Benchmade Crooked River

E

eon blue apocalypse

Joined
Apr 11, 2015
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499
OK, I was going to post this in another thread when it got closed (while I was typing).

So here goes my quick first impressions review.

[quote from silverds]
To eon To eon blue apocalypse, how do you feel about the grey G10? I wanted to pick up one of the FPR knives but I wasn't as piqued by the G10 version as the dymondwood one. Also, would you able and willing to line yours up next to a ZT045X (large Sinkevich) or ZT0560 in a pic. I have no problems carrying a large folder everyday but I am curious as to its visual presence compared to a competitive model of comparable size. Thank you for your positive contribution either way.
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Comeuppance said:
That looks so good it's making me question having purchased the wood-handled version! Man. Any observations? Critiques? Issues? Super great aspects that haven't been commented on?
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It's lighter in hand than I expected - not a bad thing. It's smooth as butter to open and close. I don't have a lot of experience with Benchmades (my only other BM folder is an Adamas) but I've been led to believe many/most of them are smooth like this one (my Adamas is not this smooth).

Fit and finish is excellent, everything is flush and centered with no machining marks.

I really like the grey G10. It feels great and I love the look of the "grain". I feel like you probably can't go wrong with either choice however, and if I end up liking this knife a lot in the long term, I'll probably pick up a dymondwood model too.

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The ergos are very good from what I can tell but I haven't worked this thing hard at all yet. It is well balanced as well, with the center of balance just forward of the bolster line.

It carries well; doesn't sit as low in the pocket as the 0560 because it doesn't have a deep carry clip, but it doesn't take up as much pocket real estate width-wise as the ZT either. I find it very comfortable (but I like big folders so YMMV)

All in all I really like it so far. I'm a huge fan of the Buck 110, and when I saw a modern interpretation from a reputable, respected company, I knew I needed one. I am not disappointed after my initial impressions.

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Top to bottom
Benchmade Adamas
Buck 110
Benchmade Crooked River
ZT 0560BW
ZT 0300

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Great post - thank you!

My experience with Benchmade and pivot smoothness has been hit and miss, but more "hit" as of late. My first "perfect" axis lock was on an Adamas that I promptly sold because the handle was something like a full inch wide. It would glide open so gracefully that I was blown away the lockup was flawless. My next Adamas was identical (from a trade) and have otherwise been pretty unimpressed but not dissatisfied with the Axis lock. I used to hate them, honestly, but a few poor examples can give you an inaccurate impression of a sound mechanism.

Ill bet a few drops of nano-oil on that blade tang will have it moving with almost no friction! I'm all excited now.
 
Interesting that it is actually notably larger than the 0560, a knife that I dismissed after a few months of attempting to like it because it was just too unwieldy. I suppose that has more to do with balance and ergonomics than overall size, as my 0452CF poses no such issues.
 
I found the Adamas a little too wide to carry, so off it went. I'm not really into Benchmades hunting models but there is just something about that Crooked River that makes me want one. I'll say I'm definitely liking this Carbon Fiber CPM Stryker I just got, but that's a different topic.
 
CookieRawwr said:
I found the Adamas a little too wide to carry, so off it went. I'm not really into Benchmades hunting models but there is just something about that Crooked River that makes me want one. I'll say I'm definitely liking this Carbon Fiber CPM Stryker I just got, but that's a different topic.
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I agree about the width of the Adamas - except I still carry it; I have to be in the right mood. And when I'm in that mood, nothing else will do :D

Interestingly, though the Crooked River is listed as a "Hunt" model and it comes in the hunt box, the label on the box lists it as "Blue Class". One of the uses Benchmade lists on their site is "everyday", and this all backs up my feeling that it straddles the line between an outdoors/hunting knife and an admittedly large EDC piece very well.
 
Since my other thread was closed because of the shenanigans of a few malarkeyful hooligans.

I'm just gonna leave this here for comeuppance since I chopped it for him as a token of my appreciation for his support in that thread.

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The Adamas was almost my first tactical folder, however, in posts and reviews I read, comparing it to a couple of large ZT's 0300 and 0560, the consensus seemed to be that the handle geometry of the Adamas was slight less enjoyable than that of the ZT's. I picked up the ZT0300BW and never really looked back at the Adamas. I had a chance to hold an Adamas, months later, but by then it had lost my interest. Seeing each of those knives lined up like that is very helpful. Thank you.
 
The Crooked River is definitely on my list of "knives to buy". I like the size, shape, steel, and axis lock. It looks pretty sweet. Glad to see you like it. Thanks for the review.
 
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Benchmade Crooked River
Zero Tolerance 0095
Benchmade 940-1


I absolutely love mine! It is very smooth. Blade drops free. Zero blade play. It is in my top 3 favorite Benchmades of all time (along with the 940, which is a huge compliment from me).
 
Ruggdogg87 said:
3adeb0133ee45245ca0b0d8c789664ab.jpg

Benchmade Crooked River
Zero Tolerance 0095
Benchmade 940-1


I absolutely love mine! It is very smooth. Blade drops free. Zero blade play. It is in my top 3 favorite Benchmades of all time (along with the 940, which is a huge compliment from me).
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Great point, I neglected to mention that the knife has very solid lockup, and zero play.
 
even though im not crazy about the grey g10 knife looks great .why is benchmade on this grey g10 kick with all the g10 colors available ?
 
goldie said:
even though im not crazy about the grey g10 knife looks great .why is benchmade on this grey g10 kick with all the g10 colors available ?
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I think because it's neutral and they wanted something to go with a range of accent colors (blue stand offs in new grips, orange backspacer in Crooked River, and just plain good looking on the new Barrage). It also saves them money using the same G10 and not having to develop new colors for each model to keep cost down.
 
How's the blade retention on the CR? I never liked the Axis lock because it doesn't keep the blade in the handle particularly well when closed, especially with bigger blades. I lusted after an AFCK for a while until I finally got one and was thoroughly disappointed. Very tepid about approaching another big Axis Lock folder.
 
Misanthropia said:
How's the blade retention on the CR? I never liked the Axis lock because it doesn't keep the blade in the handle particularly well when closed, especially with bigger blades. I lusted after an AFCK for a while until I finally got one and was thoroughly disappointed. Very tepid about approaching another big Axis Lock folder.
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It's not as good as a same size knife with a detent would be, but a LOT better than my Adamas. If I wrist flick it hard enough I can deploy the blade, which can be a deal breaker for some.
 
Misanthropia said:
How's the blade retention on the CR? I never liked the Axis lock because it doesn't keep the blade in the handle particularly well when closed, especially with bigger blades. I lusted after an AFCK for a while until I finally got one and was thoroughly disappointed. Very tepid about approaching another big Axis Lock folder.
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I think that may have been a more isolated incident than a recurring issue for the mechanism, as I had a full-size Onslaught with a blade over 4" long and is ridiculously wide and thick, but still had great blade retention.
 
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