What makes for a good everyday carry knife? It’s all in the details. And in the case of the new Benchmade 486 Saibu, it’s chock full of ’em. Designed in collaboration with custom knifemaker Seiichi Nakamura, the Saibu not only offers an EDC-sized blade made of premium steel, but it also comes in a unique, attractive design that’s built to stand up to your day-to-day. The name of the knife literally means “details,” and they all come together in this decidedly modern gent’s EDC folder.
The Saibu features a premium CPM-20CV stainless steel drop point blade that’s super sharp and wear resistant. At 2.98” it offers plenty of cutting edge for EDC tasks while keeping compact, making it an excellent option for EDCers in places with stricter knife laws. It’s a plain edge knife with a high flat grind that lets it tackle slicing tasks with ease. But the curve at the tip lets you get in close for detail cutting work when needed.
The Saibu also sports dual thumbstuds and Benchmade’s AXIS lock, providing fully ambidextrous operation. That AXIS lock sits within a beautiful ergonomic handle made primarily of lightweight G10 scaling for superior grip and control. Windows are cut into the handle to save on weight, but also to add gorgeous cocobolo wood inlays, giving the Saibu a refined modern gent’s look.
But beyond the looks, the practicality of the design also means that this knife only weighs 2.7 ounces, making it barely noticeable in your pockets until you need to use it. The reversible tip-up deep carry pocket clip adds further versatility and convenience to carrying this stellar knife around everywhere.
True to its name the Saibu is a detail-oriented modern gent’s knife that has the design and the materials that make it an excellent choice for EDC. It’s attractively-styled yet immensely practical, it’s a knife that both looks great in hand and feels great when you actually have to use it. Check it out at the link below.
