Help me spend $100 or less on a new Benchmade for EDC.

[Smudge]

Looking for a nice EDC knife. I really like the AXIS lock on the Benchmades. I can spend about $100 +/-. I like the following Benchmades:

525
556
551
943

Can anyone comment on the above or provide me with other ideas whether Benchmade or not. Thanks

 

[Chadilac]

I really love the 94x series. My 940S was my 2nd BM after a 550 Griptilian. The 94X are a good size for EDC-slim and a good, medium size. It is hard to beat for the $100-ish range for a BM axis IMO...

Come over and join the BM forum and ask there, if haven't joined up!

 

[almtiba]

The mini-presidio 525 is one of my favorites...

Regards,

Andre Tiba - Brazil

 

[Smudge]

I guess I would also add the 705 to the list

 

[Nick Hyle]

The 551 and 556 are nice, but the full built models like the 525 and 943 are another class. There's nothing wrong with the Grips, but I'd skip them and go straight to the real thing.

The 940 series is a true classic, I think - the ergos are close to great and the knives pack an enormous amount of edge into the handle size. The 525 arguably is even better in the hand, but does have a shorter blade and a handle that is neither so smooth nor so slim in the pocket. If at all possible you should try to handle both and see which one your hand falls in love with.

 

[orthogonal1]

I'd add that the 943 (and 941) have a pointier tip. Pointy tips come in handy IMHO.

 

[DGG]

Which do you like?

For a couple of bucks over $100 I would suggest that you consider the "Ritter" RSK Griptillian is a heavy duty job made from high speed tool steel and used by lots of guys in emergency work or needing a good survival tool. You don't hear much about them unless you are really into good knives for use in tough environments.

http://www.equipped.com/rsk_mk1.htm

Here is a recent thread about this model that be of interest to you.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=382413

 

[bh49]

I have 551 Grip and I like this knife very much. It fit good into my hand, has axis lock, takes really sharp edge with sharpmaker, and is not expensive. But if you willing to spend more money may be consider cabelas griptilian it is $80, which is about $25 more than 551 and it has D2 blade steel, which is better than 440C. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...Catcat20712&_requestid=38126&_requestid=18714

 

[ginshun]

I'd go with a grip or minigrip from Cabela's in D2.

 

[Firebat]

707 is worth adding to your list.

(I'm fairly sure I've seen it for right at $100 or slightly less.)

 

[Active Verb]

And that's ok. A 556 is a great choice in the list you provide. A 525 is a step up. I've felt both. The aluminum handle of the 525 feels more solid than the FRN mini-grip handle. If you are paying 55 or 60 dollars for a 440C version of the 556, then it's a wash. If you are spending over $100, get the 525.