Wheres the love for the benchmade 581?

Allen R.

Allen R.

Joined
Nov 1, 2011
Messages
2,908
I have been looking at this knife for awhile now and finally pulled the trigger on one last week. I tried to research the knife online, read reviews etc. but there really isn't much info on this knife. I mean I understand a lot of people hate AO knives, but you get m390 steel, benchmades warranty , and IMO a pretty sweet looking knife, Anybody here own this knife (the m390 version ) if so what are your thoughts? I bought it strictly for the steel, and I got a great deal on it, I'm familiar with the blade steel, I'm just curious why this knife is not as popular as I figured it would be???Any and all opinions /thought are welcome. Thanks for looking and sharing
 
I'll be putting a 20 degree inclusive edge on that bad boy then I'll express my thoughts on it m390 at 60-62 RC should make for a fine knife.
 
That is so funny that you posted this. I have the exact same knife, and think the same thing. :-) I really only bought it for the steel. I bought one, sold it for about even, then bought another one. M-390 is just too amazing not to have a couple knives in. The knife feels good, ergos are great, there is nothing much to pick on, but it doesn't seem to be very popular. If they did the other Osborne, darn it, I can't remember the model #, but it's the big one in CPM M-4, in m-390, it would be amazing!!! I love that knife, and I'm silly over M-4, but I feel like M-390 is about like stainless M-4.

Anyway, I like the knife, and I'm a big fan of the steel.
 
I have the 580 which is similar in a way, yet also very different. I personally like the assisted action on it, however the 580 is not as flashy as the 581 and the steel is not quite as good. The 580 rocks the good ol 154CM.
 
I have considered the 581 a couple of times but like others, I am not a fan of the bolsters or the assisted opening axis locks. Axis lock knives work beautifully because the are so easy to open and close. I almost bought one with the intention of removing the assist and having someone make a set of nice scales for it. But I went with the 810 instead because I didn't have any experience with m4.

RE
 
My no. 1 benchmade. Love the feel of it. I'm not one to shy away from spring assist, so t his is perfect for me. The m390 has been far superior to any other steel I've tried. I cut THICK plastic bands that hold sheet metal to pallets every day at work. And I've found my m4 and m390 to be the best at holding a good working edge. But there are some days where I cut a lot of bands and need to sharpen once if not twice a week.
 
I had an 810 but I gifted it to a good friend because he loved it so much, he has since passed away and just for personal reasons I don't want to carry an 810 again even though I love the knife.
 
I have one and it is one of my favorites. I first got interested in it when I was searching for M390 blades, I found a used one for a good price, and bought it.

I could go either way on the bolsters but I like the contoured G10 with a somewhat smooth surface. I like the blade shape and the M390. I like the big thumb stud. I like the axis lock but I like other lock types too. I like the assist on the 581 better than the assist on some of my other knives.

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I bought mine on vacation I found a local kinfe shop and the owner was a great guy. I am a spyderco fan but he didn't have anything that intersted me.
He suggested Benchmade so I said show me something so he pulled out the 580 and showed me it then I saw the 581 and asked whats that one he called it a super barrage and begain to tell me about it, I was sold on looks alone but the more he went on the better it got so I bought it. If I have one complaint it's a little chunky in the pocket other than that it's a great knife. It's wet my intrest into other Benchmade's
 
I don't know why there's not much love for the 581 but it's a nice knife, feels comfortable in hand and makes a great user. US made, 3D machined, G10, Axis lock and M390. For around $140 you couldn't ask for more.

Maybe people don't like the assist and the weight.
 
Handled one at the local B&M store a few times, if it were not AO, thinner, stand offs instead of spacers, and merge that tang that sticks out when it's in the closed position. Do it and I'll be head over heels for it, but then it would be a different knife wouldn't it.

M390 is an really awesome steel, but the points mentioned above killed the deal for me.
 
I have love for the knife. Its a great intro into M390 for the price. Its got great action, and axis lock.
One thing that I noticed is that the blade shape is pretty thin compared to how thick and heavy the handle is. Seems kinda unbalanced due to the thick handle and the thin blade. Does fit well in the hand, but I feel like the handle could be thinner becuase its not trying to hide a large wide blade.
 
I had the AFCK in m390 , It was a dealer exclusive and I loved benchmades m390, I could be wrong but I do believe the m390 on the afck was ran a little softer than it is in the 581, again I could be wrong , so feel free to correct me. I know that the cpm-m4 has been ran a little harder on the 810's than it was on the LFTI's , either way I'm looking forward to the knife, I'll admit I'm not a fan of the bolsters myself, but for the price I got this knife at (around $120.00) shipped and it's brand new from a dealer, I felt like I had to jump on it, to be honest It wasn't even on my to buy list as I was looking for another emerson and just so happened I ran across the 581 at what I thought was too good of a deal to pass up. Gonna add I also had 2 of the 710s in m390 as well and they were great knives as well. If anyone knows if the Rc hardness is the same on the 710's in m390 and the afck in m390 , and the barrage let me know, I had just read somewhere that benchmade started running their cpm-m4 and m390 a little harder, again I dont remeber where I read it so if anyone can back this up or disprove it I'd like to know. Either way m390 at 60-62 Rc should be Awesome.
 
I love mine. As a few have mentioned though, the handle is pretty hefty. It's the only Bench made I have so far. It used to have a really hard snap when opening, but as the knife has gotten used, it's gotten better.
 
Love both my 585and 581.Whether 154CM or M390 it doesn't matter as I love BM heat treat on both these steels.The blade geometry is Benchmade usually balance between no being too thick or thin or a full flat ground.I've found it cuts nicely through a variety of materials,I'm paticularly fond of how it can cut a large apple into equally sized slices and not a bunch a chunks when the blade gets wedged.

As for the aluminium bolsters they have held up and have not shown any discolouration as the are anodized and after about two years of use.
 
I could do without the assisted opening, but I love everything else about the knife. The aluminum bolsters look great IMO, The milling lines do it for me. They are clear anodized so they should take a fair amount of abuse before they start showing age.
 
I have the 581 and 586 and wont part with either. Love the M390.
I find the bulkier handle to become a boon when it's in the hand being used.
 
Here's my 581. Assist is removed, M390 blade was re-heat treated and Keyman did the scales, standoffs and installed my deep carry pocket clip.

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