Benchmade 420 Resistor

Que

Joined
Dec 7, 2009
Messages
185
Tomorrow I have a chance to pick up a Benchmade Resistor folder. Does anyone have any experience with this knife, good, bad or indifferent? It's not a cheap knife so I'd value some opinions as to the knife overall, as an EDC, or as one just to have. I love Snody designs and think that the knife would be nice to have along with my Gravitator which I find to be an amazingly nice knife.
 
This seems to be a knife where there isn't much known. I do know that it has been discontinued. I looked at Youtube for a review and checked back here through the posts to back before it was released (a lot of pages of threads!) and found nothing. If I come home with the knife today I'll offer my first impressions.
 
Here's the 420 Resistor with my 425 Gravitator shown above. Both Blue Class knives are discontinued. Comments to follow.

img7228u.jpg

resistk.jpg
 
Here's the 420 Resistor with my 425 Gravitator shown above. Both Blue Class knives are discontinued. Comments to follow.

img7228u.jpg

resistk.jpg

Is that strange texture G-10 uncomfortable in a hard grip? It looks like a knife that would be murder on your hand if you gripped it hard or for very long.
 
it's real nice, but I think it's quite large in the hand (just like the custom). if they made it 25% smaller, would be real nice.
 
it's real nice, but I think it's quite large in the hand (just like the custom). if they made it 25% smaller, would be real nice.

It is large in the hand but exceptionally comfortable. I don't find it all that much larger than my Presidios. The scales really don't come into the picture in terms of any discomfort. They are very thin and their position on the liners take them out of play and if anything add to the ergonomics and grip. I was concerned about this when I first saw the knife but once it was in hand my concerns were gone. The few reviews that I have found on this knife all comment very positively as to the feel of the knife in hand.

I think that the aesthetics of the knife are going to be love it it hate it, much like my Rift. One thing that is undeniable is that the Resistor and Gravitator are beautifully made knives. More on that in a bit.
 
it's real nice, but I think it's quite large in the hand (just like the custom). if they made it 25% smaller, would be real nice.

BTW, a mini would definitely have been nice. Trouble is that I really don't think you will see factory knives of this high of a quality at this pricepoint again.
 
October-November was a great buying spree for me at the local gunstore/BM dealer. I bought new/old stock Snody-designed knives - starting with the 420 Resistor - then the 425 Gravitator - finally, the 426 Snody Tactical (also later called the 'Gravitator'). Keepers all - decent 154CM steel, too. I worried that the anodizing on the Al handle of the Resistor would prematurely wear - not a problem thus far. Neat designs.

IMG_3929.jpg


Check your local Ma/Pa dealers for these knives, if you are interested. Older stock, like these, will likely reflect old prices - and they may be happy enough to get rid of them to further discount them. Bargains!

Stainz
 
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.
 
October-November was a great buying spree for me at the local gunstore/BM dealer. I bought new/old stock Snody-designed knives - starting with the 420 Resistor - then the 425 Gravitator - finally, the 426 Snody Tactical (also later called the 'Gravitator'). Keepers all - decent 154CM steel, too. I worried that the anodizing on the Al handle of the Resistor would prematurely wear - not a problem thus far. Neat designs.

IMG_3929.jpg


Check your local Ma/Pa dealers for these knives, if you are interested. Older stock, like these, will likely reflect old prices - and they may be happy enough to get rid of them to further discount them. Bargains!

Stainz

Stainz, I really like that spear point on the one Gravitator. Also, you are quite right about some shops having a stock of older discontinued knives at older prices. It's fun to find shops like that and go to town cherry-picking :D

BTW, I also went a little nuts on my knife purchases the past few weeks. Being self-employed I get no bonus so I give myself one every year (when I can). Some years it is a gun or two. This year it was the Gravitator, Resistor, Presidio Axis, Presidio Axis Ultra, 950 RIFT, and the Barrage.

I think the 890 Torrent will be my first knife of 2010.
 
Last edited:
I loved the blade shape but the handles were the thickest of any pocket knife I have owned. (I have never had a Ruckus so who knows?) A nice sheath could solve the problem but I never got around to it. Just allow some extra room in your pockets and you should be fine!
T
 
I loved the blade shape but the handles were the thickest of any pocket knife I have owned. (I have never had a Ruckus so who knows?) A nice sheath could solve the problem but I never got around to it. Just allow some extra room in your pockets and you should be fine!
T

Yup, a thick handle for sure. I should get my calipers out and give it a measure. The funny thing is that in terms of ergonomics I find that the thickness is beneficial. For example, right now I am carrying a Speed Bump and have it in hand, the one with the flat aluminum scales. Overall the edge profile ergonomics are excellent, but the flat scales really diminish the overall ergonomics of the knife. That's why my Spec Bump, the same basic knife with rounded more full G-10 scales, is a superior knife. Yes, the flat scales of my Speed Bump are more conducive to carry, but a more full handle most often is more conducive to actual use.

I keep plenty of room in my pocket for my knives!
 
Okay, I was bad today. All of this about the Benchmades made me go to the knife counter at Bass Pro while I was there with my daughter this afternoon. Taking the afternoon off can be expensive :eek: 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.

BTW, except for the highest end knives the selection at Bass was really depleted. Looked to me like knife sales are booming. Good to see.
 
I have one; used it for outdoor stuff back in the day. The action is beautifully slick, and the blade very sharp. Yes, the handle was thick, but I was wearing gloves in those days, and so this wasn't an issue for me, even with my small hands. Highly recommended.

Btw, it has a clip. I took it off, and carried the knife in one of those small knife or pistol magazine pouches you can get from any of the gear outlets.
 
I have one; used it for outdoor stuff back in the day. The action is beautifully slick, and the blade very sharp. Yes, the handle was thick, but I was wearing gloves in those days, and so this wasn't an issue for me, even with my small hands. Highly recommended.

Btw, it has a clip. I took it off, and carried the knife in one of those small knife or pistol magazine pouches you can get from any of the gear outlets.

I have to admit that I rarely use a clip. I carry a knife in my left pocket, loose, except when I'm around the house yard, that left pocket dedicated to its carry. I never need to draw a knife all that quickly because it is in no way intended for self-defense. I don't say that to be PC, only to be accurate. For me a clip is for the most part superflous other than when I clip it to the front pouch of a hooded sweatshirt or inside the compartment of my range bag. The clips could come off almost all of my knives, but I would rather have them for a number of reason/uses.

Of course, for the most part, I'm ambidextrous, and that offers options.
 
Last edited:
The first thing I do is remove the clip - it takes a few seconds with a hot/dry 25-30W soldering pencil tip on each of the clip screws first - to break the blue Loctite's hold (Yes, they use blue Loctite!). I keep the clip & screws in the original box's poly bag. The Resistor is hard to 'resist' when you need a good hand-filling EDC.

The 610 Rukus max's out at .79", while the 'dimunitive' 420 Resistor tops out at .72" thick. They are pretty healthy handles. BTW, grab the Rukus variants where you find them as they were canned a few months back and are becoming scarce. The 610 makes a great pocketable 'bushcraft' knife - great S30V blade material, too.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

John
 
Hey Stainz, thanks for your comment on removing the clip as it got me to do it. What a difference. I never would have used that clip and all it did was get in the way resulting in an unstable grip with that wobble. The two screws popped right out and I replaced them back into the handle sans clip. It's still a thick handle but is all that more narrow without the clip with a 100% stable grip. With most knives the clip doesn't bother me, but with this knife it was the Achilles Heel. There is even one knife, my BM Vex, where the clip actually facilitates my grip, but with the Activator the clip is a disaster. The under the scale placement is clever, and allows the knife to ride super low, but any feature that reduces function is for the birds.

If the use of a clip is important to you you may want to spend some time actually holding an Activator before making a purchase.
 
Back
Top