Benchmade Hunt Knives

[Elkoholic87]

Does anyone have any experience with these? What are your thoughts. I have my eyes on the Saddle Mountain Skinner.

[pointysticks]

i fondled a bunch of them. probably would have bought the narrower blade. cant remember what catchy name they gave it. but the shop wanted $155. they felt super sharp. the brown handles looked cooler in person, besides i like the leather sheaths better.

in the end, i passed. you can find them online for around $125ish. the knife is kinda hefty feeling. i've been backpacking often, and i love a lighter knife. hard to beat my $14 Mora, which is a billion times more sharp than any of my benchmades i also have.

but the new HUNT knives have that new powdered S30V. i do wonder how easy it is to sharpen.

[redtop]

S30V is a bear to sharpen if you let it get dull. Keep it touched up and the edge will last but without power sharpening equipment you'll spend hours trying to get an edge on it.

[pointysticks]

^agree.

i have many benchmade folders in S30V. one in particular i carried daily in a tunnel excavation job. the hinge got the tiniest bit loose...i mean TINY!. i sent it back to them for a check up. i got back a report saying the movement, was "extreme", and it would be fixed. when i got it back it was solid. they installed some machined brass shims that made the knife so smooth and so rigid. it was NEVER that rigid.

but they also sharpened it for me. WHOA! i never could get it that sharp. ever. i boxed up a bunch of S30V and sent them in. they are now all razors.

best thing about Benchmade, is the lifetime free sharpening and service. i now know my house tools cannot get the edge that great. okay, but not great.

i still wonder if this new powdered S30V has the same characteristic at the sharpening stones.