New trend, everything is now a Bugout killer

Yo Mama

Yo Mama

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Sep 25, 2011
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But I don't buy the new trend that everything is the new Bugout killer, the bugout is still unbeatable for what you get weight wise. I love when people complain about the handle flexing, how hard are you really trying to use a knife that's 1.85 oz? This time it's the new Kershaw Bel Air.....at 2.9 ounces and street price of $150 (about 25 less than the going rate of the basic Bugout). I see everybody all of a sudden shouting out "Bugout killer", like people are purposely rooting to dethrone the king. While this is good for competitive designs I've yet to see a lightweight knife truly be able to compete with it. There are plenty of knives that I like better than the Bugout, but facts are facts it's not dead, and still taking names. 1000004605.jpg
 
Yo Mama said:
But I don't buy the new trend that everything is the new Bugout killer, the bugout is still unbeatable for what you get weight wise. I love when people complain about the handle flexing, how hard are you really trying to use a knife that's 1.85 oz? This time it's the new Kershaw Bel Air.....at 2.9 ounces and street price of $150 (about 25 less than the going rate of the basic Bugout). I see everybody all of a sudden shouting out "Bugout killer", like people are purposely rooting to dethrone the king. While this is good for competitive designs I've yet to see a lightweight knife truly be able to compete with it. There are plenty of knives that I like better than the Bugout, but facts are facts it's not dead, and still taking names. View attachment 2458944
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Well said…..I was thinking the same while watching the “breathless” YouTube reviewer touting the Kershaw!
 
Personally, I think the Bugout's success has more to do with good design and marketing than the type of knife that it is, which isn't as easy to replicate. Lightweight and thin knives like this were around long before, like the Al Mar Ultralight series (when they were still made in Japan), and the Spyderco Delica/Endura before they caved to pressure from customers and added full steel liners. The Bugout is a balanced design, but more importantly it's styled and advertised in a way that's convinced people it's a premium knife. After all, it's a plastic handled knife with a middle of the road bladesteel running on a lock whose patent has expired. Meanwhile there are companies out there making M390 titanium framelocks for half the price.
 
I think it’s more about the fact that there is a fairly significant group of people who want benchmade to fail now. They want them to get beat. The bugout is a great knife. The bel air looks on paper like a great knife (if they got the heat treat on the MC right). I have a CF s90v bugout and love it. It doesn’t have the handle flex that others some. But, competition makes everyone better.
 
SVTFreak said:
I think it’s more about the fact that there is a fairly significant group of people who want benchmade to fail now. They want them to get beat. The bugout is a great knife. The bel air looks on paper like a great knife (if they got the heat treat on the MC right). I have a CF s90v bugout and love it. It doesn’t have the handle flex that others some. But, competition makes everyone better.
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Yeah, the Bel Air seems to be a great knife, I hope it gets reviews based on its merit vs exactly what you said.
 
ScarFoot said:
There‘s been a lot of talk within the knife community about bugout killers... If anything ever kills the bugout it will be one of the two knives below.
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Neutron is fantastic, and a perfect example of what a pocket knife should be. But it's about 2.4 oz, and the bugout has the edge longer by .25 inches. So yes I love the Neutron, but the Bugout goes on hikes while the trm stays at home.
 
I think a lot of people overlook the fact that the bugout is also a pretty good looking knife in many people’s opinion. It has a fairly ”classic” profile that appeals to a lot of people. I helped behind the counter at a local shop during their knife show last year and saw firsthand how they appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. I couldn’t believe how many of them they sold in two days.
 
Yo Mama said:
Neutron is fantastic, and a perfect example of what a pocket knife should be. But it's about 2.4 oz, and the bugout has the edge longer by .25 inches. So yes I love the Neutron, but the Bugout goes on hikes while the trm stays at home.
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I agree about the Neutron being fantastic. I like thin slicey pocket knives in general. I carry my mini bugout more than the full size especially in the summer when I’m wearing much lighter clothes.
 
The bugout is severely overpriced for what you get, stock. It just is. It’s a fantastic knife and when upgraded with aftermarket scales it’s even better. But, considering all angles it’s priced ridiculously for what it is.

Here’s the one I still have:

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And here’s the one I should’ve kept. This was one bad mammajamma I wound up with after swapping some parts. Sold to Smaug Smaug .

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AntDog said:
The bugout is severely overpriced for what you get, stock. It just is. It’s a fantastic knife and when upgraded with aftermarket scales it’s even better. But, considering all angles it’s priced ridiculously for what it is.
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I agree with what you’re saying when you look at it on paper but the demand clearly doesn‘t support the argument that it’s overpriced. I think the fact that BM is such a familiar brand, even to non knife enthusiasts, it’s going to be hard to beat for a while even though there are “better” knives that cost less.
 
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