Benchmade 162 Bushcrafter Inbound

LostViking

LostViking

Joined
Jan 1, 2009
Messages
3,427
I finally joined the Benchmade club times two.

I have been lusting after this knife since it first came out. But never pulled the trigger. Had it in the cart several times. But just left it there.

There seems to be a love hate thing with the handle. But the more I read of folks that actually use it. The more love there seems to be.

One popped up in the Knives For Sale thread this week, with two extra sheaths and and a custom black scale dye job. So I jumped on it. It should be here today or tomorrow.

Then one day later a Limited Edition Bushcrafter popped up on another site. The one with black scales and orange liners (old high school colors). Which I had really had the hots for. Also sporting an extra sheath.

So, by the end of the week I should be the proud new owner of two Benchmade Bushcraft 162s and five accompanying sheaths.

But my quarterly knife budget went down in flames. I guess that happens sometimes.
And I can sell off something else if I fall in love with these if need be.

I'm excited to give this blade a go. From the start it looked like a winner to me.
Time will tell.
 
I think you're really going to love it. I'm sure there's another one in my future. When you have both versions in hand would you let me know how my dye job compares to the factory black G-10 on the limited edition version?

BTW - I really liked your write up of the Buck 119 Brahma. You may have sold me on one of those.
 
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Love my 162! Make sure you get a good fire steel, as the spine on the Bushcrafter chews through steels pretty quick.

LostViking said:
Then one day later a Limited Edition Bushcrafter popped up on another site. The one with black scales and orange liners (old high school colors).
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Which high school? The one I graduated from were the same colors.
 
I want to love this knife but when I checked it out locally that hook on the end wasn't pleasant for me. I may have to revisit it to make sure.
 
A tiny town in upstate New York, named Roxbury.

A quick shot for the faithful. I arrived home late only to find a box on my doorstep. Not much time. And too windy to build a fire. But it feels good.
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I think we're going to be friends.
 
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Funny my daughter was in first grade, and my son was in kindergarten at smith Valley. Then we had to move back to hell in the Midwest.
 
Cypress said:
Flathead HS in Kalispell, MT. Loooong shot, but I took it lol
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You could do a lot worse. I have spent some time in the Whitefish/Kalispell area. If I could choose anywhere in the world to live. It would be somewhere between there and Bonner's
 
m.and said:
Man that knife looks good. I'm glad it's getting the use it deserves.
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It is a looker for sure.

We spent the entire day together yesterday. Getting used to each other. It was a good time. Thanks again!
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Last night I carved up an entire roaster chicken. For a field knife, the 162 did an excellent job. Seperating the legs and the wings, even slicing up breast meat. I was impressed. After being covered in chicken grease and being hit with warm soapy water your dye job remains perfectly intact. No signs of any loss of color or residue on the paper towels I used to check when I dried it off. Nicely done!
 
Hey Benchmade,

Do you guys still offer the dangler attachment fot the leather sheath on your website? I found the two 162 sheaths, and searched Dangler. But no joy.

Or maybe, and this is quite possible. I dreamed the whole thing up.
 
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I don't recall that Benchmade ever offered a dangler, which is odd because their leather sheath has a D-ring for a dangler. There is a nice one available on the "Big South American River" site. Let me know if have trouble finding it and I'll PM you a link.
 
Yeah, the more I think about it. The more I think it was just the ring on the sheath so a dangler could be added.

I'll check out the Big River.
 
I think this knife is a perfect example of why you can't rely on the internet for knife decisions. Or at least not rely on it totally.

Many folks complained about the blockiness of the handle. And even more took shots at the leather sheath.

Out in a woods camp environment. I find the ergos of the handle to be near perfect. I have not sat down to do a Tri-Stick yet. But slicing, feathers, light batoning, tent pegs, and other camp chores, are all a smooth and happy deal with the 162.

The front guard keep your fingers off that slicy S30V edge. The hook/Bird's Beak at the back, keeps the knife firmly in your hand.

The design of the handle also makes orientation of the blade a snap. Even in the dark. Unlike some barrel shaped handles which really don't indicate which way the blade is facing. There is no guessing with the 162.

At present. I have several sheath options that arrived with my two knives. The Factory kydex. The factory leather, a custom kydex jobbie, and a Sharp Shooter leather pouch style.

To be honest. At the moment. I don't find the factory leather sheath all that bad.
Is it perfect? No.
Is it usable? Certainly.

Out of all the sheaths at hand. This is where the 162 is riding. I like leather. I guess kydex has its place. But it bugs me, that you can place a perfectly new knife in Kydex sheath, and remove it all scratched up. I prefer to scratch my knives the old fashioned way. But using them.

Even if you don't care for the factory pants. There are some simple options out there. I took a quick look in my draw last weekend. These two were the first I came across. So I thought I'd share.

JPSK Sheath,
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Bravo-1 Sheath,
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Neither one of these is perfect eother. But Ilike options. The JPSK Sheath seems to do a very respectable job. Especially for what it costs.
Just some FYI, for folks who may be on the fence.
 
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