Baladeo knife

Kimberlee Frederick

Appropriately called “Le 34 Grammes,” or “The 34 Grams,” the recently released Baladeo knife is as light and easy to handle as its namesake suggests. Ultra-thin and lightweight, the folding blade is comfortable enough to open with a one-hand motion, making the knife ideal for a multitude of situations. What is more, the belt clip included is massively helpful; beyond clipping snugly to pants, it also allows for easy attachment to inner backpack pockets, meaning there’s no chance of the slimly designed knife getting lost amidst other supplies.

The knife loses nothing in terms of safety in its miniature design. The lock on the blade holds strong during any manner of use, from slicing through rope to cutting through cardboard, but it also folds up without fuss with the simplest of movements.

It stands to say, then, that the blade is quite effectively sharp and the streamlined, stainless steel design enables decent control on the part of the user.

However, because the knife values sleekness over advanced utility, the grip isn’t great, meaning that exactness in cutting is not guaranteed. It is a small price to pay, though, when the advantages of having a tool that takes up such a small amount of space are considered.

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

Testing the Benchmade 9051 Folding Tactical Knife

By Rick Shandley

When it comes to a high-quality knife, our motto is to “Honor The Edge.” It’s good to give a knife the respect it deserves, especially when its a tactical knife like the Benchmade 9051 SBK AFO II. Right out of the box this knife is shaving sharp, and we wouldn’t consider cutting on a cardboard box with it…that’s what box cutters are for.  

This particular Benchmade tactical knife is a drop-point folding knife, finished in black on black. It’s capable of serving a variety of applications from a dependable, relatively lightweight backpacking knife, to a  solid hunting knife or very efficient folding sheath knife. However, the 9051 SBK is primarily designed as a tactical knife and was tested at Fort Bliss, Texas by select soldiers at the Army Evaluation Task Force in the 5-1 Brigade Combat Team, 1^st Armored Division. We’ll get to their findings a little further in our review.

There is one downside to this knife. It’s the fact that not all US states will permit ownership of  a tactical knife, unless you are active military or law enforcement. It’s best to check the laws of your particular state, province, or country first. Nevertheless, there are plenty of active military men and women who read articles on Fresh Air Junkie.com, and civilians can gain an appreciation for this 9051 Benchmade folder and check into acquiring one for themselves.

The Benchmade 9051 knife worked well even after being frozen in ice.

From our point of view, outdoor lifestyles and activities inevitably require a person to carry a cutting tool,  whether it be a chipped-out chunk of obsidian lashed to an elk horn handle, or a state-of-the-art knife like the Benchmade 9051. Our review process put the Benchmade 9051 through some grueling tests to see how it would perform in a variety of extreme situations. We found that the Benchmade 9051 promises to be a stout companion that any outdoor person can own and expect to last a lifetime.

To test the Benchmade knife’s automatic opening mechanism, we put it though an extreme cold temperature test. The 9051 was to be immersed in a small water-filled container and placed in a deep-freezer for 72-hours. Temperatures ranged from 15º to 0º for the three days. Then the knife was busted out of the ice block with the mechanisms still frozen solid.  The 9051 was allowed to thaw for three-minutes on a 90º day before the trigger button was pressed. Even while the metal knife chassis, scales, and operating mechanism were still very cold, the blade swung strongly into position without hesitation. The blade-locking mechanism clicked immediately into place and the knife was fully operational. This 72-hour ice-block test was repeated twice. Both times the Benchmade 9051 opened immediately upon thawing with ambient day temperatures and body heat.

The Benchmade 9051 features a pommel (for breaking glass, etc.) built into the handle.

Between the ice-block tests, the knife was submerged in water and frozen again for 36 hours, twice. Then the knife was allowed to thaw and dry in the hot sun. No perceptible blade corrosion or mechanical hesitation was evident. After the battery of freeze tests, a film of lubrication could be seen on the blade. This is to be expected from the  radical temperature changes from cold to hot, and possible metal expansion. Also, keeping a mechanical instrument lubricated is part-and-parcel with maintaining the tool. What is impressive is the unfailing ability of the 9051 SBK auto-assist mechanism to swing the blade into position without hesitation every time.

Our heat test put the Benchmade 9051 in the California desert dirt and sand. It was left out in the heat for days. One would expect the black-on-black finish of the blade and scales to take on a weathering, dulling affect. But the anodized finish was unfazed. Whether the owner is left or right-handed, the knife opening button mechanism and blade-lock safety lever are easy to use. A right-hand person would activate the blade with the right thumb, while a left-handed person uses the left forefinger.

During our tests, the 9051 opened every time without hesitation

In addition to the blade the Benchmade 9051 features a pointed butt-cap pommel integrated into the knife casing. This works well for smashing ice blocks or breaking a car window to help extract a trapped person in the event of an emergency. The 9051 can be carried in its heavy-nylon fabric sheath or with the spring-steel clip that can be adjusted to the owner’s preference by way of  four different mounting points on the knife scales.

We found the Benchmade 9051 SBK auto-folder to be super sturdy and reliable. The knife scales, or handles, are machined so the knife is comfortable, and there is plenty of girth to hang onto if you really have to do some serious slicing. Benchmade chose to build this knife blade with 154CM high-carbon stainless steel. There are more exotic stainless steel grades available, but 154CM is great for a blade of this length. And the 154CM stainless steel seems to fit this application very well. When it comes to keeping a fine edge on it, well…that’s the responsibility of the owner. There are lots of modern edge honing tools available such as diamond-coated steels, oil and water stones, and ceramic rods. Also, Benchmade offers knife sharpening at no charge for every registered knife owner.

ARMY EVALUATION TASK FORCE ASSESSMENT OF 9051

Testing the U.S. Army conducted on the Benchmade 9051 SBK auto-folder was almost the opposite of cold-environment testing. They tested for hot weather and salt-water corrosion. The soldiers who tested the 9051, all with combat experience, evaluated the knife from their practical application view point.

The Benchmade was the only auto-folder to pass the salt-water corrosion test. And they field tested several. In salt-water the corrosion that builds up will tend to bind the opening mechanism of any folding knife. Auto-folders are that much more vulnerable to rusting up and binding if corrosion and rust builds up in the opening mechanism. They found the 9051 to be  extremely rugged and durable as it performed very well in every condition they could put it through.

The 9051 features a blade lock and a removable clip that can be adjusted to various positions on the handle.

In the grit, mud, dirt, and grind conditions the soldiers put the 9051 through, it still cleaned up nice. Easy clean up was attributed to the open-design of the blade housing. After bashing the blades during impact tests, they did start to develop slack and get loose. This was considered a normal occurrence after subjecting the knife to extreme impact conditions. However, the blades remained intact during the tests.

Overall, the U.S. Army judged the Benchmade 9051 SBK to have performed so well that SFC Kevin Reagan stated, “We have recommended, and submitted the order for one knife per combat soldier.” The 9051 SBK appears to be a solid tool that not only performs great mechanically, but it lends a small degree of confidence knowing  that it’s ready to go. We like it!

Benchmade 9051 AFO II Specifications

Locking mechanism:       Button Auto with integrated safety

Blade Style & Opener:     Drop-point: Auto Open

Blade Material:                 154CM Stainless Steel (58-61HRC)

Handles and casing:        6061T6 Aluminum, open back-spacer

Carry Clip:                          Steel multi-mount adjustable to four positions

Finish:                                  Black hard anodize

Blade length:                     3.56 inches

Blade thickness:             0.125-inch

Open Length:                   8.51 inches

Closed Length:                4.95 inches

Weight:                              5.8 ounces

Handle thickness:          0.60-inch

Made In:                            U.S.A.

Retail Price:                     $245

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).