Benchmade Water Series Adira (Full Size) Review:

Buffalohump said:
Thanks for the review.... I have to wonder what the thinking was on the sizing. A big one and a small one. Why not just one medium size one? Kidding... but it does make it harder to decide.

Also, that packaging.... seems like a LOT. I mean, its gorgeous and all but I do wonder why.
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Purely for eye poppin'......👀..........Fallkniven did the same...My volcano came in a nice wooden glass topped case and my gentlemen's folder came in the same packaging..... Huge size difference there!!
Probably cheaper too than different box for each...🤔
 
Is the handle material the same as the griptilians? Something called noryl GTX. I must confess that I have gotten addicted to that texture and hefty sturdiness of the griptilian. Can't seem to find another BM model that replicates that feeling...
 
The handle material is Grivory, the axis spring is the traditional springs.

N2s
 
Railsplitter said:
The Benchmade website states that the springs are stainless steel on these models. I wasn’t aware that the standard springs are not stainless steel. I learned something new today.
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They may be made of SS but not all SS is created equal, 430 SS and 304 SS will rust in saltwater, 304 being the more rust resistant of the two, 316 SS is marine grade. Watched a YouTube vid that tested the Adira and a couple of other knives to see how rust resistant they are in a salt water environment then posted the results and the Omega springs showed signs of rusting. I wouldn't be worried about it if I spent a day on the water and made sure the knife got a good fresh water rinse and dried at the end of the day and wouldn't detour me from purchasing the knife. I already own a couple other Spyderco Salt knives.

Quiet Quiet if you'd like me to remove the links hit me up but thought they added something to your review since some posters had brought up their concern.

Link to how the test was conducted


Link to the results after breaking the knives down, about the 16:25 mark is where the Adira results from the test are looked at.

 
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zippifish said:
They may be made of SS but not all SS is created equal, 430 SS and 304 SS will rust in saltwater, 304 being the more rust resistant of the two, 316 SS is marine grade. Watched a YouTube vid that tested the Adira and a couple of other knives to see how rust resistant they are in a salt water environment then posted the results and the Omega springs showed signs of rusting. I wouldn't be worried about it if I spent a day on the water and made sure the knife got a good fresh water rinse and dried at the end of the day and wouldn't detour me from purchasing the knife. I already own a couple other Spyderco Salt knives.

Quiet Quiet if you'd like me to remove the links hit me up but thought they added something to your review since some posters had brought up their concern.

Link to how the test was conducted


Link to the results after breaking the knives down, about the 16:25 mark is where the Adira results from the test are looked at.

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Thank you for sharing that.
 
zippifish said:
They may be made of SS but not all SS is created equal, 430 SS and 304 SS will rust in saltwater, 304 being the more rust resistant of the two, 316 SS is marine grade. Watched a YouTube vid that tested the Adira and a couple of other knives to see how rust resistant they are in a salt water environment then posted the results and the Omega springs showed signs of rusting. I wouldn't be worried about it if I spent a day on the water and made sure the knife got a good fresh water rinse and dried at the end of the day and wouldn't detour me from purchasing the knife. I already own a couple other Spyderco Salt knives.

Quiet Quiet if you'd like me to remove the links hit me up but thought they added something to your review since some posters had brought up their concern.

Link to how the test was conducted


Link to the results after breaking the knives down, about the 16:25 mark is where the Adira results from the test are looked at.

Click to expand...

I have no issue with others reporting issues with these. I haven't seen these videos myself, and I don't ever visit the beach or require a knife that can be immersed in water, so this won't affect me. However, others might, given what Benchmade is aiming this at, and really, it sort of goes back to the issue I have marketing folding knives as water tools in the first place. If I was a diver, or someone who worked around water, I'd be carrying a fixed blade, not a folding knife whose method of carry was being clipped to a pocket. I've carried mine almost exclusively since I've gotten it, here in the already hot Florida weather and have no issues. There have been a few times where I've taken it out of my pocket and had those droplets of sweat on it, especially if I was working outside that day. A quick wipe, and all we well. So, however, if you're expecting your knife to be submerged in saltwater for any length of time, looks like there will be issues.
 
being first generation I'd expect they'll see what to improve on as warranties roll in. overall I see it like Quiet does. those salt test videos are interesting but wouldnt stop me from buying and using one. should fare fine for florida summer sweaty pocket carry.......
 
I just receieved the Mini Adira today. First impression ... I love the blade on this. It's thin enough to be a good cutter and the grinds are really nice. I'm just not sure overall it will be a keeper for me though.

The way the deep carry clip fits in my hand isn't great, but that can be changed. The balance feels a bit off IMO. I understand they are going for a lightweight knife, but to me it just feels blade heavy. It could be that it's just quite a different feel from the knives I generally carry and it may have to grow on me. For those of you who went with the full sized version, what do you think about the balance of it?

Overall it's a good looking knife and very smooth. The blade design definitely makes me want to try make it work. I'll have to give it more time over this weekend and see if it's going to have a home here or if I may need to release it and move it to another member.
 
I handled the mini-Adira at a Bass Pro today. Although I determined it wasn't for me, I liked it quite a bit. It felt like an old fashioned Griptilian with those light grivory scales and familiar axis lock. The action was butter smooth and the blade appeared to be ground very well.

Ultimately, I think the shape of the handle turned me off as it felt cramped and like it had too many corners that poked into my hand. That probably wouldn't be a problem with the full sized model.

I haven't owned or used a Benchmade in years, but these have piqued my interest. I'm looking forward to seeing reviews of this new line after some use.
 
I lost my Benchmade Bugout a while back and am looking at the mini Adira as it's replacement for something a little bit beefier/bigger. I kinda like the blue handle color, too. I want to try one locally for hand fit before I decide on the mini or regular.

I haven't tried Magnacut at 60-62 (usually spec 64 on my stuff), so I am curious how people find it performs and holds an edge. I'm not using a folder for heavy duty tasks, so lowering the HRC down for more toughness doesn't really appeal to me and I usually carry a FB that sees more of the abusive stuff.
 
Quiet said:
I've set down the Spyderco PM2 I had on me at that time for comparison!
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…

Pros:

- The color is very nice, without being screaming bright yellow (looking at you, Spyderco Salt series), making this knife right at home for EDC


Cons:

- This series of knives is billed as being for use in, under, and around water. …, and perhaps a brighter, more visible color. ...
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Thank you very much for the review.

Question:
You say pro:
luckily not bright yellow

And con:
perhaps brighter more visible color

So what color range do you mean?

My PM2 Salt Magnacut is all black, very happy about it :)

The Intersect will arrive tomorrow.
It will maybe replace my hidden canyon Hunter S90V which had already some rust under the scales when it arrived…
I am very happy about the new Intersect …

Maybe I will get also the new mini Adira
 
Bknives said:
Thank you very much for the review.

Question:
You say pro:
luckily not bright yellow

And con:
perhaps brighter more visible color

So what color range do you mean?

My PM2 Salt Magnacut is all black, very happy about it :)

The Intersect will arrive tomorrow.
It will maybe replace my hidden canyon Hunter S90V which had already some rust under the scales when it arrived…
I am very happy about the new Intersect …

Maybe I will get also the new mini Adira
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This is a good question. So, candidly, I buy knives for EDC purposes. I did not buy this knife for underwater use, because as I've said previously, I think folding knives don't make sense to me as dive knives, or underwater work knives. A fixed blade would be my choice in these sorts of environments. No, I (to use a phrase I often do on this forum in these sorts of discussions) am a member of the "Laptop class". So, half of the time, I'm in sweatpants at home parked in front of work screens, and the other half of the week, I'm at a desk in an office environment in a facility. I buy knives strictly for EDC purposes in a possible office settings, so that's the "lens" I tend to view design decisions through. I do not own a single Salt Series Spyderco model, because I do not want the eye drawn to a big wedge of yellow sticking out of my pocket, which incidentally is also why I love and prefer deep carry pocket clips, and usually switch clips out on models that don't have them.

As for this Water Series, what I think happened here is that Benchmade saw Spyderco's release of their Salt series with polymer based handles and Magnacut because these things won't rust, and said "Let's ALSO do that." and I don't think they really thought the product through from that angle, as those Youtube videos showing the rust of the steel scale liners would suggest. They just said "Eh, most of this knife will work in saltwater, let's go with it!" and trucked 'em out.

Now, if you're an EDC user of these knives, I think they're really good from that perspective. Hand-filling grip, big slicy blade of Magnacut, and a crossbar lock. Entirely my jam! However, if you are genuinely looking for underwater/saltwater exposure and use, you're probably going to just buy a Salt model and call it a day.

On colors, when I mentioned Spyderco, I was very passively stating that I dislike how Spyderco released Magnacut blades on knives primarily meant for underwater use, and hence bright yellow. I really wish they would (and pray that they will!) release Magnacut bladed models in their more standard G10 clothes in the future. So, I DO like that Benchmade made these knives in what I feel is a pretty pleasing light-blue/greyish/teal color, and is a way to get a nice big slab of Magnacut without having to buy one of the Salt lightweight models from Spyderco. I also prefer crossbar locks VASTLY, VASTLY more than I like backlocks. Always have, always will. This Adira, I like carrying it, and the scales have a lot of interesting features that Spyderco's lightweight scaled models don't have*. That said, if being seen underwater is the goal, I do think this color is fine, and hopefully BM will release this model in other colors in the future.



* Your mileage may vary!!
 
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Fine, you think absolutely the same like I about knives…

I also work on my computer and in my shops.
So, but I don’t like rust :)

That‘s the reason, why I have the PM2 Magnacut in all black with a deep carry clip…

Benchmades also many.
Last year, my go to pool knive was a Bugout Worksharp edition, nearly complete rustproof with the coated liners and 20cv blade.
Yes, it was yellow, but I put some nice Micarta Flytanium on them…

Also my LC200N UKPK has Cuscadi green Micarta scales.

The reason, why I have many nice small fixed is:

In Germany we are only allowed to carry one Handed Knives(Benchmade, Spyderco etc) when we use them for working, hiking, on private property or for filming/photographing.
But only to carry them, to have them ready, is forbidden.
You have to put them into a locked case.

But fixed blades with a length under 5 inches are allowed to carry nearly everywhere, without a reason.
If it is no double edge or the intended use from the manufacturer to fight.

So we can carry them in the way we like, also hidden.

It is more legal to carry a fixed, than a one handed opening folder.

That’s the reason for me to get the Intersect.

I do fishing sometimes, but very rare.

We have many days rain here, so rustproof is a good Idea.

Yesterday, I cut some branches with a 3V knife.
At the car I cleaned the knife and wiped it with an alcohol towel.

I was pretty sure it was dry.

But maybe the sheath was a little wet inside (Kydex)

Today it hat a little rust spot…

I hope you understand my English.

Greetings
 
Interesting times in the knife industry and I wonder if the whole "water line" is a result. The Benchmade was one of the standards for many soldiers serving over seas over the last 20 or so years and BM responded with classics like the Adamas, EOD version of the bush crafter or the claymore. This bled into the LEO community and helped to spawn the "tactical" craze of the last 20 years though out the knife and gear community. It seems like with the tactical craze winding down (for various reasons: bringing the troops home or "de-fund" movements, fatigue), the "hunt" line became more important to BM. Lots of pocket candy that looks good with wood scales or hunter's orange highlights. Hunting seems like a limited pool of customers and is not a growing activity with affluent demographics. The "water" line not only appeals to the fishermen out there but has overlap into other activities like rafting, boating and kayaking. Seems like it is designed to track with the Yeti demographic. Almost all of BM steels and scale materials are decent for water activities but the exclusivity of the water line isn;'t a huge leap in design nor materials used. I think most people who do a lot of activities around the water don't really want to use a $100 to $300 blade that can be gone in an instant. For example, despite my collection I still have a $25 Gerber for my life vest and a $20 no-name fillet knife for my tackle box. It seems like the Water Line is more to create a new highend market for BM to offset the loss of tactical sales and maxing out the hunt demographic. I wish them good luck, but it doesn't seem like it is a winning strategy.
 
I like the look of the fixtie.

But the half serrations.

The colour seems fine in that it has that big lanyard hole. So you could clip colour to it or a float or a tether.

Which if I was working in water I would probably do.
 
Thanks for the review and impressions!

I didn't want mine to be a Yuge Chunk, so I went with the mini Adira that will be here in a few days. But I do wish they'd done a medium sized one with 3.5" blade. I usually also just EDC these "corrosion resistant knives" and don't spend a lot of time around bodies of water. But I do get rained on a lot when hiking and camping.

Previously if I was rafting or boating I'd take a Spyderco in LC200N (usually serrated blade), and just rinse it off in clean water and blow the water out and/or use WD40 to disperse the water. Then when dry I add some oil. For camping I'd add a stainless fixed blade to the mix (14C28N and later Magnacut). Last year I moved up to Quietcarry in Vanax, but decided that the Spyderco LW Salt made more sense in a swimsuit pocket in a float or raft.

No salt water around here in CO, but today my Robjohnsons custom Cedar "Vanax Saltwater Edition" just arrived, and I'm heading out to pick it up soon.
 
$250 for one oz of magnacut, an oz of cheap plastic and an oz of stainless steel is utter stupidity. Not to mention that made in USA means absolutely nothing with benchmade because their QC is worse than most name brand knives coming from Taiwan and China. The native chief salt is basically the same size, half the price, and probably a better tool. The Adira felt like a cheap hollow plastic knife because that's exactly what it is. No doubt it will sell just as long as BM can keep tricking people into believing that it's the same company which built the reputation, even though it is not.
 
sledbot said:
$250 for one oz of magnacut, an oz of cheap plastic and an oz of stainless steel is utter stupidity. Not to mention that made in USA means absolutely nothing with benchmade because their QC is worse than most name brand knives coming from Taiwan and China. The native chief salt is basically the same size, half the price, and probably a better tool. The Adira felt like a cheap hollow plastic knife because that's exactly what it is. No doubt it will sell just as long as BM can keep tricking people into believing that it's the same company which built the reputation, even though it is not.
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Hmm, I'm getting the impression that you don't like Quiet's new knife🤔
 
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