- Joined
- May 13, 2015
- Messages
- 841
Hello there! Sometimes ago, also thanks to the suggestions and advices from some forum members here :thumbup:, I decided to get myself a Benchmade Mini-Rukus. This is my first knife from Benchmade and I understood the Mini (but also the big Rukus?) has been somehow discontinued, though resurrected from time to time, with some limited edition/special run. Actually, searching from information, I understand this knife got quite a number of special runs/limited editions! 
I precisely managed to put my hands on one piece from a limited run. The knife is with me since a couple of weeks now and I have used it as my EDC and had it as companion for a couple of short-range hikes. Just sharing some personal thoughts, my own impressions and some pics, always as a hobbyist and week-end hiker .
I have learned this model is the smaller brother of the 610 Rukus. It was debuted for 2007, after the successful launch of the 610 series. It came from the design of Neil Blackwood. At some point during production, the tie with Blackwood was terminated and Blackwood's logo no longer appeared on the back of the blade. The Rukus line is based on Blackwood's Henchman folder model and fixed blade Grifter model.
This limited edition Mini-Rukus features a S30V black finished blade. I didnt manage to identify it exactly but I looks to me its a surface treatment from the TiNite family
. The blade has a drop point profile, a high bevel and a flat grind. It is also characterized by a narrow swedge, conferring a racy and sleek look to it. The blade is long, wide and thick enough to be really useful, having the right size and shape for the majority of EDC tasks, even the rather tough ones :thumbup:. The blade is smooth and precisely machined.
The handle, built with a very particular tapered profile, sports greenish G10 handle scales and boasts finger grooves that accommodate the hand into a comfortable grip, which offers a very good blade control. The skeletonized liners (made of 420J stainless steel) provide extra strength to the knife, without adding excessive weight. At first, the grip was awkward to me, with the deep cut out for the index and finger grooves, but, eventually, adjusting my grip to the knife, it became super comfortable and very secure. I can say its actually perfect for my hand size. This sculpted grip fits my hand like a glove! Anyway, I have to state the G10 has not a very rough or chequered texture. Its actually a rather smooth surface. Most of the grip (when using with with no gloves) comes from the handle profile itself and from the jimping. I am overall fine with this, but, to my taste, a little bit more texture would have been better. In fact, the blade and liners have jimpings (machined knurls) in the right positions: right over the thumb stud on the blade, right over the AXIS lock on the handle, on the entire radius of the finger guard and on the back of the handle near the lanyard loop. The jimping on the finger guard is a smart feature. I have learned the handle, in its original configuration was a combination of G10 and micarta, with the option to change the micarta scales according to owners preferences. At that time, micarta scales were sold individually as accessories and the user had the possibility to play with different colours combinations. My version here is 100% G10.
The blade locks with the famous ambidextrous Benchmade AXIS lock. Strong lock, no blade play whatsoever. The Axis lock is special. First knife with this lock for me and I really like it. It is simple, strong, convenient and
quiet! I can open the blade silently by sliding back the locking bar and letting the blade out, or thumb the blade open with a barely audible click. Very smooth opening and closing! Of course I always like the thwacks of my knives, but this offered to me a new dimension of appreciation.
There is a reversible pocket clip, tip-up carry only. The clip, though I cannot define it really unobtrusive, it doesnt get in the way of the grip either. It doesnt clamp my pockets super firmly but it proved to be secure enough and helps a quicker deployment. I like the discreet carry it provides, a rather low pocket carry.
Fit and finish are of a very good quality, the knife came, to my eyes, literally flawless. Workmanship is nearly perfect. To be very very picky, the blade centering its just that tiny bit skewed (one mm or something)
. This baby, as said, is pretty pricey though. I can say I paid a price for the quality.
Overall, I am really positively impressed with the design, fit and finish, the materials and what turned out to be its extraordinary ergonomics. The ergos on this knife are top notch. Once I adjusted myself to it, it really sits nicely in my hand. It has proven to me to be an excellent cutter and slicer, with great blade geometry. It came decently sharp (workable edge not shaving sharp) and keeps a rather good edge. I wasnt impressed with factory sharpness so I put on the stone (KAI 400 1000 grit). Edge holding, so far, is fair. I have put the Mini through my usual EDC and hiking tasks. I did some minor food prep on the trails and some proper one in the kitchen; I cut packaging materials (paper, cardboard boxes, PP straps, shrink and stretch films, etc.). I have whittled on some wood species (including hardwoods), with no noticeable decrease in sharpness. I touch it up, as my habit, with a ceramic sharpener after use. The Mini-Rukus is actually not so mini; I consider it as a medium size, sturdy folder, built for serious daily use, big on form and function and which proven to be able to take on some rather tough tasks. It is heavy, given its size, but in the good way. Its a solid, substantial knife, conveying a feeling of reliability and dependability in whatever use, also rather rugged ones :thumbup:. The Mini is a great EDC for my uses, anyway it hasnt a zero impact on the public. The way it looks, makes it a knife. If I have really to find a couple of more things I dont like so much, one its the color of the handle (in pictures it looked to me a bit different), which reminds me somehow the operating room surgeons overalls
and I find a bit tacky the limited edition stuff engraved on the blade. I would have appreciated something maybe smaller and more discreet. I guess it will disappear with some use. From a functional point of view, the blade spine is not perfect to strike a fire-steel. I got some sparks since it has 90° angles but, being the blade curved and smooth along the swedge, I dont get a perfect purchase to strike a nice shower. Minor issues anyway. A great knife indeed!
Blade length: 8.6 cm
Blade thickness: 3 mm
Overall length: 21.6 cm
Closed length: 12.95 cm
Weight: 168 g
Blade Material: S30V steel
Hardness: 58-60 HRC
Blade Style: Drop Point
Blade Grind: Flat
Blade Finish: Black
Edge Type: Plain
Handle Material: Green G-10 (in this version)
Pocket Clip: Reversible, Deep Carry, Tip Up
Lock Mechanism: AXIS
Country of Origin: USA
Note: Only 1000 of these knives were produced as a special limited run for 2015 Shot Show.
More pics
I precisely managed to put my hands on one piece from a limited run. The knife is with me since a couple of weeks now and I have used it as my EDC and had it as companion for a couple of short-range hikes. Just sharing some personal thoughts, my own impressions and some pics, always as a hobbyist and week-end hiker .I have learned this model is the smaller brother of the 610 Rukus. It was debuted for 2007, after the successful launch of the 610 series. It came from the design of Neil Blackwood. At some point during production, the tie with Blackwood was terminated and Blackwood's logo no longer appeared on the back of the blade. The Rukus line is based on Blackwood's Henchman folder model and fixed blade Grifter model.
This limited edition Mini-Rukus features a S30V black finished blade. I didnt manage to identify it exactly but I looks to me its a surface treatment from the TiNite family
. The blade has a drop point profile, a high bevel and a flat grind. It is also characterized by a narrow swedge, conferring a racy and sleek look to it. The blade is long, wide and thick enough to be really useful, having the right size and shape for the majority of EDC tasks, even the rather tough ones :thumbup:. The blade is smooth and precisely machined.The handle, built with a very particular tapered profile, sports greenish G10 handle scales and boasts finger grooves that accommodate the hand into a comfortable grip, which offers a very good blade control. The skeletonized liners (made of 420J stainless steel) provide extra strength to the knife, without adding excessive weight. At first, the grip was awkward to me, with the deep cut out for the index and finger grooves, but, eventually, adjusting my grip to the knife, it became super comfortable and very secure. I can say its actually perfect for my hand size. This sculpted grip fits my hand like a glove! Anyway, I have to state the G10 has not a very rough or chequered texture. Its actually a rather smooth surface. Most of the grip (when using with with no gloves) comes from the handle profile itself and from the jimping. I am overall fine with this, but, to my taste, a little bit more texture would have been better. In fact, the blade and liners have jimpings (machined knurls) in the right positions: right over the thumb stud on the blade, right over the AXIS lock on the handle, on the entire radius of the finger guard and on the back of the handle near the lanyard loop. The jimping on the finger guard is a smart feature. I have learned the handle, in its original configuration was a combination of G10 and micarta, with the option to change the micarta scales according to owners preferences. At that time, micarta scales were sold individually as accessories and the user had the possibility to play with different colours combinations. My version here is 100% G10.
The blade locks with the famous ambidextrous Benchmade AXIS lock. Strong lock, no blade play whatsoever. The Axis lock is special
. First knife with this lock for me and I really like it. It is simple, strong, convenient and
quiet! I can open the blade silently by sliding back the locking bar and letting the blade out, or thumb the blade open with a barely audible click. Very smooth opening and closing! Of course I always like the thwacks of my knives, but this offered to me a new dimension of appreciation.There is a reversible pocket clip, tip-up carry only. The clip, though I cannot define it really unobtrusive, it doesnt get in the way of the grip either. It doesnt clamp my pockets super firmly but it proved to be secure enough and helps a quicker deployment. I like the discreet carry it provides, a rather low pocket carry.
Fit and finish are of a very good quality, the knife came, to my eyes, literally flawless. Workmanship is nearly perfect. To be very very picky, the blade centering its just that tiny bit skewed (one mm or something)
. This baby, as said, is pretty pricey though. I can say I paid a price for the quality.Overall, I am really positively impressed with the design, fit and finish, the materials and what turned out to be its extraordinary ergonomics. The ergos on this knife are top notch. Once I adjusted myself to it, it really sits nicely in my hand. It has proven to me to be an excellent cutter and slicer, with great blade geometry. It came decently sharp (workable edge not shaving sharp) and keeps a rather good edge. I wasnt impressed with factory sharpness so I put on the stone (KAI 400 1000 grit). Edge holding, so far, is fair. I have put the Mini through my usual EDC and hiking tasks. I did some minor food prep on the trails and some proper one in the kitchen; I cut packaging materials (paper, cardboard boxes, PP straps, shrink and stretch films, etc.). I have whittled on some wood species (including hardwoods), with no noticeable decrease in sharpness. I touch it up, as my habit, with a ceramic sharpener after use. The Mini-Rukus is actually not so mini; I consider it as a medium size, sturdy folder, built for serious daily use, big on form and function and which proven to be able to take on some rather tough tasks. It is heavy, given its size, but in the good way. Its a solid, substantial knife, conveying a feeling of reliability and dependability in whatever use, also rather rugged ones :thumbup:. The Mini is a great EDC for my uses, anyway it hasnt a zero impact on the public. The way it looks, makes it a knife. If I have really to find a couple of more things I dont like so much, one its the color of the handle (in pictures it looked to me a bit different), which reminds me somehow the operating room surgeons overalls
and I find a bit tacky the limited edition stuff engraved on the blade. I would have appreciated something maybe smaller and more discreet. I guess it will disappear with some use. From a functional point of view, the blade spine is not perfect to strike a fire-steel. I got some sparks since it has 90° angles but, being the blade curved and smooth along the swedge, I dont get a perfect purchase to strike a nice shower. Minor issues anyway. A great knife indeed!Blade length: 8.6 cm
Blade thickness: 3 mm
Overall length: 21.6 cm
Closed length: 12.95 cm
Weight: 168 g
Blade Material: S30V steel
Hardness: 58-60 HRC
Blade Style: Drop Point
Blade Grind: Flat
Blade Finish: Black
Edge Type: Plain
Handle Material: Green G-10 (in this version)
Pocket Clip: Reversible, Deep Carry, Tip Up
Lock Mechanism: AXIS
Country of Origin: USA
Note: Only 1000 of these knives were produced as a special limited run for 2015 Shot Show.
More pics
....
