Opinion: Those Ti and CF Bugouts and such.

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Aug 31, 2017
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So I got a Bugout not too long after it came out, from a store that was about to close. It's a long funny story I can tell you guys sometime but that's not the point. The Bugout is designed to be an inexpensive knife you can just stash somewhere and come back upon it if you need it. Real rough and tumble thing.

However we see these expensive scales that are less flexible or add weight. There is even a LE version in G-10 that has some intricate scalework. I'm wondering if you guys think as I do: That is that all the scales that aren't the kytel kinda defeat the purpose other knife because it makes it less of a extremely durable cheap knife to stash.
 
Ive carried and used BM for two decades.

I put on CF and Ti on my Bugouts and haven't looked back. I have nothing against FRN polymers, I regularly prefer them for light edc in fact but those scales turn the Bugout to my perfect everyday knife down to a tee. The CF is light, strong, and looks great, perfect for summer and any day wearing shorts. The Ti is still light, even stronger, and handsome. Has a satisfying vault like metal feel. At 3.25 inch category (which is my preferred EDC user), the Bugout design is hard to beat.

What's in a name anyway. A company's naming and marketing hardly keeps any product from being useful beyond it's intended purpose.
 
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Uh, who cares what it's named after.

It's by far one of my favorite office EDC knives I've ever owned. I could honestly sell all my other knives (Spyderco, BM, ZT, etc. etc.) and use the Bugout for the rest of my life and be completely satisfied.
 
I think the name Bugout is taken a little too literally for some reason because I have never seen anyone question whether or not a push button auto called the Mediator was aptly named. I don't think most will stash a Bugout in a bag and forget about it until duty calls and I don't think most people will be using a Mediator for, well, mediating. If it had been called the LDC (Lightweight Daily Carry) or something it would have probably made more sense but with names like Griptilian, Freek, Boost, and Presidio I don't think the name matters a ton.

So, does it defeat the knife's purpose? Certainly if you're leaving it in your bag and every gram counts, yes, I would say swapping to heavier scales may defeat the purpose and I'd probably leave the stock scales on - it would be a fantastic lightweight knife right out of the box. If you're carrying it daily I can certainly see the minor weight penalty being a worthwhile trade off to have something that makes the knife look and feel more refined so, in that case, I'd say no it doesn't defeat the purpose.

That said, I'm still over here trying to decide what scales to put on my Bugout. :p
 
Who said the bugout is DESIGNED to be an inexpensive knife? The current production version is not expensive but the lock and the construction is exactly the same as much more expensive BMs. So yes - replacing with better steels and handle materials (ti, cf, g10) is a very much good idea. In fact, the cheap flexing handle is what kept me from pulling the trigger on buying one. I will buy one maybe two if the handle is full ti, well, assuming BM does not demand a small sebenza price.
 
Sometimes things work as well or better in a role that they weren’t designed for. Viagra was originally developed as blood pressure medication.

The Bugout is, no doubt, great in it’s intended role as a lightweight, emergency Bugout knife, it also happens to be a fantastic, classy edc when the scales are upgraded. There is no right or wrong application ... whatever works for you is the right application for you. I treat high high blood pressure with Viagra ... well, maybe not.
 
The first time I held a Bugout, new in the plastic scales, I was disappointed. The second time, the one I currently own came to me wearing TI scales. I absolutely love it. I got an example with perfect action and a nicely ground blade. The size/length is what I wanted from the Small Sebenza, but in a slightly lighter package.

Having said that, I don't think this is a cheap knife at all, nor is it meant to be low-end. ~$130 new for the materials is kinda absurd to me, when Delicas do that at about half the cost, and the Rat II does it at about a quarter of the cost, and even the Mini Griptilian is less expensive. I did get a bit of a deal on my knife with the TI, but still, this knife is marketed as a "stash and forget it" blade, but what the market has actually done with it is ultralight/super slicey EDC. I'd personally rather pay more for a really nice knife that I'm going to use on a regular basis than a little less for a knife that I'm going to "stash and maybe never need to use", but I don't really keep gear like that anyway.
 
Here's how I like my Bugout dressed. Ti scales (these are Rockscale, and I prefer them for the blasted finish. The Flytanium contouring in the finger groove looks cool, just not as in to stonewashed Ti). Buffed screws, satin rubbed clip, buffed Rockscale back spacer, and silver thumb studs. I thought about ordering some raw Ti screws, but after buffing them I really liked the bit of contrast leaving the black in the torx holes.

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