Some thoughts on the Resistor follow.
Benchmade is the brand, along with Kershaw, that I keep coming back to over and over again. From Red to Black to Blue each class of knives provides excellence in varying ways. The Resistor is a Blue class knife designed by Mike Snody that really delivers in build quality. As I have said, in terms of size I don’t find it to be any larger than my Presidios, except, that it is a thicker knife. That thickness is not a result of the unique G-10 scales but a very thick aluminum frame. According to my digital postal scale the knife weighs in at 5.5 ounces. That isn’t light, but for me it puts the knife right in the realm of an EDC, if not the higher end. The knife feels larger and heavier than it really is and I think that is because it’s built like a tank. With a 3.45” blade, closed length of 4.66”, and an overall length of 8” I think the knife will do fine in my pocket.
As I wrote above, the G-10 scales do not negatively affect the hold on the knife. Although the strange scale pattern appears as if it might cut into the hand with a strong grip, it doesn't. The cut out edges begin in from the upper and lower edge so that they do not impact the hand other than on flat and smooth parts of the scales. If the scales were to run all the way to the bottom of the knife it would potentially cut into fingers, but in stopping them about 2/3 way down Snody has avoided that adding to the full feel of an incredibly comfortable knife.
Also worth mentioning on the handle portion of the knife are the spacers. They are beautifully crafted and are one of the details that adds to the feeling that this isn’t a factory built knife. And then there is the clip. It does limit one to tip up carry, both left and right handed, but there is a unique attachment where the clip is attached under a cutout in the G-10. This allows the knife to carry in the pocket with virtually none of it sticking out the top. That requires the Torx screws holding the clip that have to to be accessed through the clip, so the clip has to be skeletonized. This leads to my only criticism of the knife. When holding the knife there is side-to-side play with the clip. It’s quite noticeable. The clip is quite firmly anchored under the G-10, but the skeleton frame allows side to side flex further down the knife which gives a somewhat unsteady feel under the hand. The clip isn’t flimsy, but it isn’t robust by any means. It’s not a huge thing, but it does bother me some.
The blade on this knife is what Snody calls a “Gotham swedge clip point” in 154CM. I like the profile of this blade a lot. I ended up with the partially serrated blade, certainly not a preference, but as this knife is discontinued I was just lucky to find it, so beggars can’t be choosers. Besides, like many knives, if you want the black coated blade you will end up with serrations. I do wish that the plain portion of the blade was longer, but there is enough of it, and a nice belly, that I think that the knife will be a good all around cutter.
The Resistor features the Axis lock, and the knife is extremely smooth opening right from the git-go. In playing with the knife it has smoothed up even more and that bodes well for the future. A flick at the thumb stud brings the blade out with a snap very nicely. By withdrawing the Axis and just barely flipping my wrist the blade closes completely shut. It’s truly a one-hander. Also worth mentioning is some very effective jimping on the underside of the knife into the frame and at top at the front inset into the frame, and then onto the top of the blade. Unlike some knives today they didn’t go “jimp crazy” with the jimping that is there nothing but realistically and effectively functional.
This knife retailed for $192. I paid less than that, but not that much less at $169. If someone was to hand the knife to me and tell me that it cost three times that I would have no doubt. This knife and the Gravitator shown above are dripping in quality. I design and build very high end tools, functional art, for a living, and as an artisan/artist I have a very demanding eye for issues such as design, fit and finish, craftsmanship and ergonomics. I give factory made knives a lot of leeway as I understand completely that there are compromises that must be made to achieve the desired pricepoint. After spending time with the Gravitator (an amazing knife) and the Resistor I can say that those compromises have been dead minimal. Benchmade has achieved the creation of knives that has given up little to nothing to fit their pricepoint.
I spied a green 940 Osborne and once I picked it up I couldn't put it down. I paid maybe $10 more than I could have gotten it on the Net, but doggone, there is an EDC! It sort of puts the Gravitator and Resistor into perspective, but I have room for larger knives also.
