Best Benchmade Pocket Knives For EDC in 2021

The Griptilian is in the conversation for the best EDC Benchmade folding knife ever made. The handle is fashioned from high density resin and is robust and comfortable. There is no chance this puppy is going to slip when you need it to hold fast. The blade is 154CM stainless and has a hollow ground edge with plenty of cutting surface. This Benchmade pocket knife has a naturally aggressive profile and makes short work of all your daily tasks from opening boxes to cutting rope. The Griptilian is similar in length to the Adamas 275 but doesn’t feel nearly as large for some reason. Just a beautifully engineered, tough as nails EDC knife that will double as a tactical knife in a pinch. If you are looking to upgrade your knife collection, then make sure you read our top 10 pocket knives list.

The Adamas 275 occupies a grey area between EDC knife and tactical knife. While we can definitely see it being used for an array of military applications we wouldn’t mind having one on our belt when heading into the mountains for the weekend. This is perhaps more knife than some people would be comfortable carrying on their person on a regular basis but with its D2 stainless steel folding blade, AXIS locking mechanism and the combination of incredible balance and light weight it’s a knife you’ll have a hard time leaving home.

It’s hard for some to get their head around the 940 from Benchmade. With just a few minor tweaks you could envision it next to your dinner plate at the steak house. But make no mistake this a serious piece of everyday carry with a Benchmade blade of premium CPM-S30V stainless steel and a handle fashioned from 6061-T6 aluminum. Open or closed it’s a lightweight beauty and with the no-nonsense reverse tanto folding blade it allows you to effortless project cutting force. The icing on the cake? It weighs a scant 2.9 ounces. Amazing. Find more great products like this by checking out our guide to the best camping knives.

The Blue class Griptilian from Benchmade has been a hit from the moment it was introduced and the Mini Griptilian 555HG is no doubt bound for the same fate. The Mini is a slightly downmarket version of the standard Griptilian but don’t let that fool you. That’s like saying the 911 Carrera is a slightly downmarket version of the 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet. The Mini 555HG features one of the company’s most comfortable handles and the modified sheepsfoot blade provides excellent piercing ability where the more common sheepsfoot has virtually none. That blade is made of 154CM steel and does an admirable job holding an edge. Be sure to also check out our list of the Best Spyderco Knives for more great items like this. 

The Barrage 582 is one of the most satisfying EDC knives you’ll find. Handsome, perfectly balanced with premium M390 steel in the folding blade and a comfortably molded G10 aluminum handle it’s pretty much exactly what we envision when we think “ultimate EDC knife”. With effortless one-handed opening and that discreetly aggressive tanto point for self-defense situations the 583 has all the based covered. At nearly 8 ½ inches open and weighing 4.5 ounces this is not a small Benchmade pocket knife but it never feels like too much knife whether you’re stripping wire or opening boxes. Love this product? Check out our review of the Best Survival Knives  for our top picks. 

A bit of a stylistic departure the Mini Crooked River 15085-2 with its clip point blade strives to connect with the great pocket knives of the past and does an admirable job. The CPM-30V stainless steel blade stubbornly holds onto its edge while the diamondwood scales provide the type of satisfying feel you only get from wood. The clip point folding blade provides beau coups cutting surface and is also great for those times you need to penetrate tip first. The lanyard hole is an unexpected but welcome touch and the single handed opening is smooth as butter.

The 15061 Grizzly Ridge drop point knife from benchmark isn’t going to be much good in a fight with a grizzly (not sure that even a proper hunting knife would help there) but it’s perfect for just about everything else. With a 3 ½ inch drop point blade and checkered Grivory handle core the Grizzly Ridge lets you take hold and perform whatever the task with confidence. There’s a high end CPM-S30V stainless steel blade and ambidextrous AXIS blade lock, a reversible pocket clip, serrations down the spine of the folding blade and a lanyard hole at the butt of the handle. To top it off it tips the scales at a trim 3.77 ounces.

If you spend a lot of time out on the trail, you need a solid EDC survival knife. Some people prefer pocket knives because they’re arguably easier to carry but sometimes it’s better to carry an old-school fixed blade knife like the Bushcrafter 162. It comes with a superb-quality leather sheath with the Bushcrafter logo embossed into it, so you can easily carry it in your pocket or pack. The blade is made from American-made CPM-S20V Steel, which is known for its excellent edge retention and resistance to corrosion and rust. Plus, it has a beautifully-made resin-soaked fiberglass G-10 handle that isn’t affected by fast-changing climates.