Benchmade 535GRY-1 Bugout

The Benchmade Bugout 535GRY-1 is an ultralight folding knife for everyday carry (EDC), hiking and camp life, where every gram counts. With a total weight of 52 g and a handle only 10.7 mm thick, it almost disappears in your pocket, yet the 82 mm drop-point blade is still long enough to cut cord, open packaging, prepare food on the trail and handle most small tasks in the field.

The Bugout was originally developed for ultralight hikers, and the concept is simple: as little material as possible, without compromising on lock or steel. Where many light pocket knives skimp on steel or use a simple liner lock, here you get Benchmade's AXIS lock and CPM-S30V – a combination otherwise typically found on heavier and more expensive models. The 535GRY-1 version has a Ranger Green Grivory handle and a smoky grey Cerakote-coated blade that does not reflect light.

Light EDC knife with AXIS lock and S30V steel

These are the technical choices that make the difference on the Bugout:

• CPM-S30V steel: Powder-metallurgy stainless steel hardened to 58-60 HRC. Compared with common 8Cr and 440 steels, the edge lasts considerably longer and is better protected against rust, and the steel can still be sharpened with ordinary sharpening equipment.
• AXIS lock: A spring-loaded steel bar locks the blade open. The lock sits above the grip and works the same from both sides, so the knife is fully Ambidextrous – and your fingers never have to go into the blade's closing path, as with a liner lock.
• Grivory handle: Glass-fibre reinforced polyamide that is stiff, impact-resistant and very light. The texture gives a good grip, even with wet or cold hands.
• Thin 2.29 mm blade: The thin blade and drop-point profile give low cutting resistance and make the knife well suited to food preparation and precise cutting rather than prying and twisting.
• Mini deep-carry clip: The PVD-coated clip lets the knife ride deep and discreetly in the pocket and can be moved so the knife can be carried on either the right or left side.

Maintenance and safety

• Rinse and dry the knife after use, especially after contact with food or salt water, and give the pivot and AXIS lock a drop of knife oil now and then.
• Sharpen at a low angle on fine stones – S30V takes a very keen edge but rewards patient sharpening rather than coarse pull-through sharpeners.
• The blade is thin and built for cutting. Do not use it as a pry bar or screwdriver.
• Folding knives with one-hand opening and a locking blade are covered by knife laws in many EU countries. Check the rules in your country before carrying the knife in public, and otherwise transport it safely packed away.