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Benchmade’s Most Iconic EDC Knife Ups Its Quality But Not Its Price

A fresh handle and a new, specially treated blade material upgrade not only this EDC superstar’s aesthetics but also its performance.

Close-up of a Benchmade folding knife with a gray blade and textured black handle.Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol
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By Steve Mazzucchi

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With wide-ranging semi-recent releases from the Dacian to the Lowden to the PSK, Benchmade continues to demonstrate its knack for innovative and compelling new knives.

At the same time, the now 47-year-old Oregon City, Oregon-based brand isn’t afraid to play the hits — with strategic new spins to keep them relevant.

Two gray-handled folding knives with tan blades, one open showing "ELMAX" and the other showing "BENCHMADE" logo, on a light textured surface.
The Bugout and Mini Bugout feature updated blades and handles, accented by Burnt Copper thumb studs.
Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

The latest example is a new treatment for its most popular EDC knife, which gets a makeover that’s about much more than looks.

After all, the new Bugout (535TN-2601) and Mini Bugout (533TN-2601) mark the first time these knives feature Elmax super steel, with a Cerakote shield to boot.

Steel the one

A big reason Benchmade has managed to successfully revamp this knife over and over again is that it never fails to retain its most attractive qualities. 

Toward that end, the two new editions still boast drop-point blades and grivory handles, with ambidextrous thumb studs and the brand’s ever-reliable crossbar-style Axis Lock ensuring smooth, secure deployment and retraction.

Folding knife with textured dark green handle and partially visible blade marked "ELMAX.
The patented Axis Lock is such a winner for Benchmade, you’ll find it on more than a hundred different knife skews.
Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

Worth noting: the Bugout blade appears to be a smidge shorter than normal — 3.2 inches versus 3.24 inches — while the Mini holds steady at 2.82 inches.

The knives are also just as buoyantly lightweight as ever: 1.85 ounces and 1.5 ounces, respectively.

Two closed folding knives with dark textured handles and partially visible blades labeled "ELMAX" on a light stone surface.
These two knives mark the first appearance of Taiga Green handle scales, with more examples to follow.
Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

The differences begin to emerge with the handle hue, a new one called Taiga Green that reminds me a bit of pine needles.

For that reason, I felt validated to learn that “taiga” is a Russian-rooted word meaning a boreal forest or snow forest, characterized by coniferous forests consisting mostly of pines, spruces and larches.

Folding knife with black textured handle and matte gray blade labeled "ELMAX" on a light textured surface.
Benchmade stands behind its chosen knife steels, as evidenced by the fact that they are printed on the offside of the blade.
Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

Much bigger changes are afoot on the business end, as the classic CPM-S30V gets replaced with a burgeoning super steel we’ve been seeing more and more of lately: Elmax.

Produced by Böhler-Uddeholm, Elmax is an incredibly balanced and versatile material valued most for its edge retention, toughness and corrosion resistance.

Folding Benchmade knife with a matte gray blade and textured dark green handle on a light stone surface.
The McMillan Tan Cerakote blade treatment nicely complements the handle while adding life-extending benefits.
Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

In these two knives, it’s made even more durable by Cerakote — another increasingly popular knife trend through which a ceramic-based coating imparts additional protection against wear, abrasion, rust and chemicals. 

Benchmade has used Cerakote on the Bugout before, but here it appears for the first time in a tone called McMillan Tan. Yet another way that old becomes new again.

Availability and pricing

The new Bugout (535TN-2601) and Mini Bugout (533TN-2601) will be available for purchase beginning next Tuesday, with prices set at $200 and $175, respectively.

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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