by Benchmade itself. 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. With the purchase of a Benchmade knife, you have the option to mail in your knife when it gets dull or requires maintenance and Benchmade will have it back to you in less than two weeks looking and performing as if it was brand new. It has a base G10 layer and a gray and black layered and milled G10 layer on top. Check them out on our Fire Starters page here. 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. A: Their amazing quality is what made Benchmade knives stand apart from other kinds of knives. Built on heavy-duty stainless steel liners, this is a knife to carry into the woods or around town for years to come. This will give you more flexibility but lower edge retention. This extends the blades longevity and ensures it doesnt lose its razor sharp edge. You might be asking yourself, there are so many factors to consider, how could you ever choose just one? The best Benchmade knife isnt the one with the most ratings or reviews, or the one thats the most pricey. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. For those discerning users, the quality of the Benchmade North Fork is self-evident and will be well worth the cost. Again, what is it that youll do with this Benchmade? Opening and closing them is not a hassle because they have an excellent axis lock mechanism. Features AXIS lock folding mechanism Drop-point, CPM-S30V premium stainless-steel blade (58-60HRC) Blue Grivory handles with anodized aluminum barrel spacers However, its not textured so you might not get as much grip as youd expect from other EDC knives. Our test team (and likely you) like this feature. Or the Benchmade Bailout. I'm just a survivalist and knife lover. We are currently looking for former Marines to join the team who are interested in writing about tactical gear, survival gear, hiking supplies, etc. I will mention this about the clip, it isnt like the standard Benchmade deep carry clips and doesnt do well on exceptionally thin material like gym shorts but feels great and stays in place snuggly when used on thick materials like jeans or tactical pants. If you want a compact hunter or just a tough and versatile EDC blade, youll most likely be very happy with this one. Aside from the blade, the handle is another thing that demands attention. 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. The manufacturing is based out of Oregon City, Oregon ever since the company moved to the place in 2010. Now you have a good idea of what sort of knife you should be looking for, but theres still a huge choice. Portability, regarding size, is also at direct odds with ergonomics. We only review top-scoring products, and top-performing pocket knives are all well made of excellent materials. The main drive behind its design was to produce a tool with the performance for dressing out a deer in a small package. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Hiker's Dream Knife: Benchmade Bugout Review | GearJunkie If I had to mention one downside to this blade, its the assisted opening thumb stud. A drop-point blade is a classic and effective shape for a hunting knife, and the North Fork makes effective use of it. While this boasts a Dymondwood handle and a tough drop point blade with a serrated spine, the shining point of this knife is the folding gut hook that comes along. But first, please take a few moments to sign up as a member of our EDC community below. #knives #north-fork #benchmade #product-overview #north-fork-axis #benchmade-north-fork-who-designed #best-benchmade-north-fork-knife #customizing-north-fork-benchmade #benchmade-north-fork-wood-edc see all. Take a look at the specific factors you need to consider before choosing the best Benchmade knife for yourself. After that, assembly and accurate alignment take place with all new lube and the knife arrives at your doorstep in two weeks or less. Also, because every knife requires constant sharpening (despite what certain budget knife manufacturers claim), it must be easy to resurface. A Review of the Benchmade North Fork Knife: Is it Right for You? [Answered]. Bugout. While Benchmade still offers knives with regular manual locking mechanisms, theyre rare and usually found on their lower-tier offerings. For the Bugout the lanyard hole is a part of the scales. I think the name probably sums up why its in the EDC category but lets explore what makes this one of the most popular reverse-tanto blades on the market today. Yes, it is a little expensive coming in at two Benjamins but this is a knife that can do it all and will do it all for many many many years to come. 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. Whether you are planning to go hiking, camping, or a backpacking trip, the Benchmade Bugout 535 7.46-Inch Folding Knife is a great knife for EDC purposes. Between those two even with the variants of the mini grip, I would still choose the northfork all day. We are pocket knife experts that understand that you don't Pocket knife shopping is daunting. Q: What Materials Are Used to Create Benchmade Knives? Benchmade Bugout 535 5. Despite being expensive, many people flock to buy Benchmade knives. The very first look convinces you that this knife would not slip from your grip. What are the differences, Spyderco Delica 4 vs Spyderco Paramilitary 2, Spyderco Endura 4 vs Spyderco Paramilitary 2, Spyderco Paramilitary 2 VS Benchmade 940 Osborne, Spyderco Para 3 vs Benchmade 945 Mini Osborne. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Alright, that was cheesy, but the Altitude is a seriously cool knife and as much as it is cool, its actually functional. 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! They are, however, easy to sharpen in the field, even with limited means. If you dont have a good sharpener, I recommend you buy one alongside your purchase as you will undoubtedly need one. As a result, you need to thank the handle for this knifes superb portability. If extra goodies are what you want, the Tactical Triage is worth a look. CPM-20CV is not a steel Benchmade is known to use but this particular steel offers incredible corrosion resistance while still being close in hardness to the other ultra-premium steels. This website is not affiliated with the United States Marine Corps, and the information on this website does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Marine Corps as a whole. Those people are right when it comes to personal preference and I understand where theyre coming from, I really enjoy many of Benchmades premium handles that arent plastic-based. Blade Style: TantoBlade Composition: 154CMHandle Composition: ValoxBlade Length: 3.6Total Length: 8.35Total Weight: 4.51 Ounces. These blades are insanely hard, much harder than what Benchmade usually uses such as CPM-S30V, 154CM, M390, etc. Mini-Grip, Bugout or North Fork? | BladeForums.com Ultimately I decided the blade was slightly too short for a lot of tasks, and the handle just a bit small for my preferences. From my selection, youve seen how Benchmade tends to make either straight, plain edged EDC knives or ones with a partial serration. If youre a fan of Benchmades assisted opening and stunning wood handles, this is it for you. Use oil to lubricate the opening mechanism and play with it for a few hours. Of course, if youre not a hunter or fisherman, the gut hook likely wouldnt be of much use to you and in terms of actually using a gut hook, Id personally prefer a fixed blade, but this knife is more than usable in each and every way that the Saddle Mountain is. You can also get any modifications made and they will only charge for the accessory, not the fixing. All trademarks property of their respective owners 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. The Anthem is one of the best general-purpose knives you can buy for under $500. What?! A much smaller blade, somewhere not too far from three inches long, is the right size for most tasks. Blade Style: TantoBlade Composition: 154CMHandle Composition: Rib Textured 6061-T6 AluminumBlade Length: 4.5Total Length: 9.45Total Weight: 5 ounces. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. First, the designers they employ and the complicated craftsmanship a lot of their knives consist of. And for them, with a very un-Benchmade-like price of around $110, the Bugout is great. This makes the knife practical for everyday use. I can see that each knife has some advantages and disadvantages, as evidenced by all the varying opinions here. It is ultimately one of the worlds best folding knives that are perfectly designed to provide uninterrupted long term use.The package offers a lifetime warranty, a comfortable wooden handle and a high quality CPM-S30V stainless steel blade. A compact AXIS folding hunting North Fork knife with a recurved blade to assist with processing duties. Its made from 154cm stainless steel that gives it excellent edge retention. That good old homegrown quality and attention to detail dont come cheap and although I dont know the specifics, the information found here on Glassdoor indicates average wages that far exceed what Id expect most foreign knife manufacturers to offer their employees. The 440HC steel is not like the typical premium hard to sharpen steels that Benchmade usually uses and can be sharpened relatively easily in a short amount of time. On the back its straight for about half its blade length then curves gently down to give a fine, slim tip. Its a bit harsh on the hand. North Fork. Its an ambidextrous knife. Blade Style: Trailing-Point / Clip-Point / ScimitarBlade Composition: 154CMHandle Composition: G10 Pistol Grip StyleBlade Length: 4Total Length: 9.76Total Weight: 7.2 Ounces. All in all, this is the best affordable Benchmade knife if a fixed blade is what youre after. And it is ergonomics that set the Mini Barrage apart from other high-end knives we tested. Benchmade North Fork - Etsy The manual axis lock can also be released one-handedly. 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. While pondering this, your knifes intended use is a good place to start. I only have had my mini crooked river for a week and so far it is on top. The Grivory handle is essentially as good as polymer, plus it doesnt get slippery even when wet. 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,055) $ 24.99. . Like the Editors Choice Mini Barrage, the North Fork knife is smaller than "full size". This will also give you the advantage of a stronger knife. Unlocking is achieved by two studs running in slots cut through the handle, one on each side. Benchmade North Fork (Scott Murdock) The blade and frame are equally tough. I just yesterday received my order of this knife from Amazon. Blade Style: Clip-PointBlade Composition: 154CMHandle Composition: Diamond Textured G10Blade Length: 6.44Total Length: 11.72Total Weight: 11.74 ounces. benchmade north fork vs bugout - regalosh.com Got feedback? The price is quite reasonable for a Benchmade, and the performance coupled with a modern aesthetic look makes it the best Benchmade knife for giving to someone who loves knives. Normally you might find Benchmade blades coated or uncoated and typically the user will decide which version to buy based on personal preference, but the Freek only has one option and that is a nice matte black Cerakote.