Benchmade Knives

As an official Benchmade distributor for Germany, ACMA offers the product range permitted in Germany, including the latest releases and Benchmade Custom Knives. Benchmade manufactures its knives in Oregon City, Oregon, USA, and is known for precision craftsmanship, innovative designs, and premium materials.

Benchmade was founded by Les de Asis in California in 1987 and manufactures its knives at its own facility in Oregon City, Oregon. The brand combines modern manufacturing technology with precise workmanship, distinctive engineering, and high-quality blade and handle materials. Benchmade is particularly known for its ambidextrous AXIS® Lock, introduced in 1999 with the Model 710. The range includes lightweight EDC folders, rugged tactical and outdoor knives, hunting and water-use knives, as well as premium kitchen cutlery. Model families such as the Bugout®, Osborne, Griptilian®, Bailout®, Adamas®, and Crooked River have helped shape Benchmade’s international reputation.

Benchmade New Releases 2026

Browse Benchmade Knives by Category

Benchmade designs its knives for different users, applications, and environments. The regular product range can be divided into five principal categories: Blue Class, Black Class, Hunt Class, Water Collection, and Cutlery. These are complemented by the Gold Class, which features premium limited-edition collector’s knives. The following overview will help you select the right Benchmade knife for your needs.

Black Class

The Black Class includes tactical and professional knives designed for military personnel, law enforcement, first responders, and other demanding users. Robust construction, reliable locking and opening mechanisms, and durable materials are central to this category. Dark blade coatings can reduce reflections while providing the surface with additional protection.

Well-known models and families include the Bailout®, Presidio® II, Adamas®, and the various SOCP® models designed by Greg Thompson.

Blue Class

The Blue Class represents Benchmade’s versatile core product range. It includes knives for everyday carry, outdoor activities, and general cutting tasks. Functional construction, premium blade steels, ergonomic handles, and proven locking mechanisms define this product class.

Its best-known models include the Bugout®, 940 Osborne, Griptilian®, and Freek®.

Water Collection

Introduced in 2024, the Water Collection was developed for anglers, water-sports enthusiasts, and use in wet or marine environments. CPM MagnaCut offers a balanced combination of high corrosion resistance, toughness, and edge retention. Handles made from Grivory® or Santoprene® provide a secure grip even in wet conditions.

The collection includes folding knives such as the Adira™, as well as fixed blades and fillet knives including the Intersect™, Undercurrent™, and Fishcrafter™.

Hunt Class

The Hunt Class includes knives specifically developed for hunting and processing game. Purpose-designed blade geometries, ergonomic and often highly visible handles, and Benchmade’s precise SelectEdge® edge support clean and controlled cutting in the field. This category includes both folding and fixed-blade knives.

Well-known models include the Taggedout®, Meatcrafter®, Steep Country, Saddle Mountain, and Crooked River.

Kitchen Cutlery

The Benchmade Cutlery Collection brings the brand’s materials and manufacturing quality to premium kitchen knives. Balanced construction, ergonomic handles, and the finely ground SelectEdge® edge enable precise and controlled cutting.

The range includes various chef’s, kitchen, and table knives as well as multi-piece sets.

Browse Benchmade Knives by Blade Steel

Benchmade selects its blade steels to suit the intended application and the required balance of edge retention, corrosion resistance, strength, toughness, and wear resistance. The following overview makes it easier to compare the steels used by Benchmade. Select a graphic to view all currently available Benchmade models made with the corresponding blade steel.

CPM MagnaCut is a stainless powder-metallurgy blade steel developed by Dr. Larrin Thomas. Its innovative alloy design eliminates chromium carbides from the hardened microstructure, enabling an exceptional combination of toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. MagnaCut is therefore considered one of the most balanced modern blade steels for EDC, outdoor, and marine applications.

CPM S90V is a stainless powder-metallurgy steel with a high vanadium content. Its hard vanadium carbides provide very high wear resistance and excellent edge retention, while sufficient free chromium supports very good corrosion resistance. Because of its high wear resistance, S90V is more demanding to sharpen than more balanced general-purpose steels.

Uddeholm Elmax SuperClean is a stainless powder-metallurgy chromium-molybdenum-vanadium steel produced in Sweden. It combines high wear resistance and edge retention with good corrosion resistance, high compressive strength, and a particularly uniform microstructure. Elmax is well suited to premium EDC, outdoor, and utility knives, although sharpening can require additional effort.

Böhler M390 Microclean is a stainless powder-metallurgy chromium steel with very high wear resistance and excellent corrosion resistance. Its high chromium and vanadium content supports long edge retention and a finely polished surface. M390 is widely used in premium EDC and collector’s knives but can be relatively demanding to sharpen.

CPM S45VN is a stainless powder-metallurgy blade steel offering a balanced combination of corrosion resistance, edge retention, wear resistance, and toughness. Compared with CPM S35VN, its corrosion and wear resistance have been further improved. S45VN is therefore particularly suitable for premium EDC, outdoor, and general-purpose knives.

CPM S30V was developed by Crucible Industries in cooperation with knifemaker Chris Reeve specifically for knife blades. This stainless powder-metallurgy steel offers a balanced combination of edge retention, corrosion resistance, toughness, and sharpenability. These properties make S30V a versatile and proven steel for EDC, outdoor, and general-purpose knives.

CPM M4 is a powder-metallurgy high-speed tool steel offering very high wear resistance, high attainable hardness, and excellent edge retention. These properties make it particularly suitable for hard-use EDC knives, outdoor knives, and cutting tools. Because CPM M4 is not stainless, the blade should be cleaned, dried, and protected against corrosion regularly.

CPM 154 is the powder-metallurgy version of 154CM and shares the same basic chemical composition. Its finer and more uniform carbide structure improves toughness, workability, and polishability. This stainless steel offers a balanced combination of edge retention, corrosion resistance, and durability, making it suitable for premium EDC, outdoor, and collector’s knives.

154CM is a proven, conventionally produced stainless chromium-molybdenum steel developed by Crucible Industries. It offers a good balance of edge retention, corrosion resistance, toughness, and sharpenability. Its carbide structure is less fine and uniform than that of CPM 154, but 154CM remains a reliable blade steel for EDC and outdoor applications.

Böhler N680 is a hardenable stainless chromium-molybdenum steel with additions of vanadium and nitrogen. It is particularly notable for its excellent corrosion resistance in saltwater and chloride-containing environments. N680 is therefore well suited to diving, rescue, fishing, and marine utility knives where corrosion protection is more important than maximum edge retention.

CPM Cru-Wear is a powder-metallurgy, non-stainless tool steel offering a well-balanced combination of high toughness, wear resistance, and edge retention. It resists edge chipping effectively and remains comparatively manageable to sharpen when compared with extremely wear-resistant steels. Its limited corrosion resistance means that the blade requires regular care.

Damasteel DS93X is a modern stainless powder-metallurgy patterned steel produced in Sweden. It consists of the two martensitic alloys RWL34 and PMC27, which are combined into a homogeneous layered material. The combination provides good corrosion resistance, strength, and edge retention. Final etching reveals the characteristic pattern and gives every blade an individual appearance.

CPM 20CV is a stainless powder-metallurgy steel produced by Crucible Industries. Its high chromium and vanadium content provides very high wear resistance, long edge retention, and excellent corrosion resistance. Its properties are broadly comparable to Böhler M390. Due to its high wear resistance, sharpening may require more time and suitable abrasive materials.

CPM D2 is the powder-metallurgy version of conventional D2 tool steel. Its finer and more uniform carbide structure improves toughness, workability, and edge stability. The steel provides high wear resistance and good edge retention, but despite its high chromium content, it is not fully stainless and requires regular maintenance.

440C is a conventionally produced stainless martensitic chromium steel with a high carbon content. It provides a proven combination of hardness, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and good sharpenability. Although modern powder-metallurgy steels can offer greater edge retention, 440C remains a reliable and versatile blade steel.

CPM 3V is a powder-metallurgy, non-stainless tool steel developed by Crucible Industries. It is known for very high toughness and resistance to breakage and edge chipping while offering good wear resistance and edge retention for this level of toughness. CPM 3V is particularly suitable for hard-use outdoor, survival, and utility knives.

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Browse Benchmade Knives by Handle Material

Benchmade uses a range of handle materials selected to suit the intended application of each knife. Weight, strength, grip, weather resistance, and appearance vary depending on the material. The following overview will help you choose the right option. Select the corresponding image to view all currently available Benchmade models made with that handle material.

Carbon Fiber

Carbon fiber is a premium composite material made from carbon fibers and resin. It combines very low weight with high strength and a distinctive surface appearance. Different manufacturing methods and fiber arrangements create a variety of patterns that are especially well suited to premium EDC and collector's knives.

Grivory®

Grivory® is a lightweight and durable high-performance polymer. It is dimensionally stable, resistant to moisture, and particularly well suited to knives designed for low weight and reliable everyday use. A textured surface provides a secure grip even during demanding use.

Titan

Titanium offers an excellent strength-to-weight ratio as well as very high corrosion resistance. The 6Al-4V alloy is commonly used for knife handles. The material has a premium feel, is highly durable, and is particularly well suited to premium EDC and collector's knives.

6061-T6 Aluminium

6061-T6 aluminum is a strong, lightweight, and highly machinable aluminum alloy. Precisely milled handle scales allow for slim yet stable designs. An anodized finish provides additional surface protection and enables a variety of colors and textures.

G10

G10 is a durable composite material made from woven fiberglass and epoxy resin. It is dimensionally stable, temperature resistant, and largely unaffected by moisture. Different machining patterns and surface textures provide a secure grip, making G10 particularly suitable for EDC, outdoor, and professional-use knives.

Richlite

Richlite is a dense and durable paper-based composite manufactured by pressing layers of paper fiber and resin under high pressure. It can be precisely machined, feels comfortable in the hand, and develops an individual patina over time. Different colors and surface textures are available depending on the design.

Stabilized Wood

Stabilized wood is produced by impregnating the pores of natural wood with resin. This makes the material more dimensionally stable and resistant to moisture and temperature changes while preserving its natural grain. Color and pattern may vary from knife to knife, giving each handle a distinctive appearance.

Santoprene®

Santoprene® is a thermoplastic elastomer that combines the processing properties of plastic with the flexible, secure feel of rubber. It is durable, moisture resistant, and comfortable to grip. The material is particularly suitable for work, fishing, and water-sports knives that must remain secure in the hand under wet conditions.