Our Favorite New Knives from Benchmade for 2021

Few names are as synonymous with EDC as Benchmade. They’ve made some of the most iconic and most-carried knives on the market, and every year they come out with refreshed old favorites, practical new models, and collectible additions to their catalog. This year is no different as they hit the ground running for 2021, and we’ve picked out some of our favorites from the release below. Read on to check out Benchmade’s solid new options for your next everyday carry knife.

533BK-2 Mini Bugout Blackout

As the smaller sibling to the massively popular Bugout, the Mini Bugout is one of the most sought-after and talked about everyday carry knives released in the past few years, now available in arguably its most desirable colorway: a full blackout treatment. And with its mix of great ergonomics, solid performance, and ultra light weight, it’s likely to see a place in even more pockets in the year ahead. Its standout feature is the premium 2.75" CPM-S30V stainless steel blade, held in place with Benchmade’s signature AXIS lock and deployed via the traditional thumbstud mechanism. The CF-Elite handles offer the user plenty of grip during even hard use, but it also complements the barely-there weight quality of the knife itself, which weighs in at a meager 1.5 ounces in total. And with its reversible tip-up deep carry pocket clip, it’s not just small and lightweight: it disappears into your pockets when you’re through.

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535-3 Carbon Fiber Bugout / 535BK-4 Aluminum Bugout

While the Mini Bugout Blackout may become the more popular and affordable option, there’s no denying that the original Bugout is still a heavyweight when it comes to EDC. It struck a perfect balance of size, performance, and features for the price, so it’s no surprise that it’s an enduring model for the brand to riff on in new styles and materials. Two new models for the year offer some premium iterations of the Bugout. The 535-3 Carbon Fiber features a top tier CPM-S90V satin blade paired with a carbon fiber handle with blue accents, and the 535BK-4 flips the colors and changes up the materials, opting for an elite and blacked-out M390 steel paired with a lightweight aluminum handle and red accents. For both models you get the same versatile 3“ drop point cutting edge paired with a comfortable handle design, with an reversible deep-carry clip, dual thumb studs, and a lanyard built into the backspacer/handle for the ultimate in carry versatility.

Check Out the 535-3 Carbon Fiber

Check Out the 535BK-4 Aluminum

945 Mini Osborne

Last but not least is the Mini Osborne, a compact re-imagining of the original and crazy popular 940 Osborne, down to the satin blade and iconic green handles. The Mini Osborne features a smaller 2.92" blade, brought down from the original knife’s 3.4" length. It keeps the unique flat-ground reverse tanto blade shape of the original however, including the top swedge that makes it easy to stick this knife in thin spaces and the curve at the tip that makes for excellent detail slicing when the task calls for it. Its CPM-S30V stainless steel blade composition means it can achieve and retain a sharp edge for longer, and you should be able to use this knife for utility tasks without having to worry about it getting dull quickly. Like the original, the 945 comes with aluminum handles, but the smaller size means the knife weighs in at a meager 2 ounces. You get the same black hardware and reversible pocket clip as the original, with an added twist—vibrant pink spacers give the 945’s interior a nice color pop and distinction.

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