Benchmade Ambush...1st impressions

Cosmic Superchunk

Cosmic Superchunk

Joined
Jan 28, 2001
Messages
3,709
I just got my Benchmade Ambush today. Man, when I saw my local dealer pull out that little red box, I just wanted to rip it right from his hands! Anyway, here are my first impressions:

Blade is a hair-popping sharp satin finished AUS-8 blade about 4 inches long and the cast aluminum handle provides just the right grip. I like the stylish black reversible pocket clip, but I would have preferred the standard Benchmade clip for this type of knife (just a personal preferance). To be honest, I find the tolerances are just as good as any other USA-made Benchmade knife which is fantastic to see when you consider the MSRP of these knives. The cast aluminum handle is comfortable and solid, although I'm not too sure about the durability of the black coating. The coating on the pocket clip will wear for sure, but the coating on the handle looks like it may wear much faster than the anodizing on Benchmade's USA-made aluminum models. Still, if you're the type that's not concerned with cosmetic blemishes on using knives, it really doesn't matter. On to the lock...I really like it. The Rolling Lock is easy to access and use and locks the blade securely with no wobble in any direction. This will definately be my EDC knife for a while and I look forward to using it for just about anything. What can I say? I really, really like the knife. I think Benchmade has a winner with this one. For the money, it's AWESOME!!!
 
Excellent! Hopefully this will ease some peoples worries about the Red Class knives being made overseas. I just saw that are becoming available from some dealers, and I am thinking about picking one up myself. If it weren't for the other 12 or so Benchmades I've bought in the last 4 weeks, I'd already have ordered one. :)

Thnx for the encouraging words on this knife.
 
Yeah, some had concerns about Taiwan-made Benchmades, but my sample shows that their QC standards are high. I also forgot to mention the dual thumbstuds. They're generously sized to allow easy opening. They almost remind me of the thumbstuds on the Microtech LCC.

I've never owned a knife with "cast aluminum" handles, but if I could give a description or a comparision of what the ("anodize?") black coating looks like, it would be comparable to the handle finish on the S&W Magnesium folder.
 
Originally posted by alan aragon
*drumroll for some pictures*
Click to expand...

Hi Alan, I don't have a digital camera handy at the moment so I can't provide pics just yet, but here's a pic from Benchmade's site:

10200.jpg
 
That's a good reassurance.
I wanted to get one of those Ambush anyways, and great to hear a good review.
 
Superchunk. How thick is the blade? The web site says both models are .12" but I've seen mistakes made on the site before. Just curious cause I'm planning on getting the Mini.
 
Originally posted by Wunderbar
Superchunk. How thick is the blade? The web site says both models are .12" but I've seen mistakes made on the site before. Just curious cause I'm planning on getting the Mini.
Click to expand...

Wunderbar, at the spine the Ambush is about as thick as a Spyderco Endura. I haven't seen the Mini-Ambush yet, so I can't say if they are indeed the same thickness
 
That is hysterical.

It looks like the 940 and the 520 had a baby with an overactive pituitary.

Not saying it's not a nifty knife and I don't want one... but...

*giggle*

Does this incarnation of the Rolling Lock use Omega springs?

-j
 
What, if any, changes did they make to the rolling lock? What is the indraft?

I saw someone on another thread that said these were hard to open, does yours open smoothly?
 
Nice useable looking knife, I may need to check one out!:)
Thanks,
Rob
 
What's it say on the butterfly on the blade? It doesn't look like it says benchmade.
 
Originally posted by Gong
What's it say on the butterfly on the blade? It doesn't look like it says benchmade.
Click to expand...

I believe it does; the res is just not high enough. That's just their new logo... They changed the font.

-j
 
how hard is it to open? another post had a complaint that the rolling lock creates too much resistance. I know that my REKAT Pioneer with rolling lock is pretty stiff.

edit - just saw your statement in that other post:

"I have a Benchmade Ambush and at first opening the knife took a little bit to get used to. It isn't an Axis lock afterall, however, after a bit of opening and closing, I got used to the tension of the Indraft system and I really like the Rolling Lock mechanism. It's been my EDC since I bought it."
 
It does indeed say BenchMade, looking at the photo that Cosmic posted.
 
Nice-looking folder, straightforward design. Is this the first ambidextrous rolling lock, or is it one-sided only?

Joe
 
Hey folks! The butterfly logo does say "Benchmade" except there's no USA underneath it, just the model # 10200. On the right side of the blade Mel Pardue's name appears as well as the steel type (AUS8) and U.S. Patent 5,685,079. Naturally, the country of origin appears just like on CRKT, Timberline and Gerber knives: Taiwan.

Basically the InDraft™ system keeps the blade in the closed position so there is very little chance of the knife opening up on you while clipped to your pocket.

As quoted on Benchmade's website:
http://www.benchmade.com/about_knives/locking_mechanisms.asp

"InDraft is a patented exclusive, which is a combination of a slotted liner and a pin in the blade tang working in tandem to generate an inward inertia when closing the blade. This results in one of the safest blade detents available today."

Here's a pic of the mechanism at it appears on Benchmade.com:
LockingMech-RollingLock.gif


As far as the opening action goes: You can feel some resistance when you begin the opening motion with your thumb, but as you continue past it the action becomes very smooth. Closing the knife (with the right hand) requires you to pull the lock stud back with your thumb and begin closing the blade with your forefinger. Once the blade travels far enough you can feel the InDraft system pull it shut. It takes a bit getting used to, but after some practice it become easy.

While the pocket clip can be revesed for left side carry and there are dual thumbstuds on the blade, the lock switch is on the right side. Still, it is possible to open and close the knife with the left hand. Lefties will have to pull back on the lock switch with the middle finger and start the blade down with the forefinger to close. Again, with a little practice it becomes easy.

It's is a solid knife and quite a bargain for the money considering the locking mechanism's design. I had heard of problems with a few of REKAT's Rolling Lock models in the past, but Benchmade has done a darn good job with it on the Ambush. I for one hope to see more Benchmade models with this mechanism.
 
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