570-1 Presidio II CF Elite

desmobob

desmobob

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I haven't bought a new Benchmade in a while, so I just ordered a new Presidio II CF Elite.

The last BM I bought was a full-size Barrage with the M390 blade. I EDC'd a Mini-Barrage for many years and thought a full-size one with premium blade steel would be nice. Not. It's so heavy, I rarely carry it. And the blade shape just doesn't look right, unlike the Mini version.

I'm hoping I'll enjoy the full size and light weight of the Presidio II with the new lightweight handle scales. Anyone have one yet?
 
I don’t have one... yet. But, I’m seriously considering the prospect. I had the 570 with the aluminum scales some time ago, and about the only fault I had with it was the weight. Knowing the CF Elite version is lighter might just get me back on board the 570 train.
 
I think the CF Elite version is about an ounce or more lighter than the one with aluminum scales (which I think is about a 25% difference). Some knives are heavy and I don't mind that much. My Zero Tolerance ZT301, for example, weighs 8.2 oz! That's over half a POUND! Still, I carry it fairly often. But that Benchmade 581 Barrage at five and a quarter ounces just feels uncomfortably heavy in my pocket for some reason.

My Benchmade 531 Pardue weighs just 2.1 ounces. It's a feather. But it's so light, it almost feels fragile or delicate (although it's not). Someday, I'll find a knife that's just right...
 
It arrived today. It's always a big surprise when new knives arrive... there's no knife shop near me so I mail-order all my knives. Sometimes, what I imagine from on-line photos and reviews is not quite reality.

The Presidio II CF Elite is a bit larger than I expected (but that's not a negative). Even with the ultra-light handle scales, it is still plenty stout and doesn't feel anything other than sturdy and strong. It's a nice, big, solid work or outdoor knife is how I'd describe it.

It also came as sharp or sharper out of the box as any knife I've ever purchased. There are bald spots on my forearm to attest to that. So, it's another satisfying Benchmade purchase! Two thumbs up!
 
One more comment/question on the 570-1...

Are all Omega springs the same in Axis locks? The Axis lock on my 570-1 seems like it has a bit more spring tension than on my other Axis lock Benchmades, as if the Omega springs were stronger.
 
desmobob said:
One more comment/question on the 570-1...

Are all Omega springs the same in Axis locks? The Axis lock on my 570-1 seems like it has a bit more spring tension than on my other Axis lock Benchmades, as if the Omega springs were stronger.
Click to expand...

Congrats on the new knife! We use several different Omega springs and the spring tension will vary between them.
 
I’ve looked at it and have a fondness for earlier Mel Pardue Presidios. I can’t imagine why Mel’s name is not in the II. Feels wrong.
 
Both the 570-1 n 570-2 CF-Elites rock black class!
Juxtaposition is everything sometimes, like when the man upstairs puts an appointment on your calendar you did not know you had, and it turns out to be heaven sent! Just got a Shoki 480 off the exchange and the stabilized winewood is art, then this 570-2 CF-Elite gets my attention, I mean black class for 3.2 oz! I knew not much about the stuff, so I looked at BM's bugout cf-elite. The cf-elite saves 0.08 oz and the compression demo's with bugout form factor are impressive (I would love it quantified).
I remember, a long time ago, when it came to my attention that once parts weight reach some critical threshold a sea change occurred. The machines behavior in dynamic environments radically changed (eg. cameras, personal computers, Grand Prix bikes, general aviations new panels, and fighter jets). The change allowed engineers to spend their weight budgets, playing with outcomes.
Color the CF-Elite and inlay some stabilized wood dudes (and while your at it thin some frikn blade stock), please.:D
 
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Resurrecting this thread from a little while back...

At that time, I was lamenting my lack of a 570 so much that I had one on order. Got that one, and as the second I’ve owned, loved it all over again.

Then, I couldn’t stop wondering... just how much lighter would the 570-1 in CF Elite feel? Is it dramatic enough to matter? Welp, found a heck of a deal on one of those lately, and it arrived today. Wow, it’s just great. That same large, robust design of the 570 with a very significant weight savings in the hand and pocket. I’m totally digging it. This one’s definitely an all-star in my book, and a heck of a deal, even at retail price.
 
I never felt like weight was that big of an issue... until I bought the 581.

A little bit of weight can really change the feel of a knife. The CF Elite Presidio feels "just right."
 
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had, and still have, some other tank knives, and, I’m not a little guy, so the weight alone is not a huge issue in regard to carrying them. That said, I think this iteration is a great balance. Light for it’s generally large-ish size, but still maintaining what appears to be the same sturdiness. Have a feeling it’s gonna be a frequent goto for me during shorts weather.... and I live in Florida... which is all but like three days of the year, not including weddings and funerals.
 
I'm a big guy and I'm surprised how weight can sometimes be a comfort issue for me. You mentioned balance, and that may be a big part of it. I seem to prefer carrying my ZT-301 to carrying my Benchmade 581. The big ZT is heavier, but it's spread out more, I guess. It still feels heavy, but not too bad. I tend not to carry either of those two knives during shorts weather (which isn't that long here in northern NY).

The Presidio in CF Elite is enough lighter that I don't notice it at all. It's my shorts weather big knife. :-)
 
desmobob said:
You mentioned balance, and that may be a big part of it. I seem to prefer carrying my ZT-301 to carrying my Benchmade 581. The big ZT is heavier, but it's spread out more, I guess.
Click to expand...

I wonder if the bolster on the 581 has something to do with it. Maybe there's more of a pendulum effect in the pocket, or just the fact that more of the weight is concentrated around the pivot area. I kind of notice the same thing between my 495 Vector and the 496, which has the bolster.
 
I have no doubt the aluminum bolster on both models has something to do with the additional weight at that end, both in pocket and in hand.
 
All pictures of the CF elite handles show the surface has patches of reflection. OTOH the aluminum scale surface looks much smoother and even. How does it show in person? I have been eyeing the full size presidio with the CF elite scales but the above is the only factor holding me back.
 
The aluminum version is very smooth and even, as hard anodized aluminum tends to be. The CF Elite version looks like, well, high quality plastic, for lack of a better term. It does have some unevenness in the surface coloration (or the molded substance itself) which randomly catches light somewhat. I dunno, call it “very mildly shimmery”? Definitely not as contrasting as true marbled carbon fiber.

Additionally, the machined/molded texture of the handle material is different on each. While the aluminum version has completely flat machined lands and grooves, the CF Elite version has numerous sets of molded raised narrow lines, between which are a pattern of very small molded raised bumps.

Hope this was helpful.
 
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