10 Best Benchmade Knives for Everyday Carry, Hunting, & More
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Creating a list of the best Benchmade knives isn’t easy. Benchmade has such a wide selection of top-notch cutlery, and all of it is purpose-built for something.
One thing’s for sure, though: you can bet your life on any Benchmade knife.
The knives below have made especially big waves in their respective categories and have become favorites of hobbyists and professionals worldwide.
Without further ado, here are the best Benchmade knives!
10 Best Benchmade Knives
- Best Benchmade Overall
- Best Benchmade EDC Knife
- Best Benchmade Outdoor Knife
- Best Benchmade Hunting Knife
- Best Benchmade Tactical Knife
- Best Benchmade Fixed Blade
- Best Premium Benchmade Knife
- Best Benchmade Automatic Knife
- Best Benchmade OTF
- Best Benchmade Bali-Song
Best Benchmade Overall – 940 Osborne
For almost two decades, the Benchmade 940 has dazzled knife users the world over because it’s just so dang versatile.
It’s small and slim enough to slip into EDC roles, but robust enough for long days of hard work outdoors.
It was designed by Warren Osborne as the perfect knife for ranchers, but it’s good for so much more!
We’ve seen everyone from survivalists to cops to programmers carrying the 940, and they all love it!
Don’t just take my word for it! Look at what Zachary P. had to say about it:
"I’ll be honest, at first I was skeptical. Could this knife really be everything people say it is? Yes, yes it was. This knife is sturdy, perfectly made, and just melts away in your pocket. Everything about it just makes me happy. I got it at the beginning of the week and have used it all day every day at work since. It has eaten cardboard every day (about an hour each day) and is still hair popping sharp. It’s a brute when you want it to be and a surgeon’s scalpel when you need it to be. If you are considering it, just make the investment. You won’t be disappointed."
★★★★★ Zachary P. on Sep 21, 2023
Want more information on this best-in-class folder? Give this video a watch!
Best Benchmade EDC Knife – Bugout
The Bugout isn’t just a great EDC knife—it single-handedly revolutionized the concept of an EDC knife.
It packed a premium blade steel, a strong and ambidextrous lock, and a tasteful design, all into less than two ounces.
All that, combined with Benchmade’s warranty, makes this one of the best EDC knives you can get at any price.
As you might imagine, many other knife companies have come out with an ultra-light-3-inch-drop-point-crossbar-lock folder in search of a piece of the Bugout pie, but in our opinion, the original is still the king!
Jason D. has a lot to say about the Bugout, too:
"The high flat-ground, drop point blade and thin stock make for an excellent slicer. Ergos are very good for such a slim handle. The mini deep carry clip is excellent, offering good retention while keeping the knife discreetly tucked away in the pocket. But the Bugout’s most impressive trait is its lightness–1.8 ounces that just disappear in the pocket. The FRN scales offer good traction without being too aggressive. Fit and finish on this knife was very good. Centering was great. The only issue being a slightly uneven bevel toward the tip, but nothing too serious. For a utilitarian ultralight everyday carry, it’s an excellent choice."
★★★★★ Jason D. on Jul 8, 2022
Best Benchmade Outdoor Knife – Freek
If you’re a hiker and camper, it’s difficult to beat the Freek. It shares many characteristics with EDC knives, but it’s a bit bigger and beefier, and it uses a CPM M4 blade steel.
That steel is popular in outdoor knives for its incredible toughness and edge retention, but it is susceptible to rust. Benchmade gave it a Cerakote finish for protection, so you get the best of both worlds!
The Freek is light enough to not weigh you down on a long hike but strong enough for harder camp tasks.
We love the Freek! And so does Johnathan F.:
"I have them all; the Bugout, Griptilian, PM2, Osborne, you name it, I got it. Not one of these even comes close to the Super Freek. It’s hands down my go-to daily driver. The blade length is goldilocks, not too big, not too small. It’s just right for pretty much all my daily tasks … The handle is where the Super Freek really shines. I can get a full purchase on it, there’s 100% no flex whatsoever, and it just looks outstanding … the Super Freek completely fills my hand without being too much in my pocket. Overall, the Super Freek is the best daily driver that can do it all. Don’t waste your time on the most popular knives, get what works and save yourself some money."
★★★★★ Jonathan F. on Aug 11, 2024
Best Benchmade Hunting Knife – Meatcrafter
The purpose of a hunting knife is to convert your fresh kill into either edible meat or a mountable trophy.
For those jobs, not just any knife will do. The Benchmade Meatcrafter takes the job very seriously.
Its blade is thin and flexy like a filet knife and features Benchmade’s SelectEdge, an extremely thin 28°-inclusive edge for effortless slicing.
In the hand, it almost feels like it belongs in the kitchen, but its Kydex sheath and rubberized handle allow you to carry it and use it in the field.
It’s a perfect addition to any hunting loadout!
Kendall R. recommends it! She’s a huntress with a lot of experience, so you’ll want to read what she has to say:
"The Benchmade Meatcrafter is a knife I swear by. I’d recommend it to anyone wanting to make precise and clean cuts whether its meat from the store or some you got yourself. It is the knife for the outdoors and the kitchen. It has the right amount of bend in the blade where I am able to debone, but also cut through because of how tough of a blade it is with just one knife. I love the pointy tip too because it helps me open up the animal easily without fearing to puncture any organs that would contaminate the meat. As a hunter, I have used it to process game animals. I got a swan last year and processed the whole bird with it. It felt effortless with the Benchmade Meatcrafter. I plan on using it to process a buck pronghorn or buck elk this year if I have the honor of getting either one of those. I have no doubt that I’ll have a similar experience with it."
★★★★★ Kendall R. on Aug 22, 2024
Best Benchmade Tactical Knife – Adamas
When military and police personnel need a knife, it’s for everything from utility cuts to extrication and combat.
That’s where the Adamas comes in. This beast of a folder has a heavy, overbuilt handle and a tough CPM CruWear blade.
These features give you a bomb-proof knife capable of anything you can dish it that fits right in your pocket!
Don’t believe me? See why Jonah carries it:
"This has become my work EDC knife. Being a first responder and paramedic, I need something that I can rely on in any situation and this knife is it. Sure, it is big and heavy, however, if you can get past that, this knife is the complete package. It is sharp out of the box, heavy duty and dependable. It can cut through anything in my workplace with ease such as thick canvas firehose, cardboard, bandaging materials, etc. If you want the best knife and are willing to spend the money, I hands down recommend the Adamas."
★★★★★ Jonah M. on Dec 9, 2022
Best Benchmade Fixed Blade – SlipRidge
The SlipRidge fixed blade knife is a medium-sized slicer with a lot going for it. The blade is made from MagnaCut steel and has a full tang going all the way through the handle.
The SlipRidge comes in two different handle styles: orange G-10 or stabilized wood. Both are grippy and have their own distinct style.
The knife feels fantastic in-hand with that just-right blade length for managing all kinds of cutting tasks around camp, on the hunt, or during your everyday routine.
Already have this knife? Be the first to review it for a chance to get featured in this blog post!
Best Premium Benchmade Knife – Narrows
If you’re after the finest Benchmade knife, no holds barred, you’re looking for the Narrows.
The name is telling: this knife is narrow, and somehow Benchmade managed to pack an entire AXIS Lock mechanism into its thin titanium handle!
And it doesn’t stop there: It has a Bohler M390 blade and Benchmade’s Mini Deep Carry pocket clip.
Often, high-end knives are big, loud, and call attention to themselves.
Not the Narrows. It’s as low-key as you want a knife to be, but as premium as any knife you’ll ever hold!
Timothy K. has a few thoughts:
"I absolutely love this thing. It just disappears in my pockets. It’s the first knife I’ve had that I throw in my pocket and truly forget it’s there. I’ve even been able to put it into my pocketed running shorts and not notice it. Truly an easy to bring it with you everywhere knife. It’s a fantastic slicer with a good sized blade & profile for camp kitchen work (I lean more towards lightweight weekend to one-week backcountry hike/camp trips in desert conditions). I think it’s also a stellar looking knife – color scheme, proportions, overall shapes. This just happens to fill my needs perfectly and has become my favorite knife."
★★★★★ Jonah M. on Dec 9, 2022
Best Benchmade Automatic Knife – Claymore
Benchmade has built a reputation for maximum strength with minimum weight, and the Claymore is one of the best examples.
Its blade is made of 154CM, which is know for its balanced of attributes.
The Claymore’s handle saves weight by trading the traditional solid aluminum handle for much lighter FRN scales (which are much lighter than aluminum) over steel liners (which are much stronger than aluminum).
The result is a battle-ready auto with a total weight of only 3.87 ounces.
Check out what Joshua had to say about it:
"Absolutely stunning knife. The build quality is superb and the feel is dang near perfect. The opening mechanism is POWERFUL so like the others have said in past reviews, squeeze that sucker and hold on tight when you press the button. Seriously though, one absolutely fine knife. I was so impressed with Benchmade, I turned around and ordered a Bugout within a week of getting this. You will not regret this purchase so stop thinkin about it and just get it."
★★★★★ Joshua B. on Jan 15, 2024
Best Benchmade OTF – Shootout
Most out-the-front (OTF) knives are built from aluminum. This makes a great knife, but it’s heavy and expensive.
But the Shootout differs. It made waves with its revolutionary build, using a carbon fiber-reinforced nylon called CF Elite for the handle.
The result is a knife that’s much that’s much lighter, and much cheaper, than many alternatives.
But is it still strong, you ask? Yes, without a doubt—it survived being run over by a truck.
This customer has a few things to say about it:
"Amazing entry level otf. Very safe knife won’t go until you let it, easy sharpening and stays sharp for awhile I use it to cut down boxes mostly (because why not) and after the day of work it still can still pass the paper test. I love Benchmade and I love them even more after about 4 months of this knife. I’ve never had a half open happen or a misfire. In conclusion TRUST THIS KNIFE!!"
★★★★★ TJ A. on Jun 24, 2023
If you want to learn more about the Shootout, give this video a watch:
Best Benchmade Bali-Song – Necron
Even though they have become more focused on other knives, make no mistake, Benchmade still makes a solid butterfly knife!
Benchmade created the modern Balisong market; in fact, many discontinued Benchmade Bali-Songs are hot collector’s items now.
But in 2024, the new Necron is the Bali-Song we’ve been waiting for. It takes Benchmade back to its roots of butterfly knives for self-defense.
To that end, it has a user-customizable adjustable weight system and Benchmade’s scary-sharp SelectEdge.
The Necron has a few other tricks up its sleeve, you should check it out if you want to learn more!
Here’s what Miggy A. has to say about it:
"It’s pricey, don’t get me wrong but it’s an objectively great knife. Great blade retention, buttery smooth action, and feels great in the hand. Now the scales aren’t titanium, not even steel but the steel liners give it some good weight. It even comes with scale extensions. I know this knife gets a lot of bad rep for its price but it’s a good knife. I would not say it’s worth the price tag though."
★★★★★ Miggy A. on Dec 21, 2024
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