Benchmade Bugout Family
The Bugout is the knife that made ultralight carry mainstream. Under two ounces in its lightest builds, with a 3.24 inch drop-point blade and Benchmade's AXIS lock, it disappears in a pocket and still handles real work. Choose your model below for full specs on that exact build.
Key Features
Featherweight CarryGrivory builds land at 1.8 to 1.85 oz. Even the aluminum and Richlite models stay near 2.5 oz, so the knife never announces itself in a pocket.
AXIS LockFully ambidextrous, one-handed open and close. The spring-loaded bar locks the blade from both sides and releases without putting fingers in the path.
Premium Blade SteelsCPM-S30V on the core models, CPM-S90V and Bohler M390 on the upgraded builds. All American-ground with a thin 0.09 inch stock for real slicing performance.
Mini Deep-Carry ClipReversible black-oxide clip rides the knife low in the pocket, left or right side, tip-up.
Built in Oregon CityMade in the USA and backed by Benchmade LifeSharp, their free factory resharpening service for the life of the knife.
Open-Back BuildBarrel spacers instead of a solid backspacer cut weight and let the knife rinse clean under a tap.
Description
Benchmade designed the Bugout for backpackers counting grams, then watched it take over as the everyday carry knife people actually reach for. The recipe is simple. Take a full 3.24 inch blade, grind it thin and flat so it slices well above its weight, then wrap it in the lightest handle materials that still carry steel liners and a real lock.
Every version here shares the same footprint: 7.46 inches open, 4.22 inches closed, roughly four tenths of an inch thick through the handle. What changes is the material set. Grivory keeps the price and the weight down. CF-Elite adds stiffness with almost no weight penalty. Carbon fiber, machined aluminum and Richlite move it into the premium tier and bring S90V or M390 blade steel with them.
Freedom USA Sales is an authorized Benchmade dealer. Every knife ships new in the factory box with the full Benchmade warranty and LifeSharp coverage intact.
Shared Specifications
| Common To All Models |
|---|
| Mechanism |
AXIS Lock, manual opening |
| Blade Style |
Drop-point, plain edge |
| Blade Length |
3.24 in (8.23 cm) |
| Blade Thickness |
0.09 in (2.29 mm) |
| Open Length |
7.46 in (18.95 cm) |
| Closed Length |
4.22 in (10.72 cm) |
| Pocket Clip |
Reversible mini deep-carry, tip-up (tip-down on 535FE-2602) |
| Ambidextrous |
Yes, lanyard hole included |
| Country of Origin |
USA |
What Is In The Box
Benchmade Bugout folding knife
Reversible deep-carry pocket clip, installed
Benchmade product literature and warranty card
Factory blue Benchmade box
Common Questions
Which Bugout should I pick?
If you want the lightest, cheapest way into the family, take a Grivory model in S30V. If you want better edge retention and a stiffer handle, move to the carbon fiber, aluminum or Richlite builds in S90V or M390.
What is LifeSharp?
Benchmade will clean, oil, adjust and resharpen your knife to a factory edge for free, for as long as you own it. You cover shipping to them.
Is the AXIS lock strong enough for hard use?
Yes for everyday cutting, food prep, cordage, packaging and camp chores. The Bugout is built as a lightweight slicer rather than a pry bar, so for heavy batoning or prying look at the Adamas or Griptilian instead.
