3-way cage match. BM v TT v TRM

[Jcsixx01]

Going to have a battle deciding which one (or 2) will end up in my collection between:

TRM Ti Atom

Benchmade 748 (preorder)

Tactile Turn/Rogers Maverick (preorder)

All three have similar profiles…slim carry & slicey 3.5” blade. I doubt I will keep all three, but if two are worthy…I’ll keep 2. Pro’s & con’s to each. Price on Benchmade gave me pause, but they did crush the Anthem. The price put the 748 at a disadvantage immediately bc the Maverick may be a value comparatively.

Full disclosure: The most important spec for me is the handle thickness. A slim profile is a must for me. That is why the 748 is intriguing (.28”). A knife has to be exceptional to remain in my collection if it is >.45”

Maverick

Our first Crossbar Lock mechanism designed in collaboration with the famed Richard Rogers. It's a sleek, streamlined build that perfectly fits the TKC balance of form and function.

tactileknife.co

Benchmade Narrows 748 AXIS Lock Folding Knife Ti - Blade HQ

Introducing Benchmade's thinnest profile folding knife. The Narrows features a Bohler M390 super steel blade and titanium handle with blue hardware.

www.bladehq.com

 

[Synov]

I am on the wait list for the Maverick and I have the Atom. The Atom is an excellent knife and very slim. But the Maverick just has a bit more going on design wise, is in Magnacut, and has the added utility of the axis lock. I am not a Benchmade fan but even those who are have remarked that the 748 is wildly overpriced. I really know nothing about it though.

 

[Jcsixx01]

I am on the wait list for the Maverick and I have the Atom. The Atom is an excellent knife and very slim. But the Maverick just has a bit more going on design wise, is in Magnacut, and has the added utility of the axis lock. I am not a Benchmade fan but even those who are have remarked that the 748 is wildly overpriced. I really know nothing about it though.

The Maverick is sick looking. Richard Rogers designs are awesome but hard to acquire unless you are going the CRKT route.

Yeah. It is really hard to get past the price of the Benchmade considering their quality assurance problems.

In theory, I should love it (748) considering how thin it is. The fact that the Anthem has been a resounding homerun is what yolo’d me into pulling the trigger.

 

[MadeOnABench]

If you're on the fence, I would actually recommend holding off on the Benchmade 748. You can wait for it to hit store shelves then check it out in person and decide if it's really right for you before pulling the trigger. There's not nearly as many brick and mortar stores that carry Three River or Tactile Turn products for you to handle on person.

 

[Jcsixx01]

If you're on the fence, I would actually recommend holding off on the Benchmade 748. You can wait for it to hit store shelves then check it out in person and decide if it's really right for you before pulling the trigger. There's not nearly as many brick and mortar stores that carry Three River or Tactile Turn products for you to handle on person.

That’s a fair point and would be a fantastic idea…but I have no patience & now looking forward to the 3-way battle.

 

[Dadpool]

That is why the 748 is intriguing (.28”). A knife has to be exceptional to remain in my collection if it is >.45”

In terms of handle thickness under 0.45", what's your sweet spot?

I think the thinnest medium/full-size folder I've handled was the CD Code 4 at 0.35"; I find the 0.41" Bugout handle more comfortable than the Code 4. I'd be fascinated to hold a 0.28" folder and see if it felt too thin.

 

[Jcsixx01]

In terms of handle thickness under 0.45", what's your sweet spot?

I think the thinnest medium/full-size folder I've handled was the CD Code 4 at 0.35"; I find the 0.41" Bugout handle more comfortable than the Code 4. I'd be fascinated to hold a 0.28" folder and see if it felt too thin.

Yeah. That is what I shoot for. It’s not just an arbitrary size. I noticed after a little bit of collecting that I only keep/use things with a slim profile.

After noticing the pattern, I just submitted and adjusted my criteria/purchasing toward slim carry’s.

 

[Dadpool]

Yeah. That is what I shoot for. It’s not just an arbitrary size

Nice! I didn't think it was arbitrary, I was just genuinely curious. I mostly found my "floor" for thinness and stopped considering it, so prioritizing for thinness is interesting to me.

 

[Jcsixx01]

Nice! I didn't think it was arbitrary, I was just genuinely curious. I mostly found my "floor" for thinness and stopped considering it, so prioritizing for thinness is interesting to me.

Yeah, I just decided to stop fighting it. Just my preference for whatever reason. Especially bc we aren’t able to handle a lot of these high-end knives before purchasing. Sticking to my personal specs offers a better opportunity at finding a keeper.

I will make exceptions if a knife checks enough boxes for me. Such as: James Brand Barnes, SBD Void, Holt Specter (although I traded it. Will likely pick up a user some time if possible).

Besides thin…I like fidgety blades, Ti, framelock > liner lock, steel snob, 2.75-3.25.” There is a lot of competition in those size ranges. I have moved along some really great stuff bc of so much competition.

 

[Jcsixx01]

Nice! I didn't think it was arbitrary, I was just genuinely curious. I mostly found my "floor" for thinness and stopped considering it, so prioritizing for thinness is interesting to me.

I missed your question about sweet spot…don’t really have a sweet spot…just the thinner the better. I haven’t found anything that has been too thin.

My favorite to carry is the Southard Mini Tolk. It is .39”. A lot of great blades in that same overall profile…started with ZT0450, Millet Torrent, Shiro Neon Zero ultra (or something). The Ferrum Forge Stinger Ti is the best bang for the buck in the knife world imo. Even the full size Bugout checks all those boxes.

 

[fishface5]

The handle on the narrows looks the most problematic for larger hands if that matters