525 Mini-Presidio Discontinued?

Rhyno37

Rhyno37

Joined
May 27, 2012
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291
In search of a new EDC, I noticed on the Benchmade website that the 525 Mini-Presidio is listed as discontinued:

http://www.benchmade.com/products/525

I guess I can't be too surprised, I rarely ever see them. If this is true, I may have to pick one up soon. It looks like about the perfect EDC for me. The handle is longer than a Mini-Grip (in which my finger hangs off), but the handle is listed as thinner than a Mini-Grip at only .500". Only negatives I can see would be the weight, 3.7oz may be on the heavier side for its size, and the aluminum handles. Does anyone have one of these or use it for EDC? Your opinion would be valued.
 
I have several-- it's the only 3" knife I'll carry in lieu of my larger work knives.
 
Not much help here other than I have the full size and love it. I also have the mini lightweight which is surprisingly tough. (smallest knife I will carry)
I do plan on getting the 525 soon, I find the whole Presidio line to be very competent and easy on the eye.
Watching this thread myself, thanks.
Cheers
 
I have always liked the look of the presidios, but the aluminum scales and their reputation as pocket shredders has thus far kept me from buying one. Nice knives though, particularly the m4 limited edition.
 
I never really got the 'pocket shredding' when carrying my 520. I realize that the aluminum scales are not exactly slick, but they are designed for grip. I was concerned about this before I got mine, but when I actually put it into practice, It wasn't that bad at all.
C.S.Recon, now there's a shredder. lol
Cheers
 
Exactly,
And look at it this way, are we wearing the kind of pants that we would worry about carrying a Presidio, than lets say a custom Sebenza?
When I have my Presidio, I am usually working and such. A high end knife in a dressier situation would probably not harm those high end pants.
And don't forget folks, it's about the knives, not the trousers.lol
Cheers
 
If that's the case with the 525 it's been a long run for Benchmade. I own a 525BK-1101 in M4 and consider it superior in every way, again IMO, over the mini Grip. What I do is take the clip off and bend the 3 hole tab back, so when attached, the pressure's off the tip so it's easier on the pocket. I have not had a problem with shredded denim and after a year of regular carry the scales still look good!
 
These 525s (M4 in particular, just cuz they're M4!!) are so much fun to work on. I've a half dozen, and have found surprising (surprising cuz all the 520s I've had have very sharp ridges) variation in the degree of sharpness of the tread edges (hence the "shredding"). A few are razor sharp, but a couple happen to have ridges that are quite dulled-- one would seem to have been sandblasted prior to anodizing (carry that one, the other went to a friend). There are things you can do to lessen the swharp ones, I've done this to 2 sets of scales:

100_8821_zpsf2720f0b.jpg


Just careful sanding, takes the "razor" out of the scale treads (plus I think it looks sharp). Scales can be reanodized/recolored (and of course if you do that you can sand them first to your liking)-- you also lose the "chalkiness":

100_6055.jpg


Standoffs to fit cannot be purchased (.145") but can be made:

100_6084.jpg


Coatings can be removed:

100_7916.jpg


Get 'em while you can....
 
Hmm I think I might have to pick one up. Either the mini presidio, mini bone collector, or full size grip.

I think I'd stick with the 154cm presidio, it's around $115 shipped where as the M4 variant is about $155 shipped.

Does anyone find it heavy for EDC? I can't believe it's thinner than a mini grip
 
I have two and intend to keep 'em both. They are great for daily carry. I take the clips off of mine and they carry just fine in my RFP. I use a mini-BC at work mostly because of the G10 scales, but the 525s get non-work carry. I have a 154CM and a KW CPM-M4 exclusive.

Sorry to hear that they're disco'd. I may get another one just for hoarding's sake.
 
dalefuller said:
I have two and intend to keep 'em both. They are great for daily carry. I take the clips off of mine and they carry just fine in my RFP. I use a mini-BC at work mostly because of the G10 scales, but the 525s get non-work carry. I have a 154CM and a KW CPM-M4 exclusive.

Sorry to hear that they're disco'd. I may get another one just for hoarding's sake.
Click to expand...

So if you compare the mini BC and mini presidio, you like the presidio for dress carry, and the bc for edc/harder use? Is there as big of difference in the handle thickness as the spec sheet suggests?
 
Rhyno37 said:
So if you compare the mini BC and mini presidio, you like the presidio for dress carry, and the bc for edc/harder use? Is there as big of difference in the handle thickness as the spec sheet suggests?
Click to expand...

I might be offbase with what Dale's reasoning is, but I think the mini BC is more geared toward a bit harder use that the mini Presidio due to the flat grind, tip thickness, and steel choice. It's my personal favorite. I bought a friend a mini Presidio for his B'day last year and noticed these differences. Both are great knives. Mel was on to something with the handle ergos of the Presidio platform, IMO.

Prof.
 
Professor's right. That's exactly what my reasoning is. The G10 is a bit more rugged than aluminium as far as cosmetic issues are concerned. Either material will hold up to anything I'll ever do to a knife, but the G10 will take more pounding without showing it. The Blade on the mini-BC s also a bit more suited to a variety of chores than the thinner profile SS on the 525. The 525 is a great blade for slicing, but for work carry where I never really know what I'm going to be doing with my knife, the spear point D2 on the BC is my choice. Both get carried clipless so I can't speak to how they feel with the arrow vs. traditional clips on that they come with.

The handle difference is not only in the thinner handle of the 525 but also in the straighter sides of the 525, even with those ridges. They feel very different to me in hand because of the more rounded sides of the mini-BC as well as their thickness. The 525s are thinner, but they also feel different than the BCs because of the straight sides.

For hard pressure cutting or long-term cutting, the G10 on the BCs is probably going to be more comfortable. For carry in a bit more controlled setting where I'm pretty sure that some slicing is about all I'm gonna be doing, the 525 is just an incredible package. Very sharp, easy to maneuver, not scary to NKPs... just hard to beat, IMAO.

Understand that I live just outside of Atlanta. I work in a warehouse during the week and have a church on Sundays. My cutting chores are steady but tame. These two knives fit in just about perfectly for what I need in the places I go. Other folks with different needs in different environments will have other viewpoints. Just gotta figure out what works best for you in your situation.
 
Agreed on all points, Dale. The Presidio platform is my favorite in the BM lineuo, and for me the G10, stouter flat-ground D2 blade, and Spydie hole make the BC's the perfect edc and outdoor folding bushcrafter for my purposes.

Prof.
 
dalefuller said:
Professor's right. That's exactly what my reasoning is. The G10 is a bit more rugged than aluminium as far as cosmetic issues are concerned. Either material will hold up to anything I'll ever do to a knife, but the G10 will take more pounding without showing it. The Blade on the mini-BC s also a bit more suited to a variety of chores than the thinner profile SS on the 525. The 525 is a great blade for slicing, but for work carry where I never really know what I'm going to be doing with my knife, the spear point D2 on the BC is my choice. Both get carried clipless so I can't speak to how they feel with the arrow vs. traditional clips on that they come with.

The handle difference is not only in the thinner handle of the 525 but also in the straighter sides of the 525, even with those ridges. They feel very different to me in hand because of the more rounded sides of the mini-BC as well as their thickness. The 525s are thinner, but they also feel different than the BCs because of the straight sides.

For hard pressure cutting or long-term cutting, the G10 on the BCs is probably going to be more comfortable. For carry in a bit more controlled setting where I'm pretty sure that some slicing is about all I'm gonna be doing, the 525 is just an incredible package. Very sharp, easy to maneuver, not scary to NKPs... just hard to beat, IMAO.

Understand that I live just outside of Atlanta. I work in a warehouse during the week and have a church on Sundays. My cutting chores are steady but tame. These two knives fit in just about perfectly for what I need in the places I go. Other folks with different needs in different environments will have other viewpoints. Just gotta figure out what works best for you in your situation.
Click to expand...

Very good insight! I am really leaning towards the BC at this point. Went in store and fondled it today, it fits my hand perfectly. The thickness of the scales actually is quite welcome, and it's just long enough to fit my pinky on. The texture of the G10 is perfect too, not too smooth nor too aggressive. It's also only $90 right now on most sites, the mini presidio is around $120 at cheapest.
 
macknife12 said:
I never really got the 'pocket shredding' when carrying my 520. I realize that the aluminum scales are not exactly slick, but they are designed for grip. I was concerned about this before I got mine, but when I actually put it into practice, It wasn't that bad at all.
C.S.Recon, now there's a shredder. lol
Cheers
Click to expand...

I'm with you. Everyone must be wearing really tight jeans.

At my age I wear the relaxed fit and have had ZERO issues with the dreaded pocket shredding.

The Presidio 520 is my favorite EDC.
 
Guess I know what my next buy will be lol...also looks like they're keeping the black blade/serrated version.
 
I really need to get another Ultra Mini. I had one a couple years back, but needed funds for something else, so it got sacrificed.

I had never held one, before buying it. When I first took it out of the box, I immediately liked the way it felt. It was even more comfortable than my beloved mini grips...
There are only a couple knives I regret selling over the years, that is one of them
 
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