Do i want an infidel?

BePrepared

BePrepared

Joined
Aug 26, 2010
Messages
4,441
Texas just made Autos legal. I bought a MT Ultratech first, but now i'm considering getting an Infidel too.

I'd love to hear your experiences and see some pics. I can only have single edged knives here in Texas, so if i get one, it'll be the non-serrated single edge.

Thanks guys
 
The handle on the Infidel is much more comfy and usable than the Ultratech. Keep in mind, the Infidel is a bigger knife. D2 steel is decent stuff, but I prefer the 204P on my Ultratech (not sure which steel yours has). The internals of the infidel are overly complex and the knife will need to be disassembled and cleaned about every two months if you're carrying it every day. Disassembly/reassembly of the Infidel is NO treat. My Ultratech didn't need to be taken apart in the 6 months I used it, and still fired just as hard as new.

Do you want one? Yes. It's an amazing knife, and is arguably the most lusted after Benchmade currently in production.

Is it practical? I think double-action OTF's are the safest and most practical knife mechanisms on the market. BUT, the Infidel does require the hands of an eye surgeon to work on.
 
Safe because it takes effort to get the blades out. Practical? Hardly.

Practicality puts the 3550 over an infidel, I'm not arguing against the automatic OTF niche, just saying that if we want to talk about practical and safe knives that aren't fixed blades mechanisms like CBBL, AXIS, Tri-AD are more practical.

Again, please don't mistake me as a hater, I think we all have knives we like.
 
The microtech action seems like the blade comes out quicker, more force behind it. I don't know if anyone who has both can confirm that.
 
My buddy has one and I have to say I'm not all that impressed with it esp considering its price---fun toy but that's about it.
 
For Benchmade to succeed in the OTF market the Infidel needed to be either better or cheaper than a Microtech. It did neither. Although a good knife it is not better and when considering the Ultratech, not cheaper. I believe this is why we have seen Benchmade follow up only with lower cost HK branded OTF's.

No the Infidel does not fire as hard as a Microtech. Also, Microtech has a better button placement, on the spine side of the handle. The placement of the Infidel's button (on the wide flat side) requires you to fire the blade then reposition your grip.

The Ultratech is one of the finest knives ever made IMHO. If you want a better knife than your Ultratch, save some pennies and get a Scarab. Little lower in cost, a Combat Trodoon.

This being said, Benchmade makes great side opening autos. May I suggest the classic Auto Stryker.
 
I've owned one Infidel and five Microtechs.

The Infidel is a very fine machine. It fires smoothly and quietly compared to the Ultratech. The internals are accessible for cleaning and lubrication (regular maintenance) simply by removing one side of screws. Inside the internals are very finely finished and precise, and wear slowly as a result. Mine in particular is lubed with a heavier grease than stock, and fires/retracts silently in comparison to a Microtech.

I found the lack of blade play on most of my Microtechs to be impressive, and the blade play of my Infidel uneventful. The Microtech feels more finely tuned and the Infidel softer.

They are very different knives. If you already own one type, I suggesting trying one of the other type.

For my light EDC duties, I choose the Benchmade Infidel for its more luxurious deployment every time.
 
Skimo said:
Safe because it takes effort to get the blades out. Practical? Hardly.

Practicality puts the 3550 over an infidel
Click to expand...

I've got a 3550, and I prefer it's inherent strength over that of the Infidel, and also for sentimental reasons. I definitely don't baby my Infidel, and Benchmade replaced the internals on it twice before it became a safe queen. I consider the 3550 to be one of the all-time greats that has come out of Oregon City.

I use term "practical" to mean easy to deploy, AND easy to retract. I can pull my the Infidel out of my pocket, open the blade, cut something, then retract the blade, all with one hand, and in no way using another object such as my leg to close the knife and repocket it.

That process alone, is why I own mostly unassisted manual Axis-lock knives, and a compression-lock Spyderco... Release the lock and the blade just falls into the handle!

To each their own though... I've moved back to non-auto knives because I got tired of hearing "aren't those illegal?!"
 
I know this is an old thread but if you buy a used infidel . DO YOUR HOMEWORK . I've been contacting various owners to purchase and they are ALL fakes. I cant find a real one to save my life.
 
So what was the outcome?

I like the Infidel, and it's from a company that I actually trust 100% and have faith in to do good work, fix issues, and turn products around quickly (unlike Microtech). I've never really owned all that much in the OTFs though because I like how locks like the AXIS and frame lock are so strong, last forever, are easy to take apart, are easy to clean, and can function even when dirty beyond belief.

My only complaint with the Infidel is that the scales themselves are a little aggressive on pants and skin. They aren't terrible or anything, but like the Presidio they are a little pronounced. For actual usage, you could argue this to be a functional advantage instead of a complaint.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top