Benchmade Dacian Fastened-Blade Knife Evaluate

General, Benchmade is a top-notch knife model with a tactical, outside focus. Nevertheless, with a number of new releases, it appears to be experiencing a model metamorphosis.

If you happen to have a look at its Bugout line, there are just lately launched wild colour combos like a black-coated blade with burnt brass deal with scales and an electrical blue thumb stud. Shifting into the Shootout line of Out The Entrance (OTF) knives, you will have colours like white, darkish purple, and sage inexperienced. For a tactical knife, it’s polarized albeit interesting. However all of that is simply colours, proper? It’s not a giant deal.

So what’s going on with its new compact, EDC fastened blade, the Dacian?

The place Benchmade has lengthy relied on widespread varieties like drop level and tanto blade shapes, the Dacian is an extended and flowing spear level blade with jimping that runs down the size of its backbone. As an alternative of being black Cerakoted or stonewashed metal, this knife has blue titanium Cerakote.

It seems like an extension of the Bugout line, which is aimed on the EDC crowd. However as a substitute of being a light-duty folding knife, it’s a workhorse fastened blade. The place Benchmade fastened blades lengthy have felt as in the event that they had been aimed on the navy and bushcraft crowd, the Dacian is made for the subsequent technology of knife customers.

Who’s that? I don’t know. Perhaps it’s you and me, which is why I wanted to take this dandy of a knife on a blessed hell trip with me into the outside. Deliver somewhat colour into my earth-toned, rugged life.

Briefly: The Dacian is a compact, multi-functioning, fixed-blade knife meant to switch or complement your pocket folding knife. It’s appropriate for normal use, utility, and EDC. As a consequence of its general measurement and form, it may be worn in your belt, in your pocket, or on a pack strap.

Buying round? Take a look at our information to the greatest survival knives.

Benchmade Dacian Fastened Blade Knife Evaluate

Design & Options

Benchmade affords two variations of the Dacian. Each are constructed from MagnaCut and Micarta and have the identical forward-thinking type. They’re each additionally attention-grabbing colour combos that, in all honesty, have grown on me over time.

The model with stonewashed MagnaCut, denim blue Micarta scales, and copper {hardware} has been out since August. That comes with a chocolate brown molded sheath. As I discussed, I used to be despatched the Blue Titanium/Brown Micarta model resembling a chocolate-covered blueberry. And I’m digging it.

You may’t go improper with MagnaCut and Micarta as your principal supplies. MagnaCut metal is well-balanced relating to abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance, toughness, and edge retention. Cerakoting it simply makes it higher.

Micarta is my favourite of all of the out there and acquainted supplies for deal with scales used within the manufacturing knife business. Benchmade has carried out a hell of a job shaping these, which incorporates an indent that permits your fingertips to index.

The Dacian is somewhat over ⅜” thick, so decreasing its thickness additional is a chance — however one which works for me. I can see folks with longer fingers having to search out their very own candy spots to excellent their grip.

When it comes to its general form, this knife seems to be quick. It seems to be like somebody took an image of a kitchen knife flying by means of the air and mentioned, “That’s it!” The knife has a historically styled deal with form, however the spear level pulls the profile out a bit, making it appear longer than 7.57”. This slim and lengthy profile will show how common the Dacian is. You need to anticipate to chop, slice, pierce, chop, shave, and sculpt with it.

What’s in a Title?

Now, what’s this identify? Effectively, the Dacians dominated the land of roughly fashionable Romania across the first century. Many individuals imagine that they had a direct hyperlink to wolves, which makes the identify of this advanced knife simply as advanced as its type.

Trying on the Dacian, I really feel it belongs within the film “Princess Monanoke”. If you happen to haven’t seen it, you’ll should take my phrase for it — however I urge you to observe it when you possibly can.

This nonetheless doesn’t clarify the wild, off-brand image on the Dacian’s sheath, however I hope to determine that out earlier than I ship this evaluate to my editor. (Replace: No clue what that image means.)

First Impressions

Nothing about these colour combos that Benchmade is providing up is loopy. We’ve been seeing knives like this from Gerber and SOG for a number of years now. However that is Benchmade. Even the truth that the model used hunter orange had some folks scratching their heads. Nevertheless, I nonetheless prefer it.

I additionally just like the path the model goes. Whether it is trying to attraction to a youthful crowd, knives just like the Bugout and Dacian are the way in which.

My splendid belt knife is below 8” and may be carried inconspicuously. It’s not a looking knife or the knife you’re going to construct a shelter with. However you could possibly. The Dacian, for me, represents the evolution of a utility knife. It’s fancy, nevertheless it’s additionally aggressive and may be utilized to every thing from meals prep to processing sport to getting kindling dialed in for a hearth out within the snow.

Out of the field, I attempted to place the sheath on my belt, however the clip was too small. So, I simply put the knife in my pocket. Once I put on overalls, I can slide into the opening on the facet above the buttons.

That is the form of knife that disappears till you want it. That being mentioned, as society continues its overt mission to frown upon knives and firearms, a knife like that is the path you need to go in if you wish to go unnoticed.

Within the Area

I glossed over the truth that the clip on the Dacian sheath gained’t match on my belt. Chances are high it gained’t match yours, both. However don’t let that dissuade you.

I’ve discovered that this knife simply matches in any facet pocket of an excellent pair of Carhartts — and even in its fifth pocket on its double-knees. This, to me, ups the knife’s EDC claims a number of levels. An increasing number of individuals are beginning to pocket carry fixed-blade knives. Mark my phrases, it’s going to be a giant factor in 2025.

Relating to how the Dacian handles and performs within the nice outside, it’s obtained an actual “come at me, bro” really feel, lending to the truth that it will probably do something you need. Positive, it opens mail and Amazon packages like a champ. Nevertheless it additionally slices beef and poultry skinny and extra effectively than any kitchen knife in your cutlery corral. If you happen to’re doing a roast or prime rib, you may want one thing greater.

The jimping on the again of the blade is there for management. It seems to be cool, nevertheless it features higher. It lets you work down nearer to the tip and actually management piercing and puncturing. Anybody who hunts will let you know that this can be a large deal, as is retaining your blade razor sharp.

Benchmade provides a number of the sharpest knives on the planet, and while you pair that with a spear level, you will have one thing that can both make working by means of duties simpler or require quite a lot of stitches.

I’ve had the Dacian since July and have fallen low-key in love with it due to how simple it’s to hold. The clip doesn’t chunk down on material as exhausting as one thing like a ULTICLIP, however the sheath has been molded to search out the proper stability between tight and tight sufficient. This makes each retrieving the knife and placing it again away simple.

Virtually 4 months in, and although the knife exhibits that it’s been used, it doesn’t look abused. Additionally, there hasn’t been a necessity for me to rehone the sting, which is without doubt one of the admirable options of MagnaCut.

Trending

A part of what I do right here for GearJunkie is keep forward of what’s up and coming. Pocket-carrying small-form-factor fastened blades aren’t new. Nevertheless, they’re rising. It’s been fairly low-key for a number of years now within the EDC world, and now that manufacturers like Benchmade are leaping on it, anticipate it to unfold like wildfire.

In Conclusion

Jerry Garcia as soon as summarized the Grateful Useless by saying, “We’re like licorice. Not everybody likes licorice, however the individuals who like licorice actually like licorice.”

Not everybody will “actually like” the Dacian primarily based solely on the way in which it seems to be. However the individuals who do will covet the knife and depend on it for years to return. There isn’t a center floor with a knife like this.

Do I believe that can impression its gross sales? No. I believe if something, similar to the expanded colour choices of the Bugout and Shootout, that the colours of the Dacian will finally come second to the way it carries and finally performs.

The knife business is previous saturation. Many manufacturers are making knives that appear to be knives from different manufacturers. Even inside a model, you may discover a knife resembling one other mannequin within the lineup.

Benchmade has all the time stood out due to the supplies it makes use of and the standard of its merchandise. Perhaps it determined to face out for the way its knives look, too? Both means, I’ve discovered the attraction in each the shape and performance of this knife, and I’m positive there are a number of of you on the market who will too.