Benchmade Sleepers

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BubbaGump

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Oct 30, 2015
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What models do you believe offer a lot of bang for the buck but rarely get mentioned due to lack of popularity?

My vote is for any of the knives in the fixed hunt series.

I own the Steep Mountain Hunter and Hidden Canyon Hunter.

I have owned both blades for a year now and the Steep Mountain has shaped up to be the best EDC fixed blade I have ever owned. It is light, compact, easily concealed. The rubber grip has just the right style and texture to be perfect in my hands. The blade is great for everything from everyday tasks to bush work in the woods. Got it for $89. The only drawback is the sheath. Like most Benchmade fixed models, the sheath is horrible. But nothing a $5 aftermarket leather sheath cant fix.

I also own the Hidden Canyon hunter and like it better than my Izula 2 for a small fixed blade. It cuts and slices better, holds an edge better, and is better looking, IMO. The leather sheath on this one isn't actually all that bad.
 
One of my favorites is a CSK 2. Broke the tip off and sent it in for repair. After a reprofile and fresh edge, love the knife even more now.
 
Presidio Ultra and Mini Presidio Ultra. Grips don't feel cheap or hollow like Griptilian and Mini Griptilian, full steel liners, comfortable handling, good quality 440C that's easy to keep sharp, Axis lock...what's not to like?
 
BubbaGump said:
What models do you believe offer a lot of bang for the buck but rarely get mentioned due to lack of popularity?

My vote is for any of the knives in the fixed hunt series.

I own the Steep Mountain Hunter and Hidden Canyon Hunter.

I have owned both blades for a year now and the Steep Mountain has shaped up to be the best EDC fixed blade I have ever owned. It is light, compact, easily concealed. The rubber grip has just the right style and texture to be perfect in my hands. The blade is great for everything from everyday tasks to bush work in the woods. Got it for $89. The only drawback is the sheath. Like most Benchmade fixed models, the sheath is horrible. But nothing a $5 aftermarket leather sheath cant fix.

I also own the Hidden Canyon hunter and like it better than my Izula 2 for a small fixed blade. It cuts and slices better, holds an edge better, and is better looking, IMO. The leather sheath on this one isn't actually all that bad.
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Curious as to what kind of sheath you got for your Steep Mountain. I have one and I agree the sheath leaves much to be desired. The knife itself really is impressive but the sheath pretty much keeps me from carrying it.
 
Would someone from Benchmade come along to explain great knives and awful sheath designs I would be interested. My long gone Snody 220 fixed blade, greatly benefitted from the Concealex sheath made as a direct replacement in simplicity and function. The maker was a Canadian guy named Eric and his products were first rate.

And yes, that 220 would qualify for the Sleeper category.
 
140 Nimravus and 9051. It also seems like almost everyone has a 3550, carries them religiously (me included), but it never gets any press.

140BK



9051



3550

 
shandrydan1 said:
Curious as to what kind of sheath you got for your Steep Mountain. I have one and I agree the sheath leaves much to be desired. The knife itself really is impressive but the sheath pretty much keeps me from carrying it.
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I found something at a gun show at one of the knife tables. It is basically a used plain brown leather sheath that was designed for a four inch knife and I got it for $5. It has no belt loop or attachment. Very thin and light. I really don't need anything fancy--just a place to keep the blade and stuff it away. I don't like small blades attached to my belt and prefer it in my waistband or between the belt and waist. It fits very securely in my wasitband and I hardly notice it is there.

I have no idea who designed the sheath for this knife. What were they thinking? They should have just supplied a plain kydex sheath instead of using the ridiculous strap retenion. It just makes it more bulky and you can't remove the belt loop attachment without also removing the strap. Hideous design for a sheath.
 
I could be wrong about this, I'm no BM expert, but it seems to me the 950 Rift doesn't get anywhere near the love I think it deserves.

Maybe the 154CM doesn't attract people? But I like 154CM.
Maybe the sharpish edges around the handle and/or the bump under it turn people away from it's ergonomics? But it fits my medium size hands just right, quite comfortable to use, not too big, not too small, real Goldilocks zone just right, to me anyway.

It's bigger than the light EDC 940, smaller than the beasty 810, yet it's those other 2 reverse tanto blades one seems to hear most about. Perhaps because of the S30V and M4 being more desirable than 154CM? OK, I can see that, I have folders in both those steels and yes they are great, but 154CM is no slouch either, at least IMO.

My Rift gets its share of pocket time, and I often seem to find myself remembering how great a folder it is when it gets pocketed and used after it has languished in the drawer for a while.

The 950 has the cool black and gray G10 which looks great to me, I really like the whole package, the one I have is very smooth, Axis lock is ideal for it, I just don't see much not to like. I think it's a great, versatile general use pocket knife that can handle pretty much whatever it's asked to do.

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I'm not sure if it qualifies as a "sleeper", but you certainly don't see many of them posted here. My vote is for the 746 Mini Onslaught.
- spydie hole
- thin blade with a lot of belly for good slicing
- very comfortable grip that keeps the blade balanced and forward for cutting

I too, am a fan of 154CM. For general use, it's a very easy steel to maintain.

benchmade_minionslaught-746_1.jpg
 
Lee48 said:
Presidio Ultra and Mini Presidio Ultra. Grips don't feel cheap or hollow like Griptilian and Mini Griptilian, full steel liners, comfortable handling, good quality 440C that's easy to keep sharp, Axis lock...what's not to like?
Click to expand...

I came into this thread to say the exact same thing. The 522 and 527 are amazing knives and consistently keep my Griptilians from receiving any carry time; however, they only see carry on the days that I can lay aside the Barrage and/or Mini Barrage
 
My BM sleeper is the original H2O X15TN steel belt cutter.I got two right away many years past. It is a great belt cutter and works great for gutting, cutting leather and card board. It sliced through a cribbing collar that the horses owner had put on so tight that it was rubbing the hide off the horses head. The H2O cut it so quickly and smoothly that the horse didn't have time to flinch. Ironically it has never been used to cut seat belts!
 
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