Benchmade Freek

Is the Freek a gem?

  • Hell Yeah

    Votes: 25 64.1%

  • I'll Pass

    Votes: 14 35.9%
  • Total voters
    39
L

LMD300

Joined
Sep 24, 2018
Messages
21
How do you guys feel about the benchmade 560 Freek, I have one, it's a total gem IMHO. Anyone else have a opinion on it?
 
I own one. Unfortunately, the finger guard and middle hump go right where my fingers want to hold the knife (fingers lie right on the points). Although I like the rubber grips (on the Boost, too), I just can't bring myself to carry the Freek. Had some fun grinding down the spine. Now it's in line for a set of custom scales which I can grind the bumps off or reshape to my liking... although it will be after I get a few other knives custom scales. So close to getting a spot in my rotation.

If they would have just followed the neutral handle design of the Grip, but larger, I would have ordered a few of them by now. Add to that a thumbole option and it would replace my Grips in my rotation.
 
Scott321 said:
I own one. Unfortunately, the finger guard and middle hump go right where my fingers want to hold the knife (fingers lie right on the points). Although I like the rubber grips (on the Boost, too), I just can't bring myself to carry the Freek. Had some fun grinding down the spine. Now it's in line for a set of custom scales which I can grind the bumps off or reshape to my liking... although it will be after I get a few other knives custom scales. So close to getting a spot in my rotation.

If they would have just followed the neutral handle design of the Grip, but larger, I would have ordered a few of them by now. Add to that a thumbole option and it would replace my Grips in my rotation.
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Hmm, that's crazy, do you have small or really large hands, mine are on the larger side and they fit great. And post updates on the custom scales, I'd love to try to make custom scales for mine one day
 
LMD300 said:
Hmm, that's crazy, do you have small or really large hands, mine are on the larger side and they fit great. And post updates on the custom scales, I'd love to try to make custom scales for mine one day
Click to expand...

Large gloves are barely long enough, but my fingers are slender. My grip comfort is measured by a hammer grip, since I only use the saber grip for light duty tasks. It's the hammer grip that gives me the above mentioned issue.

The CBM thread in this BM section should have some custom Freek scales by Keyman. You might have to peruse the hundreds of pages of that thread though, since often they don't describe the knives in the posts (hard to use the search function to find the right pics). Since I want custom Boost and Mini Onslaught scales first and don't have it in the budget now, I probably won't order Freek scales until the middle of next year... plus Keyman's backlogged waiting list.
 
Scott321 said:
Large gloves are barely long enough, but my fingers are slender. My grip comfort is measured by a hammer grip, since I only use the saber grip for light duty tasks. It's the hammer grip that gives me the above mentioned issue.

The CBM thread in this BM section should have some custom Freek scales by Keyman. You might have to peruse the hundreds of pages of that thread though, since often they don't describe the knives in the posts (hard to use the search function to find the right pics). Since I want custom Boost and Mini Onslaught scales first and don't have it in the budget now, I probably won't order Freek scales until the middle of next year... plus Keyman's backlogged waiting list.
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I'll have to look into it, thanks for the info
 
I was hot and cold about the Freek, i find it a tiny bit big blade wise, however the 565 Mini Freek I love which has brought me back round to it.
Great knife now I’ve warmed to Versaflex.
 
I don't own the full sized Freek, but I have a mini Freek and love it. The Versaflex (and the resulting extra friction putting it in my pocket) took some getting used to, but I've gotten used to it and I rarely am without this guy now.
 
I also just got a 560BK-1801 in a trade and I'm surprised how much I like it. Are there anymore gems like this out there that any of you suggest I keep an eye out for?
 
Depends on what you like, the griptillian is a solid choice, if your into flippers, you can't really go wrong with much lately by ZT, I really like the sinkevich designs ZT has right now
 
Reviving this instead of a new post.

I received my Freek yesterday and was less than impressed at first. Strangely, it really grew on me. Love/hate the scales (not sure which as they are so different), but the size and ergonomics are great and the blade might be my favourite. In titanium or CF, this would be my perfect knife.:thumbsup:
 
I want to try a mini freek. I really like the scale material on my Grizzly Ridge except for the pocket resistance as others have mentioned.
 
The super Freek is more than I need but the Mini Freek is a favorite. The Versaflex makes it very comfortable to use, especially if your hands are cold or slick. Nothing I cut ever gets up and runs away, so I don't notice the extra drag going in and out of my sheath. It's a small price to pay for the extra grip and well worth it to me.
High grind and reasonably thin stock makes it a good cutter. It came perfectly centered and the edge grind was a perfect 19 DPS with no burr. I wanted this knife at 20 DPS so that made it very easy to sharpen.

The pivot was a bit tight even for me and I don't like a free falling blade. A very slight turn of the screw fixed that.

The only complaint is the thumb stud is to far forward.
You would think Benchmade would have learned not to put the thumb studs that far forward but Apparently not.
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Better grab a Freek while you can. BladeHQ is alluding to them being discontinued. Not sure if it’s all models or just the coated version.
 
Shame if all are disco’d, it’s a great knife that sadly not everyone warms to.
Hopefully it’s just black and serrated.
 
Whoa, I just saw the the “discontinued” Freeks on BHQ. I haven’t even had a chance to handle one yet. I’m interested in the Mini as the blade shape reminds me of the Ritter grips. Had it in mind to go for custom scales if I didn’t like the stock scales.
 
Babyboomer said:
I’m interested in the Mini as the blade shape reminds me of the Ritter grips. Had it in mind to go for custom scales if I didn’t like the stock scales.
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I got a mini and put aftermarket G10 scales on it, it's a sweet little knife. The stock scales felt good in my hand but just made it a PITA to get out of my pocket.

zdfusg38hy221.jpg
 
Is the Freek a good alternative to a Griptillian? They seem pretty similar to me. I used to have a Grip, and sold it so kind of miss a knife like that.
 
Good blade shape, horrible handle material...it literally will pull most pockets inside out on draw. To top it off, the black/rubber portion is prone to gouging from simple carry.
 
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