opinions on benchmades

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spydercomil

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Jul 9, 2010
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What are your opinions on benchmade 522 prisidio, and the barrage. They both look amazing. Does anyone own one? If you do, would you recomend them for rough use? I would also like to know about the F&F. I would also like pictures of your other knives for compairison.
 
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I don't own either of those two knives, but I can tell you that any BM knife is going to have pretty good to great F&F. I have never had a knife from then that really let me down even if it felt like a flimsy/fragile little knife such as the BM 3550 auto.

I am sure you will be happy with either or both.
John
 
No Prisidio here, but I do have both the full size Barrage (580) and the Mini Barrage (585). Blades deploy very quickly (with a snap!) and lock up is always solid on the Axis. Also, I appreciate the fact that the knife can be locked in either its open or closed position -- locked open and it's basically a "fixed" blade. Ergo's are good, so they're comfortable in the hand, and they would work well for most any use you throw at it.

The blade shape is a bit different between the two models: The full size Barrage has what BM calls a clip-point, but it comes off more like a spear-point; the mini has a modified drop-point with a swedge. I prefer the mini. You can see the difference:

barrage1.jpg
 
I have had the 520 and 525 for almost 3 years now. I love both of the knifes to death. They hold a great edge and are pretty strong, hard used knives. The ergonomics are great however I wish the handles were g10 instead of the aluminum as it gets kinda slippery when wet.

I cannot speak for the 522, but I have held one and it seems to be awesome as well.

I also have the barrage, and there is a reason it won knife of the year haha, it is an extremely versatile blade for the money.

edit: I will get some comparison pics up later today.
 
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I have the 585 just got it yesterday.

I have kershaws to compare it to, the leek and the blur.

Its same overall size as the leak just thicker and wider. seems better constructed then the the kershaw but was double the price of both of them.
It came with a better edge then the kershaws also, time will tell how it may hold up as I treat them all pretty badly but I always keep a good edge on them but use it a tool of all trades.
I would consider it a good medium priced knife eventually I may buy a higher dollar knife but I just beat them up anyways. I'm really a handgun guy theres where all my real money goes.....I'd recommend it as I think its a good buy I think it will really hold up well. Good luck let us know how it goes.

Kevin
 
I have the 580 and I'm not too fond of assisted openers but I love this knife to death. It's probably my favorite EDC Benchmade. It opens fast, the axis lock is always amazing and its got a nice feel in hand despite the valox handle scales. Also the full skeletonized liners make it light and strong. The blade is a versatile shape and while I think BMs 154cm is good I would like to see a 580 in D2 (like the 583) or M390.
 
I bought and returned the 580 Barrage for another Benchmade. The axis assist is the fasted assisted mechanisn - as compared to the nitrous assist that they usually install.

I couldn't take the loud hollow clacking sound from the blade (small for the handle size) when flipping it open in that big old empty plastic handle. YMMV. :)
 
I heared the barrage was gread from many people, but I have also heard lots of cases where the spring assist has broken. Would it be worth taking a gamble on or should I stick to the presidio, which I trust the lock on already. The only reason im considering the barrage over the presidio right now is because of the little bit of extra blade length, is it barly noticeable? Don't forget to show those pictures, and if you don't have either of these two, show some good alternate options.
 
I heard the only 580s that had springs break were the first production. I've had my 580 for half a year now and nothing has happened to its spring yet, knock on wood. And yes the valox handles feel cheap but they have held up to a lot of abuse. I'm debating about getting custom G10 scales made for it. I can post a pic of it next to a 551BKD2 if you would like.
 
ibute21 said:
I heard the only 580s that had springs break were the first production. I've had my 580 for half a year now and nothing has happened to its spring yet, knock on wood. And yes the valox handles feel cheap but they have held up to a lot of abuse. I'm debating about getting custom G10 scales made for it. I can post a pic of it next to a 551BKD2 if you would like.
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I would like.
 
I don't think you can go wrong with any of their blue, black or gold class knives. in my opinion, they're among the best (along with Spyderco and Kershaw/ZT) for under $200.
 
spydercomil said:
What are your opinions on benchmade 522 prisidio, and the barrage. They both look amazing. Does anyone own one? If you do, would you recomend them for rough use? I would also like to know about the F&F. I would also like pictures of your other knives for compairison.
Click to expand...

The Presidio & Barrage both have polymer handles and are at about the 3.5" range. The handles are kind of like Griptilians (hollow & cheap but rugged).

You might want to move into the Zero Tolerance line for large spring assisted folders, 3 3/4" blade, very fast and built like tanks. Here's my ZT 0301:

921334706_zoZSo-L.jpg


921334900_5T6Hb-L.jpg


Some Benchmades:

Large Grips - yawn.

849847505_mDWYz-L.jpg


Nagara - yawn.

922662152_6EWag-L.jpg


940 Osborne - getting warmer.

907757856_jtSVn-L.jpg


710 D2 - that's what I'm talking about - dead sexy design! :D

922662558_YRGRy-L.jpg
 
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I handled a 580, and the AXIS Assist action was impressive. I couldn't get past the plastic handles. I'm sure there's nothing "wrong" with them; I own several plastic handled Spydercos and like them fine. I don't know anything about "Valox", and for all I know it costs the same as G10 or CF. But it was my perception/feeling, right or wrong, that it felt "cheep" for a knife at that price. I was interested in getting a 580, but passed. Partially because of the "cheep" feeling, and partially because I feel that an assisted (or automatic) AXIS is actually less useful than a regular one, because it's so easy to flick open a regular one, and just as easy to flick it closed, which you can't do with an assisted or auto.
 
I've had both large and small Barrage, and a Mini Presidio. That last one is a good solid knife, with decent ergos. I would not put it at the top of my list, but would never discount it either.

The Barrage has pros and cons. I have never had, nor seen (or in this case, heard) a knife with a more resounding crack when opened. Very, very satisfying, but I would not use this in public, for that reason. There is a lock, which makes this knife: a)an awful lot safer, and b)a nuisance to open. You have to click off the safety before opening.

The ergos are quite good, but the handles feel very, very cheesy. This would have been a much better knife in G10.

Have you tried the Benchmade Bone Collector? The handles are the best I have ever used, period. My edc is a small Bone Collector, with a blade taken from the Mini Presidio. The best of both worlds.
 
Ok, sorry if im starting to sound repetative, but how would these knives compaire to the spyderco military in strength?
 
Which Military version of steel & lock? the ZT 0301 above can pry nailed down boards of the floor and then cut fuzz sticks out of them for kindling.

The BM 710 compares well to the Militalry when reprofiled a bit but as it comes it's much stronger all around IMO.

The Military is a whole noher animal - built for slicing type of cuts - period. The new one with Ti framelock may have more strength but it still has the long thin tip. :)
 
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