Benchmade’s Rugged Tactical Folder Has Been Refined for EDC Use

Thanks to significant material and structural changes, this Bailout is lighter, cheaper and ideal for everyday tasks.

Close-up of a folding knife handle with textured olive green grip and partially visible black blade marked "S30V.

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Published January 4, 2026

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With its beefy, sometimes serrated tanto blade, anodized aluminum handles and glass breaker, the tough-as-nails Bailout has always come off as the rough-and-tumble Bugout stepbrother you’re secretly kind of hoping doesn’t make it home for the holidays.

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But then Benchmade introduced a version that cleans up nice, dropping the price (by a hundo) and weight while swapping tactical features for practical EDC ones that had us reaching for it over the Bugout time and again.

benchmade bailout half folded — This overhauled Bailout retains the original’s best features while getting lighter, cheaper and more EDC-friendly.

While the 537BK-06 variant retains the Cerakote-finished, 3.38-inch tanto blade, patented Axis Lock mechanism and reversible mini deep carry tip-up pocket clip, much else has changed.

The blade material is now refined CPM-S30V stainless steel, valued for its edge retention and corrosion resistance while shedding some of the cost of the original CPM-4 tool steel.

benchmade bailout blade — Switching to S30V steel helps drop the price while still delivering reliable everyday performance.

This Bailout also ditches the tough, pricy aluminum scales for textured, ultralight Grivory, which helps shave the weight from 2.7 ounces by 24 percent, to a positively feathery 2.05 ounces.

To paraphrase a skintight ski suit-wearing stupid sexy Flanders, it feels like you’re carrying nothing at all.

benchmade bailout off side folded — The introduction of Grivory handle scales helps this still-robust knife slim down to a shockingly light 2.05 ounces.

Finally, the back of the handle drops the glass breaker in favor of a full-size slotted aluminum pommel, making it easier to attach an actual lanyard — and maybe even pop a bottle in a pinch.

Consider it the finishing touch of this civilianized vet, impressively decommissioned for steady, satisfying EDC use.