Help me decide on a Benchmade

[Banana_hands]

A buddy of mine owes me for some favors so he offered to get me a Benchmade knife. Apparently he has a dealer or distributor friend so he can get them at cost. So I'm looking for some suggestions for a good EDC knife. I'd like to keep it on the smaller side, I already have too much crap in my pockets. As I'm not paying, I can't ask for too much so I'm looking for suggestions under $80ish dollars (wholesale).
I've read good things about the Mini Barrage.
Thanks for any info.

[Jimmybacon43]

griptillian or mini griptillian, right in your price and size range.

[sdkevin]

Just ordered a #551 SBK Grip, combo blade, after much learning. I went full size because it will fit my hand well.

What good is a little knife that's hard to hang on to?

[Blademan21]

Just ordered a #551 SBK Grip, combo blade, after much learning. I went full size because it will fit my hand well.

What good is a little knife that's hard to hang on to?

I've had my 551 combo blade for a few months. It is my right front pocket EDC and it is unstoppable. Since I use it alot I sharpen it when needed. Which is not that offten. I use the Spyderco sharpining system and it handles the serrations well. I've got a plain edge 551 in the safe as backup/gift..

[ENTHUSIAST]

Doug Ritter Mini-Griptillian.

[Banana_hands]

Alright, thanks for the suggestions. Any others I should look into?

Also, just so im clear on all the laws, "assisted opening" is legal in CA right?

[BayAreaShooter]

Alright, thanks for the suggestions. Any others I should look into?

Also, just so im clear on all the laws, "assisted opening" is legal in CA right?

Correct. Perfectly legal.

Auto is legal as well as long as it is under 2".

[Meety Peety]

Two of my favorite Benchmades were the 585 Mini Barrage and the 470 Emissary. Both were nice knives that I liked looking at more than I felt comfortable using though. In other words, I always found myself babying them. Keep in mind, Benchmade has a small selection of assisted knives, so decide what you want mechanically before picking the blade design that suits you best. For me, assisted is a must and it's pretty hard to beat the 470 in terms of mechanical function. Smoothest and fastest assisted opener I've ever handled. Sharp as a razor too. It's small and light with a very thin profile, can barely tell it's in your pocket. Biggest downside for me was the blade thickness (which in all fairness greatly helps it maintain it's razor like sharpness and ability to slice well). You just need to decide if your needs warrant a heavier blade or not. If so, I would go with the Barrage.

[rkt88edmo]

Get two mini-griptilians

I like the minibarrage, but it is a good bit heavier.

[seal20]

+1 for the mini barrage

[Ed_Hazard]

Whatever model you choose, I highly recommend the Axis lock equipped ones. I have carried a 710 for years and love it. The Apparition is also a great knife with an assisted opening. The Mel Pardue 530 is a sweet lightweight knife that cant do gig obs, plus it's so light you almost forget your carrying it.

http://www.knifehog.com/benchmade-530-pardue-design-knife-530bk.html?CAWELAID=1932672302&gclid=CjwKEAiA28ilBRCy5cXrgtfTxTISJABgX7E2vMDRTe_f6tSk19brjrDfzMrkhSyrTJjlH2U_GiPLtRoCnNTw_wcB

[Banana_hands]

If i were to increase the price to a max of say $130, what would your choices?

[poconn4732]

I have a Mini Barrage, Mini Griptillian, and an Emissary, I find myself carrying the Mini Griptillian almost daily. While the Barrage and Emissary are both assisted opening, once you learn to use the axis lock, the Mini Griptillian is just as easy (and fast) to open as the others. The upside to the Mini Griptillian is that it's just as easy to close as it is to open... simply pull back on the axis lock and give the knife a flick. IMO the only drawback is that it comes in 154CM steel instead of S30V (Emissary) or M390 (high end Mini Barrage). Don't get me wrong 154CM is some nice steel. The other nice thing about the Mini Griptillian is that since it's not assisted opening, you are less likely to have it taken from you by someone who thinks they know the knife laws. (before we go down the whole "it's not illegal to have assisted opening" road, just because it's not illegal, doesn't mean it wont be taken from you until you jump through the hoops to get it back)

Hope this helps.

[09cs]

I love my 710

[Tasty]

955. Of all of my benchmades I've owned, this is hands down my favorite.