Benchmade Benchmade Bugout copying ProTech TR-5?

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Tony424

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Jan 12, 2018
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First forum post for me, hi everyone!
I'm a Swedish guy in my early 20's with an interest in knives and fishing.
My current goto knife is a Soldier 08 by Victorinox wich I've been carrying for some years now, it's in bad shape now, after going through so much fish brain and the occasional swim.:rolleyes:

In my search for a less bulky replacement knife I came across the TR-5 and the Bugout.
I've noticed that there's a big discussion around copies but I haven't seen the Bugout being brought up. Is it different enough to not be a problem for anyone or is there something else I've missed?

I would like to read peoples thoughts on the issue and where to cast the line between copies and inspiration. I hope I'm not opening a can of worms here. ;)

Sorry for the unecessarily long post.

PS. Both of these knives are probably a bit too luxurious for intentions, I'm open for suggestions!
 
Huh? I just looked up the TR 5 and it doesn't look like a Bugout to me at all beyond both being knives... Different blade shape, different handle and shape, different lock, regular vs assist, price, color, etc. All different. I have no idea how you could think the Bugout is a clone of that knife.
 
Personally, I don't like taking expensive knives fishing with me, just in case.

I have a CRKT Clark Fork fillet knife I keep with my tackle,
I just picked up a Rough Rider 1597 fish knife as well.

I'll usually take a Mora or Kabar 1232 on my hip as well.

That's more then enough knife for my fishing needs.

That said, both the knives you mentioned would suffice. No, they are not clones, not even close. Clones are near exact replicas of other knives.
 
Can’t see the similarity, for all the reasons stated above.

OP, is an assisted opener a good choice, given that you will apparently use this knife on fish guts, etc? Also, I get the sense that you will want a knife that will last a long time.

AO’s, while fun, are tricky things to reassemble after cleaning - I’ve reassembled enough of them to know. There is more to go wrong on an AO.

Likewise, fully disassembling then reassembling an Axis knife requires a bit of patience. Also, and keep in mind that I own about a dozen Axis Benchmades, there is the thorny question of Omega springs.

You are Swedish, I’m English, neither of us have a domestic Benchmade repair centre. The folk at Benchmade are incredibly nice, but they don’t usually agree to sending out spare springs. Which means shipping it to them in the USA. You can make your own springs, but you get the idea.

One more thing about Axis locks: disengage the lock on both sides; the quickest way to break an Omega spring is by just using one side of the lock to disengage. This is not an assumption on my part, it is confirmed by Benchmade. (I have never broken an Omega spring.)

Have you considered any other knives? The Benchmade mini Crooked River will be out in a few weeks, just saying. ;)
 
Nice try..

But I see two distinctly different knives.
 
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Maybe it was a clone that was in a horrible skydiving accident and had to go through 11 reconstructive surgeries.

Obviously you can spend your money how you want. However IMHO assisted knives are essentially a cool thing to show off to friends and impress people new into the knife world. They would not be my first choice for a knife that would see serious use.
 
Lapedog said:
Maybe it was a clone that was in a horrible skydiving accident and had to go through 11 reconstructive surgeries.

Obviously you can spend your money how you want. However IMHO assisted knives are essentially a cool thing to show off to friends and impress people new into the knife world. They would not be my first choice for a knife that would see serious use.
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Oy! I hear you, but they are just fine for regular use. Would I take one on an excursion into the wilderness? No, I’ve always chosen less delicate gear.
 
Apart from maybe the Pika and it's on-again off-again use of the Spyderhole, I don't think Benchmade has ever been accused of copying another company's or maker's design.
 
Thanks so much for all your input so far. It's nice to get some perspective on the subject.

Pilsner said:
Have you considered any other knives? The Benchmade mini Crooked River will be out in a few weeks, just saying. ;)
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That's one sexy beast :eek: a bit over my budget atm but the tarn is iced over anyway this time of year... I'll keep it in mind :)
 
First post at BladeForums and you accuse a well respected knife manufacturer of copying a knife from another company that is not even remotely similar? If I were you, I'd revise the title :thumbsdown: of this thread.

Still, welcome to BF!
 
sharp_edge said:
First post at BladeForums and you accuse a well respected knife manufacturer of copying a knife from another company that is not even remotely similar? If I were you, I'd revise the title :thumbsdown: of this thread.
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You're the one dropping accusations here. My primary reason for making this thread is that I'm genuinely curious of where the limits are drawn for things to be considered copies. I'm not meaning to say that I think the bugout is a copy.

Being provocative or accusing was never my intention. I'm just inexperienced when it comes to knife designs and want to get more informed.


sharp_edge said:
Still, welcome to BF!
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Thank you! :)
 
Welcome aboard.:thumbsup: There are some vague similarities in style, such as both being drop point blades with thumb studs, both having "buttons" just above and behind the pivot, and both having elongated lanyard holes, but they are dissimilar enough that I doubt I'd have noticed any of this had you not brought it up and made me take a much closer look at them. I think your OCD is kicking in in this case. :D
 
Almost all knives(the blade especially) are copy's of something that came before it. Only the extremely unique/strange ones can truly call themselves original. Knives(of one form or another) have been used since the dawn of mankind.

Clones are what us knife people have a distaste for. Someone trying pass of a design as the real deal. Or if someone blatantly rips off a mechanism that they don't own the rights too. That's the shit you should be weary of.

I'll agree with pretty much everyone else and say I don't think Benchmade has anything to feel bad for concerning Bug Out. It reminds me way more of their Griptilian than the TR-5 anyway.
 
I think it's more of a copy of a Buck 110.

Welcome to Blade Forums and have fun!
 
There is a line but comparing these two is not even close to that line. These two are not close on nearly anything other than being knives, the design, materials used and lock/deployment are just too different. Both are USA made though. ;). There are many threads on copies/clones/fakes on BF that will give you a good idea of what a copy is.
 
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