Anyone have the Outlast in hand?

D

DMG

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2005
Messages
2,501
Looks like a good do everything knife/prybar. Anyone try it yet?
 
I had one outlast and now have a second on the way. My first one was taken off of a piece of equipment when I stepped off of it. I purchased a second one since I use the oxygen wrench function for my sons oxygen bottles. I like benchmade knives but for me initially this knife was more about having all those tools on one knife. I wasn't looking to carry a multitool all the time and the outlast functioned as an o2 wrench and screwdriver as well as a knife. I was shopping for a knife that had those features and my choices were limited. I actually called benchmade to find out more about the outlast and how it could be used. The customer service i received from benchmade was outstanding. I had questions about if the oxygen bottle wrench could be used with knife closed. The lady from benchmade text me pictures of the knife along with measurements of the knife to determine that the wrench could be used while the blades was closed. Once we figured that out i purchased it. I learned a few other things about the knife after i received it. The slot for the o2 wrench is on the tight side from top to bottom if your looking the blade with the spine facing up. If you are going to use the o2 wrench you can use the open slot on the back of the knife on an oxygen bottle of the valve is out of spec. The s30v blade on mine was sharp but it wasn't anything exceptional. When I purchased the knife i didn't expect to use the 3v blade much except as a wrench. After having had the knife for several months I love the 3v blade. The flat tip can not only be used to pry but it is also slim enough to be used as a flat blade screwdriver. It also gets stuck on package opening duty for heavy packing tape. I have used the 3v blade and the hook to cut nylon strapping a little thicker than a seatbelt with no issues. The big obvious difference with this knife is the option lock. If you open your benchmades by pulling back on the axis lock and flicking the knife open it won't work on the outlast. I open the dots30v blade using the thumb stud and the 3v blade I can flick out with my middle finger. You can also pop the hook out with one hand making everything on the knife operable with one hand. I would say its a great knife and if you need the tools it offers buy it.
 
I don't have one, but I remember when it first came out, I asked about the functionality of the O2 wrench on Benchmade's forum. One of the employees said he would get back to me. The next day he told me he had brought the knife down to the local fire station and tested it out, and the O2 wrench was definitely functional while the knife was closed. I think he said he ended up leaving the knife at the fire station, and a bunch of guys from there bought one for themselves.

I never ended up buying one because I moved on from my EMS job, but it certainly is a cool knife.
 
I received my second outlast today. The s30v blade seems much sharper on this one. If you don't have a job or some sort of need that requires you to have the tools you should get one in your hands before you buy it. If your going to pocket carry it try it out. The width of the knife doesn't bother me but some people say it is a little thick for them. I have carried some bulky knives in the past so it doesn't bother me.
 
I have no interest in this model because it specializes in an area that isn’t mine, but I really hope to see some more two blade knives in the future. Maybe a clip point and wharnecliff combo.
 
Hopefully the outlast will sell well enough that the option lock will be used on other knives. If they did a wharnecliff combo with almost any other style of blade i would buy it. Wharnecliife and a blade like the 3v blade on the outlast would be a combo I want.
 
I have used mine extensively over the last couple of months. It is one of the most useful tools on me at any given time. The 3v blade is very good as a screwdriver/light prying tool. The s30v blade is nice and thin and takes a razor's edge. The glass breaker only got used once on a old window to test it out, but it works very well. I cant recommend this tool highly enough.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top