Larry Chair by Travel Chair Co.

By Mary Webb

Here’s the Larry chair from the Travel Chair Company. It’s  a packable travel chair that will pick up the slack for you.  Its lightweight design offers some good reasons for you to consider it for your summer plans.   We took Larry on the airplane, the Sacramento River trail, and even up the coast to the ocean around Mendocino, California. We were pleased at how well Larry fit into our own travel plans.

The Larry chair is a good addition to your camping gear and equipment along with air beds, tents and flashlights. This lightweight chair is easy to bring anywhere, making it an ideal chair for outdoor use. This chair may be small, but it doesn’t mean that it isn’t durable and reliable. The adage that little things can pack a punch holds true for the Larry chair. This is certainly your best choice when you need a chair for your outdoor camping tours.

In two swift moves, Larry is ready for you to be seated.  Made of water-resistant Ballistic nylon mesh, this travel chair will be with you for several seasons and family sporting events to come.  Starting out at a folded dimension of 2.5″ x 12″ x 19,” simply unfold and snap into the two locked positions and you have yourself a 19″ x 19″ x 24″ chair!  Larry will seat up to 250 pounds on the 3.6 pound frame.

Transporting the chair is easy with the nylon mesh bag that accompanies it, with two options to carry; either over the shoulder or by hand with respective well-sewn straps.  The shoulder strap is adjustable, so the little campers in your group will be able to help carry Larry as well.  We found the nylon mesh bag to be versatile also, as a small laptop fits nicely into the case; two Velcro enclosures keep items safely stowed.

We like how the travel chair portability worked for us on the airplane.  Boarding the aircraft with Larry tucked safely in its carrying

A true travel chair, Larry chair can go wherever you take it.

case; it fit nicely in the overhead bin, or also under the seat in front of us.

It was refreshing to step into spring with the Larry chair along the river.  We were able to get pretty close to the river’s edge without having to worry about getting the chair a little wet.  At about 10″ off the ground, we were able to take off our hiking boots for a bit, and dip our toes in the running mountain water.  The areas of the chair that did get wet, dried off fairly quickly; and we were able to get back into hiking formation, (with our boots back on of course).

For a suggested retail value of $50.00, you will find the Larry chair a convenient way to provide additional seating at a family barbecue, or a needed resting spot along the trail.  We have the chair slipped into the side of our closet for now, but we won’t let Larry get too comfortable there.

The Travel Chair Company offers two color choices for this chair, black or blue.

Specifications:

Seat height:  10″

Dimensions open:  19″ x 19″ x 24″

Dimensions closed:  2.5″ x 12″ x 19″

Fabric:  420D ballistic nylon mesh

Weight:  3.6 pounds

Weight Capacity:  250 pounds

Colors:  Black or Blue

2011 Benchmade 915 Triage Folding Knife.

By Kimberlee Frederick

Benchmade’s reputation for long lasting, easy-to-use and razor-sharp tools would be enough to encourage many connoisseurs of quality knives to pick up 2011’s 915 Triage model. But in true Benchmade fashion, this new folding utility tool goes above and beyond, boasting a number of useful features and a sleek design that make it a cut above the rest.

With the first flick of the 5.1-ounce 915 Triage design reveals the 3.5-inch blade—a combination serrated and plain-edge blade coated in black, in the 915SBK model. Blade material is composed of N680 stainless steel, the Benchmade blade has notable corrosion and water resistance features inherent with stainless steel.

The BK1 coating on the 915BK and 915SBK varieties adds another element of corrosion protection and scratch resistance. This extensive care given to the material of the blade makes it a solid tool to carry out into the elements.

Right out of the box, the blade is a little stiff coming out of its folded position, which makes the process of locking it and subsequently folding it back just a little bit snug, as it should be. A few reps of opening and closing with the thumb-stud, though, give the blade more fluidity.

Even more importantly, once locked in place, the knife’s AXIS locking mechanism ensures that the blade of the 915 Triage is

The 915 Triage is a three-function tool with a 3.5-inch blade, a hook-shaped safety cutter and a carbide glass breaker.

completely and solidly fixed, ensuring accuracy and safety with any use of the knife. The modified sheepsfoot blade style makes the Triage an ideal tool for use as a rescue blade, since its lack of point keeps the user from inadvertently injuring victims.

And the superb grip on the handle furthers the Triage’s efficacy as a utility tool. The textured G10 handle is very well designed, making the knife not just easy and comfortable to hold, but also makes the handle impervious to water and completely stable under conditions of climate change. The accompanying 420J stainless steel handle liners offer further durability and corrosion resistance.

This versatile 915 Triage also makes sure not to discriminate against left-handed wielders; the thumb-stud opening mechanism is ambidextrous, and the deep-pocket clip can be moved for right- or left-handed tip-up carry.

Although it seems a bit dense while folded and just held, when clipped into a pocket the Benchmade 915 Triage goes essentially unnoticed, even on closer-fitting pants and shorts that come in more contact with the leg. It also fits well into backpacks and other packs with limited space, as its folded length is only 4.7 inches.

The hook-shaped safety cutter at the opposite end of the knife makes the Triage a go-to rescue tool. The design is perfect for a range of uses, from cutting through a seatbelt in an emergency vehicular situation to cutting through clothes—without cutting through flesh—for first aid. Made of 440C stainless steel, the safety cutter is easy to sharpen and, like the blade, is highly resistant to corrosion.

The 915 Triage has a moveable deep-pocket clip, ambidextrous thumb-stud blade openers, and folds closed to a length of only 4.7 inches.

The multifunctional Benchmade 915 Triage is rounded off by its Carbide glass breaker at the butt of the knife. Its ability to shatter glass makes the knife the perfect worst-case scenario tool for outdoor and adventure enthusiasts.

What really stands out about this knife is that despite being tailor-made for rescue situations, the dynamic nature of the Triage makes it useful in countless situations. From day-to-day household needs to more intense outdoor uses, this triple threat of a utility knife is a must-have for anybody that appreciates a quality cutting tool.

Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the 915 Triage is its simplicity. Modern and subtle, the Triage takes advantage of a minimalist design. The glass breaker, for example, is unassuming and blends in with the design of the knife, rather than trying to make the tool an ostentatious one.  The safety cutter’s neat fit into the spine of the knife allows the tool to maintain its slick and unpretentious façade while still packing a punch that distinguishes the knife from others of its kind. No effort was wasted on superfluous decoration on the handle; the simple Benchmade logo on the blade suffices for aesthetic purposes. And with a black blade and smooth movements of the knife, it’s just—there’s no better way to say it—a cool knife to use.

The 915 Triage offers several styles to choose from, including those with and without coating, those with a plain edge blade and those with a combination blade. Each style is also available with a handle in safety orange. The price for the Benchmade 915 Triage ranges from $165-$180. All the BK1-coated 915 Triage folding knives are $180, the rest are $165.

Benchmade 915 Triage specifications:

Made in the USA

Blade Length: 3.50″
Blade Thickness: 0.130″
Handle Thickness: 0.530″
Blade Material: N680 Main Blade; 440C Safety Cutter
Blade Hardness: 57-59HRC Main Blade; 58-60HRC Safety Cutter
Blade Style: Modified Sheepsfoot Main Blade; Hook-Shaped Safety Cutter
Weight: 5.10oz.
Pocket Clip: Reversible, Tip-Up, Deep Carry
Lock Mechanism: AXIS
Overall Length: 8.20″
Closed Length: 4.70″
Sheath Material: Sold Separately
Class: Black

Benchmade 915 Triage

On May 9^th, the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence has selected the Benchmade 915 Triage as a finalist in the Knife of the Year Category. The 915 Triage is a new product for 2011 from Benchmade.

This 915 Triage is the perfect utility tool. The three functions of the Triage include a folding knife, a safety hook, and a glass breaker. Benchmade uses the AXIS locking mechanism to secure the blade in position. The modified sheepsfoot blade style is a great cutting tool for numerous applications.

The blade is built with N680 highly corrosion and water resistant steel. As with all Benchmade cutting tools, this blade comes to you razor sharp. The 915 Triage also features ambidextrous thumb-stud openers. In its basic design, the 915 Triage is an easy-to-use tool.

Available in orange or black, the textured G10 handle shell provides excellent grip and feel. Whether you’re using this knife in the outdoors or in an emergency situation, the 915 Triage is the dynamic tool to rely on.

Like all Benchmade knives, this USA-made product is designed and built for the individual who appreciates the difference that a high-quality cutting tool can make.

“We are thrilled to be selected as one of the top three knives in our industry,” said Rob Morrison, Benchmade’s Director of Marketing.

The 20^th Anniversary Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence Awards will be announced Friday evening July 22, at the Holiday Inn University Plaza in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Benchmade 760 LFTi. Click all photos to enlarge.

By Rick Shandley

Titanium, one of the strongest and lightest metals known to man is a big part of this Benchmade 760 LFTi folding knife. Bob Lum, a widely known and respected knife maker, fashioned the Benchmade 760 to be beautifully simple, functional, and hardworking. But it is the CPM-M4 steel used in this tanto blade, and the blade design itself, that we found to be a workhorse.

Unlike some of the previous Benchmade knives we have reviewed, the 760’s factory razor edge was continually put to work. Rather than leave the blade alone and just evaluate on design and potential cutting capability, the 760 was used for slicing irrigation line, climbing rope, horse harnesses, and many instances of just cutting through material that needed to be severed.

As long as the material could be separated with a knife edge, this tanto was not spared. A blade thickness of 0.150 inches gives the 760 plenty of rigidity to bare down on the blade if needed. There was no bending or wavering of the four-inch blade or its terminal connection in the titanium body of the knife.

With the blade in the open position, the entire knife is as solid as a blade can be without being fixed. The work was always directed towards cutting materials that you would use any working knife for, but no prying, scraping, or purposely hacking with the knife edge. With a blade hardness rating of 60-62HRC, the blade is capable of holding its edge with responsible use. In every case, the CPM-M4 tool steel cut quick and sure.

Bob Lum's tanto blade design is stout and effective.

CPM-M4 tool steel is a high-speed, non-stainless, steel known for its toughness and resilience to wear. It is a hard steel that uses greater amounts of Vandium (by as much as 60-percent) and Carbon (increased by as much a 40-percent) to arrive at extreme blade hardness and edge integrity.

The tanto blade design works great for our purposes in general. With that decisive departure angle from the tip of the knife blade that separates the main cutting edge, the tanto design allows the 760 to bite down on the material being cut. Rather than a smooth arc from the main blade-edge to the blade tip, the tanto design appears to be easier to maintain the edge since you can sharpen the blade tip (approximately two inches of blade edge angling upwards to the actual blade tip), separately from the main cutting edge. Keeping even pressure on the blade during sharpening is always more challenging when you have to deal with the sweep of the non-tanto design blade edge like a drop-point or skinning blade.  This perceived ease of maintaining the tanto blade edge is another quality that makes the 760 a good, everyday, working knife.

A hefty thumb-stud makes deploying the blade straight forward for a right-handed person. A thumb groove milled into the titanium handle offers good access to the thumb stud. The 760 does not use any kind of spring or mechanical assist to open the blade rapidly, and that’s fine with us. Again, this is a working knife you would tend to use for specific cutting purposes where casually opening the blade is perfectly acceptable. This is not a knife you’d want to whip out and impress someone with the speed the blade deploys to readiness. No it’s a knife onlookers will be impressed with because it cuts whatever it needs to cut effortlessly.

Benchmade builds the model 760 with titanium monolock mechanism to secure the blade into the open position. Since the entire knife body is made of titanium (the grade of titanium is unknown at this writing), the blade locking mechanism is integral to the knife body. As the tanto blade swings into position, an approximately 2.5-inch titanium arm slides over to lock the blade. Due to its high strength, the titanium locking arm appears very durable and positively locks the blade consistently with no slip. Unlocking the blade is merely a function of moving the titanium locking arm to the left, using your right thumb, to release the tension on the blade and fold the 760 shut. We like the monolocking mechanism because it is uncomplicated, with nothing to go wrong.

Blade back features thumb grooves for grip and blade control.

And since the entire 760 knife body is titanium, the overall weight of the knife is five ounces. That’s pretty light considering the stainless steel hardware and dense blade weight. With no handle shells on the knife body for design or cosmetic purposes, we can appreciate the directness of this design where the titanium knife body is both the aesthetic appeal and blade locking system. There is not much that can go wrong with this knife. It is just one of those high-end, custom designed, folders that will likely last the owner for a lifetime.  Titanium is costly. High-end quality is not cheap. At about $270 retail, you are getting what you pay for, a lifetime tool.

The Benchmade 760 construction lends itself well to periodic maintenance as all the hardware is removable using the six-point hex-head tools you can acquire from Benchmade. We also like the blade-top thumb serrations at the hilt-end of the blade. With that chisel-like section of the tanto blade, and the rapid change in blade angle, you can really put some cutting pressure onto the object to be sliced. The thumb grip surface works with the robust knife body and blade to offer a lot of cutting force for its size. Closed, the 760 is five inches. Open, the 760 measures nine inches in overall length.

Having lived with the Benchmade 760 for several months, there is minimal visible wear to the sandblasted grey finish where the gold-brownish color of the titanium handle is visible. By no means does natural cosmetic wear bother this writer, nor is it viewed as a detraction of the overall functionality of this folding knife. The good news is the heavy-duty this particular folding knife is capable of. By no means is the 760 a delicate instrument; more like military grade.

We’ve enjoyed assessing the Benchmade 760, as we have with each of their various knife designs. There is a benchmark of high-quality built into these knives. Even though knives can be a thing of creative design and beauty to the individual beholder, it’s the journeyman workmanship that goes into each knife that make them reliable and useful tools that perform well consistently.

Click on all photos to enlarge.

By Rick Shandley

Designed by Ken Steigerwalt, this Benchmade 890 Torrent folder deploys rapidly with Nitrous assist blade opening mechanism and a boost from the right-hand thumb stud. It’s not an automatic, but the 3.6-inch 890 Torrent drop point blade can swing into readiness just as quick with a little practice. You have the option of several different configurations of the Benchmade model 890. The one we reviewed is a black on black straight edge. We like it!

What stood out immediately about the 890 is the blade-back is 0.1 inches or 2.54 millimeters thick. That’s pretty thin. This relative thinness (compared to a Benchmade 950 or the heftier Benchmade 760) enhances the ability of the flat-ground 154CM stainless steel blade to sever materials with higher precision than the cleaving effect of thicker blades. Thick blades are great for many purposes, but using a fine razor edge with a thinner blade lends itself to deep clean cuts with little blade resistance.  Oh, we value those thicker blades for many reasons. We just observed the fine things about this thinner blade.

It brings to mind an evening at the Sundance Steak House in Palo Alto, California where the steak knives are a bit like meat saws; nice but overkill and not very sharp. So that prime rib dinner was not being properly honored for the fine cut of meat that it was. Out came the 890 in that dark dinner booth, only casually observed by the wait staff with no objections, to slice that slab of prime rib properly at slightly angled cuts so as not to dull the edge on the porcelain china dinner plate. A fine prime rib deserves to be sliced by a fine knife in a gentlemanly fashion. After the first use of the 890 blade was initiated, the slicing was applied to other materials.

Usually this writer will go out of his way not to dull a razor edge unless what is being cut is worth taxing the blade. But with the

Blade material is 154CM stainless. Opening speed? Quick!

Benchmade 890 Torrent, the common chores like slicing through small-gauge irrigation tubing, climbing rope, flat nylon webbing, and heavier rope gauges are the kinds of materials this blade is excellent at. It’s a folding knife that hits the sweet spot for 154CM stainless steel as a blade material. Obviously Benchmade likes to use this steel in many of their folding knifes, and it works well with the 890. Because the 890 under assessment was put to work around the ranch, blade touch ups and honing would be more frequent, but the drop-point design and the easy radius of the blade sweep to the knife tip makes this a doable procedure for a solid working knife this one is.

Titanium steel blade liners run the length of the body.  The Nitrous assist design uses the tension of two Titanium steel torsion arms designed into the blade liners to make contact on the blade tang (rear of blade termination point) so that as the user applies pressure from the right thumb onto the blade top thumb-stud in a forward and clock-wise arc past 30°, the torsion arms continue to open the blade fully into the locked position.

890 Torrent's blade locking mechanism. Titanium steel liner shifts right to lock blade tang in place.

As the blade is swung to open position, the clip-side stainless steel liner springs inward to lock the knife tang into a position. This blade locking mechanism, in and of itself, is a design has been tried a true for decades, and it secures the blade in the open position for any type of cutting you might require the 890 to accomplish. But the patented Nitrous assist of the Titanium steel torsion arms adds an entirely new dimension to the safe deployment of the blade and locking it in place.

Closing the blade simply requires the user to apply pressure from the right thumb to move the Titanium steel liner back towards the inner handle shell to disengage and fold the blade securely. Both opening and closing of the 890 blade is swift and safe. Like any fine cutting tool, you learn how to use it, care for it, and apply its features. Even though this writer is left-handed and the 890 Torrent is set up for right handed users, it is easy enough for a non-right handed person to become proficient at, like everything else in a right handed world.

When the Benchmade 890BK Torrent (BK for black) is opened it measures 8.2 inches in length. The knife handle scale design offers plenty of room for big hands to work with the knife with certainty and safety, but not bulky. The thinner blade thickness seems to be incorporated with a generally slim overall profile of the Benchmade 890. Handle scales are made with G10 material made of composite fibers bound with epoxy under tremendous pressure. This G10 material does not conduct electricity, is highly resistant to moisture, and it provides a wonderful grip surface thus reducing the chance of the 890 from slipping out of your hand when working with the blade.

Yet one of the qualities most observed about G10 as a knife handle or handle scale material is the myriad of creative ways this

890 Torrent provides a lanyard hole in the functional pommel.

material can be shaped and sculpted to lend uniqueness and beauty to a cutting tool. This entire review could have been written strictly on the aesthetic sculpture and design of Ken Steigerwalt’s creative art form. Yet, the 890 is every bit as much of a working knife, and the working qualities could be quantified more directly than describing the beauty of this particular folding knife.

A tip-down carry clip and the thumb stud are designed for right-handed owners.   Like any fine knife, this folder is one that will last a lifetime, an heirloom, to be gifted upon that one person somewhere along the road of life who you know will value a cutting tool encased in aesthetically unique art form and created by a gifted knife maker.

Photo location: Gila National Forest in New Mexico above Silver City.

Note: See below photo gallery for Benchmade 890 Torrent specifications and features.

Specifications and Features

Price: $150 – $165

Blade Length: 3.60″

Blade Thickness: 0.100″

Handle Thickness: 0.600″

Blade Material: 154CM Stainless Steel

Blade Hardness: 58-61HRC

Blade Style: Modified Drop Point

Weight: 3.50oz.

Clip: Tip Down Carry-Clip

Lock Mechanism: Locking-Liner with Nitrous Assist

Overall Length: 8.20″

Closed Length: 4.60″

Sheath Material: Sold Separately

Class: Blue

Best quality: Made in the U.S.A

Wegner Swiss Army is indisputably one of the finest manufacturers of outdoor cutlery in the world. It isn’t really fair to compare them to those manufacturers of lesser quality knives: it isn’t really a contest. We have been especially pleased with the Wenger Ranger SAK line. The lines models range from the simple but elegant model 151 with a single straight blade to the recent “Mike Horn” model, which features every survival tool an outdoor knife should offer. So where does the model 179 fit in this spectrum of knives?

First of all, every Fresh Air Junkie ought to have at least one knife on them when out soaking up an experience. And the starting point for selecting an outdoor knife is Wenger. It can be a little daunting at first: do I buy just one knife, or one of each? The vast majority of the Ranger models are sold with black handles made from solid hard plastic. Each model differs in the product specifications such as straight blades, saw blades, can-openers and awls. They all are great companions for any hiker, camper, skier – any body in motion in the outdoors.

Wenger recently introduced a higher end line of Ranger knives labeled 75,78 and, of course, the Expedition 179. These models are

Atop Mt. San Jacinto, CA

redesigned versions of the Ranger with concept of ergonomics in mind. The most notable difference between these new models and the other Ranger SAK is that the handle features the “Evo Grip system.” The system includes multicolored SAKs which use a black grip non-slip rubber. The handle is rubber coated and molded to fit perfectly inside the user’s hand. The purpose? The combination of features provide greater comfort, safety and support.

We carried several different knives with us on our last trek up Mount San Jacinto. A couple of guys in our group scoffed at the idea that there could be a need for something more than a basic pocket knife. Other members always carry several different knives to be ready for any eventuality. The debate continued at various points over the day. On the ascent, we rolled the Ranger 179 in small patches of snow strewn across the trail. We got the handle wet and then tested using the knife on branches and rope. True to Wenger’s promise, the Ranger 179 refused to slip free from our grip. The black rubber on the EvoGrip repelled the moisture and provided solid traction at all four grip points. It was clear that Wenger’s description that the SAK was designed to be cradled perfectly by the human hand was not just hype: it really lived up to the claim. The skeptics in our group had to admit that the grip was far superior to the black hard plastic.

Wenger has tested its engineering in the Patagonia Expedition in which teams of four race through globe’s toughest terrain. The Ranger 179 is Wenger’s official race knife for the Patagonia Expedition and has been designed to aid the Wenger race team in every clime and place. The two closest models to the 179 in the Ranger series are the 75 and 78. These two cousins sport the EvoGrip as the 179, but differ in tool features. The model 78 offers all of the same tools as the model 179 with the exception of the main blade. The model 78 features a straight-edge blade while the 179 features a serrated/straight combination blade for increased versatility. Surprisingly, the model 179 has a lower price tag than the model 78.

The three models of knives share the majority of major features including a razor-sharp can-opener, an awl complete with sewing eye, a locking screwdriver, corkscrew, key ring, reamer, double-cut wood saw (which comes in handy in gathering firewood), and a 3.9” locking serrated/straight edge combination blade. The locking blade features a rivet at the top which allows for one-handed opening. As with all Ranger SAKs, the locking blade can be released by pressing the Wenger emblem embedded in the handle. The 75 model differs from the 179 in that it has traded the double-edge wood saw for a pair of spring loaded pliers at price of $10 extra. Shoppers must evaluate whether they intend on working more with metal or wood.

It can be quite overwhelming when researching the many options that Wenger’s Ranger SAK has to offer. Shoppers are forced to pit serrated blades vs. straight edge and saws vs. pliers. The Patagonia Ranger 179 offers a perfect blend of all the necessities for outdoor survival without slashing the wallet. It is perhaps the most complete and safest bargain of the EvoGrip Ranger line. The EvoGrip line runs roughly $15-$20 more than the standard Ranger line, however the system is proven to work. The consensus at the end of the hike up Mount San Jacinto was that the Ranger SAK 179 was a great choice for an outdoor knife, whether you carry one or several knives. Like a good handshake, it is all about the grip!

By Kevin Varner

Benchmade’s Rift 950 honed blade flashes into fixed position with a simple boost of a thumb-stud. It’s not an automatic, spring-loaded folding knife, but it opens awfully quick and quietly. It doesn’t matter whether you’re right-handed or left. This blade whips out just about as fast as a true spring-loaded auto folder. But it’s your thumb working with the rift-shaped handle shells and your entire hand that fires the edge fast. It’s a fun knife. It’s sturdy, sharp, yet with a flair of design and craftsmanship that’s just fun.

Rift’s reverse-tanto blade is 3.67-inches long, with a deep blade belly that continues as a robust cutting edge to the tip. The stainless 154CM steel blade of this 950 Rift pops out of the box with a fine edge; something you can expect from Benchmade. From past experience with Benchmade to more recent products reviews, each knife, fixed-blade or folder, arrives razor sharp. You mess up that fine edge, and it will take a new fine edge. And just as intuitive as it is to use your thumb to open the blade instantly, it’s also got a blade designed to get maximum power when you bear down for a cut.

This cutting power comes, we’d like to think, from the way the reverse tanto blade works with the G10 handle material and shape.

Thumb stud blade deployment works smoothly.

G10 is a composite of fiberglass and epoxy resins bound together under high pressure. The G10 handle shells of the Benchmade 950 Rift tend not to absorb moisture or conduct electricity. It’s a stable material that can be readily milled and shaped for both form and function. We liked the layered, multi-dimensional grip-surface of these handle shells that tend to mimic geologic rift valley formations.

Handle shells are 0.560-inch thick. The blade is 0.114-inch thick, and sits perfectly centered between the blade liners. AXIS® blade locking mechanism works like a vault latch, every time. And the ambidextrous thumb stud doesn’t discriminate between right-handed or left-handed people. Rift also has a fairly slim profile, excluding the clip height, at about 12mm or .5-inch thick. It’s not bulky.

Blade design and your hand positioning offers you the leverage to sever any material you realistically need to cut. It’s not a delicate slice; it’s more like dividing asunder. You get full power in working this blade like bull shark on a ham hock. Your hand clinches on the asymmetrically –shaped handle shells with full grip and power. Rift lends itself to be used as a daily working knife very well. Or you can use it as a surgical instrument you keep spoiled-rotten sharp. This writer loves to keep a blade flat hard core sharp right up till the moment a heavy-duty razor is required.  Yet it sure is fun to cut with this blade. It has a forward bite, down and away from your body… or down and back.  Bite and slice.

We valued the pure aesthetics of this Osborne designed folding knife.

The one thing we would like to see in a folder like this is the ability to lock the blade shut. Although this one is not an auto, it’s not much slower in opening. Locked in the open position, the blade won’t collapse. But when folded into the blade liners, this blade can unfold at an undesirable time. The thumb stud is the principle snag/hold on this knife, and the blade can deploy. Carrying this folder in a sheaf, never a worry; carry it clipped onto your pocket-top or at the bottom of your pocket, it might go crocodile on you. The same blade-locking safety mechanism used on the Benchmade 9051 SBK AFO II automatic folders would be a great asset to the non-autos.

Six-lobe headed fasteners bolt the handles to the 420J stainless steel liners in the core structure of the knife. You can acquire the

Spring steel clip is adjustable to either side of knife.

Benchmade tool kit to adjust screws, swap the spring clip, and general maintenance of the folder. These folders can pick up lots of debris and grit just sitting in your pocket. On a recent trip out to Moab, Utah we experienced several days of high wind and blowing sand. Even with the protection of your pocket or a belt sheath, driving sand will find its way into your gear, all of it.

The spring-steel clip can be moved to either side of the knife body. Both clip positions are attached with three six-lobe screws. This clip is strong and will clasp onto your jeans pocket with a certainty. But it transports best, for our purposes, just sitting on the bottom of whatever front pocket with the thumb-stud pointed down and in towards the leg. At this position, the Rift comes out of the pocket ready to deploy. By the time it was decided to carry the Rift this way, it was also fairly clear this folder would benefit from a locking mechanism to keep the blade shut while it’s in the pocket.

In general, the Benchmade Rift is a solid, good-looking, and fun folder to have around. The blade and handle design compel you to put this knife to work. It’s sharp, and the blade is readily maintained. Unfolded, the blade is very secure within the core-structure; no wiggle room here. We like this knife, and it fit in very well as a back country blade that is strong, light, sharp, and versatile enough for using as a camp and general purpose blade.

By Rick Shandley

Additional Features:

• Class: Black (Benchmade extreme-duty series of knives)
• Overall length: 8.27-inches
• Closed length: 4.60-inches
• Weight: 4.80-ounces
• Origin: Made in America
• MSRP: $180.00

Steady Growth, Lean Efforts and Green Initiatives

Benchmade Knife Company won the 2009 Manufacturer of the Year award for its lean manufacturing and management approach, initiating Green processes, and achieving steady growth. The honor is a regional recognition in the Medium Sized Company category bestowed on the Benchmade team by The Portland Business Journal (PBJ).

The PBJ presented its 2009 Manufacturer of the Year award at The Oregon Manufacturing Awards Luncheon that took place on Thursday, October 29th at the Portland Art Museum in downtown Portland, Oregon.

“It is an honor to be presented with such a prestigious award within the Oregon community” says Les de Asis, Founder and Owner of Benchmade Knife Company. “We are thrilled to be recognized as a leading manufacturer because of our dedication to providing U.S.-based jobs and commitment to customer satisfaction.”

2009 Knife of the Year: Benchmade 585 Mini-Barrage.

 The award for Manufacturer of the Year is based on company performance, overall business strategy, and innovative approaches to internal operations, manufacturing processes, and sustainable practices involving customers, partners and suppliers.

Benchmade is long known to be a leader in innovation, design, and engineering excellence in creating the highest quality cutting tools they can produce. Whether the purpose of a Benchmade knife is created for the medical field, the military, outdoorsmen, hunters, or hikers, each knife, and every conceivable design is created and manufactured in the United States of America.

In July, Benchmade won the 2009 Knife of the Year Award bestowed by The Shooting Academy For Excellence for the 585 Mini-Barrage folding knife. As it turns out, 2009 has been a good year for recognition of Benchmade, not only for forward thinking management practices and environmental awareness, but also for the quality of the product. If it all stopped there, Benchmade has good reason to celebrate as we wrap up 2009. 

We tested this Benchmade Auto Folder in severe cold, heat, and dirt. Mechanically, it was flawless. Tactically, it was scalpel sharp.

Some Benchmade knives, like the 9051 SBK Auto-Folder knife we reviewed a while back in FreshAirJunkie.com are only available to active military soldiers. One of the most beautiful and functional Benchmade knives was created to honor Marc A. Lee — the first Navy Seal to lose his life in Iraq since the war started in 2003. Lee was KIA on August 2, 2006. Marc graduated with BUDS/S Class 251, and this Navy Seal inspired the Marc Lee “Glory Knife,” designed by Eddie Killian. We’ll have more down the road on the Marc Lee 150 BKSN, a commemorative, combat ready, and a tactical knife used today by U.S. soldiers. Yet, we want to congratulate Benchmade Knife Company and all the hard work they give back to the community they operate in, whether it is recognized or not.

Here’s another great cutting-tool option to consider for your Fresh Air junkets, the new Benchmade Model 551H20 locking folder. From the AXIS locking mechanism to the Noryl GTX handles, the entire knife is made with corrosion resistant materials. This includes the “hard to overlook” bright Orange Griptilian grip textured molded handles and double 420J handle liners.

The 551H20 folder is a modified drop-point blade designed using X15 T.N stainless steel (58-60HRC); with an edge that comes shaving sharp and is reasonably easy to maintain. This is a folder set up for both right- and left-handed people with thumb-studs on both sides of the blade back. Being it’s an ambidextrous design the stainless steel carry clip is also reversible to tailor the folder to your preferences.

Benchmade Model 551H20 Specifications:

• Locking Mechanism: AXIS  Lock
• Blade Style & Opener: Modified Drop-Point; Ambidextrous Thumb-Studs
• Blade Steel: X15 T.N Stainless Steel (58-60HRC)
• Handle Specs: Orange Glass Fill Noryl GTX; Double 420J Liners
• Carry Options: Reversible Stainless Steel Carry Clip
• MSRP: 551H20 $120, 551SH2O $120
• Blade Length: 3.40″ (8.64cm)
• Blade Thickness: 0.115″ (2.92mm)
• Open length: 8.07″ (20.50cm)
• Closed Length: 4.62″ (11.73cm)
• Weight: 3.82oz (108.39g)
• Handle Thickness: 0.64″ (16.29mm)
• Country of origin: USA

Stout, stealthy, and razor sharp, the Benchmade 585 Mini-Barrage is also kinda' slick.

Benchmade Knife Company walked away with 2009 Knife of the Year award at The Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence for the model 585 Mini-Barrage^TM on July 24th in Windsor, CT. 

“We are thrilled and honored to receive such a prestigious award” says Les de Asis, CEO and Founder of Benchmade Knife Company.

“Benchmade prides itself on manufacturing high-quality, American-made products. To have our standard of excellence recognized is extremely rewarding and gratifying,” de Asis said.

 The 585 Mini-Barrage features a patented AXIS® Assist Locking Mechanism, combining speed and strength in one complete package.

Other key features include 100% ambidextrous function, reversible carry clip and 154CM blade steel. For more information on the 585 Mini-Barrage, please visit: www.benchmade.com
Benchmade has won Knife of the Year eight times since 1998 and remains committed to designing and manufacturing world class sports cutlery and superior-edged tools. Knife of the Year winners include 610 Rukus (2006), 425 Gravitator (2005), 921 Switchback (2003), 556 Mini-Griptilian (2002), 690 Elishewitz (2001), 720 Mel Pardue (2000), 710 McHenry & Williams (1999), and the 910 Stryker (1998).