Its not for everyone and its not the most versatile thing Benchmade has ever made, but it is beautiful and its extremely slim and low profile. My current daily carry is the SOG AE24-CP Aegis Mini, and if you are familiar with it or similar products, it is a spring loaded release and takes some thumb effort to get the blade out. Basically, a dependable cutting tool has a role to play in anything you do outdoors. It does have a thicker heavier blade than the others but this in tun makes for a smooth balanced action and have little blade play. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM-S30VHandle Composition: Glass-Filled NylonBlade Length: 3.45Total Length: 8.07Total Weight: 3.88 ounces. The 15003-2 comes with a dark brown leather sheath that is of super high quality, however, it doesnt last long since its so good at hugging the blade that the blade actually tears into the leather. In torture tests, it outperforms any knife who dares to compete and in comfort, the textured G10 handles are perfect for medium to large size hands. Privacy | Cookies | Terms. Its satin-finished drop point blade uses S30V steel and features two jimped sections one by the thumb grip and one closer to the tip for ultimate blade control. The Bugout was designed for the modern outdoor adventurer, incorporating the lightest, best performing materials in an extremely slim yet ergonomic package. I've replaced my minis with a Bugout: Longer blade, slimmer in the pocket, lighter weight, easier carry. - All Outdoors Guide, [] Benchmade North Fork: With a shorter but sturdier 2.7 inch blade the North Fork is a better solution if you want to give your knife some serious abuse, but it doesnt match the 1660 for sheer cutting power. Benchmade is comparable to Bentley in the knife world and a brand like that is simply going to come with a premium for the name. The blade shape is specifically designed to cause a lot of damage in one fell swoop. Blade Style: Trailing Clip-PointBlade Composition: CPM-S30VHandle Composition: Resin Filled Wood GrainBlade Length: 4Total Length: 9.3Total Weight: 5.41. For Sale: Custom & Semi Production Knives (Dealer), KnifeMaker's Market: Knives & More for Sale, Wanted: Knifemaker / Craftsman / Related Services, Busse / Swamprat / Scrapyard Knives For Sale, For Sale: Traditionals, Slipjoints, "Old Timey", International (Non-US) For Sale & Trade Forums. All you might think you care about, as it pertains to a knife's edge, is "is it sharp?" The main drive behind its design was to produce a tool with the performance for dressing out a deer in a small package. 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. All Axis locks are ambidextrous and most of them are easily used with one-handed operation. Benchmade is the kind of knife that follow my favorite mantra buy once cry once. Benchmade 15051 Big Summit Lake Another drop point with a slightly longer blade 2.9 inches and Dymondwood handle, this is ideal for anyone who likes the concept of the North Fork but isnt as keen on the Axis Lock. I will mention that, under the same exact circumstances, I would expect the Grizzly Creek to last a little longer since its handle is a bit more technologically advanced and perhaps a bit less prone to damage, but both knives are pretty equally amazing. Benchmade Foray 698 6. The folding knife isnt just built for hunting, but also suitable for other uses as well.This Benchmade North Fork 1503 review explains everything about this versatile, tactical knife. Below are some excellent and affordable alternatives for the Benchmade North Fork 1503. 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. I say this because it is my favorite carry of all time. This is probably one of the sleekest and lightest self-defense knives on the market today that most people would also find quite handy in a wide array of non-life threatening situations. And for them, with a very un-Benchmade-like price of around $110, the Bugout is great. Its hard to explain, but this knife is pretty darn cool for the right person. Blade Style: Reverse-TantoBlade Composition: CPM-S30VHandle Composition: Smooth Anodized 6061-T6 AluminumBlade Length: 3.40Total Length: 7.87Total Weight: 2.90 ounces. The Bugout is a great knife. Moreover, gripping a Benchmade knife is comfortable because the handles are made of durable glass-filled nylon and G10. These are not an EDC style utility knife but more so something to use as a last resort in a sticky situation. It would need to be a fixed blade, and be more of a Survival knife type. Lighter, more blade length, and better slicer. The satin-finished 6061-T6 aluminum handle is also something Im quite fond of. But the way it was added is different. A quality blade will help with minor repairs to your gear, like cutting improvised tent stakes. No matter what our readers want to learn and do, our team is here to help them accomplish those goals. My Review: The Benchmade Grizzly Creek is essentially the folding version of the Benchmade Saddle Mountain series and Im glad we get to choose between the two or get both if thats what youre into. It may not display this or other websites correctly. If breaking folding knives is a concern of yours, look to Benchmade! We are currently looking for former Marines to join the team who are interested in writing about tactical gear, survival gear, hiking supplies, etc. Between those two even with the variants of the mini grip, I would still choose the northfork all day. Got feedback? A little oiling also makes sure the axis locking joint is smooth as butter. However, some find the full-sized Griptilian a little intimidating. Due to the straight edge, it will be easier for you when you do need to sharpen the Barrage. And they share the same opening and locking mechanisms. The idea here was to give the users more options and enable both automatic and manual use. Overall its a very nice handle that gives excellent grip, even when wet or slick with blood. If I had to mention one downside to this blade, its the assisted opening thumb stud. Step 3 Shape:Blade shape is a very personal choice. Carbon takes a better edge and holds it longer, but stainless needs less maintenance to keep the rust off it. The knife is made for hunting, but it can still be utilized for other tasks and in various outdoor activities.Unlike other Benchmade knives, the folding knife is crafted to deliver great performance coupled with enhanced durability.Even some of the most popular folding knives cant match the degree of versatility offered by Benchmade North Fork-1503.Again, even the market leaders cannot tackle as many tasks as the ones this folding knife can tackle. Traditional hunting knives have been a lot larger, but short blades like this are becoming a lot more popular. We will start with the fact that there are different editions of the Bailout and the Bugout. I will say this, I do love assisted knives simply for the experience and although this knife is a manual two-handed opener, the blade is super heavy and the opening mechanism is so smooth that it delivers a very unique opening experience I have yet to see replicated by any other knife. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. My Review: Oh boy the Bedlam is a beaut of a blade but I swear, this is not the knife for everyone! From my selection, youve seen how Benchmade tends to make either straight, plain edged EDC knives or ones with a partial serration. See our Privacy Policy for more details. If you dont have a good sharpener, I recommend you buy one alongside your purchase as you will undoubtedly need one. Its also a little prone to chipping. Benchmade doesnt use CPM-3V very often as they generally tend to prefer S30V for its overall versatility and exceptional performance across the board, however, the 3V steel provides a slightly harder and more rigid platform for a stronger and more shatter-resistant point while sacrificing a little wear resistance, which is what the Bailout is all about. Spyderco vs Benchmade Which Should You Choose? That spring is always under tension so be extra careful with the button! By the way, these are so slim that when paired with the included deep pocket carry clip they virtually disappear in your pant pockets making them very covert and yet ultra fast to deploy. Ideally, the knife suits anyone keen on getting a reliable folding knife.North Fork-1503 isnt ideal for knives buyers with a relatively small budget.Again, its razor sharp blade can potentially make it unsafe for inexperienced hunting knife users. Of course, if youre already familiar with how to use one, youll be ready to rock and roll and strap this puppy on your MOLLE vest! 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. Like the Editors Choice Mini Barrage, the North Fork knife is smaller than "full size". Both models are the same shape a nicely curved, hand-fitting form with a deep finger cutout below the lock, and a front flare. 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. The Benchmade Freek (actually known as the 'Super Freek') is the Bugout's big brother and delivers all of the same components but just makes them bigger. Copyright 2017 - 2023 ProHunting Knife | All Rights Reserved. Its very secure and positive. For this reason the Bailout is also a part of Benchmade's 'Black Class'. A compact AXIS folding hunting North Fork knife with a recurved blade to assist with processing duties. Portability is a function of size, weight, pocket clip utility, and other carry options. 2. More importantly, its great for a bit of carving work. All things considered, this is the best Benchmade pocket knife Ive come across. Theyre generally stronger, because theres more metal at the spine, and you can push on the back of the blade if more force is needed. Stay on point with the latest products, offers and more! No self-respecting sailor will ever be without a knife to help with rigging repairs or clearing damaged gear. My Review: This knife feels a lot like what Id expect James Bond to flip out of his hidden jacket pocket once he runs out of ammo pewpewing bad guys. You can sharpen it in the field, but we recommend doing it at home and taking your time. Blade Style: Drop-PointBlade Composition: CPM S30VHandle Composition: Sealed Wood or Patterned G10Blade Length: 2.97Total Length: 6.97Total Weight: 3.41 ounces. My Review: The Foray is a get the job done well rounded little pocket knife that I think anyone could get some seriously good usage and value out of. A drop-point blade is a classic and effective shape for a hunting knife, and the North Fork makes effective use of it. How to Choose the Best Benchmade Knife for All Purposes? luke86 Joined Mar 29, 2015 Messages 825 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. The drop-point blade shape at its core is very versatile and poses a lot of use cases, especially for general outdoor activities. The Axis Dual-Action is kind of a blend between the two aforementioned Axis mechanisms. The cutting edge is about as long as its possible to fit on a 2.7-inch blade theres no wasted space, with the sharpened edge starting right at the pivot. Some people are quite partial to G10 handles, while some prefer the lightness of glass-filled nylon or Santoprene. However, if youre wearing work gloves, that problem vanishes. This will give you more flexibility but lower edge retention. 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. Use oil to lubricate the opening mechanism and play with it for a few hours. Designed and manufactured by Benchmade, North Fork-1503 is an all-round compact knife featuring a recurved blade to help you with your cutting tasks. However, that is not the whole story. Folks, I really appreciate the responses so far. Its most noticeable trait is the Dymondwood scales. Build Your Ultimate Bugout for National Knife Day 2023 Benchmade OTF Knives for 2023 - We Review Our Favorites! While pondering this, your knifes intended use is a good place to start. Blade Style: TantoBlade Composition: 154CMHandle Composition: Rib Textured 6061-T6 AluminumBlade Length: 4.5Total Length: 9.45Total Weight: 5 ounces.