Knives By Purpose

SOG Pentagon S14-N Review

Last Updated: August 9, 2019
The SOG Pentagon is an interesting little knife. What other knife solves the age old dilemma of carrying a plain edge or a serrated edge so effortlessly?

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Purpose

Make no mistake, the Pentagon is a full out tactical knife. It’s relatively light weight and slim design make it a discrete carry or backup carry option. I think it’s a little too aggressive looking to be an every day carry knife, and since it is technically a dagger, it may very well be illegal to carry depending on where you live.

General Dimensions and Blade Characteristics

Today I am looking at the full size Pentagon. SOG offers a smaller version of the Pentagon (the SOG M-14K) that is equally cool and perhaps even more practical if you want to carry this knife every day or use it as a boot knife. The S14-N has a 5 inch blade, an overall length of 9.75″ and a weight of 5.8 ounces. For its size, this is a lightweight knife and it fills the tactical / emergency tactical role well.

The steel of this knife is AUS 6, which is a little dated by today’s standards, but is still a decent steel (and is reflected in the knife’s very modest price tag). AUS 6 is in the same family as the very familiar AUS 8 stainless steel, and shares AUS8’s quality of being easy to sharpen while offering good corrosion resistance. Edge retention is this steel’s weakness so you will find yourself sharpening this knife more often. That said, the AUS 6 is serviceable, and it has 2 edges so if the plain edge gets dull, the serrations will continue to rip things up until you can find a whetstone.

In terms of blade shape, this is a wicked dagger designed for stabbing and slashing and has a relatively thin blade with a weak tip – I wouldn’t use the knife to open any paint cans. I big feature is of course the Pentagon’s double edge. One side is plain edge and the other is mostly serrated, with a plain tip. The knife is shaving sharp from the box and I really like the options this knife provides. Serrations are great for cutting fibrous material and they don’t dull as easily. Plain edges are great for slashing and detail work. You really get the best of both worlds here, provided you live in an area that allows you to carry a double edged knife.

Handle and Ergonomics

This is a full tang knife with a Kraton handle. Kraton is a popular polymer used with a lot of fixed blade knives. It feels soft but it is very resistant to wear. The Kraton is nicely textured and provides outstanding grip wet or dry, with our without gloves. There is a lanyard hole near the pommel which you could use for added security. Since this isn’t a chopping knife, I typically leave the lanyard at home. This is an incredibly comfortable handle and I think SOG generally did a great job with it.

One concern I do have with the handle however, is the total lack of finger guards. I would really like to see some sort of guard on this knife, especially since it is double edged. The handle is super grippy but it gives me peace of mind to have that guard. To combat that SOG doesn’t start the edge immediately where the handle ends. The first inch of blade is completely unsharpened and in fact has some jimping for grip. I would prefer that SOG included a finger guard and started the edge sooner, but perhaps that says more about me than the knife.

The Sheath

SOG includes a nice molded kydex sheath with this knife. It holds the knife securely and provides 3 options for mounting. First we have a pocket/belt clip on the outside of the sheath. This is handy if you want to carry the knife in your boot or waistband (or pocket for that matter). SOG has also included a traditional belt loop and several eyelets for lashing the sheath to you or your gear. The sheath also has a drainage hole at the bottom so if you were to get water in the sheath, it isn’t going to sit there and rust out your blade. I also like how thin and light the sheath is, it makes for a very discrete carry. All in all, this is a good sheath that will appeal to a lot of people.

SOG Pentagon Review – Final Thoughts

The SOG Pentagon is truly a wicked blade. 2 edges make this knife incredibly versatile and potentially dangerous. It is an all out tactical knife designed as a backup for military personnel and law enforcement. However, there may be some minor issues with this knife depending on your point of view. The lack of a finger guard bothers me a little and some may like to see SOG use a steel that holds an edge longer. That said, there is a lot of value in this knife, and when you consider that this good sized doubled edged blade can be had for around $40 these issues become very forgivable.

SOG Pentagon Outdoor Knife with Sheath - Fixed Blade Knife, Survival Knife and Hunting Knife with 5 Inch Double Edged Spear Point Blade (S14-N), One Size

5-INCH AUS-8 STAINLESS STEEL FIXED BLADE KNIVES: The SOG Pentagon fixed blade knife is a double edge knife with a straight and serrated knife edge; measures 9.75 inches in overall length
5.6 OUNCES W/ KRATON RUBBER HANDLE: Double jimping and crossguard keep this combat knife nimble in the hands of any tactical pocket knife user; textured rubber offers sublime control
DOUBLE-EDGED FULL TANG KNIFE: Formidable as a boot knife, outdoor knife, pelt knife and fighting knife with superior grip and balance; a rare straight-edge and full serrated knife blade combo
BALLISTIC NYLON MILITARY KNIFE SHEATH AND LANYARD HOLE: Great as a camping knife, rescue knife, boot knife, throwing knife or general outdoor knife; a very versatile carry with lanyard hole
SOG KNIFE FOR LIFE: Take care of your dagger knife and we’ll take care of you; SOG fixed blade knives are built to last, and we consider all repair and replacement requests

If you would like to buy a SOG Pentagon, I recommend purchasing it at Amazon.com or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

Benchmade 860 Bedlam Review

by Dan Jackson 16 Comments

Last Updated: August 3, 2019
The original Benchmade Bedlam 8600 is an automatic knife released in early 2010. The knife received rave reviews across the community and this large, middle eastern inspired knife was quickly deemed to be a new Benchmade classic. However, the knife was only available as an automatic, which is totally sweet, yet not particularly practical because large automatic knives are illegal in lots of places without a military or police exception (plus there is just more stuff to break with an automatic knife).

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Thankfully, Benchmade understood that this knife was meant for the masses, and they recently released a non-automatic version, the Bedlam 860 that you see here. The 860 is very similar to the 8600. It’s a large blade that could be used defensively, but will probably be a collector’s item more than anything. Lets take a closer look at what makes the new Bedlam 860 tick.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Bedlam is a very big folding knife with a 3.95″ blade, an overall length of 9.71″ and a weight of 7.1 ounces. I know some guys have been talking about using the blade as an EDC, but the length and weight doesn’t make it practical to me. I find it more to be built as a self defense tool. The kind of specialty blade used by martial artists. Of course you could use this for whatever you want – as a collector I found it to be immensely appealing and have carried it as well.

The blade shape of this knife is very cool, and really distinct. People commonly refer to it as a trailing point blade or even a “Persian” style blade. While both of those names are accurate, in it’s place of origin this style of blade is commonly referred to as a “Jambiya”. The Jambiya is a traditional style of knife found in a lot of Middle Eastern countries. Jambiyas are also used as official Combat Knives for the country of Jordan, and it is rumored that the 860 was originally designed for the Prince of Jordan’s royal guard.

At any rate, the Bedlam has a large upswept blade with a thin swedge running along the top part of the blade and a hollow grind starting from about 3/4 of the way up. This is a nasty looking knife with plenty of attitude. If you study the tip you will notice that it is designed so that the last few millimeters of steel actually thickens as it reaches the very tip. This is known as a revere distal taper and provides extra strength for thrust cuts and stabbing. Even with the tapering it’s still a fairly delicate tip so I wouldn’t use it to pull nails or stab through cinder blocks.

The steel is 154CM which I have covered in a couple of my other Benchmade reviews. Suffice to say 154CM is a great all-around steel and was an excellent choice for the Bedlam. It sharpens easily, holds a great edge and is resistant to wear and corrosion. The entire blade is hit with Benchmade’s proprietary BK1 matte black coating. BK1 is a tough scratch resistant finish that is very resistant to corrosion. You also have the option of getting the knife in a plain (uncoated) satin finish. To me the knife looks a little naked without the coating, but it’s all a matter of personal preference.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle of this knife is made of 2 large pieces of sculpted G10 over full stainless steel liners. The G10 scales are wonderfully sculpted and have been given an interesting tiger stripe like pattern. Underneath the liners (along with the rest of the hardware) has been given a flat black finish. The liners are partially milled out to reduce weight and place the balance point right in the middle of the second choil. There is a partial backspacer made of some sort of resin, and a stainless steel pommel that could serve as a glass-breaker or non-lethal impact device. The handle is screwed together so you could take it apart for cleaning and maintenance. Everything is secure, well aligned and totally flush.

From an ergonomics standpoint, the 860 is quite nice. You would expect a knife of this size to feel good in hand and the Bedlam does not disappoint. What interested me is the variety of grips. the two choils allow you to either choke up or sit back on the knife and really extend your reach. There is a good amount of jiming on the thumb ramp, first choil, and the pommel so the knife feels very secure. The G10 has a low to medium amount of traction to it, but given the overall size of the knife and it’s handle features, I feel very comfortable wielding this blade.

The pocket clip is given a black finish and allows for reversible tip up carry. It’s a pretty deep carry, but not super deep. Clip retention is fairly weak, which makes it easy to insert and retrieve from the pocket, but it also increases the chance of the knife falling out. It’s a delicate balance, but I do like the ease of retrieval.

As far as overall carry goes, this is a large 7 ounce knife, so you would expect to notice it. I actually found the Bedlam to carry well, and liken it to a larger tactical flashlight. Compared with the other big knives I’ve carried (like the Cold Steel Spartan and ZT 0300) the Bedlam carried very well.

Deployment and Lock

While the deployment of the 860 Bedlam isn’t as fast as the 8600 Bedlam, it is still very good. The big black blade really sings with just a flick of a thumb stud and it locks in place with authority. The ambidextrous thumb studs are big and easy to get at. There are phosphor bronze washers in this knife, so you can expect a nice smooth deployment every single time.

The axis lock is the same used in the 8600, and it was a great choice for the 860. This is a strong lock that is easy to use with one hand and is fully ambidextrous. At first, I noticed zero blade play with this knife – everything was very snug as you would expect from a Benchmade. Over time I found that the pivot loosened up a little and I started to experience some side-to-side blade play. This is pretty normal for a lot of folding knives (and not the first time this has happened with an axis-lock blade). What I did was apply some blue lock-tite to the pivot screw. This fixed the problem completely and I haven’t had issue with blade play since.

Benchmade 860 Bedlam Review – Final Thoughts

What can I say? If you are all into the Bedlam then I am here to confirm that this is a sweet knife. A big, USA made knife with rock solid construction, great materials and it looks really cool. There is a lot to like with the Bedlam. The real question is whether this is something you can get away with carrying. For some I know this will mostly be a novelty or collectible. Others might buy it with an eye towards use as a utility and self defense blade.

If you like the looks and have room in your collection, then the Bedlam is a well made knife worthy of your consideration.

Benchmade - Bedlam 860 Knife, Scimitar Blade, Serrated Edge, Coated Finish, Black Handle

HIGH-QUALITY: The 154CM stainless steel blade is tough, rust resistant, and holds an edge well. The G10 handle is durable and stable enough for a wide range of temperatures, making it ideal for tactical use.
WELL-DESIGNED: Benchmade's AXIS lock is exceptionally strong and fully ambidextrous. The Bedlam 860 is a manual knife that can be opened and closed single-handedly.
COMFORTABLE: The 860 is large yet is one of the most comfortable knives to handle. The reversible pocket clip offers ultimate accessibility.
FOR TACTICAL USE: The Bedlam 860's curved blade style is inspired by scimitar swords, which were used for military defense. This modern version is good for slashing and is designed for tactical applications.

I recommend purchasing the Bedlam at Amazon or BladeHQ.

Spyderco Military Review

by Dan Jackson 5 Comments

Last updated: February 14, 2019
Those in the military, law enforcement and contract defense firms require high quality gear designed to meet the rigorous demands of these types of positions. The Spyderco Military was designed to meet these demands as either a large utility knife or a full on tactical blade. In addition to law enforcement and military use, this could be an excellent civilian self defense blade or an oversize EDC knife. Lets take a look at what sets this knife apart from Spyderco’s more civilian oriented offerings.

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General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Spyderco Military has an overall length of 9.5″, a 4″ blade, weighs 4.2 ounces, and is made in the USA. It’s a large knife, but when you pick it up I think most will very surprised how light it feels. The knife is extremely light for it size, making it practical for both a hard working tool and as a dedicated self defense knife.

The blade on the Military is a modified drop point design. Spyderco started with 1/8″ blade stock, added a nice full belly, and applied a full flat grind. This is quintessential Spyderco blade, simple, elegant and entirely effective. There is no swedge or recurve – just a simple and utilitarian cutting surface. The tip is unreinforced, and is somewhat delicate if you aren’t careful with it, but I find the blade to overall be very well balanced and good at a variety of cutting tasks.

Spyderco selected CPM-S30V stainless steel for the blade. S30V is excellent stuff. It’s best known for holding a great edge, but it’s also fairly easy to sharpen and very corrosion resistant. I think for a combat knife S30V was a good choice here, provided that you are willing to occasionally sharpen and maintain the edge.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The Spyderco Military features a large handle, designed for serious use. As far as construction is concerned, Spyderco started out with large pieces of G10 and added nested partial steel liners. This provides a lot of strength and rigidity but is also what keeps this knife at an amazing 4.2 ounces. The steel liners are screwed into an aluminum backspacer. Everything can be taken apart and is extremely easy to clean. This is a simple and very effective handle design.

When discussing the ergonomics of the Military, the first thing to mention is how large this handle actually is. I can almost get a 2 hand grip on it – and I wear large gloves. This gives you plenty of room for forward or reverse grips with or without gloves. The G10 provides plenty of traction and Spyderco has done a great job of jimping the thumb ramp and choil. This is very aggressive jimping and it works very well. There is also a small choil so you can choke up on the blade. I’m a big fan of this choil – it allows the Military to flex between a defensive (or offensive) tool, and a straight up utility knife. The ergonomics on the Military are outstanding.

The clip is a simple affair, it’s been blackened and is made of tempered steel. One of the biggest complaints peole have with this knife is that the clip is tip down right side carry only. I know most people prefer tip up, and that would be my preference as well. However, there are no steel liners near the butt of the handle, so there really is no place to add a clip unless you want to significantly increase the weight by adding a larger liner. For people wanting left side carry, Spyderco has a separate left-hand version of the Military available here.

All in all, the clip is good. It rides decently low, it’s discreet and has good retention. Tip up carry would be nice but it’s not feasible given the overall design.

Deployment and Lockup

The Spyderco Military, utilizes an oversize thumb hole (or a “Spyder hole”) for deployment. Deployment on my knife is pretty fast. The thumb hole is a generous 14mm in diameter, which allows for easy access with bare hands or gloves. I can flick the blade out on my new Military, but it takes a little more force. With time the knife and it’s high quality phosphor bronze washers will break in, and deployment will only get smoother and easier.

After deployment the blade is locked in place with a thick steel liner lock. When the lock engages its sounds sorta like someone stepped into a bear trap – it makes a very crisp and satisfying “SNAP” when it locks in place. Lockup is very secure. There is no blade play at all. The partial liners are bolted together through the aluminum backspacer – this is just a rock solid design and again, I’m blown away by the fact that this knife only weighs 4.2 ounces. To have such a big knife with such a strong lock with this weight puts the Military in a class of its own.

Spyderco Military Review – Final Thoughts

The Spyderco Military is an amazing folding tactical knife. With its light weight, large handle and incredibly versatile blade, the Military is made with tactical use in mind. It’s a very well thought out design, and Spyderco has been refining the knife for years. I also really like how the Military is made in America.

In terms of potential criticisms, I would caution readers on the relatively delicate tip of the blade, and the fact that the pocket clip is designed for tip down carry only. If you want a folder that doubles as a pry-bar, I’d look elsewhere (the Zero Tolerance 0550 comes to mind), but if you want a practical tactical knife you will not be disappointed with a Military.

Sale

Spyderco Military Model Signature USA-Made Knife with 4" CPM S30V Stainless Steel Blade and Durable Camo G-10 Handle - PlainEdge - C36GPCMO

Iconic Design: Originally created to meet the demanding needs of forward-deployed military personnel, it incorporates all the best elements of Spyderco's unmistakable style while exemplifying our commitment to "Reliable High Performance."
Superior Blade Steel: Since the steel is the spirit of the knife, CPM S30V seemed the logical choice for the blade given its reputation for long-term edge retention and rust resistance. It is available in satin finish or non-reflective DLC coating.
Light and Durable: The Military Model is modified with a clip-point profile and a full-flat grind for balance strength and exceptional cutting performance.
Versatile: A defining feature of the Military Model is the fully accessible 14mm Round Hole. It ensures swift, ambidextrous, one-handed opening: even while wearing gloves.
Dependable: Each knife includes a nested Linerlock mechanism, textured G-10 scales, lined Lanyard holes, and right-side, tip-down pocket clips that keep your knife poised and ready for immediate access.

I recommend purchasing the Spyderco Military at Amazon or BladeHQ . By purchasing things through any of the links on this website you support BladeReviews.com and help produce future reviews without any additional cost to you. Thank you very much.

Benchmade 741 Onslaught Review

by Dan Jackson 9 Comments

Last Updated: August 21, 2019
Once in a while you run into a knife that really blows you away. The Benchmade 741 Onslaught is certainly one of those breathtaking knives for me. Designed by the late Bob Lum, the Onslaught is a large and elegant folding tactical knife that speaks to me on a lot of levels.

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General Dimensions and Blade Steel

Make no mistake, the Onslaught is a big knife. The blade alone is 4.3″, the overall length is 9.63″ and the weight is 6.8 ounces. Yeah, this is a big knife and I wouldn’t use it for EDC. I would prefer to use a Benchmade 746 Mini Onslaught with a 3.45″ blade, an overall length of 7.8″ and a weight 3.9 ounces. The “mini” is still a pretty big knife, but I find it much more practical for daily carry. That said, the full size Onslaught could make for a very deadly defensive/tactical knife, or a high end user.

In reality, I think many of the people who buy the 741 will buy it as a collectors piece. They may be fans of Bob Lum or simply like the look (it’s pretty wicked looking). There is nothing wrong with that. When you drop $150+ on an elegant folding knife like this, you are probably not going to immediately take it to the backyard to thump on some 2x4s. This is the kind of knife you could pass on to your kids, and who knows, if Benchmade decides to discontinue the model or ship production overseas, it may even be a little bit of an investment down the road.

Anyhow, lets talk about the blade. The 741 Onslaught has a big, up-swept modified clip point blade. There is plenty of belly on this knife, and it looks like this would be a decent skinner. There is a long swedge that terminates with a very delicate tip. For such a big knife the tip is almost comically thin. In fact, the entire blade is made from pretty thin stock. I would prefer if they made it slightly thicker. I think this would improve the strength and utility of the knife as I would be very cautious with putting this knife in any kind of hard use role.

Further adding to the delicate nature of the blade is the almost full flat grind. The slicing ability of this knife is incredible and the long thin blade will shave off material with ease, but this is all done at the expense of blade strength. My blade came with a lightly stonewashed finish, but you also have the option of a black coated blade as well.

Blade steel on this knife is tried and true Benchmade 154CM. 154CM is a hearty steel that takes a great edge and holds it well. The 154CM can be somewhat prone to rust so keep the knife clean and dry to ensure it will stay beautiful.

Handle and Pocket Clip

The handle is made of large pieces of G10. The G10 has a relatively smooth finish and it isn’t particularly grippy but the handles are so large it doesn’t really matter and the result is you have a beautiful knife. Under the G10 scales are full stainless steel liners. These liners have been blackened and are skeletonized in effort to reduce the weight. Everything is screwed together with attractive black chromed hardware and a large black backspacer runs most the length of the handle.

As far as ergonomics are concerned the handle is fairly comfortable. The handle material doesn’t have a high traction finish, instead relying on larger design elements to hold your fingers in place. The choil and sweep of the handle have a way of wedging your hand in place. This provides a firm grip and is still pretty comfortable for my larger hands. If I choke up a little more on the knife it’s much more comfortable and allows me to better control the big blade. There is no jimping to be found on this knife, which doesn’t bother me because of the overall size, but for such a big knife I felt the ergonomics to be decent, but not outstanding.

The pocket clip on the Onslaught is rather large, which compliments the overall size of the knife. It is made of blackened nickle and allows for right side tip up carry. It is designed to support a lot of weight and balances the knife well in your pocket. I like the chrome finish Tip up carry is preferred for quickly deploying folding pocket knives so I am not complaining that Benchmade didn’t leave an option for tip down. The nickle pocket clip fits well with the overall elegant nature of the knife.

Deployment and Lock

For a big knife the Benchmade Onslaught moves fast. There is a large thumb hole that provides enough room to snap the blade out with or without gloves. The G10 scales have been machined to open up access to the thumb hole. Even though the thumb hole is partially occluded by the handle it is still easy to get at.

The Onslaught uses the Benchmade Axis lock. This is a great lock and has been proven time and time again with Benchmade’s other offerings. The Axis Lock in the Onslaught is very smooth and when the blade is locked open there is zero play in the knife. When the blade is closed it is centered in the middle of the handle, another small detail that I’ve come to expect from Benchmade.

Benchmade 741 Onslaught Review – Final Thoughts

The Onslaught is a beautiful knife with amazing build quality and great attention to detail. As a working mans knife you could find some faults with the design, but I suspect that Benchmade had the collector in mind when they built this blade. Practical weaknesses would include a relatively thin tip and a low traction handle, but the end product would still make a serviceable weapon and a beautiful heirloom. All in all I like the full size Onslaught a lot, but for every day carry, and even tactical use I would reach for the “mini” version.

Benchmade 741 Lum Onslaught Folding Knife Plain Edge

Axis Lock Bob Lums first
154 CM
Big Awesome Folding Knife
Reversible pocket clip

I recommend purchasing the Benchmade Onslaught at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

Benchmade 950 Rift Review

by Dan Jackson 16 Comments

Last Updated: July 28, 2019
Ah, the Benchmade 950 Rift. What a sweet piece of steel. The Rift originally came out in 2008 as part of Benchmade’s “black class” which are designed to be military and police grade blades built for extreme duty. Designed by famed knifemaker Warren Osborne, the 950 Rift certainly is extreme and it took the knife world by storm gaining critical acclaim by reviewers and enthusiasts alike.

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Today the 950 Rift is still available with it’s very distinct reverse tanto blade and is available in a variety of configurations; including the ultra cool black and gray G10 handled version shown here. I would say that this knife is appealing as a large EDC knife, a small emergency defense knife, or even a collectors item. Lets take a closer look at this unique and exciting knife.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Osborne 950 Rift is a fairly big folding EDC knife with a 3.7″ blade, a total length of 8.27″ and a weight of 4.8 ounces. The weight is perhaps one of my biggest criticisms, but really that is me grasping for straws. If you don’t like heavier knives then this won’t be the folder for you, but many, myself included, enjoy carrying a larger knife and the weight won’t be an issue. For a lighter Benchmade with about the same length, consider the Benchmade Griptilian.

As I mentioned before, the blade shape is classified as a “reverse tanto” which gives the knife excellent tip strength and the large sweeping belly of a drop point blade. I love the way this blade looks and it’s a super practical design for tactical and utility work. The blade is given a nice flat grind making it a very good slicer.

You have the option of getting the blade in a satin, blasted, or coated finish (blasted shown here). I really like the look of the coated version, Benchmade’s coating is very tough and I think the black blade with black hardware is a handsome combo.

The blade material is 154CM, a stainless steel that Benchmade uses in a lot of their knives. Benchmade knows how to heat treat 154CM and I think it was an excellent choice for the Rift. 154CM is a very durable steel that holds an edge very well and is easy to sharpen. In my experience corrosion resistance is very good but 154CM will rust if left in a damp environment so it’s important to keep the blade clean and to cover it with oil if you live in a humid area (I have no problems in South and Central FL).

Handle Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle of the 950 is arguably cooler than the blade itself, which is a pretty tough feat considering. The handle scales are made of sculpted G10. My G10 came in layered black and dark gray, but you can also get black G10. The Rift has full stainless steel liners that, like the rest of the hardware, has been blackened. I wish Benchmade skeletonized these scales as I think they could really drop some weight off this knife. But all in all, the handle construction is very solid and I love the look of the scales.

The ergonomics on the Rift are pretty good. It’s a large and comfortable handle and I really like the way the butt end has been formed – it creates a good “catch” for your pinky and really lets you get some leverage on the blade. There isn’t a ton of jimping, which will turn off some. For me, I don’t mind the absence of jimping and actually prefer that in a work knife. I know some people say that there are some rough edges that they needed to sand down on the handle. If you plan on using the knife for heavy carving, then you may very well want a thicker knife.

The clip of the 950 Rift is Benchmade’s classic “arrow” clip and is among my favorite pocket clip designs. I like the blackened clip, it really helps with concealing the knife in your pocket. The clip will wear, but it wears gracefully and in my opinion, is one of those clips that gets cooler with use. Retention is great and the clip is mounted so that it rides low in the pocket. Benchmade tapped the handles so you have the option of tip up ambidextrous carry.

Deployment and Lock

Deployment on the Rift is very nice. As you would expect on any Benchmade knife, the Rift uses high quality, low friction, phosphor bronze bushings. The bushings are combined with large ambidextrous thumb studs to deploy the Rift’s blade quickly and easily. I really like the thumb studs, there are nicely milled out, have a unique design and have been either anodized or given a DLC coating – it’s been very durable and hasn’t rubbed off at all after a LOT of opening.

As you can see in the pictures, the Rift uses Benchmade’s Axis Lock. For those unfamiliar with the Axis Lock, is is a very intelligently designed lock that Benchmade uses on a lot of their knives. It is very strong and very easy to use ambidextrously. I love the axis lock, it’s among my favorites because it is so smooth reliable and easy to use. One hand opening and closing with this knife is a breeze.

Benchmade 950 Rift Review – Final Thoughts

Well, what is there to say? The combination of great blade design, 154CM steel, G10 handle, and reliable Axis lock mean there is a lot going for this knife. If you are in the market for a larger EDC knife or a folding tactical knife, the 950 Rift has a lot to offer. Build quality is very sturdy, the knife cuts well, it’s comfortable in hand, and 154CM steel is very serviceable. I also like the fact that the Rift is made in the USA.

As far as potential negatives are concerned, my main gripe is the weight of the knife. This is a bigger offering from Benchmade, and you definitely feel that in hand and in pocket. This may not be an issue for some, but for folks that appreciate a lightweight EDC knife, I might recommend the Benchmade 940 or Griptilian instead. I think Benchmade could have mitigated this slightly by drilling holes in the thick steel liners.

If size and weight aren’t a terrible concern, and you want a reliable and well made work or tactical knife, then the Rift could be an excellent choice.

Benchmade Osbourne Design Rift Knife with Black G10 Handle and AXIS Lock

Patented AXIS Mechanics
One-Hand Ambidextrous Function
Heavily Milled G10 for Tactile Grip
Tough 154CM Reverse Tanto Blade

I recommend purchasing the Benchmade Rift from Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Kershaw Scallion Review

by Dan Jackson 5 Comments

Last Updated: August 30, 2019
The Kershaw Scallion is another one of those timeless EDC knives that should be considered by collectors and enthusiasts alike. The Scallion is a remarkable little blade that shares some great similarities to the Kershaw Skyline, but is very much it’s own animal. Designed by custom knifemaker Ken Onion, the Scallion is a slim, lightweight knife with very fast blade deployment and superb fit and finish. If you are in the market for a high quality and affordable EDC knife, the Scallion is a blade that you may want to consider.

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General Dimensions and Blade Properties

The Scallion has an overall length of 5.57″, a 2.4″ blade, weighs 2.9 ounces and is made in the USA. This is a great size for Every Day Carry (EDC). It’s very unobtrusive in the pocket and it won’t weigh you down – excellent for urban or suburban carry.

The blade is a modified drop point with a hollow grind and a recurve to the edge of the blade. The recurve is good for slicing although it makes the knife more difficult to sharpen. Ken Onion is known for designing curvy (“organic”) looking knives, and the Scallion fights right in to that theme. With that said, I would not recommend a recurved blade to a first time knife buyer. There is a slight swedge that concludes at a capable tip. This blade shape is capable for EDC tasks like breaking down boxes, opening mail, and food preparation. Because the knife is so small, I would not push the Scallion much further than that.

The blade is made of 420HC stainless steel. 420HC is regarded as a low end steel, although if it is heat treated properly, it can perform fine for daily tasks. 420HC has great corrosion resistance although the edge retention is not going to be on par with something like 440C. Kershaw does a good job with their heat treat, however, I would like to see them upgrade the steel on this. If they used a Sandvik 12C28 like they do on the Leek, I think that would be an excellent upgrade.

Handle and Pocket Clip

The Scallion typically comes with an anodized aluminum handle. The aluminum is 6000 series aircraft aluminum and it keeps the knife lightweight and strong. The great part about the Scallion is that there are a variety of different colors and handle configurations to choose from. This knife comes in everything from a standard satin finished blade with a black handle to a rainbow colored version that is very unique looking and everything in between. There have also been a lot of limited edition versions of the knife so if there is a particular color configuration you are looking for, it is probably available commercially or on the secondary market.

The handle is comfortable and ergonomic. There is a short run of jimping on the thumb ramp of the blade, and the finger choil which helps provide good grip. Depending on the handle materials you select, there will be additional traction. This knife is easy to use and feels good in the hand.

The pocket clip is rather large and only allows for right hand tip down carry. I like the option to move the clip around, and I prefer tip up carry for faster deployment so this is something of a disappointment for me, however, I wouldn’t call it a deal breaker. For an EDC knife, tip down carry is still acceptable and you will get the job done with this knife.

Deployment and Lock

The Scallion is a flipper, equipped with Kershaw’s Speed Safe assisted opening mechanism. The Speed Safe system was developed by Ken Onion as well, and is a very common assisted opening mechanism found on Kershaw knives. The action on the Scallion is snappy and reliable. The flipper works well, and there are phosphor bronze washers inside (although you don’t really notice with the assist).

The Scallion uses a either a steel frame lock, or steel liner lock to lock the knife open. The liner lock is sturdy and more than adequate for every day carry type tasks. My lock engaged early, and there was no blade play or stick in the lock. Kershaw has their liner locks and steel frame locks dialed in pretty well, and the lock on my Scallion is no exception.

Kershaw Scallion Review – Final Thoughts

The Kershaw Scallion is a capable budget EDC knife, but not without its quirks. It’s a great size for EDC, the materials are decent given the price point, the knife is well executed, is comfortable to use, made in the USA, and retails for under $50. Certainly there are some high points. On the flip side, the recurve blade makes the knife tough to sharpen, and 420HC stainless steel is on the low end of the spectrum, even at this budget price point. If you can get past those two points, then the Scallion could be a great EDC option.

Personally, if I was in the market for a Ken Onion / Kershaw EDC knife, I’d go with the Leek, but the Scallion has stood the test of time and continues to be a viable daily carry option that won’t break the bank.

Sale

Kershaw Scallion Pocket Knife (1620FL); 2.4 420HC Stainless Steel Blade and 410 Steel Handle, Featuring SpeedSafe Assisted Opening, Flipper, Lanyard Hole, Secure Frame Lock and Tip Lock; 2.9 OZ.,Small

KERSHAW SCALLION STAINLESS POCKETKNIFE: One of our most popular knives, the Scallion is a perfect knife that makes a great pocket or purse carry, ready to handle just about any task you’d ask of it. Compact, sharp, and made in the USA.
DROP POINT PLAIN EDGE BLADE: Made from tough, 420HC blade steel with extra carbon and chromium to boost hardenability and corrosion resistance. A bead-blasted finish adds a clean, matte look.
410 STAINLESS STEEL HANDLE provides a smooth, comfortable grip while in use. Silver with a bead-blasted finish to match the blade. Includes single-position pocketclip for right, tip-down carry.
DUAL LOCK SYSTEM: Equipped with Kershaw’s SpeedSafe assisted opening for easy one-handed release with flipper. Frame lock secures blade open while in use and Tip-lock slider keeps blade locked closed when folded.
SIZE SPECIFICATIONS: Blade Length: 2.4in. Closed Length: 3.5in. Overall Length: 5.75in. Weighing in at 2.9oz. Backed by Kershaw’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.

I recommend purchasing the Scallion at Amazon.com or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.