Benchmade Rukus Discontinued. Now what?

G

greesy

Joined
Jul 29, 2005
Messages
65
I heard recently, that the Rukus and Mini Rukus were discontinued..:(
It's been a couple years since I picked up Rukus, Mini-Rukus, Mini-Grips, and a spyderco Calypso in ZDP 189.
I was just wondering what the latest, similar knives, are available now.
Any new steels, or latest knife offerings from any company in the similar price ranges?
Thanks, Gary
 
Damn, I hadn't heard that. I'll have to pick one up, been riding the fence for a while now...
 
Good luck finding one. I have a large and "mini" and have debated getting a back up although I don't carry them that often. I believe the mini came in an assisted version that is still available at a few online retailers. But your best bet is probably watching the for sale section although they are going for a little more, around $200 now.

Have you ever checked out the 950 Rift? It is my all time favorite design. The new Large and Small Bone Collectors are pretty nice too. Machined G10 handles, drilled out stainless steel liners, and a nice D2 blade. Those are my favorite current production Benchmades at the moment.

For Spyderco there is the Gayle Bradley with CPM M4 steel that is pretty nice and the Paramilitary 2 is just hitting the stores.

Might want to check out the ZT line which is made by Kershaw. Kershaw has had some mighty fine knives coming out of their shop the last couple years.
 
The new 790 Subrosa, an assisted opening Ti-framelock with a 3.76" S30V blade, is no slouch. It and my 755 MPR, another newbie this year, are really good EDC knives. My local pusher still has 610 & 615's in stock - they are still around. My wife found me a full auto 6150 there for last Christmas. The 615 is a nice EDC - the 610 is a folding bushcraft knife for the pocket... and, the 6150 is just scarey!

Stainz
 
The Benchmade Onslaught 741 follows in the Skirmish/Rukus footsteps and is a huge freakin' knife.
 
Once I get my mini rukus back it's going to the exchange, great knives just getting rid of mine to finance other knives
 
stormyone said:
The Benchmade Onslaught 741 follows in the Skirmish/Rukus footsteps and is a huge freakin' knife.
Click to expand...
They have much the same dimensions but these knives are incomparable. The Rukus is a tank, where the Onslaught is a slicer. Its blade is thin and tapers out to almost razor blade thickness. It's beautiful and effective, but nothing like the Rukus in terms of strenght and toughness.

AFAIK, BM has no real substitute for the Rukus (in terms of both dimensions and ruggedness), and neither does Spyderco. You'll have to look elsewhere, or be happy with what you've got. After all, the Rukus is pretty unique IMHO and no one (including BM) has made anything remotely like it. Design, quality, size, strength, pretty awesome. And the shape of its blade is to drool over.
 
I own a plain Rukus, but that black-bladed one makes me want one of those as well. :thumbup:
 
Here's a second for the 950 Rift. It's not the same handle, or even blade design, but you'll love it at least as much :D
 
You mean I shouldn’t have sold my Blackwood inscribed, satin blade model with CF scales that I paid $160 for brand new and sold for the same amount?

DOH!

It was fun while it lasted.
 
if you want a big strong knife you should look into the Cold Steel Recon 1. Blade steel isnt on the same level as the Rukus. But The strength of the knife is miles ahead.
 
jonnyt16 said:
Here's a photo of mine from back in the day when I was a wanna-be knife photographer lol.

Click to expand...

Those are very sharp looking knives for sure although a little over the legal carry limit here. Guess I'll have to look for a mini at Smokey Mountain Knife Works. My girlfriend has promised to take me there for my birthday next week.
 
I have owned a SBK (serrated black) model Rukus for a few months. Got it when I could not find the satin plain edge version.

On a recent overnight trip to Lafayette, LA I passed a local gun shop just to kill some time. Found a NIB satin model Rukus sitting in their display case. It does not have the Blackwood logo on the blade like my SBK, but did not look to have been touched since going into the case.

Didn't want to pay full retail, but once I found out that it was the only one they had in stock, went ahead and took the plunge. Really didn't want to spend the cash, but walked out with the Rukus and a CS katana machete.

Hell, there is one with ivory micarta handles on Ebay right now for $425. I figure if I need to recoup the cash, I can probably sell it for more than what I paid for it.
 
Hey Greesy,

Your post coincides with my current thinking about Benchmades in particular and knives in general.

I'm not into mega folders, but I do like beefy, substantial knives. The Rukus and Skirmish certainly fit that bill, but also do so with a sophistication and attention to detail that's unusual and impressive considering they're production knives.

Within the Benchmade line, the 755 MPR is a standout for it's heavy duty construction and custom design elements. The 755 MPR uses impressive materials, is very stout and seems to be Benchmade's response--of sorts--to the "Hinderer" designs using thick blades, a Titanium scale and liner lock on one side, and G10 scale on the opposite. The blade steel is M390 super steel--a step up even from S30V. Although substantial in construction, it's relatively compact and weighs about 5.5 oz. The price is comparable to the Rukus, @ $200-$220.

Kershaw has also thrown their hat in the ring with the Zero Tolerance 0300 line, following the "Strider" designs using thick blades, a Titanium scale and liner lock on one side, G10 on the opposite. It's a collaboration between Kershaw, Ken Onion and Strider, featuring some of the unique characteristics of all three--Kershaw's assisted opening flipper, my favorite assisted opening mechanism, Ken Onions blade and handle shape and Strider's heavy duty construction. It's a beast of a knife, weighing a half pound. The blade is S30V and price is comparable to the Rukus, @ $200-$250. Like the Benchmade, it's made in the U.S.A.--Oregon to be exact.

I have a 755 MPR and a ZT 300. They are like chalk and cheese. The 755 is more sophisticated and detailed, the 0300 more brutish and robust. The 755 is a Ford Super Duty, the 0300 a Humvee.

Although the 755 and 0300 share a few basic design elements and are each worthy of ownership on their own particular merits, neither have all the unique elements of a Rukus.

Best,

heekma
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top