2-25-2025

My Benchmade Knives

I haven't bought any Benchmades for a long time (since maybe 2017). Here is what I have and some of my thoughts on each:

AFCK

This is special to me as it was my first quality knife ever. Mine is in ATS-34 steel. It taught me to love the hole rather than a stud to open the knife. Mine was misplaced for a long long time, but now is back home again. I rarely carry it these days, but it is special. A liner lock knife.

Onslaught ("mini") - Bob Lum 746

There is (or was) a big and a little version. Discontinued. I see them selling for $300 on Ebay in 2025. Mine (a 746) is the mini, the big one is the 741. The steel is 154CM and the design is very nice. A hole to open.

Griptillian

Mine got lost on a hike in the Grand Canyon. It had a hole to open, which I did like a lot, but I don't see offered these days. It is still a very popular Benchmade classic and sells for about $200.

Torrent 890 Steigerwalt

This is an spring assisted stud opening knife in 154 CM.
Mine is marked "Prototype January 2009". It was purchased in a Tucson Knife shop.

"Vex" 10750

This was a "Black" series Benchmade, made in China, back when they were doing Black and Red for different "grades" of knifes. It is in 8CR14MoV steel and is a liner lock knife.

A bargain basement benchmade (about a $150 price full retail). XXX

My all time favorite Benchmade is one of their least expensive - the Griptillian. Get the version with the hole if it is still availble.

I am also fond of the Loco. It is a big husky knive.

Other Benchmade knifes that are special are the 940, which many say is the best knife Benchmade has ever made, and the Contego aka the 810. I like the Contego. It is a big knife, uses M4 steel, and unlike many other stud knives, the stud works naturally.

The first high quality knife I ever owned is one they no longer make, the AFCK. The AFCK has a sort of cult following and they try to make enough noise to get Benchmade to bring it back. I'm not sure where I stand on all of that. I like the knife, but for sentimental reasons. I think there are many much better designs these days.

Feedback? Questions? Drop me a line!

Tom's Knife Info / tom@mmto.org