Funny how different folks have different ideas. Not necessarily right or wrong, just different.
When the 162 came out I was attracted to it. But I read the reviews. A lot of folks didn't like the steel, or the ergos of the handle. So I passed for years.
Then last year I bought one. A month or so later, I bought another one. All the while kicking myself for waiting. I am more of a woods guy than I am a knife guy.
I leave the steel and heat treat discussions to the experts, and the knife guys. But my experience has been that the 162 is an excellent all around field blade. Myself, I love the ergos.
It really does what I need it to do.
As Brian Sargent once pointed out on one of his camping trips. I don't need a knife that will properly julienne vegetables in camp. I need it to feed me and keep me warm. (Not a direct quite, but close).
The 162 is not perfect. No knife is. But if I were dropped into the woods with nothing but the 162. I wouldn't be worried about my knife.
Different horses for different courses.
As to the 200 Puukko. I am seeing bascially a replay of what I saw with the 162. Half the internet likes it. The other half not so much.
Once again, I was immediately attracted to it. I like Puukkos. The lack of a guard may be of a concern to some. But if an entire country, or more accurately, an entire region, can make do with them. Many folks using them in cold, wet, bloody, work environments. I figure, so can I.
Even Finnish children use Puukko. We Americans need to work on our knife skills.
I find mine to be great field knives.
So when Benchmade and Puukko collided with this new offering I was intrigued.
I can tell you plainly. I will not be waiting years to try this one. From what I see, there is really a lot to like about it.
Is it a drop dead gorgeous super model? Certainly not. In my experience, and I actually have some in this regard. Super models are virtually worthless in the woods. Give me the girl next door in the felt packs everytime.
Perhaps, if I had a coffee table in my living room with a glass top. Under which I displayed my prize cutlery. I would think differently. But in the wet, white, and cold, of the northern Adirondack woods. This blade makes a lot of sense to me.
I'm excited for Benchmade. I'm excited for me.
My 162 won me over, because it handles what my woods throw at it. It's just as happy in pouring down rain, as it would be under that glass table top.
My 162 has been a low drama workhorse. I expect the 200 Puukko to be much the same.
