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Benchmade Benchmite II
- Thread starter neeman
- Start date
It's a great little knife. The coating on the scales of the black model is not terribly durable, but other than that, it's very solidly built with very good fit and finish. The blade shape is nice, though the edge on the one that I gave to my girlfriend was a bit obtuse from the factory. It's also not the easiest knife to open one-handed, but it is possible.
Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
- Messages
- 90,915
Welcome to Bladeforums! 
I like tinyknives myself, handy little blades I like to carry even when I have a much bigger knife with me that's not always convenient to use. I've been tempted by the Benchmites. They are nice and solid, once you get used to the size, and as Padawan says, the way they work. They're fun.
I like tinyknives myself, handy little blades I like to carry even when I have a much bigger knife with me that's not always convenient to use. I've been tempted by the Benchmites. They are nice and solid, once you get used to the size, and as Padawan says, the way they work. They're fun.
Thanks for the info..
For legal reasons I need a blade less than 2".
How does the Benchmite with a AUS 8 blade compare to the Spyderco Ladybug 3 Knife with a VG 10 blade or the Kershaw Chive with a 420 blade.
This is a great place to hang out!!!!
Thanks,
Neeman
For legal reasons I need a blade less than 2".
How does the Benchmite with a AUS 8 blade compare to the Spyderco Ladybug 3 Knife with a VG 10 blade or the Kershaw Chive with a 420 blade.
This is a great place to hang out!!!!
Thanks,
Neeman
Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
- Messages
- 90,915
On these small knives, especially with light use, the blade steel is not critical. Technically though, VG-10 is really good steel, AUS-8 is older but reliable, and 420 is bargain basement -- but 420HC is OK, and 420J2 is best left as a structural component.
The Spydie could probably do more hard work than the Benchmite, but I can't see using such a small knife for real hard work.
The Spydie could probably do more hard work than the Benchmite, but I can't see using such a small knife for real hard work.
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2006
- Messages
- 967
Sure it is, just press hard on the release and flick your wrist. I can open it easier than my 710 actually, but that's only because I'm worried about harming my 710 by flicking it too hard.
The Benchmite is a nice little knife, I got one for my mom to use. It shaves hair out of the box, but not real well.
I'm actually just kind of looking around at keychain size knives for my mom, and the 'mite Ladybug and Chive are all on my list... for ease of opening though, Ladybug is highest on the list.
Also, a nice thing about the serrated version is that there is an un-serrated part on the end that would be nice for fine cutting.
I think you'll be happy with whatever you get
And think about it, they're only like $20-30, (since you're on this forum, we assume you love knives) so you can always just buy one now, another one in a couple months, and so on and so forth
Also, a nice thing about the serrated version is that there is an un-serrated part on the end that would be nice for fine cutting.
I think you'll be happy with whatever you get
And think about it, they're only like $20-30, (since you're on this forum, we assume you love knives) so you can always just buy one now, another one in a couple months, and so on and so forth
Well, as I said, it's possible. However, compared to knives with thumb holes or studs, it's obviously not quite as easy or convenient (at least for those who don't always want to "wrist-flick" their knives open). Still a nice knife, and it cuts quite well, especially after a short bit of time on the Sharpmaker. :thumbup:
Just got the Benchmite II.
First of all thanks for the advice.
I really like the knife.
For a 2" bladed knife, it does not feel little.
Beefy is how you described it.
By the design of the handle my hand is well away from the blade, and it gives me good control of the cutting edge.
The blade is a full design, and sharpens well.
It came poorly sharpened, with the grinds not meeting.
I spent some real time resharpening it, and now it has a good edge and stays sharp.
It sits in my back pocket with a small lanyard.
It is need two hands to open.
The Ladybug has the same size blade, but is a tiny knife and feels tiny with very little substance.
The Boker Subcom feels like a large knife with a short blade.
The Benchmite feels like a larger knife, just smaller and very well proportioned for its size.
Definitely my favorite.
Thanks.
First of all thanks for the advice.
I really like the knife.
For a 2" bladed knife, it does not feel little.
Beefy is how you described it.
By the design of the handle my hand is well away from the blade, and it gives me good control of the cutting edge.
The blade is a full design, and sharpens well.
It came poorly sharpened, with the grinds not meeting.
I spent some real time resharpening it, and now it has a good edge and stays sharp.
It sits in my back pocket with a small lanyard.
It is need two hands to open.
The Ladybug has the same size blade, but is a tiny knife and feels tiny with very little substance.
The Boker Subcom feels like a large knife with a short blade.
The Benchmite feels like a larger knife, just smaller and very well proportioned for its size.
Definitely my favorite.
Thanks.
One of the ones I gave for Christmas needed some tweaking to open one-handed. All the others can be flipped open easily.
Use a Torx driver (T6 as I recall but might be a different one) and undo the pivot screw. Push the other side of the pivot out of the knife with the Torx driver. Slip the blade out and the washers. Clean, polish, and lube them.
Reassemble. But re-assembly is trickier than disassembly. The best method for me is to slip in one washer over the pivot hole. Slip in the blade. Make sure it clicks into the locking pin. Use the Torx driver to align the holes. Start to slip in the last washer. Work slowly and keep realigning the other parts as they slip. Getting the last part of the washer in all the way is the trickiest and a fine slotted screwdriver should do the final push. Again, use the shaft of the Torx driver all around the edges of the hole to align it all. Insert the pivot pin and pivot screw and tighten. adjust tension on the pivot screw in fine increments until it flicks open and closed but still has no blade play.
Now you should be able to flick the knife open and closed with one hand.
Phil
Use a Torx driver (T6 as I recall but might be a different one) and undo the pivot screw. Push the other side of the pivot out of the knife with the Torx driver. Slip the blade out and the washers. Clean, polish, and lube them.
Reassemble. But re-assembly is trickier than disassembly. The best method for me is to slip in one washer over the pivot hole. Slip in the blade. Make sure it clicks into the locking pin. Use the Torx driver to align the holes. Start to slip in the last washer. Work slowly and keep realigning the other parts as they slip. Getting the last part of the washer in all the way is the trickiest and a fine slotted screwdriver should do the final push. Again, use the shaft of the Torx driver all around the edges of the hole to align it all. Insert the pivot pin and pivot screw and tighten. adjust tension on the pivot screw in fine increments until it flicks open and closed but still has no blade play.
Now you should be able to flick the knife open and closed with one hand.
Phil