Date Published: 2021-06-09
Best Benchmade Pocket Knives
By Adelia Ladson
About Benchmade
Over the past 30 years, Benchmade has grown from a small machine shop in Southern California to a world-class knife manufacturer in the production knife capital of the Pacific Northwest. Quality remains at the heart of the business, as they continue to draw inspiration from the people, places, and products around them.Why Choose Benchmade?
In the line of duty, the field or forest, for everyday carry - you buy Benchmade because you know it will perform without compromise, however you need it to for as long as you need it to. Their offerings include everyday carry pocket knives, hunting and survival knives, rescue knives and tactical knives, and they even have kitchen cutlery.Our Recommendations
Offering incredible tactical knives that won’t let our customers down is a top priority for us! So, that’s why we carry a variety of Benchmade pocket knives including OTF knives, automatic knives and manual knives. Here is a taste of the ready-for-action pocket knives that we have in stock.Mini Infidel OTF Knife
In addition to the incredibly stable, fast action and the rugged, pure tactical nature of the knife, the Mini Infidel OTF Knife has a cool factor that is hard to describe without physically experiencing it. The OTF has a just over 3” D2 tool steel, double-edged dagger blade with a satin finish, giving you a 60-62 HRC capable of daily hard-use. The black 6061-T6 aluminum handle is ridged for a slip-free grip and is contoured for a comfortable hold. The ridged slider lock is conveniently located so that it’s easy to deploy and retract the blade. The OTF also has a deep-carry, tip-down MOLLE compatible pocket clip and comes with a Codura belt sheath for ease of carry and storage.Key Features:
- This is an incredibly stable, fast action and rugged OTF pocket knife that is pure tactical and completely cool
- You’re getting a D2 tool steel, double-edged blade that gives you a 60-62HRC capable of daily hard-use
- It comes with a tough, Codura belt sheath for ease of carry and storage
Tengu Pocket Knife
Blurring the lines between traditional design and modern technology, the Tengu Pocket Knife epitomizes the style of Japanese inspired custom design. The slim and classy assisted opener has a premium CPM-20CV steel tanto blade that has a 59-61HRC packed into its just under 3” size. The slim, black handle is of contoured G10 scales, and the back has a pinstriped look that gives the knife an almost formal feel. You can take this knife with you to a black-tie event, and it would fit right in. Complete with a black leather carry sleeve, the Tengu is bound to impress those looking for something different.Key Features:
- This pocket knife blurs the lines between traditional design and modern technology, epitomizing the style of custom design
- Yes, it looks incredible but the premium CPM-20CV steel blade has a 59-61HRC that makes it a capable EDC
- It comes complete with genuine black leather carry sleeve
Bronze Phaeton OTF Automatic Knife
Just a good workhorse automatic OTF, the Bronze Phaeton combines speed and style for a semi-tactical EDC you can rely on. The double-action automatic allows you to deploy the blade by pushing the actuator forward and retract the blade by pulling it back. The spine-fire thumb-slide opener offers quick deployment of the CPMS30V steel drop point blade, which has plenty of strength with its diamond-like carbon coating. The anodized handle is machined from a solid billet of 6061-T6 aluminum and the subtle texturing along the top scale improves your grip on the smooth handle without being abrasive. A stainless steel, reversible deep-carry pocket clip completes the tactical EDC design. The Bronze Phaeton OTF Automatic Knife is not only a handy working knife but also a capable self-defense knife.Key Features:
- This automatic OTF, with its spine-fire sliding button, combines speed and style in a semi-tactical EDC
- The double-action automatic allows you to deploy the blade by pushing the actuator forward and retract it by pulling it back
- The CPMS30V steel drop point blade has plenty of strength with its diamond-like carbon coating
Mini Bugout Pocket Knife
The Mini Bugout is actually a scaled down version of the popular Benchmade Bugout. As a result of overwhelming feedback, the pocket knife maintains the same material configuration as its full-sized counterpart in a 1 1/2-ounce package. Once again, just like the Tengu above, the premium steel of the drop point blade packs an unrivaled hardness into just under 3”. The Grivory handle is textured, and it features Benchmade’s AXIS assisted locking technology. A mini deep-carry, reversible pocket clip and lanyard hole completes the ultra-light, manual pocket knife’s feature package.Key Features:
- The ultralight White Mini Bugout Pocket Knife is small enough for a mint tin, yet big enough for an adventure
- It has a black, razor-sharp 2 4/5” CPM-S30V steel drop-point blade packed with the power of a 58-60 HRC
- The handle is made of tough, white Grivory that’s textured for a slip-free grip and features a deep-carry pocket clip
D2 Tool Steel Bali-Song Knife
Now, to throw in a little something different from Benchmark. The D2 Tool Steel Bali-Song Knife is a great starter butterfly knife for learning the art of flipping since it can really take a beating. True to Benchmade’s tactical pocket knife construction formula, the balisong has a blade with an incredible hardness and handles that give it incredible lightness. The Weehawk blade is D2 tool steel with a satin finish and the handles are precision-crafted stainless steel with weight-reducing thru-holes. It also comes with a sheath for storage.Key Features:
- This balisong knife is a great starter butterfly knife for learning the art of flipping since it can really take a beating
- It has a 4 1/4” D2 tool steel Weehawk blade with a 60-62 HRC and a satin finish, making it extremely sharp
- The lightweight handles are made of precision-crafted stainless steel and feature weight-reducing thru-holes
Bailout Pocket Knife
For those looking for something to fly under the radar with, the Bailout Pocket Knife takes lightweight strength one step further. Even though it has a slim and ultralight design, it offers an optimal strength-to-weight ratio in a two-ounce package that’ll add confidence to your kit. The knife has a grey-coated CPM-M4 steel tanto blade with a 62-64HRC and an anodized 6061-T6 aluminum handle with a glass breaker, completing a package that cuts weight while maintaining durability. The Bailout can hang with the best of them despite its slim profile.Key Features:
- For those looking for something to fly under the radar with, this knife takes lightweight strength one step further
- The knife has a grey-coated, CPM-M4 steel tanto blade with a 62-64 HRC and thumbstuds for ease of access
- The handle is made of anodized 6061-T6 aluminum, and it features a glass breaker and pocket clip
Auto Presidio II Pocket Knife
To round out this list, the Auto Presidio II is from the Presidio Family, a seasoned veteran of Benchmade’s tactical pocket knives. This automatic takes the rugged good looks one step further, fusing muted colors with the renowned functionality of the Auto AXIS opening mechanism. It has a serrated, just over 3” CPM-M4 steel, drop point blade with a 62-64HRC and a 6061-T6 aluminum handle that has a burnt bronze finish. It also features both a lanyard hole and a reversible, tip-up pocket clip for carry options. This automatic pocket knife leaves nothing to be desired!Key Features:
- This automatic pocket knife has an exceptional pedigree as a member of Benchmade’s veteran tactical Presidio family
- It has a serrated, CPM-M4 steel, drop point blade with a 62-64HRC and it can be deployed with the Auto AXIS mechanism
- The 6061-T6 aluminum handle has an attractive burnt bronze finish, and it has both a lanyard hole and a pocket clip