AllOutdoor Review – Benchmade Redoubt

Benchmade knives are known for being among the best folding knives available, but their prices can put people off. The Redoubt is where Benchmade may be trying to solve this problem. It’s a more affordable, yet still very good, knife in the Benchmade range, and gives you excellent performance without the really expensive S30V, M390 or Crucible steels. I’ve used the Redoubt a lot, during filming, at the shooting range, for work in the workshop, and every day, and I’m genuinely very impressed.

Benchmade gave me the Redoubt for this review and I’m allowed to keep it, but that won’t affect what I think of any of their current or future knives. Benchmade didn’t see this article before it was published. I have been using this knife for over a year now through a variety of tasks. 

More Benchmade Knives @ AOD:

• Benchmade Wildcoast – Cutlery Inspired by The Untamed Pacific Northwest
• The Newest Addition to the Water Collection – Benchmade Fishcrafter 5″
• AllOutdoor Review – Benchmade Adira in Tempest Grey
• AllOutdoor Review – Benchmade Barrage Redstone Knife

Specs – Benchmade Redoubt

• Blade Length – 3.55″
• Overall Length – 8.29″
• Closed Length – 4.75″
• Blade Steel – CPM-D2
• Blade Thickness – 0.124″
• Blade Style – Drop Point (plain edge)
• Handle Material – Textured Grivory
• Lock – AXIS Lock
• Weight – 3.7 oz
• Clip – Reversible deep-carry, tip-up
• Country of Origin –USA
• MSRP-  Around $180–$200
• Where to buy

Review – Benchmade Redoubt

In the Benchmade range, the Redoubt is a good knife for people who use their knives. It doesn’t aim to be as light as the Bugout or as tough as the Adamas. It’s a well-balanced, straightforward tool that’s ideal for the woods, on a building site, or just when you need a dependable knife for everyday cutting. The special thing about it is the CPM-D2 steel, this steel is a powder metal version of the classic D2 steel. This gives you a good edge that lasts, strength, and resistance to wear and tear, and it’s much cheaper than the steel in Benchmade’s more expensive knives.

The AXIS lock is, as usual, excellent, smooth, very strong and one of the best available. And with the thumb studs, the blade opens quickly and safely with one hand. I really like everything about this knife because it just feels reliable. The 3.55 inch drop point blade is the right size for most everyday jobs like cutting rope, opening boxes, preparing food, or even a bit of work in the bush, without being too big to carry. The flat grind makes it cut very well, and the CPM-D2 steel holds its edge very well for a knife you’re going to be using hard.

The Grivory handle is really good. It’s light, has a very firm grip even when wet or if you’re wearing gloves, and feels secure in your hand when you’re cutting with force. The textured surface has a good grip but isn’t uncomfortable if you’re carrying it all day. At only 3.7 ounces, the knife doesn’t feel heavy in your pocket, but it still feels solid when you take it out.

I’ve used this knife for everything from setting up a range session to breaking down cardboard boxes and doing general jobs. It’s never failed me. The quality of the build is what you would expect from Benchmade, that being precise construction, a smooth action and the confidence you get from a tool made in America, with their lifetime sharpening and warranty.

The only thing I don’t love is the pocket clip. Although I usually like deep-carry clips, I didn’t think the shape and how tightly it holds the knife were ideal for me. It sits a little too deep in my pocket, and more often than not my pocket material would ride up and get bunched on the clip so that was a major fail in my opinion. It works, but it’s the one thing about the Redoubt that isn’t as good as on some other Benchmade knives.

What I like 

– Excellent CPM-D2 blade steel, which keeps a good edge and is strong
– Comfortable, grippy Grivory handle that works well in all weather
– Very strong AXIS lock and a smooth way to open the blade
– Light, but feels well-made
– Good value for money as a cheaper way into the Benchmade range

What I don’t like

The pocket clip, honestly, is a huge fail in my opinion

Wrap Up – Benchmade Redoubt

The Benchmade Redoubt shows that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a knife that feels like a quality tool from Benchmade. It’s in a great position in the Benchmade range as it has their famous AXIS lock, is strongly made in America, uses good CPM-D2 steel and costs a reasonable amount for what you get. Yes, the pocket clip is not great, and that’s what really holds the rebout from being a great overall package in my opinion. If you’ve been thinking about Benchmade but haven’t spent the money on their top-end knives, the Redoubt is a ‘just right’ option as long as you can live with the pocket clip.

Redoubt® | Black Grivory® | Drop-point

The post AllOutdoor Review – Benchmade Redoubt appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.