It would hardly be an exaggeration to say that there are many popular Benchmade Knives. Models like the Osborne 940, Griptilian and Mini Griptilian are all frequent fliers on “best of” lists. But there is one that continuously rises to the top: the Bugout, which was so popular it spawned the Mini Bugout. 

But why is this Benchmade Knife such a beloved entry in the brand catalog? Let’s take a closer look.

So, Why the Bugout?

First, before we even get into the details, just looking at the profile of the knife you should be able to see that it’s going to be popular among those that carry knives, almost because of its sparse aesthetics. 

Those that carry knives daily by and large don’t care much about how nice a knife looks. There are exceptions to this but for those that draw a knife every day, multiple times per day, they care more that it does what they need more than they care that they look cool doing it. 

The Bugout is a heavy-hitter here. Its drop point blade is built for utility and its simple handle profile indexes well and handles comfortably. 

Dimensions are another winner here. The Bugout sports a 3.23” blade which is right in that sweet spot between 3 and 4 inches where it’s highly effective at jobs that require a smaller blade without being so small that it lacks the heft and cutting edge for heavier tasks. It’s not a chopper, but for anything else, it’s not too shabby, either. 

Ergonomics are another winner here. Handle shape aside, the length of the handle is greater than 4 inches, which means that for all except those with the biggest hands, you can get a full grip on the handle of this knife, making it very comfortable to use. 

The Bugout also only tips the scales at about 2.5 ounces, making it a lightweight entry into any EDC rotation. 

Now let’s take materials. The Bugout is made with handle scales in a variety of materials, such as aluminum, Micarta, and carbon fiber. All are tough and require little to no maintenance, which is huge for a knife that’s designed to be carried (and used) daily. 

As with the handle scales, the blade is also available in several different steel alloys. Regardless, all of them offer value in their own right. Two common options are S30V and S90V, both of which are renowned for edge retention, particularly the latter, which, though it is hard to resharpen, will hold an edge forever (and that’s hardly an overstatement, truly). 

Other nice features like smooth deployment, a lanyard hold through the scales, and a pocket clip for easy carry, though they are not features that are exclusive to this model, only serve to add more value here.

And then, of course, there is the AXIS Lock. This lock the Bugout shares in common with other Benchmade Knives, but even though it is not exclusive to the Bugout, it is an excellent lock type. It is one of the strongest folding lock types ever designed, is not partial to right-handed users only (as in the case of most liner and frame locks), and on top of that, since it doesn’t require you to put your fingers in the path of the blade when closing, it’s safer, too. 

So that, in a nutshell, is why the Benchmade Bugout is so popular. 

Explore This and Other Benchmade Knives at River’s Edge Cutlery 

Want to add one of these to your pocket dump today? Or perhaps you’re interested in learning more about other Benchmade Knives? Either way, visit River’s Edge Cutlery to get a closer look and let them know what you’re looking for. They’ll help you find it.

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