presidio and presidio ultra

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wesessiah

Joined
Feb 23, 2012
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i made a thread a couple weeks ago asking for suggestions that fit my criteria (thanks for all the input.) i've narrowed it down, and would like input from personal experience.
the 520 presidio fits the bill except the handle material. how durable is their coating? the 522 presidio ultra would be fine, but it's only available in 440c. between these two, i would sacrifice handle material in the 520 as i don't care for aluminum, and i would sacrifice blade steel with the 522. the 520 would be $136.50, and the 520 would be $80.50 this will be a daily use (moderately hard) knife which is why i'm concerned with the coating. for a wild card, i like the 530 axis, but i'm not sure if i can get used to the shape of the grip in a daily use fashion, as the upsweep on the top seems awkward. any experience with getting used to that? btw, the 530 would also be $80.50 thanks for any input.
 
520 all the way. It was my first good folder and it is still may favorite.

Yes, after 5 years, the aluminum scales are showing some wear and tear but the knife is a user. If I wanted it to look perfect I would leave it in the safe.
 
My 520 was my first hard-use folder. It's still THE most comfortable handle on any knife that I've ever owned.

Unfortunately, it's a heavy beast and the aluminum scales shred pockets like you wouldn't believe. If I know the knife is going to get the crap beat out of it, it's a toss-up between the 520 and the 810 for pocket time.

 
I have the 5000SBK, the 525 and the 525SBK. I don't hard use them, but they all still have minor scratches on the handles. I love the 525, and I'm thinking of getting a 520 to replace the 5000 because it's automatic which I don't need. The 5000 had a beautiful factory edge and the 154CM held it for a very long time. I certainly recommend trying one out.
 
For me 520 and 522 are two different knives. 520 feels heavy, aluminum handle is easily scratched and is a bother to be used with a clip because that profile on the scales is indeed ridiculously hard on pocket edges: to the point it's difficult to pull the knife out or to push it back. 522 is easier on this but it has got hollow grind and the blade shape looks just ridiculous with point dropping far too much! That is not mentioning the blade steel: I personally believe it's the smallest of it's problems.
I have got the mini versions of both knives too, and surprisingly find them quite perfect! So I would rather spend my money on buying another mini Presidio or mini Presidio Ultra, than a regular knife!
 
520 all the way. Best grip and most ergonomic handle benchmade makes imo. Has a more solid feel to it than the 522. Mean lookin knife too.
 
Hi guys! I'm new to this but an old Benchmade buyer (not collector). I saw this thread and then the picture that Cypress posted of the knife in the tree and it looked just like one that I bought several years ago but it wasn't called a Presido. The box label called it a 5000 Pardue Auto Axis Pre-Production model. The blade is numbered 3xx/500. It's funny, I never carry this knife because it is so big and heavy EXCEPT on Thursdays when my wife goes shopping and I have to take her. This is always in my back pocket. The aluminum handles have really held up well with no visible wear and the blade has never had to be sharpened. Do these have any value? Thanks for your help! Ron
 
wesessiah said:
i made a thread a couple weeks ago asking for suggestions that fit my criteria (thanks for all the input.) i've narrowed it down, and would like input from personal experience.
the 520 presidio fits the bill except the handle material. how durable is their coating? the 522 presidio ultra would be fine, but it's only available in 440c. between these two, i would sacrifice handle material in the 520 as i don't care for aluminum, and i would sacrifice blade steel with the 522. the 520 would be $136.50, and the 520 would be $80.50 this will be a daily use (moderately hard) knife which is why i'm concerned with the coating. for a wild card, i like the 530 axis, but i'm not sure if i can get used to the shape of the grip in a daily use fashion, as the upsweep on the top seems awkward. any experience with getting used to that? btw, the 530 would also be $80.50 thanks for any input.
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Those are good prices, I'm not sure where you are finding them for that new. I however, have something that I think would interest you. Send me an email through the forum, or just look at my latest stated threads. I don't like very expensive (>$120) knives for daily use, so I'd suggest the 522.
 
sammyslab said:
Hi guys! I'm new to this but an old Benchmade buyer (not collector). I saw this thread and then the picture that Cypress posted of the knife in the tree and it looked just like one that I bought several years ago but it wasn't called a Presido. The box label called it a 5000 Pardue Auto Axis Pre-Production model. The blade is numbered 3xx/500. It's funny, I never carry this knife because it is so big and heavy EXCEPT on Thursdays when my wife goes shopping and I have to take her. This is always in my back pocket. The aluminum handles have really held up well with no visible wear and the blade has never had to be sharpened. Do these have any value? Thanks for your help! Ron
Click to expand...

I can tell you that they do carry value, and the (partially serrated) production version of your knife was/is issued to many branches of the armed forces. I can't disclose value, as you're not a paid member, but your knife is still in production.

Two friends of mine have the 5000 SBK left over from their days in Iraq: A Marine that did two tours, and an Army Cavalryman that also did two. I've taken both knives apart to service them and pulled an impressive amount of "stuff" out of the mechanism, which was still working fine. Brute knives, these are.
 
I'd go with the 520, I should have picked one up before the price hike. That being said, two I'll throw out that are now available that may meet your needs are:

1. The REI 551 Grip (G10, S30V, flow through with sweet green standoffs), it's $175, but there was a thread out there about if you become a member ($20, but gets you 10% back and free shipping) you get a 20% off coupon. Which gets it down around the $140 price.

2. HK14715 (Grippy G10, D2, thick blade .147") - Mine just arrived today and it's a packable beast. Think of it as Benchmades tribute to an Emerson. Or a smaller Adamas. It will be my biking knife. Sub $100.

0409141426.jpg
 
thanks for the suggestions everyone.
ALLHSS said:
Those are good prices, I'm not sure where you are finding them for that new. I however, have something that I think would interest you. Send me an email through the forum, or just look at my latest stated threads. I don't like very expensive (>$120) knives for daily use, so I'd suggest the 522.
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leo pricing through benchmade.
 
ALLHSS said:
Oh cool, well its good it'll be used for what it's meant for! I have a 522.
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as far as yours, thanks for the heads up, but I'm going for... gasp... partially serrated, lol. an old sergeant started me carrying my serrated knives at work telling me his stories of how much easier it is to cut someone out of a set belt. plus it won't be the only knife I have on me, I keep a kissing cranes slipjoint plain edge. never have been able to figure exactly what steel that one is, it's rusts some and is so easy to sharpen.

with the suggestion above for the hk... I didn't care for it too much at first, but I think it's one that could grow on me. looks like it would be $108.50. I've never had a d2 blade before, as far as corrosion resistance (the coating will come off with me, as my carry knives get used every day, even if it's just messing around out in the yard or woods and I don't have a fixed blade on me) what are they comparable to in real life? I've seen the composition, but are they similar to say the aus series in corrosion resistance considering it's only a couple points lower in chromium? thanks.
 
I've never been so indecisive about anything before in my life, it's just not like me, lol. I'm thinking about the 950 rift now too. weirdest thing has happened over the past week... I'm starting to like nylon/polymer based grips over g10. not enough to be a deal breaker for a knife. 530 axis has been excluded... the half inch or more difference compared to the others is noticeable to me.
520 presidio:
pros - perfect size, fits almost all criteria and I don't think i'll have much trouble with my pockets like most people seem to, as I have an s30v blur that I haven't had much trouble with, and that's the main complaint I see people having with it
cons - rather not have aluminum since I will scuff it up fast.
522 presidio ultra:
pros - perfect size, I like the grip a lot, weight and balance feels good to me, would be the winner if it wasn't for...
cons - 440c
h&k 14715 :
pros - good size and weight, I like all the materials, and I may like the overall blade shape better than others. to me it looks like it's a reverse tanto rather than the listed clip point
cons - grip shape isn't as natural feeling to me as others, still could grow on me.
950 rift: new kid on the block that I wasn't sure I would like till handling one
pros - shorter closed length with slightly longer blade than others, is "neat looking" as my wife thinks, and I like the materials.
cons - not as traditional feeling, I really don't have any cons, other than it doesn't call to me as much as the others.

I suppose I really don't need advice, I just need to hurry up and decide which one I'm going to get, so I can figure out which one I regret not getting lol.
btw, I'm still curious about people's personal experience with d2 and what other common steels it's comparable to in corrosion resistance I mentioned in my last post. thanks.
 
I didn't care for D2. It seemed to roll at lesser edge angles, but that was on a 710. I replaced that knife with an M390 710, and haven't had any rolled edges since.

Benchmade has 154CM nailed down. It can get freaky sharp and hold it well, but it is still easy to sharpen when needed. I think the "scuffing" of the aluminum handles on the 520 is completely overdramatized. Mine look great after 7 years of occasional use. I actually prefer the look of a used knife though.

 
Cypress said:
I didn't care for D2. It seemed to roll at lesser edge angles, but that was on a 710. I replaced that knife with an M390 710, and haven't had any rolled edges since.

Benchmade has 154CM nailed down. It can get freaky sharp and hold it well, but it is still easy to sharpen when needed. I think the "scuffing" of the aluminum handles on the 520 is completely overdramatized. Mine look great after 7 years of occasional use. I actually prefer the look of a used knife though.

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well, the concern with the scuffing isn't from reading about it on the 520, just my experience with other aluminum handled knives. I suppose realistically, the blade will look used so I guess it doesn't matter if the handle does too. plus the clip on every knife I have is scuffed all to crap, lol. I'm leary of d2, as I think there's a big difference in sharpening even s30v as opposed to 154cm, vg10 or especially 440c. on top of that, the knife will get sweat on it, no way around that. I've been leaning towards the 520, as I've started to like the heavier more substantial feel of aluminum knives after having this blur, and I like the more robust shape of the 520. who knows, maybe i'll just let my wife pick for me, lol.
 
The 520 is a very solid knife that won't disappoint you. I have one in M4 that I have used quite a bit and it is still in great shape. The anodizing on the aluminum scales does show some wear, but its not excessive.
 
I have a 520 in CPM-M4, and have owned a Rift in the past. I only sold my Rift to get a Contego, and I will definitely get a Rift again, hopefully when they make it in M390 (PAYING ATTENTION, BENCHMADE???).

Of the two, the Rift is my favorite. It carries better in the pocket, has a larger blade in the same size handle, and doesn't tear the crap out of your pocket the way a 520 does.

If you go the 520 route, there are a couple of options:
1) get the scales reanodized then they get too scuffed for your liking. The color possibilities are endless, or you can get them anodized with the Type III hard anodizing and have scales that will almost never scratch/scuff.
2) buy a 15020 Bone Collector Axis folder and swap scales so you have a "Bonesidio" with the Bone Collector scales and the Presidio blade. Sell the 520scale/BC bladed hybrid to recoup some of your expenses. If my wife hadn't gotten my scales reanodized toxic green/orange as a Christmas present, I would have already done this option.
 
how hard do you guys think the 520 would be on polyester uniform pants? I really don't care about my jeans, I'm like hank hill with them, if they don't seem worn they're worthless, lol.
 
I think I'm going to go a completely different route. my wife said she wants me to get the rift, and I was about set to buy it, but I got to thinking... I have plenty of knives that are good slicers, and some of my slipjoints really take the cake on that. I don't have any robust folders so I've been thinking the 275 adamas would do me well. I could take it out in the yard or woods and probably not feel the need to strap on a kabar. even for edc I don't think the weight would bother me considering how much I have on me on a daily basis. plus if I never get a blade in d2 i'll never know how I feel about it. I'm really probably about due for a medium or small sized fixed blade, but I feel the need to add a folder into my edc rotation right now, and I believe it could serve as a decent small fixed blade substitute for when I don't need a full sized one. maybe i'll get a 375 to match it someday.
 
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