A hunting knife can have glorious steel, perfect geometry and a lock that feels like a bank vault, yet still become a filthy little puzzle after field dressing. Benchmade’s new $300 SlipRidge folder attacks that unglamorous problem with the feature most hunters will appreciate after the work is done: user-removable handle scales.
The Rust Orange G10 scales come off with a T6 Torx wrench, exposing the full-liner construction for easier cleaning or customization. More cleverly, the scales hide the pivot, helping keep blood, tissue and trail debris out of the mechanism in the first place. That is not brochure glitter. It is the sort of detail created by somebody who has cleaned a knife in bad light while wondering where all the gunk found lodging.
The rest of the spec sheet earns its keep. A broad 3.5-inch modified clip-point blade is made from CPM MagnaCut stainless steel hardened to 60–62 HRC, with Benchmade’s SelectEdge sharpening. The next-generation AXIS lock handles deployment and security, while contoured pinch points add control for caping and detail cuts. At 4.178 ounces, it is substantial without becoming a pocket anchor.
What You Need to Know
- Price: $300
- Blade: 3.5-inch MagnaCut modified clip point
- Handle: Removable Rust Orange G10 scales
- Lock: Next-generation AXIS
- Availability: In stock and shipping in one to two business days
The orange handle is also refreshingly honest. This is not a knife for brooding mysteriously beside a black tactical backpack. It is a field tool you can locate when leaves, daylight and patience are all disappearing at once.
Why It’s Cool
Plenty of premium folders boast exotic steel. The SlipRidge uses excellent steel, then solves the grimy maintenance problem that follows real work. Removable scales, a shielded pivot and five optional handle sets make it easier to clean, repair and personalize—the rare customization scheme that is not merely adult dress-up.
Sources: Official website.