Made in the USA

ESEE-3 Review

Last Updated: July 14, 2019
ESEE Knives specializes in outdoor fixed blade knives designed to take a beating and perform in a number of environments. Something special about ESEE knives is their no questions asked warranty that covers everything but rust. If anything happens to your knife through use or misuse, ESEE will replace it – no questions asked. This is great for a hard use tool because these knives aren’t cheap.

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The ESEE-3 is one of ESEE’s smaller knives designed for anything from general field and utility work, to use as a full on survival knife or bug out bag blade. These knives (like all of ESEE’s offerings) have been proven in their jungle survival training courses. If you are looking for a smaller survival knife, or simply want to add a versatile fixed blade to your system, the ESEE-3 could be an excellent choice.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The ESEE-3 has a total length of 8.31″, a 3.88″ blade and a weight of 5.2 ounces without the sheath (9.3 ounces with the sheath). This is a great all purpose size and a lightweight carry for such a strong knife. Could see the ESEE-3 doing great in a variety of scenarios, from a day hike to life on a ranch.

The ESEE-3 is of full tang construction and comes powder coated in black or desert tan. This makes the knife both strong and durable. The blade is a drop point shape and features a full flat grind, excellent for slicing, and batoning. The point is reinforced on which is almost critical for use as a survival blade but it also serves well in defensive scenarios. I looked at the plain edge version although ESEE offers this knife in a combo edge as well.

The ESEE-3 is made of 1095 high carbon steel. 1095 is a durable tool steel that is very good choice for survival knives because it is easy to sharpen, holds a good edge, and doesn’t chip under hard use. It’s a high carbon steel, not a stainless steel, so one issue with 1095 is that it will rust if you aren’t careful. You must oil this knife. Something as simple as WD-40 will be adequate although some prefer specialized knife and gun oils.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handle scales on the ESEE-3 are made of micarta. They are fixed onto the tang with 3 allen bolts. The handle scales are nicely milled and rounded. They provide good grip and the knife feels good in the hand with no noticible “hot spots” after use. The level of fit and finish on ESEE knives is very high, and one way to confirm that is by examining how the handle and the tang meet together. Examining the handle and tang on the ESEE-3 reveals that everything is flush with no edges or gaps. This is a nod to the high quality control and production values ESEE adheres to. The overall length of the handle is very adequate, even for larger hands. For a knife that is meant to be used, a large and comfortable handle is very important and ESEE did a great job with the handle on the ESEE-3.

The pommel (butt) of the ESEE-3 is pointed and can be used as a glass-breaker. This is a cool little addition that I may never need but like to have. Naturally, it’s good for breaking glass but it is also as a potentially non lethal way to use the knife (although I think there is still great potential to seriously injure someone with it – be careful). There is also a lanyard hole drilled into the pommel which is essential for heavy chopping and other hard use tasks.

Sheath

The sheath on the ESEE-3 is also very well done. The standard sheath is made of molded kydex and has a boot clip. An optional MOLLE adapter is made of cordura and provides the option to mount the sheath with a MOLLE system. When you secure the knife in the sheath there is a nice snap as it fits together. There is a retention strap and a elastic cover which is used if you want to mount the sheath for upside down carry. There is a small drain hole at the base of the sheath which helps keep your blade dry (especially important with that 1095 steel).

ESEE-3 Review – Final Thoughts

The ESEE-3 is a very heavy duty and high quality fixed blade knife. If you are looking for something on the smaller side, I think the “3” combines a light weight with a lot of utility. That blade has a lot of belly and the full flat grind is always nice. I could see the ESEE-3 performing well as an EDC knife (if you can swing carrying a fixed blade), a tactical knife, a camp knife, a hunting knife or as part of your gear for bushcraft and wilderness survival.

I love how the ESEE-3 has been built in the USA to very high tolerances and is backed by one of the best warranties in the industry. I’m not sure I can say this knife is an outstanding bargain, but you will definitely get what you pay for. As long as you don’t lose the knife, or leave it in a bucket of salt water, the RC-3 will serve you well for the rest of your life.

ESEE Knives ESEE-3MIL-P Military Plain Black Edge / w Green Canvas Micarta Handles

Overall Length: 8.31", Blade Length: 3.875"
Blade Material: 1095 Carbon Steel
Handle Material: Canvas Micarta
Sheath: Olive Drab Molded Polymer
Made in USA

I recommend purchasing the ESEE-3 at 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.

Benchmade 14210 Heckler and Koch Snody Review

by Dan Jackson 1 Comment

Last Updated: November 29, 2019
For those looking for a rock solid edc knife with a sub 3″ blade, the Benchmade 14210 may be just the ticket. This knife is part of Benchmade’s Heckler and Koch (HK) line, which is a partnership between the two companies where the knives are made by Benchmade and branded with HK insignia.

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A number of interesting designs have emerged from this line, all with a no-nonsense tactical feel. The HK 14210 is no different although this time Benchmade teamed up with custom knife maker Mike Snody to give us a really unique looking blade.

Purpose

For purposes of this review I am mainly examining the 14210 from an EDC knife standpoint. With a blade just under 3″ this knife could work well in areas requiring a smaller knife that doesn’t compromise strength and performance. I think the 14210 could function as an emergency tactical knife as well due to its stout design.

General Dimensions and Blade Characteristics

The 14210 has a blade length of 2.95″, an overall length of 6.80″ and a weight of 3.08 ounces. 3 ounces for an EDC knife is very reasonable, and the 14210 has a pleasant “heft” to it in hand. For those interested in, say, a Benchmade Griptilian but are looking for something a little more unique and exclusive this knife might fit the bill. The 14210 uses the same 154CM stainless steel as the Griptilian. As I have mentioned in other reviews, 153CM is a very good high end blade steel known for it’s all-around performance and good corrosion resistance.

Where the Snody 14210 departs from the Griptilian is with its very unique blade shape. This is a modified drop point blade, defined by a long swedge, a slight recurve and a hollow grind. The recurve makes the smaller sized blade cut like a bigger knife and I was pleased with how razor sharp this knife came out of the box. I also liked the grey finish on this knife; it wears well and looks good.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

This handle benefits from a simple design. It has an open back with pilars. It also has sculpted G10 handle scales over 420J stainless steel liners. The liners have been milled out and help keep the weight of this stout blade manageable. This is a very simple handle design but it feels very strong.

The ergonomics on the 14210 are very nice for a smaller blade. The G10 scales are sculpted and a pattern of lightly textured lines run down the length of the blade. This texturing could be improved to provide a better grip, but I think it’s fine for most EDC tasks. There is a nice thickness to the handle and the edges of have been smoothed for a more comfortable grip. There is a large thumb ramp on the top of the blade with very aggressive jimping. That thumb ramp works really well with the shallow choil, providing excellent control over the knife. While this isn’t the most innovative handle shape I have seen, it certainly does the job here.

The pocket clip is a simple, unbranded Benchmade clip finished in a flat black. This is the “arrow” clip common on a lot of Benchmade’s knives. The clip allows for ambidextrous tip up carry and is retained with 3 sturdy screws. The retention is good and the clip is mounted high so that the blade rides low and unobtrusively in your pocket. All in all I am very pleased with this clip.

Lock and Deployment

The HK 14210 has Benchmade’s patented axis lock technology. The Axis lock is wonderful and it works flawlessly here. My deployment was a little stiff out of the box, but after breaking the lock in a bit it has really improved the deployment. The blade is fairly thick and heavy so it really builds some momentum and flings the blade out. I really feel that with a knife like this, you really don’t need an assisted or automatic knife. One handed opening is fast and easy, and it’s just as easy to close this knife one handed as well. The fast deployment and the axis lock are major features of the knife.

Benchmade 14210 Review – Final Thoughts

The 14210 is a great folding EDC knife with a sub 3″ blade. 154CM steel, a rock solid handle, smooth deployment and solid axis lock all make this a great knife to consider carrying. The size and weight are other pluses that make this a great EDC option. I find the axis lock and full liners to make this knife extremely durable. The overall quality and attention to detail created an extremely loyal following for the Benchmade HK 14210.

Benchmade 14210 Heckler & Koch Snody Design Axis 3.4in. Plain Edge Blade Tactical Folding Knife

Lengths: Blade - 2.95in., Overall - 6.8in., Closed - 3.85in.
Blade Material: 154CM. Plain Edge. Handle Material: Aluminum
Lock: patented AXIS locking mechanism. Black G10 Handle Scales.
Modified Drop-Point with Recurve and Dual Thumb-Studs.
Double 410 Stainless Steel Liners. Weight: 3.08 oz.

Editor: I recommend buying the Benchmade 14210 at Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Zero Tolerance 0300 Review

by Dan Jackson 10 Comments

When Zero Tolerance first came on the scene the 0300 is one of their knives that really caught my eye. The graceful curves reminded me of some deep sea mammal while the construction reminded me of a semi truck. So I wasn’t surprised to learn that the 0300 was a collaboration between Ken Onion and the Strider Knife Corporation. Ken Onion is known for making a lot of really nice designs for Kershaw (and now CRKT) and Strider is known for making some of the toughest folders in the world. When you get two powerhouses like this in the same room working on a knife that is made in the USA with the fit and finish Kershaw is known for – well, I start to pay attention.

Before we go forward I need to say that “0300” is used to designate the coloration of the knife. All the knives in the 0300 Zero Tolerance line (which include the 0300, 0301 and 0302) are identical except for the color schemes. Pictured in this review is the black on black 0300. The ZT 0301 has a Forest Green handle and Tiger Striped blade finish and the ZT 0302 has a Coyote Brown handle with a Tiger Striped blade finish. All 3 knives are made in the USA.

General Details and Blade Dimensions

The size and heft of this knife are the first things you notice. The 0300 has the profile of a bulldozer and it is incredibly stout. The total length is 9″, the blade is 3-3/4″ and the weight is a solid 8.6 ounces. This is a heavy knife and the weight may deter some people from wanting to carry it. I’ll admit, it’s not my ideal EDC and this is definitely a knife that you don’t forget that is in your pocket, but I have carried it no problem with a sturdy pair of shorts or jeans. I feel that whether the knife is “too heavy” is up to you, so I’m not going to pass judgment in that regard.

The blade is a modified drop point, marked by Ken Onion’s signature styling. It features a high flat grind, and a partial swedge near the top. What I really like about this knife is the big belly on the blade. This is great for utility tasks. The blade steel is thick (4mm) and it holds the thickness all the way to the tip. This knife wasn’t designed for stabbing, it was designed to hold up to hard use tasks. There is a nice subtle recurve for enhanced slicing power and the Zero Tolerance logo and various other insignia has been laser etched onto the blade.

The steel on the 0300 series is a large piece of S30V. For those unfamiliar with S30V, it is one of the finest knife steels available, and it’s been this way for a number of years now. More expensive steels have arrived on the scene but it’s really tough to match the combination of ease of sharpening, edge retention and corrosion resistance that S30V is known for.

The blade has been further treated with a Tungsten DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) Coating. This is a high quality blade coating that will hold up a lot better than more inexpensive painted coatings. The tiger stripes on the 0301 and 0302 are really killer and quite unique in the production knife world.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle of the 0300 is really well done. As far as construction goes, on one side we have textured G10 over a stainless steel liner. The other side (the lock side) is made of a single piece of titanium. There is a G10 spacer between the two sides and everything has been screwed together. Everything lines up flush, and it’s all been beautifully finished with no rough edges or anything of that nature.

Ergonomics on the 0300 are excellent. The handle has the same wide profile of the blade and it feels very satisfying in the hand. The flipper doubles as a choil and there is a generous amount of jimping on the thumb ramp and pommel. Both sides of the handle are machined with a very aggressive textured pattern. All of these elements combine to provide superior grip and response. I am not worried about my hand slipping forward on the knife at all. It is very comfortable to hold this knife, with zero hot spots. The 0300 is a large knife so I expected good ergonomics, but the designers really went out of their way to cover all of the bases. I am very impressed with the ergonomics of this knife.

The pocket clip of the 0300 is straight out of the Kershaw parts bin. I have an almost identical clip on my Skyline (and a number of other Kershaw knives). That is ok though, because this is a proven clip design, it’s simple, and it totally works. This is a very stiff clip, which works well with the flat and wide profile of the knife; it will hold the knife in place anywhere in your pocket. Heavy knives have a tendancy to sink down to the corners of my pants pockets, which can interfere with some of the other gear I carry (like my flashlight). The stiffness of the 0300’s clip avoids that issue.

Another great thing about the clip is that it is mountable on all 4 corners of the knife. This gives you the freedom to carry your knife the way you want to. I also like how the clip has been blackened. All in all this is a very secure and discreet carry, I am very pleased with how well everything works considering it such a heavy knife.

Deployment and Lock-up

First of all, the 0300 is an assisted opening knife, making use of Kershaw’s SpeedSafe assisted opening technology. With the 0300 you have the option of either deploying the knife with the thumbstuds or flipper. This is really cool because the thumb studs actually work as the stop pin here, and often it’s very difficult to get at the thumbstuds on this type of knife. For me, I had no problem – even left handed, getting at the thumbstuds. Either way you want to deploy the knife, the SpeedSafe quickly engages and moves this big blade out with a good amount of speed. It’s a fun and satisfying knife to open and the SpeedSafe is a proven assisted opening mechanism. Of course, you could always disable this feature if you preferred 100% manual operation.

Deployment is not only fast, but it’s very smooth. The 0300 uses a pair of very large phosphor bronze washers. These low friction washers are very smooth. Also, the pivot pin is very big. It’s actually a large bolt that requires a 3/8″ driver to loosen it. This may be problematic in the field, but everyone owns a 3/8″ driver so for my use it wasn’t an issue. I think it’s a pretty cool look and is appropriate given how overbuilt the rest of the knife is.

The lock on the 0300 is a titanium frame lock. This is a very sturdy style of lock and ZT really put this one together correctly. As you can see, mine engages nice and early, with plenty of room to break in with use. It almost goes without saying, but there is absolutely no blade play in this knife. Despite the strength of the lock, it is still easy to disengage when you want to fold the knife up. A cool detail is that they included a Hinderer lockbar stabilizer (that dark circular portion) on the side of the lock. This handy feature prevents you from overextending the titanium frame lock, which could compromise the integrity of the knife.

Zero Tolerance 0300 vs. Zero Tolerance 0350

A common question a lot people have is whether they want the ZT 0300 or the smaller Zero Tolerance 0350. If you are one of those people, I made a video comparing the two knives.

Zero Tolerance 0300 Review – Final Thoughts

The ZT 0300 is an incredible knife. The build quality is superb, the selection of materials is top notch and the design and features are outstanding. The knife retails for around $230, which is actually an outstanding value when you consider that this knife is very similar in both design and build quality to several Strider knives selling for $400-$500. I don’t think you will be able to find another folding knife as well built and feature rich as the ZT 0300 in the $230 range.

Perhaps the biggest complaint would be the weight. It is not a light knife. However, if you want a large, beautiful, hard use folder with premium materials made in the USA then I can safely recommend the 0300 or any of it’s siblings.

I recommend purchasing the Zero Tolerance 0300 at Amazon.com.

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Kershaw Skyline Review

by Dan Jackson 11 Comments

Last Updated: March 19, 2019

The Skyline is often regarded as a reference point. A knife we compare other knives to. It’s also a damn good Every Day Carry (EDC) knife. Back when I originally reviewed the Skyline in 2010, it was among the first reviews to be published on the site. It was a great knife then. Today, it is just as relevant and excellent of a knife.

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This is an in-house design from Kershaw, meaning it wasn’t designed by a popular custom knife maker, and I doubt that when they originally created the knife they expected to have such a run away success on their hands. The Kershaw Skyline is an American-made, high-value, lightweight, EDC knife with all the features you would expect from a modern folding knife that is widely available and accessible at almost any budget.

General Dimensions and Blade Steel

The Skyline has an overall length of 7.375″, a 3.125″ long blade, weighs 2.3 ounces, and is made in the USA. In addition to being long and light, the knife is slim, measuring an inch across when closed and 3/8″ wide. The Skyline is ideal for EDC.

The Skyline sports a long spearpoint blade shape with a plain edge and a hollow saber grind. This is a very practical blade shape that is good for piercing and slicing. It is surprising how much blade you get considering the weight. The full size blade and handle lend a lot of versatility to a little 2.3 ounce knife.

The blade, liner, and pocket clip are all made of Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel. This is a hearty Swedish steel that holds an edge well and is easy to sharpen. My Skyline came sharp out of the box and is easy to maintain. The blade and the clip has a beadblasted finish. This isn’t my favorite finish, because it is more susceptible to rust than a stonewash or satin finish, but it works here (especially at the price).

Given the tremendous popularity of the Skyline, Kershaw has released this knife in a number of different handle colors and blade steels (including carbon fiber covers, a damascus blade, etc). So the knife can also have a collectible element to it if you want to go that route.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of this knife is made of lightly textured G10. The G10 is lightweight, feels nice and provides decent grip. The liner lock has received some jimping which works well however the spine of the knife has no jimping at all, which means your thumb has no real grip on the top of the knife when in use. This can be a problem, especially if you were to do some stabbing or thrust type cuts or were working with something like slimy foods, and is one of my few complaints with this knife.

The Skyline has a a pocket clip that allows for tip up or tip down carry. I found the clip to be very tight and I had to bend it with a plastic spatula before I got the desired pocket retention – an easy adjustment. One problem I do have with the clip is that it is not ambidextrous. Being left handed, this is something of a concern, and I would prefer if they drilled and tapped the handles for 4 way carry. They may have opted not to do that because there is only 1 liner.

The pocket clip rides fairly low in the pocket, there is about an inch of knife sticking up when the clip is mounted for tip up carry. I would prefer a lower riding clip, but the knife is still pretty discrete.

Deployment and Lock

The Skyline uses a flipper to open the blade. This was back before flippers were cool. Consequently, it does not have the dialed in, rocket the blade out action that we have come to expect on modern flippers. You need to pre-load the flipper tab or use your wrist to ensure fast opening, but it certainly gets the job done. There are thumb studs, but they are primarily blade stops. You can use the thumb stud if you are right handed to roll the blade open, but the flipper is the preferred way of opening the knife. Inside there are phosphor bronze washers, a feature typically found on higher end knives – especially when this knife originally came out.

The Skyline uses a liner lock to lock the blade open. This knife has only one steel liner (on the side of the lock) which greatly reduces the weight and thickness of the knife. I think this was a wise decision by Kershaw although some might prefer a beefier knife. In that case, I would simply suggest buying a bigger knife. The lock itself performs admirably. I like liner locks in general and this knife has a good one. Blade centering on my knife is perfect.

Here is a size comparison with the Skyline and another top shelf EDC blade, the Benchmade Mini Griptilian:

Kershaw Skyline Review – Final Thoughts

This is an amazing knife that has stood the test of time. The build quality is extremely high. Everything feels nice, the knife is well put together, and the materials are all of high quality. The Skyline is thin, lightweight and unassuming, which makes it an ideal choice for EDC. I often forget that I have it in my pocket. For around $40, you can use it guilt free.

In a perfect world, the Skyline would come with a 4 way pocket clip to ensure maximum versatility, and the detent strength would be improved to ensure better flipping action. Beyond that it is tough to find fault with the Skyline.

There is a reason why the Skyline remains so popular among knife enthusiasts for years and years: it is an excellent knife.

Kershaw Skyline (1760), Lightweight Pocketknife, Manual Open 3.1” High-Performance Sandvik 14C28N Stainless Steel Blade, Stonewashed Finish, Textured G-10 Handle, Reversible Pocket Clip, 2.5 OZ

3.1” blade made of high-performance Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel, offers excellent strength, corrosion and wear resistance
Lightweight G-10 handle scales offer a secure grip with texture and a deep index-finger contour
The drop-point blade offers good balance and a strong, hard tip. The rugged Stonewash finish is capable of hiding scratches and fingerprints
The perfect EDC for cutting tasks such as opening difficult packages, breaking down boxes, removing zip-ties, cleaning small game, aggressive animal defense, slicing fruit, and stripping small wire
An excellent gift idea for any hunter, hiker, hobbyist, carpenter, angler, backpacker or any knife enthusiast in need of a highly reliable, American made pocket folder

I recommend purchasing the Kershaw Skyline at Amazon or BladeHQ. Purchasing anything through any of the links on this site helps support BladeReviews. Any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

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.

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.

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