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Since 1980, Benchmade has made among the most iconic and lasting knives. The proud American-bred firm focuses on innovation, buyer wants, and bringing the very best high quality merchandise to the world. Benchmade has at all times been and can proceed to provide among the best knives within the business.
Producing among the greatest knives means setting a excessive commonplace of knife-making and utilization. With the Benchmade Weekender 317-1 being launched, I’ve gotten an opportunity to place this knife to the check. I’ll evaluation the Benchmade Weekender’s professionals and cons with a candid evaluation of every facet of this particular pocket knife.
- General Size: 7.05”
- Blade Thickness: 0.08”
- Blade Grind: Flat
- Blade End: Stonewash
- Edge Kind: Plain
- Deal with Size: 4.08”
- Deal with Width: 1.02”
- Deal with Thickness: 0.55”
- Weight: 3.50 oz.
The Particulars
Deal with Design
The Good
The Weekender is obtainable in two fashions; one with micarta handles and one with G-10 deal with scales. Each choices give this knife a fantastic feel and look. Although the micarta will stain over time, it provides stable and daring development. With both of the deal with supplies, they each dealt with exceptionally properly in any situation. If I had to decide on which I most popular, although, I might select the olive drab micarta with orange pivot collars; the aesthetics are traditional, my grip is sweet even when the fabric is moist, and the patina the micarta will acquire over time with use is very enticing to me.
A knife can look as nice as the following, however what it looks like within the arms is what issues. This brings us to the ergonomics of the Benchmade Weekender. Whether or not right- or left-handed, the Weekender feels unimaginable. The contours are solely on the blade facet, the place my fingers relaxation when utilizing the knife. The bottom is exclusive in that it’s virtually completely flat. So far as the precise purpose for this design alternative, I can’t say, however curiously sufficient, it feels wonderful within the palm. Moreover, if you wish to maintain this knife out on the desk, the bottom retains it steady and received’t fall over. General, a fantastic and cozy match for any measurement arms!
The Not-So-Good
The Weekender is featured to be, “For weekend escapes to nature…that has the whole lot you want for fundamental tenting chores.” Whereas that is true, it’s unlucky that the one option to carry this knife is deep in my pocket or thrown right into a bag. I might’ve cherished to see a pocket clip added to this mannequin for simple entry or perhaps a lanyard gap to connect it the place I’d like. The flat bottom, I’d think about then, is to depart the knife upright on a desk when not in use, however I don’t go away my utility knives mendacity about; I maintain them on my individual. Even nonetheless, this knife feels nice in my pocket, it’s not too heavy and suits fairly properly.
My large “however” with this level is that, on the finish of the day, the Weekender was designed to be a particular type of knife. Just like the Stockmans and Trapper knives of yore, the Weekender, too, lacks a pocket clip. If our grandfathers may go their complete lives with no pocket clip, we will as properly. Plus, that leaves the Weekender really ambidextrous (as a result of when it’s a must to use two arms to open a knife, it is best to have the ability to use both hand to make use of it) and maintains a minimalist aesthetic. General, the carry is a subject we may debate however it comes right down to what the Weekender is: an ode to traditional pocket knives. And I feel it’s achieved its purpose.
Blade Design
The Good
As with all Benchmade knives, the celebs of the present for this Benchmade folding knife are the blades (particularly my private favourite, the brief blade). Each blades are constructed from CPM S30V, a premium metal that revolutionized the market upon its launch in 2001. Since then, it’s been featured in such EDC workhorses because the Benchmade 940 Osborne and Spyderco Delica 4. CPM S30V is claimed to be top-of-the-line all-around stainless blade steels accessible, and it actually has qualities that examine containers among the many knife group. This stainless-steel provides the perfect toughness, hardness, put on resistance, and corrosion resistance for the way simple it’s to work from a producer’s standpoint and sharpen as a consumer. CPM S30V is a superb alternative for the Weekender specifically as a result of I see this knife as a device that both goes with you for per week at camp, or stays in your pocket each single day as you go about your regular work and chores. In each circumstances, you want a knife you don’t have to fret about, and the rust-busting chromium content material and off-the-charts edge retention provide you with blades that don’t rust and infrequently want sharpening. I reckon you are able to do per week of near-constant use while not having to sharpen the Weekender.
The clip level blade carried out superbly in numerous duties, from slicing fishing line, to chopping meals across the campfire, to slicing bigger items of tinder for the hearth. As a fireplace whittler, I appreciated the superbly honed clip level blade to chop rougher shapes in my woodworking undertaking. The stockier drop level blade is my favourite, although. It maneuvers superbly intimately work. The place Benchmade excels within the design of the blades is that every is centered completely, and every is simply as comfy to make use of as the opposite. Every blade feels meant to function individually from the opposite with ease; if the Weekender was the identical besides it solely had the small blade, I wouldn’t even thoughts.
After which to prime off the blade design, we have now the bottle opener on the again for these of us who use our valuable EDCs as cap lifters means too usually (usually with devastating penalties as we discover out our blade can’t take it). Whereas I’m practically sure the Weekender’s blade can deal with opening a bottle, I’m glad I don’t have to search out out and have this bottle opener device as a substitute.
The Not-So-Good
My solely qualm with the blade design is that it’s underutilized. Regardless of the scale distinction, the overlap in perform for the big and small blades leaves me wishing the designers of the Weekender had opted for a 3rd, distinct device to broaden utility. Or perhaps only a flat head screwdriver as a part of the bottler opener arm. Nonetheless, that is so removed from a dealbreaker for me, because the Weekender is within the trendy conventional knife camp greater than it’s within the multi-tool camp. For those who’re trying to decide this slip joint pocket knife by Victorinox Swiss Army knife requirements, then after all it should miss the mark. I see the Weekender as extra of a pocket knife revival akin to the Benchmade Proper and knives from makers like Peña Knives and Jack Wolf Knives. But when Benchmade each determined so as to add extra instruments to the Weekender, I positively wouldn’t complain.
Opening
The Good
Whereas the Weekender seems to be like a rugged camping knife, it feels prefer it too. The easiest way to assemble this particular design is with a slip joint lock and nail nicks. The strain of the slip joint is tight and I discover myself utilizing the hole nail nick openers as grips for my fingers and never my nails. That is constructive in my e book as a result of the detent makes it really feel safe. If it’s essential to pierce one thing, you don’t really feel just like the blade will buckle and chunk your fingers. Having a protected knife is a big precedence for me, and this feels protected due to the stress.
The Not-So-Good
The strain of the slip joint works properly within the first and secondary for protecting your fingers protected, however general getting the blades open may put on your fingertips down. If the stress on the springs had been loosened a bit, then the blades would open with ease and along with your nail, however this may compromise security when closing. General, it feels protected to make use of although it may be brutal to open.
Abstract
In conclusion, the Weekender is a superb knife to have whereas tenting. It may deal with all of the duties I may throw at it, from whittling/tinder for a hearth to slicing any meals I wished to arrange. Certain, I want there have been a couple of modifications, however I’ll maintain this in my pocket for any weekend journeys. As coveted as Benchmade is, the Weekender’s worth precisely displays what you’re getting. You’re getting wonderful micarta/G-10 handles paired with a premium CPM S30V metal that you may belief. Plus, with Benchmade’s lifetime guarantee, you possibly can ship again your Weekender for all of the repairs, sharpening, or replacements you want. Like all knives that sport the butterfly, the Weekender will seemingly outlive you! With that cheery sentiment, I can not suggest this spirited retelling of the traditional pocket knife sufficient.
If you’re merely a weekend getaway camper, starting camper, and even proficient within the artwork of tenting, or want a stable multi-tool across the house, then you definitely can not go incorrect with the Weekender. Whereas this can be a glossy, rugged, and dependable outside knife, it’s also excellent for around-the-house/yard chores for these weekend warriors. The flexibility to do all the essential camp or home chores in a single device was a fantastic feeling. Full with a bottle opener to crack open your reward for ending your to-do listing! This needs to be in everybody’s arsenal of pocket knives. For those who haven’t had the chance to depend on a Benchmade knife, now’s your likelihood! Deciding which mannequin of the Weekender to select from? Check out the micarta model and the G-10 model. Inquisitive about different Benchmade products? We’ve received you coated! Try our in-depth have a look at the Benchmade 940 Osborne on our weblog and within the video beneath!
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