Benchmade’s Most Divisive Knife Gets a Makeover Even Haters Will Love

One of the more explosive mechanisms in the business may not be for everyone, but this edition’s styling is hard to resist.

Folding knife with textured green handle and stonewashed blade marked "Z-WEAR" on a gray surface.

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By Steve Mazzucchi

Published February 4, 2026

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Updated February 4, 2026

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As someone who writes almost exclusively about pocket knives and motorcycles, I can’t help but see a parallel between both industries’ “automatic” offerings.

There’s an inherent satisfaction in the proper shifting of a traditional motorcycle and deployment of a manual knife that these modern marvels can’t replace.

Folding knife with a textured green handle, black clip, and a partially serrated blade marked "Z-WEAR" on a gray surface. — The new Shootout has the same functionality as earlier editions, but refreshed aesthetics make it look better than ever.

That’s why even Benchmade’s popular Shootout can’t help but land in the “divisive” category.

But even automatic-loathing purists will begrudgingly appreciate the latest treatment, which mirrors that of the newest Bugout and looks just about as good.

Green machine

I should state from the start that the Shootout and its ilk do boast an impressive level of engineering and quickness.

A simple flick of the tab on the handle sends the blade shooting forth in a movement I can only describe as explosive.

The new Shootout’s Grivory handle takes on a fresh Benchmade shade called Taiga Green, a reference to a Russian-rooted word that means “snow forest.”

When it comes to retraction, the knife lives up to its “Double-Action Out-The-Front Automatic” mechanism, as pulling on that same tab sucks it back into the handle with similar speed.

As someone who has mixed feelings about automatic knives, which often feel a bit too “stabby” for my taste, I do admire the ingenuity behind this deployment mechanism.

However, as I stated earlier, the most newsworthy thing about this new edition — officially 5371FE-2601 — is the aesthetics.

Folding knife with textured green handle and stonewashed blade marked "Z-WEAR" on a blue surface. — At 3.49 inches, this Shootout’s blade is plenty burly enough to tackle a range of everyday tasks.

The generous 3.49-inch drop-point blade is rendered in Z-Wear Tool Steel, which is valued for its wear resistance and edge retention, perhaps fitting for a knife with such a tough attitude.

This new edition features the nameplate’s first-ever FDE PVD Battlewash finish. To break down that alphabet soup, FDE is short for Flat Dark Earth, which references the color.

PVD, meanwhile, is short for Physical Vapor Deposition, a vacuum coating that imparts additional corrosion resistance to the steel.

Green textured folding knife with black clip and orange accents on a gray surface. — In addition to being tough, grippy and lightweight, the new handle’s hue should feel right at home on the trails.

This treatment is uniquely suited to the 4.71-inch handle with which it has been paired. Like earlier Shootouts, it’s made of Grivory, a grippy, durable material that’s also quite lightweight, a big reason this beast of a knife still dips under 3 ounces in weight.

However, like the recently launched Bugout and Mini Bugout, it takes on a fresh Benchmade shade called Taiga Green, a reference to a Russian-rooted word that means “snow forest.”

Close-up of textured green knife handle with "U.S. MFG" engraved and a black metal clip on a gray surface. — All the action stems from pushing and pulling on this little tab, which has ridges on both sides for easy gripping.

These locales tend to be festooned with coniferous trees — such as spruces, firs and pines — hence the handle’s deep green shade.

The knife also has a black deep-carry clip and burnt copper hardware, the latter of which is an eye-catching accent that serves as a fitting finishing touch for the most refined-looking Shootout to date.

Availability and pricing

The Benchmade Shootout (5371FE-2601) is available now for $350.

Folding knife with a brown blade and textured dark green handle with a lanyard hole.

Benchmade Shootout (5371FE-2601)

$350 at Benchmade

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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