From 2011 till a number of months in the past, Benchmade’s 162 Bushcrafter sufficiently served because the model’s bushcraft-specific providing.
Designed by knifemaker Shane Sibert, the 162 had an general size of 9.2 inches and carried a Scandi-ground, drop-point blade, and G10 deal with scales. It even got here with a leather-based sheath that had a built-in sleeve for a ferro rod. And maybe most surprisingly, it used S30V stainless-steel for the blade — a transfer unparalleled within the bushcraft area on the time.
Now right here we’re, 11 years later, and the 162 Bushcrafter is an icon within the knife world — cherished by the lots. Eleven years is a very long time to have a product unchanged in your lineup, so in March, Benchmade launched the brand new 163 Bushcrafter and 165 Mini Bushcrafter. Each retained a majority of the options that made the unique 162 so efficient (S30V metal, G10 scales, and far of the identical geometry).
I had the chance to check each new variations of the Bushcrafter, however centered my efforts on the Mini model. With an inch smaller blade and a half-inch shorter deal with, I used to be impressed with its sturdy construct and the way in which it match into my hand. Not solely was I testing a knife that was changing a legend, however a extra compact model that was extra EDC-friendly and due to this fact extra universally adaptable.
On paper, the adjustments Benchmade employed have been modest. However in apply, they marked a dramatic enchancment in each type and performance.
Briefly: Benchmade’s 165 Mini-Bushcrafter is an enchancment over an iconic knife that has served us all nicely for greater than a decade. As a substitute of a full-blown reimagining of the 162 Bushcrafter, the 165 has delicate however notable adjustments which enhance the general person expertise of this new, quickly to change into icon.
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OAL
7.58” -
Blade size
3.38” -
Blade metal
CPM-S30V -
Blade form
Drop level -
Grind
Flat -
Hardness
58-60 HRC -
Sheath
Leather-based -
Carry
Proper aspect -
Weight
6.45 oz. -
Value
$380
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CPM-S30V Stainless Metal -
Optimum hand management and match -
General stout construct -
Drainage gap in sheath (unusual in leather-based)
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The knife will far outlast the sheath -
The sheath is right-hand solely
Benchmade 165 Mini Bushcrafter Assessment
Not like most bushcraft knives in the marketplace, the unique 162 used S30V premium stainless-steel for the blade — an enormous no-no within the bushcraft world. Or, at the least, it was.
An debatable false impression about bushcraft knives was that they wanted to be made out of carbon metal as a result of carbon metal is more durable than stainless. Subsequently, the speculation went, it might stand as much as the trials and calls for of bushcraft higher. Nonetheless, developments in metallurgy over the past 20 years have made steels like S30V simply as powerful, if not more durable than, carbon steels used for knives immediately.
Moreover, stainless-steel has the additional benefit of corrosion resistance. This added property offers stainless-steel an edge over carbon metal, particularly in bushcrafting.
Blade Design
The Benchmade 165 Mini-Bushcrafter is a full-tang premium bushcraft-style knife. It makes use of 0.164-inch-thick S30V blade metal and G10 deal with scales. The 165 has a drop-point blade form with a swedge, or false edge. This marks an enchancment over the earlier 162 Bushcrafter, which had a Scandi grind.
This new blade form retains the tip of the blade in step with the middle of the deal with, and improves the knife’s general stabbing and piercing capabilities. This form and grind mixture can also be stronger than that discovered on the 162.
Moreover, the blade on the 165 encompasses a fuller. There are many arguments about what the fuller represents on a blade. Some declare it’s simply seems, a byproduct of forging.
Others declare it permits for blood to stream up and out of a puncture. I’ve discovered that this function helps to cut back suction. Whether or not you’ve acquired the 165 stabbed into the aspect of a deer or a sappy tree, it will likely be simpler to drag out due to the fuller.
Deal with & Sheath
Like conventional bushcraft knives, the handles on the 165 are thick (0.925 inches) to supply for a certain and safe grip. The deal with scales taper at the back and front, permitting the center to swell and seat into the crevice of your palm extremely nicely.
Moreover, there’s a small guard at the back and front of the handles. This retains your hand from sliding forwards and backwards. Though, the grip of the G10 ought to preserve your hand proper the place it belongs.
Except for the much-appreciated lanyard gap, there are two different holes within the deal with of the 165. Benchmade could have inserted these to lower the load of the knife and improve its stability. The holes may also work to style the knife right into a spear or use it as an anchor. I do know I’m considering outdoors of the field right here, however that’s what bushcraft and survival are all about.
The sheath for the 165 is darkish brown, full-grain leather-based. And it has a sleeve for a ferro rod. I discovered that the Uberleben Hexå matches nicely within the slot and throws a critical spark.
The one difficulty people could have with the sheath is that it’s strictly for right-hand put on solely. However, so are a majority of the leather-based sheaths on the market on the earth immediately. As a left-handed individual, I’ve simply come to understand I have to cope with it. It hasn’t confirmed to be an enormous cope with this knife or any others.
Mini-Bushcrafter vs. Full Measurement
It’s true. I acquired each new Bushcrafter fashions to check. However the Mini appealed to me extra in type and performance. The most important motive I selected the 165 Mini-Bushcrafter over the 163 Bushcrafter was the way in which it slot in my hand. The Mini supplied a substantial, balanced grip and supreme management over the knife.
I’ve a wider hand, however the Mini’s deal with size allowed my 4 fingers to take a seat in between the fore and aft guards with out a lot wiggle room. On the full-sized 163, I felt there was extra room than I wanted.
First Impressions
Except for being a shorter knife, the adjustments on the 165 Mini — although small — are important.
Foremost amongst them is the choice to desert the Scandi-grind. This has been principally a spiritual requirement for bushcraft knives. Bushcraft people will spend hours extolling the advantages of a great Scandi grind. However that grind will not be as efficient or as robust because the excessive flat grind and swedge on each new Bushcrafter fashions.
In his e-book Bushcraft: Out of doors Abilities and Wilderness Survival, Mors Kochanski states, “All general-use knives ought to have the blade tip near the profile center-line of the deal with.”
This new blade form and grind retains and improves upon this side, which makes for straightforward management of the blade when drilling, stabbing, and puncturing — in addition to element work, like whittling and shaping.
The second notable change within the new Bushcrafter fashions is the inclusion of a notch behind the blade edge. This accommodates a ferro rod.
There are far too many individuals ruining their blade edges by operating a ferrocerium rod throughout them. The addition of this notch ought to assist remedy this. If not, the backbone of the blade was left unbroken and in addition serves as an efficient floor to make use of a ferro rod.
The third and closing notable addition to the brand new Bushcrafter fashions was the inclusion of the fuller. I’ve already gone over what I imagine the operate of the fuller is. When you think about {that a} knife designed for the wilderness can be utilized anyplace and in any state of affairs, together with processing meat or stabbing right into a juicy tree, you begin to perceive the advantages of the fuller.
Within the Area
Over time, I’ve encountered many alternative knife shapes, blade grinds, blade steels, and extra. However it’s a uncommon pleasure when you possibly can bear down on a knife a lot that it could possibly shear curly bits of a thick department with a loud, luscious shearing sound. I actually spent an hour with the Mini-Bushcrafter making fur sticks and tinder piles simply to expertise that entire scene.
Past that, one among my favourite elements of this knife is its comparatively compact dimension. It’s simpler to hold, simpler to regulate, and does simply as a lot because the full-sized mannequin will do. It’s spring in New England, so which means every part is moist. So, I need to be certain that I’ve full confidence within the grip I’ve on the knives I’m utilizing for heavy work. Not as soon as in 2 months was I frightened about my grip on the 165 or my management over it.
The one factor I used to be frightened about was the general thickness of the deal with. I’ve a variety of expertise with the unique 162 Bushcrafter. It was a beefy knife with a thick deal with, however there was much more contouring on that model over the 2 new Bushcrafters.
However, as I discovered in my testing, the 162, 163, and 165 are all the identical thickness. Although the 163 and 165 lack a number of the general roundness discovered within the deal with of their predecessor, I’m happy and fortunately stunned with how nicely the 165 matches and feels.
In Conclusion
General, I feel a knife like this forces individuals to do extra with it. My spectacular mound of wooden shavings apart, I discovered myself reaching for my pocket knife a heck of so much much less after I had the Mini Bushcrafter on my hip.
It’s additionally not as conspicuous as a full-sized knife, which helps it mix into the EDC world slightly greater than you may anticipate. I don’t really feel just like the elephant within the room is hanging off my belt after I stroll into the fuel station for my trail-side, over-processed jerky and Muscle Milk. I didn’t have any reservations about carrying across the 165.
After 11 years, it was time for Benchmade to retire the 162. The 165 Mini-Bushcrafter stands as a shining instance that huge issues are available small doses. Except for its smaller stature, the few adjustments that have been made out of the unique have marked efficiency enhancements that create a greater general expertise.
