Is the Benchmade Bugout the best knife ever?

I have large hands and prefer full size knives like the XM-18 3.5, Spyderco PM2,Large Sebenza 21, etc. But I needed a bang around knife that wouldn't weigh down the pocket on the cotton athletic pants that I wear around the house. So when my wife browsing Amazon and asked me "What do you want for your birthday under $100 bucks?". Hooker jokes aside, I chose the 1.9 oz. Bugout.
I received the knife yesterday and the out of the box the blade was centered and hair shaving sharp. But the action was predictably stiff with zero drop (pivot adjustment) So as I always do, I pulled the blade, polished the washers, and reassembled it with some 10 wt. Nano oil.
Now the blade flips like butter and swings freely. The Axis lock works smoothly and the blade locks with no play and swings shut on center.
The bad part is the clip. For me, it looks short and almost odd on the knife and it has too much spring tension for my cotton pants pocket thus requiring a fumbling effort to attach it.
I pulled the deep carry clip off my 940-1 and tried it on the Bugout; it works perfect and looks better too. Problem solved. I am a happy camper!
Now I just have to call Benchmade's CS and order another 940 deep carry clip to replace the one I scavenged.

Is the 1.9 oz. Bugout the best knife ever? NO, but it's one of the best for it's niche.
 
Let me know when they sell as many of that pattern as they have standard Stockman patterns. Until then the answer is "NO".
 
There’s nothing wrong with the Bug Out. Good little knife. I just wouldn’t call it the best but If you like it, that’s all that matters.
I prefer the Native 5 Lightweight over the BM. It just feels better in my hand.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 353
I have 4 940's, and one 535 Bugout, so that tells you what I consider to being the better knife. Don't get me wrong I do like the Bugout - a little, but then again I do like Benchmade knives generally anyway. There are a lot of people for whatever reason, don't like BM but that's ok, I don't particularly like Spyderco either.
 
Best knife EVER? Until we get one that cuts as fine as a laser and never needs sharpening, there's no such thing....
And that Bugout isn't even close. Not saying it isn't a decent knife, but too many parts. BEST knife ever(until now) would be a fixed blade...
 
I've owned one & sold it. Meh. Thee best EDC knife? There's a few...

1) The free pocket light saber that comes with enough Force to throw & retract it at any time.
2) The free Bowie knife that comes with the ghost of Jim Bowie. The ghost allows the user to beat anyone else in a knife fight. (Excludes other Bowie knife users.)
3) The free Bowie knife in Crocodile Dundee that has the power to scare everyone when you draw it & speak the words.
4) The free Rambo knife that has the power to let you sew up all your gaping wounds without pain.
Last but not least...
5) Any knife from MoraKniv. :cool::p:thumbsup::Do_O
 
Bugout is not even in top 10. They are ok but I dislike benchmade. They are a liberal company and if you value the second amendment you would not support them.

What does anything you said have to do with how good a knife it is? Wait, people from the company don't follow you around if you buy one, telling you what to think, do they? Also, please don't tell me what I value based on which knives I own. Thanks.
 
Not even close I would take a PM2 anyday over a bugout a ZT 0450 or a protech tr3 are also better choices..If money is no object a large sebenza or socom elite are all better choices

0450_profile_1020x400.png

protech-tr-3-swat-large.jpg

IMG_3598.jpg
There's some nice choices also the socom Elite is knife of all time I got a couple in my collection and the tr3 with fish scales is in my top ten for sure.
 
Last edited:
The best knife ever? Probably not. But I will say that I carried my ZT 0462 everyday until I got the Bugout. I didn't think I would like it as much as I do. It is pretty sweet.
I didn't think I would like it either that's what took me so long to get it. I thought it was gimmicky, turns out I was very very wrong it's an excellent blade. Thanks for the reply.
 
Congrats on finally pulling the trigger. I did a few years back and haven’t looked back. Been thinking of a bugout myself. My current most common edc is the benchmade 940 and spyderco pm2. I use the pm2 for work and 940 for everything else. The 940 carries very well with its light and slim design and isn’t intimidating to others when you pull it out use it. To me an upgraded take on my grandfathers old traditional.
I was thinking of getting the 940-2 I think it is the g10 version I think that knife is another great one from Benchmade. ✌️
 
as others posted ... it's just not possible for any one knife to be "the best knife ever" ...

and there is nothing wrong if it is your favorite or the best of your knives in your experiences ... it's just too broad of a statment ...
Thank you I see where your coming from now good job.
 
Gosh, I've looked at it a lot and I just don't see the attraction . . . to me it is just another thin handled, great in the pocket but questionable in the hand, knife.
That said yesterday I saw a photo on the big river that a customer had posted that made me do a double take. I'll try to post it below. What caught my eye is the handle is next to a Chaparral. The Chaparral is a small knife, I've always thought, and the Bugout looks similar size next to it. What the heck ? ? ? I've always pictured the Bugout to be much larger, some where between the full size Griptillian and the Mini Grip . . . mostly I've pictured it like a Griptillian that has been run over by a steam roller.

What would I consider to be one of the best knives ever ? For one the new Buck 112 in S30V. As far as a knife I would want with me while . . . well . . . "Bugging out". The new 112 is not thumb stud equipped and it is too heavy but dang it feels like a million dollars in the hand ! ! ! ! ! Good grippy G-10. STOUT pivot, Killer fit in the hand in use ! ! ! ! !
By comparison . . . I imagine now . . . that the Bugout feels like a blade in an envelope.

Put a thumb stud on the 112, replace the nickel silver and steel with Ti or heat treated Aluminum and THAT would be more like it for me. For a bugout knife.

And yes I have a Buck 112 Sim Pro; it's a great little knife but, like the Bug out, is too thin for my taste.

Well you asked.

Here's the photo I mentioned. The Bugout looks small next to a Chaparral ? o_O o_O
View attachment 1221068

Here's the 112 I mentioned S30V and all. The G-10 black handled 112. Now that's a KNOIFF ! ! !
View attachment 1221070
Great post thank you
 
Well the topic was it best ever so I said not in top ten.so the original question would gets response from members on their opinions.so I answer ed like others. A lot of people turned on benchmark for their views. In this country some companies do things that bite them in the ass they are one. And me saying if you support the 2nd amendment i would look else where. Just called an opinion like ass holes we all have one .hey peop!e love their Bm and that's cool but to stay on topic it's not close to being best Ymmv
 
What does anything you said have to do with how good a knife it is? Wait, people from the company don't follow you around if you buy one, telling you what to think, do they? Also, please don't tell me what I value based on which knives I own. Thanks.
 
Back
Top