Benchmade Presidio

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DeckardB26354

Joined
Feb 22, 2009
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43
Finally made a decision on the EDC. Thanks to the members here at the BladeForums, I avoided buying from theBladeShop.

I had seriously considered the Lahar, but settled on the Presidio because it was a bit less bulky. It's probably more of a tactical knife than an EDC, but will work as both. I wanted a blade between 3.5 and 4. A four inch blade is usually pretty bulky to pocket carry, so closer to 3.5 was a better choice, imho.

The specs on the Presidio are:

3.47" 440C (also comes in 154 CM)
4.8 Oz
4.9" closed
Carry: Tip up or down ambidextrous.

The 154 CM model was selling at almost $50 more than the 440C. So I went with the 440 as a better value.

I like that it is made in good ole U.S. of A. We DO know how to make good guns, knives and trucks!
 
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I really love my Presidio! I have the 154CM version that I bagged for $113 from newgraham. I pick between it and a new Strider SMF CC with black G10 as my EDCs and it's simply a wonderful knife! I have to admit, the Strider's getting more attention now until it gets broken in! Keep 'em sharp!

-Brent
 
I was pretty surprised there was such a price difference betw the 440C and 154 CM. I paid 68 bucks at for my Presidio, which is pretty reasonable for a made in USA knife.

The 2009 BM catalog also showed the new Barrage, very sweet looking, which comes with assisted opening, and 3.6" 154CM steel blade.

That may be my next knife. :)
 
i love mine. it is a tactical edc! i carry it everyday and never notice it there. then again i never notice any knife i carry. what's a few oz's?
 
The difference between the 440C and 154CM models are mostly the handle scales. The 440C has polymer scales, whereas the 154CM model has machined aluminum. ;)

Both great knives though. I actually like the polymer-handled one a lot, since it offers a significant reduction in weight over the original model.
 
skimmerhorn said:
i love mine. it is a tactical edc! i carry it everyday and never notice it there. then again i never notice any knife i carry. what's a few oz's?
Click to expand...

Those were my thoughts exactly. It serves as both. I take a lot of hikes in the mountains and I feel naked without carrying something. Guns are not allowed in national parks, so I take the next best thing.


I'm not enamored of the design of the aluminum handle on the Presidio either. It's not the material, it just doesn't look as good to me. Now the Barrage on the other hand, is an awesome looking knife, I think one of the better blue-class BMs out there.
 
The BM Presidio, with aluminum handles, is one of the best knives, I have ever owned. I like ever thing about it. I just had to order the smaller, 525. It is a great knife also. I like the blade shape, of these knives. It works real good, in the woods, on hikes, and hunts.
 
The presidio is actually more bulky in pocket/hand than the Lahar (I have one a Lahar) for sure. A friend has the full size auto and that's a pretty chunky knife. It's bombproof without a doubt.

edit: he has the aluminum version.
 
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That's surprising. Just from looking at the pics of the Lahar I thought it would be a bulkier carry. The Lahar looks wider in pics, maybe you are talking about the thickness off the handle, in which case, I can understand the alum. handle being thicker.

In addition, the design of Presidio was more to my liking. It's a little bit on the plain side, but as far as the size, the position of the clip, and multiple carrying options, it had everything I was looking for.

Since I've never handled or even seen either one, it was just an edumacated guess. But I'm happy with my choice-there are so many good knives and makes, so little money.
 
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The Lahar is flatter and perhaps wider but in side by side comparison the Presidio is beefier in almost every aspect, maybe a little heavier as well. It's a solid working knife, i'm sure the new 440c examples are just as well made/overbuilt.
 
crom said:
The presidio is actually more bulky in pocket/hand than the Lahar (I have one a Lahar) for sure. A friend has the full size auto and that's a pretty chunky knife. It's bombproof without a doubt.

edit: he has the aluminum version.
Click to expand...

That's affirmative Crom. I just got it in from Blade HQ, and you're weren't kidding. I measured it at 1/2" thick. Not a slender knife, the Presidio. So if you work in an office, this would not be a good accessory!

But it will serve well as a hiking companion and field dressing knife. Its size makes it a practical working knife.
 
Nice, so how does the new 440c versionl ook and feel? I've been eyeballing these for a little while. I don't mind Zytel or whatever it is on the handle, plus the aluminum gets dinged up pretty easily. The synthetic handle should take impacts better.
thanks,
K
 
This knife has a hollow-ground clip-point blade, with a satin finish, with visible grind lines. If I run my fingernail up and down the blade, it produces a rasping noise, so they are pretty pronouced. I do like the handle, although I wish it was a bit thinner. I have hands on the larger side, and this handle fills it up. It has good weight balance in the hand and feels rock-solid.

To give you an idea of the size, I compared to to my old Buck 110. Overall the 110 is about 1/4" longer than the Presidio. The handle is virtually identical in length, so the extra length is due to Presidio's shorter, wider blade. And of course the Benchmade is much lighter than the tank-like 110.

This is the first Axis-lock knife I've seen and I'm impressed with the simplicity of the design and strength of the lock.

One feature of the design that surprised me is the amount of open space surrounding the blade between the liners. It appears that there is a gap between 1/32 and 1/16, I would have thought it would be the minimum amount to allow the blade to clear.

For some reason, BM decided to leave a wider gap there. Is this how most BMs are made?
 
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I have the 527... I definitely consider it one of the best buys on the industry. GREAT knife, and the 440c will suprise you! Edge retention is superb... oddly enough it is a bugger to touch up though... I'm currently traveling (4 months now) and only have the 527 and a VG10 Spyderco Delica 4 with me... I do prefer the Delica. It is superior in every way except one handed closing and looks... nobody blinks at the Delica, but plenty of folks ask to check out the 527 Mini Presidio Ultra...
 
I have an older 520 and 525 that have been workhorses. Just picked up a 527 followed shortly by a 522, both satin PE, and really like these knives. You get the look and feel of the originals, yet much lighter weight and bombproof GTX handle scales. People have asked about the thinness of the hollow-ground edge compared to their 154cm bretheren, and I have just begun to use them, so don't have a lot of comments, other than they cut very well as expected. And I don't worry about breaking the blade, not only do I not use my knives as pry bars, but Benchmade's lifetime (and excellent) warranty process delivers a lot of confidence. Here's a shot or two of my 527:

P1010003-3.jpg


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Go get 'em...worth the money IMO.
 
One of the best knives, I have ever owned. Built like a tank, and cuts like a lazer. Going to keep this one! Works good in the woods. Hiking, hunting.
 
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