Of all of the instruments you may carry with you to the water, some of the important is an efficient knife.
For me, a superb knife must be sharp, mild, straightforward to make use of, snug, and unnoticed till you want it whereas remining prepared handy.
And of all of the knives I’ve owned – and that is a reasonably large quantity as I’ve one thing of an habit to sharp issues – I might fee the Bugout as the perfect I’ve ever carried.
Let’s get into the small print.
open size: 7.46” | 18.95cm
blade size: 3.24” | 8.23cm
blade thickness 0.09” | 2.29mm
closed size: 4.22” | 10.72cm
deal with thickness: 0.42” | 10.67mm
lockingv mechanism: AXIS Lock
blade fashion:Drop-Level
deal with: Grivory
pocket clip: Mini Deep Carry
clip place: Tip-Up
clip kind: Mini Deep-Carry
ambidextrous: Sure
deal with materials: Grivory
blade metal: CPM-S30V Stainless Metal (58-60HRC)
weight: 1.85oz | 52.45g
Blade
Cutlery metal has come a good distance in previous few many years, and the place as soon as steels like 440C or ATS34 have been thought-about premium choices, new tremendous steels can outperform nearly any alloys beforehand used for knivesd.
As of 2025, now former “tremendous steels” like CPM-S30V are supplied as “customary,” including little to no further value to a knife.
The Bugout sports activities a 3.24-inch flat-ground blade with a excessive backbone. Within the subject, this interprets into distinctive slicing geometry with out sacrificing energy. And in contrast to the sharpened pry bars that attempt to move as chopping implements as of late, you may be pleasantly shocked by simply how effectively the Bugout handles every little thing from chopping zip ties and opening clam-shell packaging to chopping recent mullet or cleanly slicing robust line materials like heavy-weight braid.
CPM-S30V is a implausible all-around metal, providing a mixture of outstanding edge-holding, cheap toughness, and excessive stain resistance. If there’s one factor to not love about it, it is that it will probably chip if abused, not like much less high-speed supplies like 440A or 420HC, a favourite from Buck.
Its excessive hardness and exeptional wer resistance imply that you want to overlook the Arkansas stones: cermamic or diamond-impregnated rods are important to make progress in sharpening.
I exploit the Spyderco Sharpmaker, working the diamond stones to re-set the sting earlier than shifting on to the grey (medium) and eventually the white (effective) to get a razor edge.
In my expertise, the Bugout holds a hair-shaving sharp edge far longer than you’d count on, and I have been pleasnatly shocked on multi-day fishing journeys the place my knife has served on the water, in camp, making fireplace, making ready meals, chopping packaging or cardboard, and field-dressing fish.
I’ve had zero hassle with corrosion – none in any respect – however I might nonetheless give my knife a fast rinse in recent water if I exploit it within the salt.
Deal with
Plastic handles are nothing new, and fiber-glass bolstered nylon has been a best choice fo knife producers for years.
The Bugout makes use of Grivory deal with scales, full with spacers and a metal insert to stabilize the locking mechanism (extra on that under). And whereas Grivory might really feel like run-of-the-mill plastic, it is something however.
I’ve heard loads of complaints from knife fanatics in regards to the selection to make use of what’s primarily simply plastic for the deal with of a comparatively pricy knife. And it is completely true that you could really feel the scales flex in the event you give them a tough squeeze.
However do not be fooled: Grivory is mild, amazingly sturdy, and easily among the many best possible attainable deal with supplies for a knife you may use onerous within the subject.
Let’s take a look at why.
Grivory is actually a high-end thermoplastic that reveals excessive energy to weight. It will not take in liquids for probably the most half, it is extremely proof against chemical corrosion (assume bug spray that eats regular plastic), it’s exceptionally affect resistant, and it is tremendous straightforward to wash.
If you concentrate on capabilities versus supplies, Grivory offers every little thing you need in a knife and nothing you do not. It will not get pungent from fish slime, it will probably face up to tons of abuse, it will not crack or break, and it weighs nearly nothing, serving to to maintain the Bugout at an amazingly svelte 1.85 ounces.
Ergonomics
The Bugout is not simply featherweight: its deal with design is simply what skilled knife customers know works: a impartial grip that does not let you know methods to maintain the knife, however reasonably fascilitates whichever grip is greatest for the state of affairs.
I’ve used a pinch grip for effective management of the purpose, a hammer grip for highly effective slicing, and a reverse grip for butchering sport, and each time got here away amazed by the geometry and ergonomics.
My giant arms have loads of actual property nevertheless I resolve to make use of the Bugout, and until your identify is Shaquille O’Neal, you’ll, too.
And the textured panels on each side improve your management when your arms are moist, slimy, or bloody.
You will additionally discover a lanyard gap that may preserve your knife safe whenever you’re working round deep water.
Lock operation
The Bugout makes use of Benchmade’s legendary AXIS lock.
This method depends on two springs to push a bar forard, primarily jamming the blade open.
I am not conscious of any failures whereas even one spring is working, and in my admittedly onerous use, I’ve by no means had slippage, sudden folding, or a lot as a criticism.
The blade opens with a perfectlty positioned ambidextrous set of thumb studs, and the washers present a slick really feel even in the event you enhance the strain on the blade.
One-handed operation is crucial whereas actively fishing, and the Bugout opens and closes with out the necessity for our off hand.
For me, that is important within the subject and on the water.
Carry
Benchmade’s Bugout is skinny and lightweight, permitting it to vanish into you pocket on a deep-carry clip.
You merely do not know that this knife is in your pocket till you want it, and as a lot as I really like my Buck 110, you may by no means look again to heavier, thicker, much less sensible choices.
The clip works tremendous effectively, would not wreck my pockets, and it by no means falls out by itself or will get pushed out my pocket by my thigh once I sit, kneel, or squat.
Sharpening and care
The open deal with design, easy, sturdy locking mechanism, and corrosion-resistant metal add as much as a knife that may deal with the mud, filth, sand, blood, slime, and scales that the true world has to supply.
The Bugout will preserve working, locking and unlocking securely whether or not its sandy, cacked with mud, or filthy from cleansing a cooler of fish.
However as I point out above, in the event you’re used to kitchen knives as really novice sharpening programs just like the pull-through sharpeners that put a superb edge on filet knives, you may have to step up your sharpening sport a bit.
Spend money on a top quality diamond sharpener, and CPM S30V will not provide you with any hassle in any respect.
Surprisingly, my Bugout appears to choose no lubrication in any respect, and I run it dry on a regular basis.
Conclusion
Benchmade is notorious for what could be referred to as the “butterfly tax,” so count on to pay a premium.
For those who see a “Bugout” for lower than $160 or so, it is most likely a pretend – and there are many fakes on the market.
However in the event you’re in search of a light-weight, easy-to-carry, ambidextrous one-hand opening knife that will get and stays razor sharp with a minimal of care, you most likely cannot beat the Bugout at any value.
Pull the set off on this knife and put together to be impressed.
