Benchmade 162

Bobby3326

Bobby3326

Joined
Mar 16, 2013
Messages
2,239
I've been looking into this knife and reading what lil reviews Google came up with, also watched a couple videos thou no one really demonstrates the knifes performance. They were mainly all table top reviews with first impressions.

So I'm looking to hear from owners of the bushcrafter who actually use there knife rather than they bought a $180 knife to look pretty in the safe. How's its performance long term? Have you easily gotten use to it's handle design? Let me know the good and the bad you've experienced and would you recommend it.

Thanks guys
 
Before the MAP hike, the Bushcrafter was well worth the money. At $180 though, and I'd spend the extra $20 and get a Survive! GSO-4.1 in CPM-20CV (close to M390) that is the same size. Mine is M390 and very comfortable:
GSO-1_zps4db61ba3.jpg
 
A survive is definitely on my list of knives I want, but I have an opportunity to get a basically new bushcrafter for $120. Was just curious if it was actually a great knife or all hype.
 
The knife is great. The forward palm swell really reduces hand cramps from actually using the knife and not just fondling.

The steel sharpens easy gets scary sharp.

It holds a longer edge then the 1095.

The Survive Knives are cool but not very available. The Price gouging is also annoying





The m390/20cv is very high end stainless but s30v is the benchmark. Probably the best all around knife steel for field sharpening, edge holding and corrosion resistance.

People argue about its toughness. In use it does great. No damage from rolls or chips from chopping or batoning.
No visible glints seen or felt in the edge.

Probably not tough enough to dig a hole and shave with after. But performs great for carving a wooden trowel.

Quick review
https://youtu.be/QXi-Gt2cthQ
 
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DeadboxHero said:
The knife is great. The forward palm swell really reduces hand cramps from actually using the knife and not just fondling.

The steel sharpens easy gets scary sharp.

It holds a longer edge then the 1095.

The Survive Knives are cool but not very available. The Price gouging is also annoying





The m390/20cv is very high end stainless but s30v is the benchmark. Probably the best all around knife steel for field sharpening, edge holding and corrosion resistance.

People argue about its toughness. In use it does great. No damage from rolls or chips from chopping or batoning.
No visible glints seen or felt in the edge.

Probably not tough enough to dig a hole and shave with after. But performs great for carving a wooden trowel.

Quick review
https://youtu.be/QXi-Gt2cthQ
Click to expand...
Thank you this was the kind of insight I was looking for, actually someone who has used it. The handle was my main concern, I've only handled it at the store and being use to typical Bushcraft knives and Beckers it wasn't natural feeling. Think I'll pick it up and give it a try.

How easy does it sharpen? I've heard mixed opinions. What do you use for sharpening at home and at what angle? I typically use a work sharp ko for most my knives except the scandis but feel it wouldn't be good this style knife.
 
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Well I pulled the trigger on it, The handle is allot better with use than just fondling it a minute in the store. This wasn't a brand new one but it could definitely pass as brand new from its appearance.

The edge however wasn't as sharp as it was from the factory. It was sharp enough to slice paper still, but I wanted it hair popping sharp. I used the same method I use on my scandi knives and stropped it on sand paper thats ontop of glass. I started 320 and worked up to 1500 and Damn this thing took a hair popping edge. If I spent a lil more time going thru the grits this thing would be scary sharp.

It appears to be a excellent knife and I'm glad I got it, especially since I was able to talk the gal down to $90. The lady said she had bought it for her ex and just wanted it gone. The pawn shop only offered her $50 so she gladly accepted $90.
 
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Score! Nice line up too. How do you like the steel compared to 1095?
BTW
Love the work sharp field sharpener. A quick pass on the ceramic or the strop keeps the blade popping hairs. This is my favorite knife for field sharpening. It gets way sharp.
 
DeadboxHero said:
Score! Nice line up too. How do you like the steel compared to 1095?
BTW
Love the work sharp field sharpener. A quick pass on the ceramic or the strop keeps the blade popping hairs. This is my favorite knife for field sharpening. It gets way sharp.
Click to expand...
I've been looking at that field sharpener and considering getting it. Right now I've just been packing strips of sand paper and wrap it around a paint stick for field sharpening and a 3x8 double sided strop for maintaining.

Honestly I just got the Bushcrafter today so no real opinion on how it compares to 1095 yet. The 1095 that Becker and tops uses is excellent thou, great edge retention and super easy to sharpen, maintain and takes a scary edge. Few passes on the strop and they are wicked sharp again.
From what I've read the bushcrafters s30v should have a long lasting edge and be very durable.
 
Hey its cheap and it works. After a while the sandpaper can add up though and its less convenient to use. A work sharp is only $30 bucks and is a complete package from edge repair to razor fine.

$90 bucks is the best score I've seen in a while. Strong work

Did you get her phone number too :P
 
DeadboxHero said:
Hey its cheap and it works. After a while the sandpaper can add up though and its less convenient to use. A work sharp is only $30 bucks and is a complete package from edge repair to razor fine.

$90 bucks is the best score I've seen in a while. Strong work

Did you get her phone number too [emoji14]
Click to expand...
Lol well the number was on the ad so that was an easy accomplishment. The fact I'm married and she was in her 50s I'd guess will prevent any future communication with said number lol.
 
I have a question for those of you with the 162, have any of you convexed the edge? Does it preform better? Most of my saber grind knives I've convexed the edge and it vastly improved there performance and made field maintenance a breeze, but they also have thicker grinds behind the edge than the Bushcrafter.
 
Haven't own mine long enough for it to convex naturally. Free hand sharpening convexs the edge over time.
 
DeadboxHero said:
Haven't own mine long enough for it to convex naturally. Free hand sharpening convexs the edge over time.
Click to expand...
Yea which from what I've read this knife goes along ways before needing to be sharpened. I just working on the edge of this one and I've gotten it pretty sharp compared to how I got it, but when I did the sharpie trick while sharpening it wasn't until a lil over 25 ° that I was removing it.
I would eventually like too thin that out and was considering setting the bevel with the ko work sharp, but that would convex it.
 
Don't have any recent pics to post right now, but mine has served me well so far. I've had it for almost a year, and it took me almost 6 months to not baby it (it was too nice looking). Boy am I ever glad I stopped babying it. It has taken everything I could throw at it (well almost). The original leather sheath was not very well designed, and I replaced it with the benchmade kydex, which has solved all of my sheath issues.

I'm a forest technician and I use my knives on a daily basis. I decided to let my bm 162 replace my axe for general hacking duties (finger size and smaller branches) on spruce and dead pine. I usually only sharpen it once a week, but sometimes let it slide to once every couple of weeks. I find it only needs a few swipes of hand sharpening with the fine and extra fine spyderco sharp maker rods to bring it back to a shaving edge that still has bite. To date, I've only had three minor edge chips that will sharpen out by hand, nothing too major.

Now for the interesting part... Just last week I noticed that the left scale (when looking at the spine) is separating by a very minute amount. I guess that the forces generated by hacking every day have started to deform the tubing. I'm going to send it into benchmade to have it fixed (only a minor issue that doesn't affect usability, but I'd rather nip it in the butt before it becomes an issue).

Other than that one issue, I've had no problems with this knife at all. Well worth the money and would definitely buy again.
 
DeadboxHero said:
Score! Nice line up too. How do you like the steel compared to 1095?
BTW
Love the work sharp field sharpener. A quick pass on the ceramic or the strop keeps the blade popping hairs. This is my favorite knife for field sharpening. It gets way sharp.
Click to expand...
I went to check out that field sharpener yesterday when I discovered there new guided sharpener. It's like the field guide on steroids, and dummy proof. You should check it out, it put a wicked edge on the 162.
 
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