Critical Update Edit
CPM-3V is an excellent steel as described below and discussed later in the thread... but it cannot shine when under-hardened. It should be pushed to the higher end of 59-61, particularly for a thin slicer. Well after creating this thread I've read listings and reports that Benchmade is only hardening it to 56-59, most likely the low end of that range. That is an unacceptable waste, the edge will dull easily by deformation. There was no need to increase toughness. Benchmade should be ashamed and make corrections by issuing a recall, not for safety, but for performance approaching the high price. I'd advise customers against purchasing any 3V blade at low HRC.
CPM-3V is an excellent steel as described below and discussed later in the thread... but it cannot shine when under-hardened. It should be pushed to the higher end of 59-61, particularly for a thin slicer. Well after creating this thread I've read listings and reports that Benchmade is only hardening it to 56-59, most likely the low end of that range. That is an unacceptable waste, the edge will dull easily by deformation. There was no need to increase toughness. Benchmade should be ashamed and make corrections by issuing a recall, not for safety, but for performance approaching the high price. I'd advise customers against purchasing any 3V blade at low HRC.
- ATTN Benchmade
- The critics of the Bailout's design choices really don't seem to get it. They assume that CPM-3V excels only for choppers & other hard use fixed blades and that Bugouts & Bailouts in GRN are flimsy. They couldn't be more wrong.
- Because of its toughness/ductility/impact resistance 3V also excels in ultrathin grinds with ultraslicey edge angles that still hold up where other steels would chip or break. Thus it can be run at higher hardness to resist edge roll. Wear resistance is still high despite the lower alloy content because of the narrow geometry (the primary factor) and hardness it supports, and the vanadium content. Most people haven't experienced that kind of cutting power. Chuck from AKS has called it his favorite knife steel, though Z-wear may surpass it. It's a perfect choice in an ultralight knife that sees reasonably heavy work.
- Anyone who doubts the durability of the thin blade and minimalist GRN reinforced with steel at the lock--any folders Achilles heel--should watch this abuse testing video. The Bugout gracefully withstood tip gouging, transverse batoning & axial batoning around a knot, being dropped from a second story building, and run over by a large vehicle. Slight flex under force lends impact strength, not fragility. Benchmade called this the highest strength to weight ratio in a folder, and that actually seems reasonable. If you really screw it up, send it in to be serviced.
- The aluminum lanyard pommel is a major improvement over the Bugout's oversized lanyard hole that prevented me from rounding off a the back corner for a small ergonomic improvement. Lanyard holes ruin so many knife designs! This one can be ground off flush if desired for ergonomics or for discreet carry with the deep pocket clip. That should be an offered option. It also strengthens & protects the handle in accidents or hard use, though we understand that abuse will ding it up. The handle guard flare enhances safety.
- Yeah, I'd like to see a more durable coating-- ONLY IF it doesn't require a suboptimal heat treatment-- but the Cerakote is much better than satin or Teflon on a non-stainless steel. The important thing is to nail 60 HRC with Roman Landes' low temper for optimal edge stability, then sharpen it to <12° per side and <0.015 behind the edge, and let users adjust it from there.
- The tanto adds variety of function and appearance. It's the easily penetrating tip, not the reinforced type. The top swedge could be reduced. The secondary tip is perfect for opening boxes, a main purpose for some customers. I'd prefer the perfect Bugout drop point shape and high grind in this slightly longer length. I carefully compared the two with photo manipulation and found that that the Bailout just adds extra pointy parts without subtracting much steel anywhere. I'd also like to see a less tactilol version with friendly colors like a dark blue or burgundy or green (not OD), or even desert sand.
- I expect a hardened steel lockbar would last much longer than Ti and be worth the sleight weight, but at least they'll replace it if necessary. I like the redundancy of omega springs.
- Now besides the shape, color, pommel & lanyard-free options, and the HT & sharpening points I've mentioned, Benchmade really does need to get on top of its quality control, ensuring a smooth, near-drop-shut & axis-flick open action and perfect centering in any assembly configuration. They also need to reduce the price by at least $40. It's only GRN after all, and some Chinese companies are surpassing them in quality and value.
- I'm not at all a BM fanboy, I'm an engineer and outdoorsman who makes a few fixed blades, but the Bailout's efficiency excites me more than any folder design since the 710. It and the Bugout have the phenomenal total cutting edge to oz ratio of 1.7. A good ratio is ~1, and even the 3.8in/3oz CS Broken Skull and the aluminum stiletto RS Metamorph have only 1.3. With its slim profile, and the toughness of 3V, Axis Lock, and PB washers, the ultralight Bailout is likely to become my preferred medium+ duty knife. It's a knife, well designed to cut a wide variety of materials well, not for throwing from castle walls to dislodge ninjas like some Medfords. For anything more demanding, I'll grab a fixed blade.
- Benchmade, could you inform us of general plans and time frames for possible variations of the platform, please?
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