I'm looking to get a Benchmade knife

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silentsten

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Mar 4, 2015
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I like the Barrage, but I'm seeing a lot of people saying bad things about it and I was wondering if its a good knife for a first step above just having a Kershaw Blur.
 
I can't speak for the Barrage, but my Rift is everything I wanted it to be. If you have the chance to go actually hold it, then do that first before worrying about reviews too much. A lot of retailers carry Benchmade, its worth driving an hour in my opinion to be able to feel the knife IRL.
Aside from that, do your research, and if you buy it blind, and ultimately don't like it, just get your Gold membership here and see what you can get for it,,
Good luck!
 
Honestly, if I was in the market for a Benchmade I would go for the H&K 14715. All that Axis lock goodness, good steel, G10 scales, but without the inflated MAP costs of a Benchmade branded knife.
 
I like the Barrage a lot, but only once the spring is taken out. It's a wonderful, smooth, handsome manual knife. As an assisted knife, it fires open a little too hard and too easily.

Also, the 581 can be had for about $150 BNIB if you're patient and watch the exchange and eBay. That's an incredible price for a full-size knife with M390 steel and a good warranty.
 
The Barrage is a good knife, made even better IMHO by de-asssiting the nitrous assist. Great blade shape and grip.
But like Insipid Moniker above states, the HK AXIS is the best deal on any Benchmade currently.
 
I've got the 581 Barrage with G10 and M390. It's the only assisted axis lock ( Axis assist per BM) I have and while I don't really love the safety the knife itself is solid, fits my hand well, cuts beautifully and yes, it does open quite fast. I would urge you to handle one before purchase if possible, (same goes for most knives) as you may not care for it but as far as value goes I feel it's very well done.
 
the only reason I would be getting it is for the straight edge tanto blade and the fact that for all intents and purposes I can customize it on their website to the colors I want, and I just hate the way the Griptillian looks/feels. I am planning on going out to feel the different knives and see how I like them but from what I've seen the Barrage looks similar in size and shape to the Blur which fits my hand pretty much perfectly. I do agree that its important to see if I like it before buying it though and I will do that today.
 
I also have a 581 and love it!
Amazing blade that cuts like a pissed off demon!
I left mine assisted mainly for the cool factor.
Very comfy in hand and solid as a brick.
I just sent mine back to BM for a black blade swap......just because.
I have a feeling if you do get it in your hand your wallet will be out rather quickly!!
BM customer service is literally outstanding also.
Good luck and let us know what you decide!

PS.....just got a Grip off the Custom Shop for my son. Excellent experience and the blade on that thing came ridiculous screaming sharp!! That edge is the best I have ever seen out of the box!
 
The 580 Barrage is a great knife and an excellent bang for the buck -- I have absolutely zero bad things to say about it. :cool:

It's a pretty good-sized folder, though, which is why I (as well as my wife) opted for the 585 Mini-Barrage. A very handy size that better suits our EDC preferences.

The assist, by the way, is amazing -- Benchmade did it just right. :) One of the best and most usable around, in my experience.

Tom @ KnivesShipFree
 
It really depends on which version Barrage you get. Mine was a Cabela's exclusive with an orange handle, D2 blade. I also did not like the assist on it, and the blade had some play. Truthfully, I think its an overpriced knife. Unless you are dead set on the M390 version, there are better knives for your money (or less). If you really like your Blur, the next logical step IMO is to get one with an upgraded steel like the Elmax, or check out the Camber, which is basically a flipper version of the Blur with CPM-S30V. If you are looking at spending the money for the M390 barrage, for my money I'd choose the new Spyderco Para-Military 2 in CPM-S110V instead. Or, if you really want an assisted knife, you could go with a ZT 0566.

Just my 436 cents.
 
I have several issues with the Barrage. The first is the flare in the grip where it meets the spine of the knife blade. I have large hands and find knives that have humps or bumps or whatever between the handle and the blade get in the way of my thumb in a regular grip and my forefinger when I adjust my grip for slicing.

I also don't like how insanely fast firing the AXIS-Assist lock is on this knife or the strange little "scallops" cut in to the top and bottom of the scales. They are definitely just for looks and don't help grip at all. In fact, they make the grip feel strange to me.

And finally I'm not a fan of Benchmade's M390. I've had several Benchmade knives with M390 and find they didn't hold an edge well at all. I think they had some heat treat problems. Maybe they've fixed it now? I don't know, but I prefer their S30V, 154CM and D2. Benchmade's S30V is my favorite steel right now and has been for some time.

Things I like about the Barrage are the AXIS-Lock. I'm left-handed so a true ambidextrous lock for me means way, way more than most other factors. I also like how it looks. It's a great looking knife.

As an alternative, I agree with the H&K 14715. No MAP ridiculousness and a great design.

To answer your question about the tanto or regular blade design, The Americanized "tanto" blade tip is supposedly good for piercing. I don't know, I just use my knives to cut things so for me the east of use and sharpening is better (standard blade design).

Also, I didn't mention but I'm not crazy about the plastic scales either. The aforementioned H&K has G10 for a lot less money.
 
Well I picked up the barrage in 154cm with the tanto blade so far I'm happy with it, paid a little under $100 for it so not too bad the m390 was almost $70 more
 
Comeuppance said:
I like the Barrage a lot, but only once the spring is taken out. It's a wonderful, smooth, handsome manual knife. As an assisted knife, it fires open a little too hard and too easily.

Also, the 581 can be had for about $150 BNIB if you're patient and watch the exchange and eBay. That's an incredible price for a full-size knife with M390 steel and a good warranty.
Click to expand...

I'll echo exactly this. I had one for a good while. Took the assist spring out and it was pretty much flawless. Sadly had to sell it at a time when I was hard up for cash. Annnnnnd now I might have to get another.
 
A Barrage and a S30V Blur were actually my first two 'real' knives.

I actually hated the assist mechanism on the Barrage. It's totally unnecessary on an Axis lock. The plasticy handles were also a turn off. My Blur got much much more pocket time.

I had a MUCH better time with the Benchmade 943.
 
I have a 583 tanto barrage and I traded or sold it, I didn't like the plastic grips. Was not a sold grip. Like the design, though so I'll save up and get a 581 I've had my eye on for a while. I have also heard of BM m390 heat treat not being up to par. I still want to try that steel though. I've held the 581 and absolutely love the g10/aluminum style.

Coming from someone who's had several griptilians, that barrage, contego, 940 and more.. I would get the 581 if I were you as I plan too
 
I like the Barrage series but I ended up with the Volli instead. It is based upon the Barrage but has great G10 scales. The assist and integrated safety are completely over the top though. If you like them, thats great. I don't. IMHO, they downgrade a great knife into a good knife.

I am finding that I like the S30V blade steel. Much better than anything else I own.
 
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