There are a few qualities you’re going to look for in a pocket knife, whether that knife is your companion for work or hunting or everyday carry. Even if you just carry a spare knife in the toolbox or tackle box for the purposes of general utility, it will probably be the single implement you reach for most of the time when you’re trying to get through a job. There are many excellent options out there for you to choose from when you are looking for another quality pocket knife for your own use or even as a gift, and if you’ve ever been through a series of cheap pocket knives, you know that sometimes when you’re in for a dime you’re really in for a dollar. While the specific drawbacks of what some would call a cheap pocket knife can be deliberated at length, a Benchmade pocket knife will absolutely give you some of the best bang for your buck of any knives out there. You could basically pick any model and be walking away with a winner because of Benchmade’s commitment to excellence and stellar quality control, but to pick the right Benchmade you should consider how and where you’ll be carrying this knife and what you expect from it.

Versatility In A Small Package
One of the best things about Benchmade pocket knives is the fact that they offer so much functionality in a small package. Regardless of the specific features of any given knife, you’re going to be able to tackle a lot with whatever Benchmade you decide is right for your use.

If you’re looking for a knife to take into the woods with you for hunting, hiking or camping, you’ll want to make sure that it can handle a wide number of camp crafts. There are some who would prefer to carry a fixed blade for many of these chores and believe that a pocket knife should be an accessory to a belt knife. That being the case, the amazingly strong locks and excellent quality steel of Benchmade pocket knives make them a good choice as their main blade, if you so choose to make a pocket knife your priority blade.

You’ll want to make sure that your knife can not only be carried easily but can be accessed easily, which is one of the main strengths of a fixed blade. It’s hard to find a folder that can be easily and rapidly drawn with the same facility as a fixed blade. However, many Benchmade knives offer the ability to remove or reverse their clip for a variety of carries inside or outside of a pocket or belt. Moreover, they can be rapidly drawn and put to action in a flash ambidextrously. Some Benchmade pocket knives even feature an assisted opening mechanism, making them a cinch to draw.

Drawing that knife is only the first part of a job. If you carry a knife in the field you may decide you need a knife to clean game or fish, to create survival shelters, to prepare or carve wood to serve as tools or firewood or even to perform emergency medical services. All of that will, of course, require your knife to have a strong lock, but it will require the best of steels and a solid tempering job. All of these things can be expected without exception. Beyond that, you’ll need to strike a balance between length. Longer for chopping and shorter for carving. Some Benchmade pocket knives straddle these parameters very well. You might find that you need a shorter knife for navigating the recesses of harvested game or to serve as a filet knife in a pinch. After all, it’s the shooter, and not his gear, that defines his aim.

As far as blade profile and edge geometry you’ll have plenty to choose from - whether you want a gently curved belly and nearly rounded drop point for whittling and skinning or a sharply clipped point for fine work is up to you and you will find option after option from Benchmade. Another thing to consider, if you’ll be relying on your knife in the field is whether or not you want to designate your knife as a tool for creating shelter. Many backpackers pack light over many wilderness miles and don’t leave room for tools like saws that make a world of difference in woodworking. Benchmade offers many pocket knives with partial serration to make it easier to power through fabric and wood than a straight edge. In a situation where you need a finely drawn cut across wood - or even bone - you’ll be glad you chose a pocket knife with serration, and all the more so if it is a complement to another blade.

If you intend to carry your knife for general utility, you may desire very different attributes in a blade than what you would need from a knife brought into the woods. There is a greater degree of discretion concerning the weight, first off, and you might want an extremely light knife that will do no more than open packages, or a larger knife that you can use to fashion raw materials in a shop. You may want a knife with a sharper or finer point for stronger penetration or you may want a thicker blade with some more spine for the jobs in the shop that will inevitably result in prying and leverage. For carving in any material, wood or otherwise, you might want the utility of a knife with a Sheepsfoot profile or another similar style that gives you precision control of the point and unparalleled strength at the point. Truthfully, if you are going to carry your Benchmade for general utility, you’ll probably find that the knife will grow on you despite any eccentricities it may possess, being equally able to break down boxes as it is able to mark material for cutting off.

Either way, for field use, shop use or otherwise, you’ll be able to find many Benchmade pocket knives that will serve admirably, and not only because of the diverse portfolio of offerings in terms of style and profile. A Benchmade pocket knife is an elite tool. You might want next to consider what some drawbacks are that you want to circumvent. So then what are some problems with other pocket knives?

Common Pocket Knife Problems
Oftentimes a pocket knife will offer you exactly what you want in terms of carry and blade profile for your use in camp or the shop. However, it’s fairly common to find that a pocket knife has not received the proper heat treatment and tempering. This results in steel that is either too brittle or too soft. When you are working with steel that is too hard, the result is a blade that can snap under stress, which is an unfortunate catastrophic failure. While you might think it better to go with a softer steel, though softer steels can be easier to resharpen, ultimately soft steels present problems with edge and point deformation and an edge profile that is extremely difficult to maintain.

Another problem with pocket knives, in general, is the fact that many offer subpar locks or locks that can fail with hard use. Especially with liner locks and slip joints, a folding knife that is pushed too hard can close over the user’s fingers, which is something no knife user ever wants to experience. In addition, some consider liner locks and frame locks too weak for tough jobs, and potentially too fail-prone. When you go with a Benchmade, you’ll be largely free from these shortcomings.

Benchmade Excellence
So you already know that a Benchmade pocket knife can be easily found in the style and shape and with the lines you need to make your life easier at work or in the field. That, and there are a certain number of attributes you want your Benchmade pocket knife to own to make it the best tool in your repertoire. With a knife maker like Benchmade, you will get nothing but the best.

First off, the quality of their steels is second to none. Many Benchmade folders are made using superior steels like CPM-S30V or CPM-S90V, renowned not only for its resistance to corrosion but for its matchless edge retention. Even great steel can be ruined by the proper treatment, but Benchmade has perfected this art as well. Many of their pocket knives feature a Rockwell hardness of 58-61 for a long-lasting edge that can go quite some time before needing a touch-up.

One of the defining attributes of many Benchmade pocket knives is the fact that they feature the visionary axis lock. The axis lock mechanism, unlike so many other folding locks, offers a surprisingly high degree of strength. Though one might not call it categorically fail-proof, it is very difficult to accidentally disengage while at the same time being very easy to deliberately engage and disengage. Moreover, the lock is directly in line with the blade, which gives the lock a higher degree of strength when the knife is subject to torsion.

You can also expect the fit and finish of a Benchmade pocket knife to be without equal. Their handles, scales and locks are snug and tight, not only functional but with that extra essence that makes them attractive as well. The materials and workmanship that complete a Benchmade pocket knife are if the highest quality - what many have come to expect from Benchmade.

Not only a functional work of art, but Benchmade has also taken its customer service one step further. They offer a lifetime warranty on their knives, guaranteeing them to be free from defects. That’s right, Benchmade knife company inc warrants its knives against flaws in workmanship for the life of the knife. If your Benchmade pocket knife fails due to a defect, Benchmade will at no charge repair or replace the knife in question. It’s exactly the kind of customer service you would expect from a knife maker that has earned such status for itself among those who use and carry knives every day and rely on them to get their work done. When you become a Benchmade customer, you’re basically a Benchmade customer for life. That knife you carry is going to be with you for the long haul, and even if it isn’t Benchmade has your back. It’s rare today to find people that stand so unequivocally behind their products. But then again, not every company is Benchmade Knife Company.

Get Them Here at White Mountain Knives
Even though you may have been reading this only to reinforce the untarnished reputation that Benchmade has garnered in your estimation, you might be looking for the right venue for your next Benchmade. You will find a surprising array of Benchmade pocket knives, and other Benchmade knives for that matter, right here at White Mountain Knives. It’s easy to find the Benchmade knife that’s right for you among the many offerings that White Mountain Knives presents. Just take a look through their catalog of folders and fixed blades and find the one that suits your fancy.

Better yet, you’ll be getting free shipping on all your orders from WhiteMountainKnives.com so long as they’re within the U.S. It’s like visiting a huge sporting goods store right from the comfort of home, but it’s even better than that. If you happen to be enamored with a particular Benchmade knife that you don’t see listed at White Mountain Knives, just contact them at WhiteMountainKnives@gmail.com to see if they can find it for you. As you may have noticed, the vendor selection at White Mountain Knives is pages and pages long, and those vendor contacts make it easy for White Mountain Knives to source just about any knife out there that you desire. While choosing the next Benchmade to add to your pocket might take you some time, finding it at White Mountain Knives definitely won’t - find your next Benchmade here today.