Benchmade Bone Collector (longish term review) Update post 27 (2016)

[marthinus]

This is going to be a bit of a criptic review and hope you can bear through it.

Stats:
• Sizes (what blade size and what handle size?)
Blade Length: 3.36"
Overall Length: 8.20"
Closed Length: 4.84"
Blade Thickness: 0.125"
Handle Thickness: 0.735"
• Materials (what's it made of?)
Blade Material: D2 Tool Steel
Blade Hardness: 60-62HRC
Blade Style: Drop-Point
Weight: 5.59oz.
Clip: Tip-Up, Black Steel, Reversible
Lock Mechanism: AXIS

Initial impression
General observation, its hefty, but a nice feel to it. About same size as my Insingo, blade stock just larger spine to incorporate hole, thicker handles. Texture is great on the handle. Did some quick hard cutting on wood with knots, the hotspot on my pinkie due to framelock cutout (thinner area on handle) is not there on this. Same hotspot between my index and thumb, soft piece of skin. Will do some more cutting with gloves. Pocket clip is very nicely done, far enough from scale for thick pants yet not uncomfortable.

 

[marthinus]

Introduction
Blade is not perfectly centred. Edge did not come shaving sharp. Cut out line due to laser cutting in thumb hole.
Comfort
Freaken awesome. Looks great, feels great especially when harder cutting. Little to no hotspots when hard cutting.
No blood yet on handle, but with soap became a bit slippery, think some aggressive jimping and more thereof would help in this regard, but that might create unwanted hotspots?

Blade & Cutting Performance (first impressions and after 10 days of EDC 18 October 2010)
Blade shape has been very useful. I have forgotten how nice some extra belly is after getting used to my Sebenza. Through one week of EDC touched the blade up continuously on a strop to get it to the sharpness I want through the first week though it was not necessary.

Shaving sharp edge at the beginning of Thursday, Sunday night not shaving sharp any more, but still cuts telephone paper cleanly, though there is some more drag on the edge.

Uses for this time included: Kitchen duty, tomatoes, avocado, cutting beef into strips, cutting chicken meat, cutting of 1 crate size cardboard box, used in the cutting of twine and other mundane things in the garage I cant remember now, but nothing major, just some rags, whittling and making about 5-8 fuzz sticks for fire using peach tree branches with knots, some whittling went through the knots, very surprised the edge did not role.

 

[marthinus]

After 23 days (31 Oct. 10)

D2 has discoloured a bit due to my sweating and uses. Been edcing the knife in the waist band (IWB) for past two weeks.
Very similar to S30V when used in edc, looses shaving sharp edge quickly but does keep a working edge for a long time. Very surprised with this, expected D2 to hold a shaving sharp edge for longer. No real hard cutting (pipes etc) as of yet. Easily maintained on 1200grit sandpaper and strop or 20 light (blade weight only) strokes on Lansky turn box kit with fine ronds. Slight convex edge due to stropping.

Used for general food prep, cardboard box cutting, 8-10mm thickness, 3 boxes, some fuzz sticks for fire and lighted the fire using cotton ball, zam-buck and fire steel.

Around the corners and the pocket clip the black coating is starting to wear off.
Touched up the edge and stropped, shaving sharp again.
The edge has held up well. The stropping is hitting the edge nicely and holds an shaving edge well, better then initially in my use. Still have done little to no harder cutting chores as I have yet to get out of office environment. Have found the edge less prone to rolling when used on irrigation pipes (push cutting) then s30v, the differences are marginal as far as I can tell, but there are a lot of factors to consider (sand, debris in the pipe).


30 Days of EDC (November 7)

A lot of food prep, fuzz sticks (video) and a few boxes, had to do a few small fixes around the work place and did some cutting on a tile, the edge did not want to cut telephone paper cleanly but is still able to cut 80gsm with some drag on the edge (video), inspecting the edge revealed no chips, but slight role near the tip on the belly after a week of EDC and no touch ups on the strop.

Stropped on 1200grit wet and dry sandpaper and then on leather. 60 Strokes per side and then altering 20 strokes brought back to shaving sharpness and put a nice little convex on the edge.

November 15

I have been EDCing the knife for some time now and am very happy with it. The D2 has discoloured somewhat but that is expected. I still carry the knife IWB and paired with a old slipjoint or SAK makes a great combo for me.

Hope you can see the slight patina

 

[marthinus]

Sharpening

I have read many people complaining about sharpening D2. In my experience this has not been the case.

I used 1200 grit wet and dry sandpaper with a metal polisher. It made stropping the edge and maintaining it very easy. Then strop and it is shaving sharp.

EDGE (initially)

Stropping on 1200 Grit and Leather

Size & Weight

Almost same size as the Insingo, heavier, thicker handle, appears to have same blade stock. A lot of people, including myself, thought it is a 550HG grip with G10 handles but it is not. It is heavier then 550HG grip obviously but it feels like completely different knives.
IWB carry with a belt over the clip the knife really disappears for me. Not noticeable to anyone I encountered.

Benchmade 550HG

Sebenza

BC

Ergonomics

Good with solid feel. With a lot of soap on the handle becomes slippery. Rip cage pattern catches on the soft skin between the thumb and index finger and prevents slipping of knife to an extent. The small guard prevents forward slipping, but this is where adequate jimping and the upward curve of Spyderco would be most favourable.

General

Took the blade out to inspect for any discoloration or such from a weeks worth of edc and nothing around the pivot. Pivot pin is thick as on 550HG. The Axis lock-blade interface is different then 550HG. The BC blade retention is much stronger and snaps close much more vigorously due to a slight rounded ‘corner’ in the blade that is not on the Grip, if one was to run after something less likely to open accidentally.
Maintenance so far: Once a week WD-40 or similar into the pivot and Omega springs just for in-case, no major other maintenance except sharpening.
Design
Like
G10, blade shape and heft in the hand.D2 is similar to S30V in my experience and holds a working edge for a long time. Easy to maintain the knife WD-40 into the pivot area prevents blemishes. Light coat of olive oil on the blade prevents any major corrosion issues on a hot day.
I actually like the slightly higher maintenance on the D2. I don’t know why but it just feels a bit more traditional.
Deslike
Black finish rubs off easily.
• Price
R1560 = 229USD at R6.8 for $1
Wish the blade was centred, but no big deal. The ugly laser cut mark in the hole is cosmetic, but easy noticeable.

 

[tmayberry50]

Thanks for doing this good review. Great photos.

 

[BJE]

Good review, hard to believe you had to pay the equivelant of $230 for one, I hate to imagine what you had to pay for that Sebenza.

 

[mdc5162]

Thanks for the time and effort put into this review. I am surprised this size of knife disappears IWB. You make references to videos in your post, are you putting them up at a later date?

 

[riz_aaroni]

Good review, hard to believe you had to pay the equivelant of $230 for one, I hate to imagine what you had to pay for that Sebenza.

Will second that. It is crazy what people have to pay for knives overseas. A little over 1.5 times MSRP here. Next time you want a knife, I'll send you some "coffee" that is "sharp." Will be the best can of coffee you've ever received! Good review though.

I really like the Rift I have, but if I had to choose between the Bone Collector and it, I'd go with the BC. Seems like a better value.

 

[marthinus]

Thanks for the kind words.

Jip, customs do nail us sometimes so I try and avoid them as much as possible.

Thanks for the time and effort put into this review. I am surprised this size of knife disappears IWB. You make references to videos in your post, are you putting them up at a later date?

For me the knife disappears IWB because it does not take up the pocket when I have my full EDC in pockets (wallet, phone, slipjoint etc). My clothing is not light weight so I carried the BC IWB for starters. Now I like IWB so much I carry all my larger EDC knives there (not that much only the 550HG, Insingo and BC). It works for me and my set up at least. When I am around the house and all the other things are out of my pockets then I carry the knife clipped or deep pocket carry as I am used to it.

Videos are coming, just having some internet problems at the moment so struggling to upload. I have one video thus far with some other knives making fuzz sticks (feather sticks). The other videos will only feature the BC in them.

[youtube]DjoMkRoDL5M[/youtube]


Nice and sharp!
[youtube]ek16VFIK37Y[/youtube]

 

[marthinus]

Ok

Video time, bear with me as I am not a great camera man!

Sharpening after all the use shown here.

[youtube]KOF5EedQtSk[/youtube]

Benchmade Bone Collector cardboard cutting

[youtube]aDgwfTkM6kw[/youtube]


Benchmade Bone Collector cutting tire and plastic irrigation pipe
[youtube]lRIslyE3m4k[/youtube]

Benchmade Bone Collector in use cutting sticks

[youtube]h1Bh2DW6hOo[/youtube]

Benchmade Bone Collector in use cutting sticks, sharpness test

[youtube]94D_V7Jd1-c[/youtube]

 

[J D Wijbenga]

Great review! Very extensive and practical. Interesting knife too. I enjoy seeing how other people sharpen there knives.

Baie dankie!

JD

 

[cutter17]

Very good review! I have experienced some of the same things you mention, but my blade did come perfectly centered, and hair poppin' sharp. I agree with the solid feel of this knife due to it's heavier weight. Even the blade looks thicker than it is (.125") because it maintains that thickness along the whole length of the spine except for a 1/4" or so from the tip where it begins to taper. I like everything about this knife, except the writing, and think the BM really put out a nice, and affordable Axis Lock with the Bone Collector!:thumbup:

Btw, I did exchange the stock pocket clip with a foldover clip from USAKnifemakers, this one in fact;


http://www.usaknifemaker.com/ti-pocket-clip-formed-tumbled-040-low-rider-thin-p-1941.html


I also went ahead and flattened out the small hump on the blade, area where it begins to drop to the tip. It now has the reverse tanto shape I find so appealing. Doing this, or anything like this require a lot of patience, a bucket of water, and my dremel tool. I came out very good, and at that point I mirror polished the entire spine of the blade. Just something a little different and something to make it mine!

Again, great review!!:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

 

[Turbo Tension]

I really wanted a Benchmade 710 in M2 or M390 but bought one in D2 based off these vids and review.

Thanks a ton!

 

[marthinus]

I really wanted a Benchmade 710 in M2 or M390 but bought one in D2 based off these vids and review.

Thanks a ton!

Thanks for the kind words, I hope you do like D2 as much as I do!

 

[marthinus]

Hi everyone. Just an update.

With my Izula as my main EDC I carried the BC clipped IWB while on holiday. This included the pool and see for a while and it held up great. Some minor rust formed on the edge but that was stropped away. Only maintenance was to shake the water out, blow into the axis area and then later applied some fine oil to pivot area when I felt like it.

 

[Bax Axe]

Appreciate the review and the follow up. Reading your initial review tempted me to buy the small version of this knife. Have had it for about a month now and it has not left my pocket.

 

[riz_aaroni]

Thanks for the update. Glad to see it held up well to the water. This knife is tempting, though I think the Rift I have is too similar to warrant buying it. That and I have a few knives in my sights as it is.

Liking the Izula btw?

 

[shootist16]

I pulled the trigger on one of these today in large part due to your review.

 

[marthinus]

I pulled the trigger on one of these today in large part due to your review.

Thanks for the kind words. Hope you are not disappointed. I have not carried mine in some time. Been on a custom and Spyderco craze

 

[crom]

haha, I pulled the trigger with the help of Marthinus' youtube vids. The tire cuts were pretty impressive. I dig the sandpaper and metal polish sharpening vid too. I have had it some months now and it is a heavy duty cutter to be sure. Thanks Marthinus.