Benchmade 530 Serrated Locking Knife

The Benchmade 530 was impressive upon opening the box.
First I would like to mention that it is part of Benchmade's "Blue" Class which is basically their top of the line knife for everyday uses. There are two other classes "higher" than Blue and those are the collectable "Gold class and the militaries "Black" class. Blue is the proline for the normal everyday adventurer. So know that this knife is pegged as being supreme by it's makers and in my opinion it does not disappoint.

The first thing I noticed was it's light weight, it is easy to maneuver and not a burden to carry.

The second thing I noticed was how amazingly sharp the blade was out of the box. To give you a hint I set the edge on a cardboard box and then also with a piece of paper and noticed the same thing both times; without any "slicing" motion but just pure vertical pressure, this blade was able to cut through and continue cutting through both materials without so much as a hiccup. The paper and cardboard did not even bend...most knives of mine which I sharpen to the point that I can shave with them at least will bend the paper a little bit when I attempt this.......not this knife and that is sometime special right there.

The belt clip is moveable, you need a screw driver of course, but it can go on either the left or the right hand side. The knife set up to be in the right pocket from the get go so lefties be aware you might need to adjust it.

I really do not have any complaints about this knife except that the release system does take some getting used to, as the peg is pretty flush with the surface of the knife. With maybe 10 minutes practice however I was able to flick open and close the knife very quickly and surprisingly silently. I think the only reason it took 10 minutes was that I was terrified I would slice my fingers accidently and took it slow at first.

Perfect knife to carry around for day to day things and it is also spiffy enough that if you need a day trekking blade then look no further. The 530 is good enough to depend on in a hairy situation but most people carry larger fixed blade knives for that type of thing anyway, so I suppose this could be slated as the perfect back up blade to any traveler's outfit.

I bought this knife because I came home from my last backpacking trip on Isle Royale and realized that I never once used my ancient (and heavy) Shrade buck knife. That thing is a beast. I wanted to get a new knife that wouldn't be too much dead weight in my pack. I found this knife at my local REI and I have never regretted the purchase. I have never before been the kind of person to always carry a pocket knife, but the 530 is so streamlined and light that I basically now carry it with me all the time. It has become a part of my essentials like keys and wallet. As other reviewers have pointed out the black belt clip does get scratched and dinged up over time, but as a friend of mine likes to say, "It gives it character." I am left-handed and have never bothered to switch the belt clip. I keep the knife clipped to my left pocket with the handle inside. I have used this knife so many times in so many ways and it stays very sharp. If you are looking for a slim, lightweight, and SHARP knife, get this one.

I have a mini Griptilian that I really like but I was never crazy about how it fit in a pocket. After looking at this one on and off for a couple of years I decided to splurge on this model; I love it. It's a little longer than the mini Griptilian but the thinness makes it almost disappear in my pocket.

If you've never used a Benchmade with the Axis lock, give one a try. It's now my favorite type of lock and it just gets easier to use with time. (The knives can be a little stiff at first, but they loosen up a bit and flick in and out with remarkable ease.)

Out of curiosity, I tried it on one of those thick plastic bands that are used around things like boxes of printer paper. It's almost scary how easily the serrations sliced through it.

There are certainly cheaper knives out there, but I've never regretted spending a little extra for my two Benchmades. My only concern is that I'm not sure I'll be able to stop at two. :-)

This is probably the best everyday folder you'll ever want in your pocket. It is so slim and so light (less than two ounces) yet it still has a 3 1/2" blade that is very sharp.

Be advised though, out of the box this knife is difficult to open. The thumb studs (which are also ambidextrous, a plus) are small to reduce weight and slim the profile are very hard on your fingers. I oiled the knife and loosened the screw that the blade pivots on and it made a world of difference.

Once you do that this becomes a 4 star knife not a 5 star. I still think Benchmade has better studs in there parts drawer and the black paint on the pocket clip flakes off and the draw string carry bag is just silly. Also, with any knife you should NEVER USE IT AS A PRY TOOL, especially this one because it is fairly high carbon and has spear point that goes all the way back to the handle to save weight.

This knife is Awsome, from the first look out of the blue box it comes in. To using it in the field I was impressed. it comes in a nilon bag, that is nifty to carry and shine the blade with.

When I first got the knife it was so sharp that I could shave my arm with it with ease, and it still can even tho I have yet to sharpen it.

I was very supprized at the weight of this knife, its 1/2 the weight of any other knife i have ever owned. It has a reversable belt clip on it, witch realy isint that big of a deal but it is nice to have.

Over all I would say that this is the best knife you can buy for the price

I've stopped using almost all my other knives and switched to this lightweight wonder. The design of the blade and handle are perfectly suited to everyday use, from opening packages, to cutting up dinner when camping, to trimming shoelaces...without being bulky at all. The quality of the steel means it holds an edge quite long. The plastic handle is surprisingly durable, even holding up to opening beers without chipping. The knife is so slim and light I've slept with it in my pocket many times, and not known it was there. The only downside is the very thin construction absolutely rules out any heavy chopping or prying of any kind. I could see breaking off the blade tip if ever i was tempted to tighten a screw with it.

I love this knife!
It is very flat and compact, with a little black storage bag. This allows me to keep it in my pocket everywhere I go, as the bag prevents scratching my cell phone. Not so bulky as to even notice it is in my pocket.
Man is it sharp! I have had it 6 months, and has not needed to be sharpened yet.
I lost it for a few weeks, and I was heartbroken before I found it again, Must buy or great gift!
My son in law, who is a knife expert, gave it to me, so it must be very high quality.

I have a bit of a problem with knives. More of an obsession, really. If I had to pick just one, this would be the one that never leaves my side. First off, its a Benchmade, a quality company. They have a history of great customer service and top notch reliability. The axis lock is smooth and solid after all the abuse I have put this knife through, from slicing oranges to carving an emergency set of tent steaks. The blade comes super sharp out of the box. It is also super light, great for backpacking. Make no mistake, this knife will not let you down.

I originally got this knife as a light weight backpacking tool. When it arrived I clipped it to my pocket for a few days to get a feel for its weight.

It turned out that it is so light and thin I hardly noticed it in my pocket at all, and I ended up using it during my day frequently enough to keep putting it in my pocket every morning. So, for two years I have been using it almost every day, and it has held up great.

Oh, yeah and it has been great for camping/backpacking as well.

I use my Benchmade on a regular basis; partially because it is ALWAYS on my person. I even take it to the beach, clipped in my pocket. The steel holds an edge very well and I've used it for everything from opening mail to dressing small game. I love the assisted opening and the adjustable clip. The locking mechanism is much safer than most because you don't have to get your fingers under the blade to put it back. I misplaced my first one and, after I turned my house upside down, I didn't hesitate to go get a replacement.