7 of the Best Benchmade Knives for EDC

Unique designs, super steels, a generous warranty, and of course, the AXIS lock, which is possibly the single best folding knife lock ever developed. These are some of the things that have made Benchmade knives among the best, and most popular, in the industry. Considering all of that, here are 7 of the best Benchmade knives for EDC. See if one of these works for you.

If there’s one Benchmade knife that typifies the brand, it has got to be the Bugout. It’s likely also the single best-selling Benchmade of all. The staple Bugout is a middle-of-the-road-sized knife that’s 4.22” closed with a 3.24” blade with a black oxide finish, sizing it perfectly for EDC. It’s finished with Grivory scales that are lightweight, maintenance free, and which offer great grip in basically all conditions. It’s also available in multiple different steels, including 20CV, S30V, S90V, and Damasteel, and the drop point blade is perfect for pretty much any use. And of, course, there’s the AXIS lock - but that’s a standard among Benchmade knives.

The Bugout too big for you? Then what you need is a Mini Bugout, which is basically the same thing, just slightly scaled back. Pretty much everything is the same about it except it is slightly smaller, at 6.49” overall with a 2.82” drop-point blade. If you love the Bugout but want something just a bit smaller, make it a Mini Bugout.

The Griptilian is another frequent flyer on lists of the best Benchmade knives, and there are just as many reasons to love this one as there are to love the Bugout. Similar in size to the Bugout, the main difference with the Griptilian is that it has a more aggressive thumb ramp for better control, along with a finer point. Like the Bugout it is also available in numerous steel alloys, as well as with a partially serrated blade, if that sort of thing works better for you. And, of course, then, there’s the cool name, which is just one more thing to love about this Benchmade knife.

At only 4.3 ounces, the Osborne is an ultralight folder that’s perfect for EDC. Even though it’s light, however, it’s sizable, at 7.87” overall with a 4.4” reverse tanto blade that’s well optimized for a variety of tasks, and great versatility. Like the other Benchmade knives mentioned here, this is a great one in terms of options, as it can be customized with either aluminum scales or G10, along with several blade steels, including S90V or Damascus. Another great thing about the Osborne’s reverse tanto blade is that it reinforces the tip, so this is a great one to choose if you’re tough on your knives. (If you like the Osborne, by the way, we carry it in a button lock configuration. Check the previous link for details.)

The Benchmade Casbah auto knife is a made-in-the-USA automatic knife that offers streamlined one-handed, push-button deployment. The blade of the version we offer here is S30V with a black finish, which offers a high degree of edge retention as well as resistance to corrosion. If you’re looking for an automatic Benchmade knife that offers lightning fast deployment and is sized similarly to the other options mentioned here, the Casbah is a great option.

Big, comfortable handle ergonomics are the main thing that make the Benchmade Claymore a popular contender. It features big, thick Grivory scales with swells that ensure a solid grip, good indexing, and of course, solid traction in all conditions. You might also appreciate the steel of this knife’s blade. Though not a super steel, it is made with D2, a tough tool steel that can raise a wickedly sharp edge. You need to be careful to protect it against rust, though. Lastly, this auto offers lightning quick deployment and a button lock that, unlike the standard AXIS lock, is a bit more fidget friendly.

No list of the most popular Benchmade knives would be complete without the Shootout, a unique OTF automatic knife with a really solid name and even better performance. Available in several configurations here, the Benchmade Shootout is made with carbon fiber-filled nylon scales that are lightweight, strong and maintenance free, along with a 3.5” CruWear super steel blade that offers solid toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. The hallmark of the Shootout, however, is the double-action OTF mechanism that offers responsive, quick deployment and retraction with minimal effort. If you love a good push button automatic knife or are looking for the best OTF knife, this one makes a good case.

Interested in finding other Benchmade knives like these to expand your collection? Take a look through our catalog and if you have a specific model in mind you don’t see listed, get in touch with us.