Hi. This is my BM200. Sorry, this will be a long post. TLDR: it's very serviceable, and I like it.
Intro:
I purchased the Puukko at Blade Show 2019 because I was in the market for a knife to take backpacking. The summer before the show, I broke my Mora Garberg stainless while backpacking in the Smokey Mountains by batoning a piece of wood that I shouldn't have been batoning. There are fireplaces and often firewood at the shelters along the Appalachian Trail in GSMNP, and I was trying to process down a gnarly piece of cedar to start a fire so we could dry off our stuff. August is the wettest month in the Smokies, and we were soaked to the bone. Being weight-conscious, the Garberg was the only knife I brought, and I broke it on Day 1 of a 6-day backpacking trip. Modern camping gear made the trip possible, but not having a knife was inconvenient. When I went to Blade Show, I was looking for a lightweight, packable, sturdy knife. The BM200 is a knife distilled, and that connected with me. Also, Benchmade is basically the first booth you pass at Blade, and every Blade Show I last like 10 minutes without making a purchase.
Thoughts:
I've had the Puukko for about a year, and it has mostly been my "for whatever" knife. But last week, I finally used it for it's intended purpose and took it backpacking in the Smokey Mountains. This review will be from the perspective of a backpacker/fisherman/knife guy, and not a bushcrafter, survivalist, operator, hunter, prepper, or knife reviewer.
Steel:
I have no experience with 3V outside of the Puukko, so my only expectations were based on positive reviews of 3V seen online and forum posts about Benchmade's 3V being too soft. I have lots of experience with 1095 and limited experience with a small assortment of stainless options. 3V interested me because I read that it struck a nice balance between toughness and corrosion resistance. As a backpacker, this is attractive because your stuff gets wet, you carry as little as possible, and you often press gear into improvised roles because you limit how much gear you carry. For these reasons, a corrosion-resistant, lightweight, and robust knife is a useful tool to carry.
My experience with 3V has been mostly positive. The corrosion resistance is noticeable compared to my high-carbon options. I have taken the Puukko fishing, wiped it dry after getting home, and noticed no discoloration in the following days. I have used it for slicing food, wiped it dry, and noticed no discoloration in the following days. When I took the knife backpacking in the Smokies, it was constantly exposed to some kind of moisture, but I noticed virtually no discoloration over a 3 day period. These sound menial but my 1095 knives would discolor doing the same thing, so it is something to note.
As for this particular 3V being a touch too soft, the forums might be right. I slightly damaged the tip unknowingly sometime last year and I slightly damaged the edge on my last backpacking trip. The slight tip damage did not impact performance at all. It was only noticeable because I ran my fingernail along the edge and it hung up at the tip. it ever-so-slightly bent to the side, but it was easily sharpened out on a Wicked Edge. I barely damaged (aggressively dulled?) the edge last week by cutting the top of a peanut butter can vertically down the side walls where the threads are (true story). I forgot a spoon and I was improvising one for my gourmet Mountain House meal. I easily sharpened that out too on a Wicked Edge. Besides those two minor things, I've had no issue with 3V. In my experience, the Puukko keeps a very serviceable edge, and I have confidence in its durability.
Blade Shape and Size:
The blade shape actually reminds me of the Griptilian blade shape without the thumb ramp or swedge. It is very practically sized and shaped, and the thickness behind the edge makes it a perfectly serviceable cutter despite the saber grind, narrow profile, and 0.14" thick blade. The grind came uneven, but the sharpened edge started after the plunge, which was nice to see. I like smaller knives, and love the size of the Puukko. You aren't going to be chopping or batoning giant rounds with it, but paired with a folding saw, this size knife can do a lot. The spine isn't sharpened, but it will throw some sparks from a ferro rod. Personally, I carry 3-4 Bic lighters when I hike and have only used ferro rods on hikes for fun.
Handle:
The Santoprene handle is very ergonomic in a variety of holds. the material, texture, and shape provide excellent grip, and I like the aesthetic. I wear medium or large size gloves and the handle is a perfect length for me. However, people with giant hands might find the handle on the smaller side. The design is such that you can comfortably choke up on the knife and get very close to the cutting edge. I do not use the lanyard hole, but it is there.
Sheath:
I have not carried the Puukko in the original sheath a day in my life. As a backpacker, I like gear made out of synthetic materials because it handles moisture better. I carry it in an Armatus Carry Solutions Kydex sheath with an UltiClip Slim 3.3 for mounting. I like the thinness of the Kydex sheath, and I often carry it in my pack or in my front pocket. My pack is a Granite Gear Blaze 60, and I can convert the hip belt and lid pocket into a butt-pack for a small summiting setup. The UltiClip makes it possible to mount the knife to my hip belt when I use my pack in that configuration. Armatus makes quality sheaths. My only complaint is the lack of a drainage hole.
Final thoughts/opinions:
The Benchmade Puukko is a good choice for the weight-conscious backpacker. The size is useful, packable, and non-knife-people-friendly. The 3V steel provides a level of toughness and corrosion resistance useful to outdoorsmen. The blade geometry allows the stock to be adequately thin behind the edge. The handle is grippy wet or dry and is comfortable in a variety of holds. Armatus makes a quality aftermarket sheath that you should consider buying if you like Kydex. This isn't a grail knife with ultra-premium fit and finish, but it's enjoyably serviceable, and I'm really happy with my purchase.
fin.
Intro:
I purchased the Puukko at Blade Show 2019 because I was in the market for a knife to take backpacking. The summer before the show, I broke my Mora Garberg stainless while backpacking in the Smokey Mountains by batoning a piece of wood that I shouldn't have been batoning. There are fireplaces and often firewood at the shelters along the Appalachian Trail in GSMNP, and I was trying to process down a gnarly piece of cedar to start a fire so we could dry off our stuff. August is the wettest month in the Smokies, and we were soaked to the bone. Being weight-conscious, the Garberg was the only knife I brought, and I broke it on Day 1 of a 6-day backpacking trip. Modern camping gear made the trip possible, but not having a knife was inconvenient. When I went to Blade Show, I was looking for a lightweight, packable, sturdy knife. The BM200 is a knife distilled, and that connected with me. Also, Benchmade is basically the first booth you pass at Blade, and every Blade Show I last like 10 minutes without making a purchase.
Thoughts:
I've had the Puukko for about a year, and it has mostly been my "for whatever" knife. But last week, I finally used it for it's intended purpose and took it backpacking in the Smokey Mountains. This review will be from the perspective of a backpacker/fisherman/knife guy, and not a bushcrafter, survivalist, operator, hunter, prepper, or knife reviewer.
Steel:
I have no experience with 3V outside of the Puukko, so my only expectations were based on positive reviews of 3V seen online and forum posts about Benchmade's 3V being too soft. I have lots of experience with 1095 and limited experience with a small assortment of stainless options. 3V interested me because I read that it struck a nice balance between toughness and corrosion resistance. As a backpacker, this is attractive because your stuff gets wet, you carry as little as possible, and you often press gear into improvised roles because you limit how much gear you carry. For these reasons, a corrosion-resistant, lightweight, and robust knife is a useful tool to carry.
My experience with 3V has been mostly positive. The corrosion resistance is noticeable compared to my high-carbon options. I have taken the Puukko fishing, wiped it dry after getting home, and noticed no discoloration in the following days. I have used it for slicing food, wiped it dry, and noticed no discoloration in the following days. When I took the knife backpacking in the Smokies, it was constantly exposed to some kind of moisture, but I noticed virtually no discoloration over a 3 day period. These sound menial but my 1095 knives would discolor doing the same thing, so it is something to note.
As for this particular 3V being a touch too soft, the forums might be right. I slightly damaged the tip unknowingly sometime last year and I slightly damaged the edge on my last backpacking trip. The slight tip damage did not impact performance at all. It was only noticeable because I ran my fingernail along the edge and it hung up at the tip. it ever-so-slightly bent to the side, but it was easily sharpened out on a Wicked Edge. I barely damaged (aggressively dulled?) the edge last week by cutting the top of a peanut butter can vertically down the side walls where the threads are (true story). I forgot a spoon and I was improvising one for my gourmet Mountain House meal. I easily sharpened that out too on a Wicked Edge. Besides those two minor things, I've had no issue with 3V. In my experience, the Puukko keeps a very serviceable edge, and I have confidence in its durability.
Blade Shape and Size:
The blade shape actually reminds me of the Griptilian blade shape without the thumb ramp or swedge. It is very practically sized and shaped, and the thickness behind the edge makes it a perfectly serviceable cutter despite the saber grind, narrow profile, and 0.14" thick blade. The grind came uneven, but the sharpened edge started after the plunge, which was nice to see. I like smaller knives, and love the size of the Puukko. You aren't going to be chopping or batoning giant rounds with it, but paired with a folding saw, this size knife can do a lot. The spine isn't sharpened, but it will throw some sparks from a ferro rod. Personally, I carry 3-4 Bic lighters when I hike and have only used ferro rods on hikes for fun.
Handle:
The Santoprene handle is very ergonomic in a variety of holds. the material, texture, and shape provide excellent grip, and I like the aesthetic. I wear medium or large size gloves and the handle is a perfect length for me. However, people with giant hands might find the handle on the smaller side. The design is such that you can comfortably choke up on the knife and get very close to the cutting edge. I do not use the lanyard hole, but it is there.
Sheath:
I have not carried the Puukko in the original sheath a day in my life. As a backpacker, I like gear made out of synthetic materials because it handles moisture better. I carry it in an Armatus Carry Solutions Kydex sheath with an UltiClip Slim 3.3 for mounting. I like the thinness of the Kydex sheath, and I often carry it in my pack or in my front pocket. My pack is a Granite Gear Blaze 60, and I can convert the hip belt and lid pocket into a butt-pack for a small summiting setup. The UltiClip makes it possible to mount the knife to my hip belt when I use my pack in that configuration. Armatus makes quality sheaths. My only complaint is the lack of a drainage hole.
Final thoughts/opinions:
The Benchmade Puukko is a good choice for the weight-conscious backpacker. The size is useful, packable, and non-knife-people-friendly. The 3V steel provides a level of toughness and corrosion resistance useful to outdoorsmen. The blade geometry allows the stock to be adequately thin behind the edge. The handle is grippy wet or dry and is comfortable in a variety of holds. Armatus makes a quality aftermarket sheath that you should consider buying if you like Kydex. This isn't a grail knife with ultra-premium fit and finish, but it's enjoyably serviceable, and I'm really happy with my purchase.
fin.
