Benchmade does another great job with their first Titanium Nitrous Assisted Monolocking folder. the Benchmade Subrosa designed by Matthew Lerch. This is a hefty knife, with a 3.76″ CPM-S30V Stainless Steel recurved blade and looks good.

Blade
The Stonewashed S30V blade as mentioned above is decently sharp, and slices paper just fine. This particlar specimen is one of the First Production Run pieces, numbered 737 of 1000. The blade profile is a modified droppoint with a slight recurve. The blade measures 3 3/4″, which is a fair size. It is a sleeker shape of blade and because of that rides fairly light in the hand. I really would have liked this blade to have a trigger on it to activate the Nitrous assisted opener, as I’ve always been a firm believer that assisted openers should have a trigger.

Handle and Lock
The titanium monolock handle is bead-blasted, with some drilled out circles and machined accent lines. It reminds me a bit of the Benchmade Skirmish in the way the handle is decorated. I found the handle a bit blah on this one, not really exciting, but not terrible. I’m almost feeling like they should have either got more creative with it or just left it plain. It almost has this in-between unfinished look to it like someone started to design it and never finished, but to each his own. Many people love this knife and that’s good for them.

The monolock is basically Benchmade’s version of the framelock. Its locks well, but there is an odd thing about this one in that the lock face engages very high up near the pivot on this model and actually interferes with how I hold the knife. I actually would worry about hard-using this knife since the lock bar face is very exposed due to the location.

Fit and Finish
Very good fit and finish, as most Benchmades are. The Nitrous system is done really well and activates smoothly and predictably and aside from the lack of a trigger mentioned above, its really nicely done. The bead blast handle finish is as good as any other out there, and the combination Stonewash/Satin finish that Benchmade does for most of their blade is as good as always. I must say I love how the stonewashed blades from Benchmade have that smooth touch to them.

Overall
Overall the Lerch Subrosa is a good knife, but with the odd location of the monolock frame lock it really puts me off wanting to use it. The lack of a trigger makes it a subpar assisted folder also. These two major flaws are a deal breaker for me and this one is going back out on the trading block. If the lock position could be improved along with a trigger added to the blade, I think this one could be a totally different knife with a lot of potential.

The Benchmade 755 Mini Pocket Rocket is the brainchild of knifemaker Shane Sibert and Benchmade Knife Company. Shane Sibert makes some pretty nice knives, and the MPR is probably one of his nicest designs. It is the smallest of three custom Pocket Rocket folders that he makes: The Mini, the Regular, and the Monster. Of the three, only the Mini is made by Benchmade.

Blade
The blade measures 2.9″, but is very wide so feels like a bigger blade than its length would suggest – similar to Spyderco’s Little Big knives. Steel is M390 from Bohler of Austria, which is generally considered at least equivalent to S30V if not superior. I haven’t really used any M390 blades so I can’t really offer my opinion here. The blade is quite thick on the MPR, and also has a saber-ground blade so its not the best slicer. Like all the other Benchmades I’ve purchased, its not super sharp out of the box, but it is acceptable.

Handle
The G-10 handles are nice on this blade, milled out of a single thick piece similar to the Strider SnG – a very cool feature. It also had an overlay of G-10 on the lock side, which adds grip and also serves as a lock bar stop. Nice double duty! However, the lock-side pocket clip rests on the rough G-10 and is a pocket shredder. This happens with some designs sometimes, and in my opinion is one of those things that knife designers/companies know happen, but simply don’t feel is worth fixing.

Fit and Finish
Very good fit and finish on this Benchmade 755. Not suprising, obviously, since it is Benchmade after all. One problem I do have is with the Lock. My particular 755 has what I would not really characterise as a faulty lock, but the lock face interface with the blade tang improperly. When pressure is applied to the spine of the blade when it is open, the lock actually slips back and the knife blade moves. This isn’t a good thing. I probably could have sent the knife back to benchmade and got this fixed, though I have to say that should never have slipped the QC department. However, applying some light sanding to the surface of the blade tang to reduce the smoothness seems to have solved that problem. I also bent the lock bar a bit more to increase the pressure which also helps I think.

Overall
Overall this is a pretty killer knife. The fauly lock seems to be a unique thing.. I checked out another one at the local store and it does not appear to suffer from the same problem, though I think that it is not unlikely that other MPR’s have this problem. Otherwise, fantastic fit and finish as well as a great design from Shane Sibert. Really enjoyed this knife.

Specs
Blade Length: 2.90″
Overall Length: 6.90″
Closed Length: 3.80″
Blade Material: M390 Stainless Steel 60-62HRC
Blade Style: Tactical Drop-Point
Lock Mechanism: Mono-Lock

While Benchmade has lost some of its lustre for me due to what some might describe as questionable business practices, I still enjoy some of their knives quite a bit. One of the recent knives that really caught my fancy when handling it was the Bob Lum Onslaught. While its no secret that I am a big fan of Bob Lum’s designs, Benchmade has also done a good job on the fit and finish of this folder.

Blade
Blade on the Onslaught is the workhorse 154CM stainless steel, and unlike most Benchmades in the past, comes sharp enough. I’m not sure why some guys seem to think Benchmades all come sharp.. I have not found this to be the case. Blade measures 3.45″ and grind is a full flat grind with a short Rhino-horned portion that has a swedge grind on it. Blade has a big belly and what Benchmade describes as a modified clip point blade. Blade is opened via a round hole opener like Spyderco.

Handle
Handle is a bead blasted G-10 type of finish, with a little handle dimple – a Bob Lum signature. No jimping and all smooth lines on this handle, giving it a very smooth in-hand feel and still decent grip and purchase due to the finish on the G-10 and the dimple. Handle feels very good in my medium sized hands, and could even work for slightly larger hands than mine.

Fit and Finish
This is where I feel this knife has excelled. Many Benchmades in the past didn’t have the level of Fit and Finish that I was expecting, especially at the price points these knives have been selling at. The 746 Onslaught is relatively affordable and also has very nice lines. The finish is consistent and smooth, and the action is without play. The finish on the blade looks great and also has crisp grind lines. The custom pocket clip looks good and does a good job of reinforcing the lanyard hole, but it would have been nice to have a deep pocket clip.

Overall a very nicely made knife with a superb fit and finish. I am a big fan of the Onslaught and it has slightly restored my interest in newer Benchmade Product. Very nice knife with fantastic build quality at an affordable price, with a very versatile modified clip point blade. If you are looking for something with a bit more belly in the blade and 3 1/2″ of steel, this is the way to go. Some cons would be the non adjustable tip-up pocket clip and the Axis Lock if you don’t like it.

Blade Length: 3.45″
Blade Thickness: 0.114″
Blade Steel: 154CM
Handle Thickness: 0.630″
Handle Material: G-10
Blade Hardness: 58-61HRC

This one’s another old school model – Benchmade 722, Mel Pardue designed Axis Lock Folder. When the 722 was released, it was one of my favourite Axis Lock designs from Benchmade and has since been discontinued. Its such a versatile folder and features a reliable design by one of the most trusted names in custom knifemaking, Mel Pardue.

The blade comes in a 3 1/4″ length, which is a very good EDC length in my opinion. While some may prefer longer knives above 3 1/2″, I tend to prefer the shorter length as my day is spent primarily in an office. The blade shape also reminds me a lot of Allen Elishewitz’s Stryker design, but with a beefier handle and height.

Handle
Great G-10 handle in solid black with a raised area in the middle to give a bit more ‘fill’ to the handle in your hand, and it also gives a little extra detail to give the blade a little style. The G-10 is moderately textured to give it a good amount of grip without tearing up your pant pocket. You’ll notice that my 722 is missing a pocket clip screw. The pocket clip itself is a typical Benchmade pocket clip used on every single Benchmade knife during that era. I love the shape of the handle… it just fits my hands really nicely and the slight guard is a nice feature to have as it gives a bit of confidence when thrusting the knife forward.

Fit & Finish
Great fit and finish with this knife, though because its so well-used, its hard to say how good it was when new. I did not get this one new, so I am not sure. I do remember all my other Benchmades from that time were superb, so I don’t think this one would have been any different. I’ved used many of my Benchmades pretty hard, and they do hold up very well. While they do hold up well, I have had some issues with lock up and some times blade play and blade centering being affected after long term hard use. Nothing that I would say is unexpected, but they’re not Striders.

Fit and Finish is still above average for a Production blade, and in-line with the price of the knife. I am always happy with what I get with Benchmade, and the 722 is no exception. Great knife with a very versatile blade shape and handle shape.

Specs:
Blade Steel: ATS-34
Handle Material: G-10
Locking Type: Axis Lock
Blade Length: 3 1/4″
Overall Length: 7 5/8″

The Benchmade Pinnacle 750 was Benchmade’s answer to the CRK Sebenza. While this knife is difficult to obtain now, it was very commonly traded in the early 2000′s, especially in the less desirable partially serrated version. The plain edge version of this knife like this one is quite collectable.

The level of finish on the titanium handles is very good, bead blasted both for grip and ease of manufacture. Bead blasting provides a good compromise of cost and results. The titanium is 6AL-4V, and the Framelock is dubbed by Benchmade as a “MonoLock”. Its really just a regular framelock, of if you prefer, a CRK style integral lock. The body of the knife has a nice curve to it, giving it very comfortable ergonomics.

The backspacer is jimped, with ridges popping up just past the edge of the handles, providing extra grip. The backspacer appears to be black Zytel, but I’m not certain. Its quite small and only measures about 1 inch long.

The slightly recurved blade is ATS-34 and has a nice point to it, with not too much belly. The thumbstud is only mounted for righties, so not the best knife for a lefty. No reverseable pocket clip, either. This was common back in 1999 when this knife was released.

Overall, while not a Sebenza killer, this knife does hold its own against the industry leader in Titanium Intergral folders. For what is essentially 1/3 the price, you get a knife that is 95% of what the Sebenza is. Does it feel and operate like a Sebenza? No, not quite. Will the majority of regular users know the difference? Probably not. This is a fantastic knife with great USA-Made Benchmade quality that is one of Benchmades more memorable knives of the last decade. Benchmade recently released a limited edition Damascus version of this knife that retails at $800.

Blade Steel: ATS-34
Handle Material: Titanium
Overall Length: 8.35″
Closed length: 4.75″

I’ve owned 3 of these Benhmade 690 knives, and still have two of them in my posession and I have to say that it is one of the nicest Benchmade knives they ever made. It has been produced in several variations, all of which are very well made. I’ve owned one of the blue-dyed wood models as well, which was a beautiful piece.

Allen’s designs have always been solid and appealing. The 690 brought a lot of Allen Elishewitz’s custom features to Benchmade’s production knives…. features like the extra wide pivot pin, wide leaf-shaped pocket clip, and beautiful rosewood handle and bolstered construction. The bolsters on the 690 are somewhat interesting – they are actually only half-thickness, and below them is a layer of Rosewood. The reasoning must have been some sort of manufacturing method.

The blade on the Benchmade 690 is stonewashed and sating finished 154CM, with a single thumbstud (I wish they were double). There is an ever-so-slight recurve on the blade, but its basically a standard clip point. The titanium liners are annodized blue, and have a slight shadowbox effect around the handles, which gives the knife some depth. No backspacer on this one, though I would have liked to see it on something with this type of style since it goes well. Just your standard stand-offs.

When I first started collecting knives, Allen Elishewitz was my grail of knife makers. I always wanted a piece from him, and when I bought my first Benchmade 690, it was like a semi-dream come true. I had owned several of the other Elishewitz designed Benchmades like the Dark Star and Stryker, but the 690 actually looked like a custom Elishewitz! While the quality isn’t quite the same as a custom piece, it sure does look the part.

To this day, still one of the best looking and most well-made Benchmades around.

Specs:
Blade Length: 3.25″
Blade Thickness: 0.133″
Blade Material: 154CM
Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC
Blade Style: Clip-Point
Weight: 3.00oz.

The Phil Boguszewski designed Benchmade Spike is one of the most iconic early models in Benchmade’s history, available in both an automatic and manual version. The Benchmade Spike was a simply designed knife with a thin spearpoint almost dagger-like blade.

The blade on this Benchmade model 1000 is ATS-34 stainless steel, fully flat ground to a razor sharp edge. The aluminum handle is machined, and annodized black. At the time these knives were made, the quality is quite exceptional, however newer machining quality has improved in USA made knives.

The Butterfly logo has the old “Bali-Song” text written on it instead of the newer “Benchmade” text, and instead has Benchmade U.S.A. written underneath it. This knife was from the old days when Benchmade knives were all made in the U.S.A.

The knife handle does not offer much grip, even with the fluting in the sides, which does help some, but does not help at all with forward grip and retention, which are important with a stabbing motion, something this knife should be good at.

However, its a cool design, with a great iconic look that most people recognize and appreciate. The Benchmade Spike is a great collectors knife, and not so much an EDC knife. Like most of Benchmade’s older products, however, it does have very good fit and finish.

Blade Length: 3.625″
Overall Length: 8″
Weight: 3.4oz
Blade Steel: ATS-34
Handle Material: T6 Aluminum

I remember the day the BM940 came out very well. At that time, Benchmades were very much in my budget range, and I had no customs. Times have changed, but the BM940 remains one of my favourite production knives. If it weren’t for bordem and always needing to get something new, this knife would probably be my EDC.

Blade on this example is 154CM, however Benchmade changed the blade steel from 154CM to CPM S30V on this model in 2006, which means this is an older example. Though S30V has better general properties than 154CM, Benchmade’s heattreat of S30V has been less than perfect in the past, with numerous chipping problems. They have improved the process now and it does seem more reliable, however.

The handles on the BM940 are hard annodized green aluminum with steel liners to house the Axis Lock and Omega springs that operate the locking mechanism. There is an annodized purple titanium “backspacer” that is about 2mm thick. Not sure if it should be considered a backspacer, or more of a design element. Either way, it looks good.

The BM940 represents a very good slim and compact knife with a good length of blade, with a stonewashed finish that hides scratches well. The axis lock is safe and makes the knife more compact, and also gives it that smooth opening that all axis lock folders seem to have. The 3.4″ blade is plenty for doing most medium duty chores, while its slim profile is great for EDC Office carry. If you are looking for a heavier duty knife, this is not your best choice, but this is great for medium and light duty. The contoured handles are extremely comfortable to carry, but may feel a bit thin for larger hands… all in all, still a fantastic knife, and like all knives, can’t be perfect for everyone.

Specs:
Blade Steel: 154CM or S30V
Blade Length: 3.4″
Overall Length: 7.87″
Handle Material: Aluminum

This 921 Switchback knife from Benchmade is probably one of my favourite Benchmade knives of all time. Designed by Warren Osborne, a famous custom knifemaker from Australia, the Switchback is unique in that it offers 2 knives for the price of one. In addition to the main blade which features an axis-lock, it has a secondary slip joint blade that folds out of the back.

The blade has a very nice semi-wharncliffe shape to it, with a slightly upswept point, making it quite nice to use. I personally like wharncliffes, so this is a good thing for me. The secondary slipjoint blade on my example hits the back of the knife, causing a flattened area of the blade. Not a good thing… I’m assuming the quality control ont his particular model was not the best, as this is supposedly the case with all of the earlier batches.

The profile of the knife is very lean, and the knife overall is very thin as well, with excellent blade geometry as the knife does some fine cutting. I enjoy carrying this folder also as it doesn’t feel noticeable in the pocket like many thicker folders that are popular today. The knife is not a heavy duty knife, but I think I could put it through it’s paces without it taking too much damage. The finish on the blade is beautiful and overall it is an outstanding knife for the money.

Main Blade Length: 3.4″
Small Blade Length: 2.1″
Main Blade Material: S30V
Small Blade Material: 440C
Weight: 2.90oz.
Overall Length: 7.87″
Closed Length: 4.47″
Handle Material: Aluminum

For many years, Benchmade was my favourite knife company, and I aspired to collect as many as I could afford. So when this Mini Skirmish came out, based on Neil Blackwoods design, I jumped on it, unable to afford Neil’s custom version which proabably sells in the thousands.

The blade is very handsome on this knife, with a slight recurve. Finish is a Stonewash which contrasts nicely with the blasted Titanium handles. I prefer the pattern on the larger Skirmish over this one, but it is still a very nice handle, with well designed contours.

Thumb openers are a series of holes, only one of which is actually used for opening. The holes are bevelled considerably more than the typical spydie hole, making it less grippy on the thumb. This isn’t a bad thing however, but in wet conditions it may make one-handed opening more difficult.

Edge came from the factory with a mirror smooth polish on it, similar to a stropped blade. I have noticed this is common among Benchmade’s knives lately.

Overall this is a lot of knife for the money, and if you are looking for a stylish and more affordable alternative to the Sebenza (notice how all knives seem to be compared to it?) then this is definately worth a look.

Blade Length: 3.43″
Blade Thickness: 0.130″
Closed Length: 4.30″
Overall Length: 7.73″
Blade Steel: S30V
Blade Hardness: 58-60RC