Gold Class Bugout

gadgetgeek said:
So, just to be clear, benchmade sucks, and the bugout is terrible. Glad I have the internet to make sure I have the correct opinion.
Click to expand...
WRONG GEEK! Read it again or maybe two more times. Apologies if I Butt hurt you sir but I made it quite clear I Like Benchmade's and have a few, I was simply stating what (I) experienced and what (MY) opinion was. BTW have You handled one? Oh sorry let me be more clear just for you, Have you handled the Benchmade Gold class Bugout or not?o_O
 
dirc said:
no one said that, and no one said that the bf general consensus is the only valid opinion
I believe what you've done is called a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_herring
Click to expand...
I'd have called it a strawman, but fair call.

Night Rider said:
WRONG GEEK! Read it again or maybe two more times. Apologies if I Butt hurt you sir but I made it quite clear I Like Benchmade's and have a few, I was simply stating what (I) experienced and what (MY) opinion was. BTW have You handled one? Oh sorry let me be more clear just for you, Have you handled the Benchmade Gold class Bugout or not?o_O
Click to expand...

Look, no beef with you gents, just thinking this horse is getting pretty soft. You are entitled to your opinion. Please don't think so highly of yourself that your opinion has any effect on my butt. Also, I didn't think my response was in response to dirc or Night Rider in particular. I disagree on the backspacer, I think it adds unneeded weight, but so what? That's the point of the place. No need to get fired up there Rider.


That's nice. I think you mistook me for someone who cared. Its a common thing, sometimes I do, sometimes my lame attempts at satire are unwelcome.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Halfneck said:
I have a Bugout and it's probably my favorite Benchmade since their 531. I carried the 531 for years in scrubs at work and used it for all kinds of tasks with no negative effects. The Bugout came alnog and improved on some aspects of the 531, others not so much. The Bugout has:

Less hotspots in the handle design.
Slightly larger pivot.
Thumbstuds that snag less.
S30V steel over 154CM (though I prefer 154CM)
Lighter weight.

The one aspect of the Bugout that takes a step back vs. my 531 is the FRN scales compared to the G10. I understand why they did it though as they were going for lighter weight. Personally I don't think G10 would add much more weight, and I think it would improve the Bugout actually. As for the flex issue, honestly it does not bug me. In actual use, compared to trying to flex it, I think it's a non-issue. Even the G10 on my 531 can be flexed some if I actively try to. Where the G10 improves the knife is in the balance of the knife and tactile feel - at least for me.

As successful as the Bugout has been I still hold out hope that they will release a G10 version. The Gold Class knives are just fancy collection pieces.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I like my 531. It's hard to beat but, the Bugout really is a better knife. Price and FRN scales seem to be the only real complaints against it but when you compare
it to the upgraded 531 offered through REI, the Bugout is a good deal.
 
a small g10 backspacer would add only about .05 of an ounce, (or 0.1 max) and maybe 50 cents ...
completely worth it to have a sturdy and stable handle that doesn't flex, but hey it's all good, if bm wants to emulate the feel of gas station junk that's their prerogative
 
funny you should mention m4, which I have in the form of a gayle bradley 2 ; )

and I agree with you on blacked out blades... imho it's used to cover imperfections or as mall ninja temptation, neither of which interests me
 
I have a 530 and an REI 531. The g10 scales fixed everything I hated
about the 530...scale flex. Scale flex drives me insane...I loathe it and
getting pinched is ridiculous!
The 530 and a regular grip are the only benchmades I own with frn
scales. The rest are G10 with one being paper micarta.

The way the tool feels in hand matters a lot to me. I use a Lil Native
Spyderco for work EDC now and it feels great in hand and cuts very
well with the full flat grind leaf blade. It feels much more premium
than my 531 in hand. It is heavier...and thicker, but shorter.
I love it! I find the use of scales that are super flexy lame.
For 100 dollars? No. A friend asked if I had tried the bugout and I said
Nope...FRN scales that thin will feel cheap...not interested.
Everyone has different tastes. I get that. But G10 or carbon scales
make more sense for a light knife with a not so light price.


Edge bevels on my Spyderco's are perfect as well. ;)
 
Last edited:
clearkevin said:
Save yourself $500 and get the M4 freek better knife in ever possible way even looks and I don't really like blacked out blades
Click to expand...
The Freek is a good knife but I just don't like it. I can't get past handle geometry and materials.
 
Cosmodragoon said:
I see a lot of love for Benchmade here and lots of new recommendations to buy one. I don't know what the breakdown is between gun guys, knife guys, general EDC people, etc... So I'm curious. Do people making these recommendations not know or not care about Benchmade's donations to anti-gun politicians? Given the incredible fervor against companies making clone knives, I kind of thought there would be more of a reaction to this in the knife community.
Click to expand...

I'm lucky. I already have the Benchmade knives that really I want. I bought them all used so BM's stupidity will probably not affect any purchase I make. If need be, I will continue to purchase second hand, do without, or buy a different brand.

I am disappointed with Benchmade though. Their political choices do seem to be very short-sighted. I'm not sure what they were thinking and I can't help but feel that BM
underestimates most of their customers. I would have loved to have a fly on the wall and listen to the damage control meetings that they must have had.

Of course, most knife owners don't know and don't care what Benchmade does except for the knife they have in their pocket.
 
Last edited:
gadgetgeek said:
I'd have called it a strawman, but fair call.



Look, no beef with you gents, just thinking this horse is getting pretty soft. You are entitled to your opinion. Please don't think so highly of yourself that your opinion has any effect on my butt. Also, I didn't think my response was in response to dirc or Night Rider in particular. I disagree on the backspacer, I think it adds unneeded weight, but so what? That's the point of the place. No need to get fired up there Rider.


That's nice. I think you mistook me for someone who cared. Its a common thing, sometimes I do, sometimes my lame attempts at satire are unwelcome.
Click to expand...
gadgetgeek Sorry I misunderstood you for "someone who cared" Lol :oops:. I fully agree that this horse Is getting soft And I also have no beef with you either. I read your post the wrong way and jumped to the conclusion that you pushing the 2A fiasco into my little contribution only and for that I apologize. I for one appreciate a little satire to spice things up and I usually pick right up on it and join in on the fun but your efforts went over my head this time budd :oops:. I think it's because I was on the alert for angry BM fanboys and the 2A groups stomping on me and taking what I wrote out of context when I was simply trying to state what I witnessed in the Bugout I handled. I was trying to steer clear of any politics related to BM seeing that the BF has at least 2 long threads dedicated to that mess and I hope that in the future we can continue to agree to agree or disagree on the topics we are both passionate about. Cheers
 
This is the wrong forum for political commentary.
Address the question on the Gold Bugout.
 
knarfeng said:
This is the wrong forum for political commentary.
Address the question on the Gold Bugout.
Click to expand...

bobobama said:
Looks like Benchmade has outdone itself. They're bringing out a Gold Class Bugout. Kinda like making a silk purse out of a sow's ear. And all for $637.50.

Is this their way of making up for their recent fiasco?
Click to expand...

Forgive a newbie here but isn't that part of the question? (See the highlighted portion of this thread's original post.) The "recent fiasco" involved Benchmade destroying guns for the police, which gained a lot of media attention, which lead to digging, which led to the uncovering of donations to politicians who have been actively trying to violate gun rights.

If this is an issue of trying to keep politics and knives separate, is that really possible here? The company making this particular knife and marketing this knife to members of this community has been caught using proceeds for political activity that negatively impacts members of this community. Where should members of this community be discussing that?
 
https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/bladeforums-com-political-arena.685/
There is an entire forum dedicated to politics and political questions. There is a 29 page thread on the Benchmade political issues there. Takes a paid membership to participate because of the amount of moderating required to keep things even a little bit civil.

Outside of the political forum, we do separate politics and knife questions.
 
Night Rider said:
WRONG GEEK! Read it again or maybe two more times. Apologies if I Butt hurt you sir but I made it quite clear I Like Benchmade's and have a few, I was simply stating what (I) experienced and what (MY) opinion was. BTW have You handled one? Oh sorry let me be more clear just for you, Have you handled the Benchmade Gold class Bugout or not?o_O
Click to expand...

Oh man, you butt hurted someone bro...

Reported.
 
Not sure about the whole Gold Class thing. It seems like Benchmade is seriously reaching. I think they'd do better if they would release certain models as Gold Class exclusives. Perhaps even open a new model with a few Gold Class one offs. Much like CKF does with a handful of their knives per run.

I just dont see it happening for a company as large as Benchmade in the fashion they're choosing to do it.
 
I personally don't understand why they chose the bugout as the model to produce a gold class model of. The knife is purpose built for light weight and easy carrying when you go out into the woods... not really where I see people using gold class.
 
I actually really like it, but I wouldn't pay those prices. I just like to look at them. They did a Valet limited edition a while ago that was I think a bit better, the 585GRY-1801. Some small visual and material improvements and a more competitive price point, while not making it so exceptionally gaudy and pricy that you wouldn't use it. Although it was still a little expensive for what it was, and I thought the gray G10 standard Valet was already dressy enough for a gent's knife.
 
kickert said:
I personally don't understand why they chose the bugout as the model to produce a gold class model of. The knife is purpose built for light weight and easy carrying when you go out into the woods... not really where I see people using gold class.
Click to expand...
I see your point but, it brings up a question. How many Bugout owners use their knife when they are hiking, camping or backpacking? Or, better yet, how many purchased their knife with the purpose of backpacking or camping in mind? It is my understanding that this is the market that BM aimed the knife at.

As for the Gold Class Bugout, it's all about money. It's just another area that Benchmade hopes to make a buck or two. They have offered a Gold Class 531 so it is not really surprising they do the same with the 535 Bugout.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top