Benchmark Sidewinder auto, not bad for $60 !!

J

joebe

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Jun 17, 2001
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Just got my Sidewinder from 1SKS the other day and it is really a decent auto for the money ($69), the handle is some sort of plastic (?) that is textured and sort of looks like black micarta,
sort of. the blade is a nice shaped clip point with high sides and it came somewhat sharp. the blade is some sort of 440 (?), good heavy duty lanyard hole and a good handle shape that curves the blade down to your cutting surface. the auto release was kind of sticky when i got it, there is good force after a somewhat slow release, but it does lock out securely.
I took the Lansky to the edge for toothiness and now it IS sharp !!
also gave it a light dose of WD-40 and that slicked it up nice, the button doen't feel tacky and the release seems much smoother, also
i have fired it a couple of hundred times so far. they changed the pocket clip too, instead of the odd looking black plastic clip it's now a standard stainless style, to high for my tastes though, as it is a digger to draw from your pocket, being an auto maybe low-profile is good ??

**anyone know what the hole in the end of the pocket clip is for ???
 
:( I liked that little plastic clip. It was ribbed and made for a very easy draw. It's similar to the clip on my Blackie Collins Strut n cut rascal. How's the blade play?

ps. The Handle is glass-filled material called Fiberesin, and the blade is 440c, which is very decent.
 
in all fairness i have never had one with the plastic clip so it might have been a good design, i expected this one to be equipped with it. the blade is very solid, there doesn't seem to be any side to side and only a very slight front and back play when opened.

the only odd thing is that theres a small hole in the pocket clip
opposite the screws that hold it on? i'm going to check with Benchmark to see if it has a function.
 
maybe it's just a design element, no function at all. Would you recommend the knife? I think I want one.
 
i think it is definitely worth the money, i wasn't feeling like spending $100 plus and i really wasn't crazy about the BM models,
i will be using it for a general utility pocketknife and it should fill that role just right. it has a finger groove to keep you off the blade and only weighs about 3 oz.

$69 from 1stopknifeshop...can't go wrong...
 
turns out the Sidewinder doesn't have any front/back play when locked open, i just hadn't adjusted the blade stop screw on the rear of the knife, turned it out about a 1/4 turn and the blade lock-up is super tight, the more you use it after the WD-40, the smoother it gets..

not bad at all...
 
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