Luke Cuenco 04.16.25
After I first picked up the Benchmade Mini Bedlam (865BK-01), its daring and classy black/coyote/OD inexperienced G10 deal with and modern graphite Cerakote blade caught my eye, and that’s probably going to be the case for anybody that sees you carrying round this newer providing from Benchmade. Benchmade’s fame for crafting dependable, high-performance knives is well-earned, and this Mini Bedlam, with its tactical scimitar blade, appears like one other extension of that legacy. After carrying and utilizing it day by day for some time, I can say it’s a standout for its grip, slicing prowess, operation, and rugged aesthetic, even when it’s outdoors of my regular model of EDC knife. At this time, we’ll go over a number of the explanation why it’s possible you’ll need to take a tough have a look at the Mini Bedlam earlier than you undertake one your self.
Benchmade Protection on AllOutdoor
Specs – Benchmade Mini Bedlam 865BK-01
- Blade: 3.45″ CPM-S90V, scimitar, 59-61 HRC, graphite Cerakote end
- Deal with: G10 (layered black/coyote/OD inexperienced), 5.2″ closed, 0.587″ thick
- Weight: 4.81 oz
- Total Size: 8.63″ open
- Lock Mechanism: AXIS Lock
- Clip: Break up-arrow, reversible, tip-up, black oxide end
- Deployment: Ambidextrous thumb studs
- Made In: USA
- MSRP: $350
Like I stated earlier, the very first thing that struck me was the deal with’s layered G10 design. The coyote, black, and OD inexperienced colours give it a tactical edge with out being over-the-top. It’s straightforward to identify in a gear bag or on the bottom, which got here in useful throughout a latest tenting journey. At 4.81 ounces, it’s not the lightest EDC, however it feels substantial with out dragging down your pocket or taking on an excessive amount of area.
Blade Efficiency – Benchmade Mini Bedlam 865BK-01
The Mini Bedlam’s 3.45-inch scimitar blade, constructed from CPM-S90V metal, is a slicer’s dream. Out of the field, it was wickedly sharp, simply shaving paper and gliding via supplies like cardboard, paracord, and even powerful nylon webbing. I used it for every thing from opening packages to a few craft tasks for my truck, the place it excelled at slicing via some ripstop materials with ease. The scimitar form, with its pronounced stomach, makes pull cuts easy, and the blade’s 0.114-inch thickness balances energy and finesse. One draw back to this blade model is that it’s extraordinarily unhealthy at prying on account of how skinny the blade is close to the perimeters. For individuals who like to make use of their knives as a multi-tool, the Mini Bedlam may find yourself needing a resharpening extra typically in consequence.
The graphite Cerakote end, in the meantime. provides sturdiness and a non-reflective sheen, excellent for out of doors use and significantly for me up right here within the moist and humid Pacific Northwest. After scraping in opposition to tough surfaces like tree bark and steel, I observed solely faint scratches close to the tip. The CPM-S90V metal’s edge retention is phenomenal—after two weeks of heavy use, it nonetheless cuts cleanly while not having a touch-up. Nevertheless, the scimitar design isn’t nice for piercing. After I tried puncturing thick plastic or improvising to open a can, the tip felt much less exact, awkward to make use of, and most of all, risked breaking the tip.
The Deal with: G10 Grit and Consolation
The G10 deal with is a spotlight. Its aggressive milling and serrations present a locked-in grip with out the necessity for overly aggressive texturing. Even when my arms have been moist from rain or sweaty throughout a hike, the Bedlam simply stayed safe in gloves and on my naked arms with out a lot effort. At 5.2 inches closed, it suits my medium-sized hand completely, with a curved form that feels pure throughout prolonged use, like once I was breaking down containers or trimming kindling into actually skinny items. If you happen to choose smoother scales, it might really feel abrasive over lengthy intervals. The load, at 4.81 ounces, is noticeable in comparison with ultralight knives like Benchmade’s Bugout. For me, the heft is nearly proper with out going overboard and provides the blade a pleasant steadiness and really feel within the hand for maneuvering.
The AXIS Lock: Flawless Performance
The Mini Bedlam’s blade rides on some extremely easy bearings, making opening and shutting it nearly silent. To that finish, it may be harmful for newcomers to higher-end knives to carelessly open and shut this knife one-handed with out some observe. To assist with this, Benchmade has determined to make use of its standard AXIS lock design. It deploys easily with a flick of the thumb studs, locking with a strong click on and nil blade play. I might open and shut it one-handed, even whereas holding gear in my different hand, which was a lifesaver throughout multitasking, however for somebody who isn’t anticipating the blade, so shifting about so freely is likely to be a bit harmful. That being stated, as soon as I had mastered it, the mechanism is so satisfying that I caught myself twiddling with it greater than crucial. After a month of fixed use, it’s nonetheless as buttery as day one.
Portability and Carry – Benchmade Mini Bedlam
The Mini Bedlam’s portability is strong, however not its strongest go well with. At 4.81 ounces and 0.587 inches thick, it’s not cumbersome, however it doesn’t disappear in your pocket like a sub-2-ounce knife. The reversible split-arrow clip retains it safe in denims or a jacket, however it’s stiff, and with a straight pocket, the tail finish of the blade noticeably stands out about 1.5″ from the highest of your pocket. With angled pockets like within the image under, that is a lot much less of an issue and is definitely form of good. Even with the additional little bit of grip protruding, sliding it out and in took effort, particularly with thicker materials like looking pants. Over time, the clip loosened barely, however it’s not as slick as I’d like. The blade is tip-up carry solely, however incorporates a reversible clip for many who want it.
Sturdiness and Upkeep – Benchmade Mini Bedlam
After a month of exhausting use, the Mini Bedlam holds up impressively. The CPM-S90V blade reveals minimal put on, with the Cerakote end hiding most scratches. Sadly, I did handle to drop the blade off of my workbench onto strong concrete, and this chipped the blade in a number of locations. Even with the injury, I haven’t observed an enormous distinction in slicing something. The Scimitar design is nice at at all times offering you with an optimum slicing angle and because of this a number of chinks within the blade aren’t going to cease the slicing. The G10 deal with seems to be practically new, regardless of publicity to filth and moisture over a number of vary classes. Cleansing is easy—a fast rinse clears out particles from out of doors duties, and a fast blowout with the air compressor retains the inner mechanisms free from any undesirable moisture. The AXIS Lock stays easy, with no grit or stickiness. The blade wanted a lightweight sharpening solely after weeks of slicing abrasive supplies, and I’ll probably use a blade sharpener to re-profile the broken parts of Bedlam’s blade.
Remaining Ideas – Benchmade Mini Bedlam
The Benchmade Mini Bedlam is a tactical folder that delivers on efficiency and elegance in virtually equal components.. Its CPM-S90V scimitar blade slices like a dream, with edge retention that’s exhausting to beat and a end that’s distinctive even for Benchmade blades. The G10 deal with provides a assured grip, and the AXIS Lock is easy and dependable. Whereas the stiff clip and $350 price ticket are hurdles, the knife’s sturdiness and flexibility make it a robust contender for EDC and out of doors use if you could find extra use out of a slicing EDC blade versus a extra versatile drop level or tanto blade. Just a few drawbacks maintain it from perfection. The scimitar blade struggles with piercing, and the load may deter ultralight followers. The clip’s stiffness and the excessive price might additionally give some pause. However with all that being stated, I feel it is a nice blade for EDC collectors, and one that’s properly price its $350 price ticket in the event you’re trying to attempt one thing out of the strange for a change.
Professionals
- Razor-sharp CPM-S90V blade with glorious edge retention
- Grippy, ergonomic G10 deal with
- Clean, ambidextrous AXIS Lock
- Sturdy Cerakote end
- Distinctive, sensible colour scheme
Cons
- Stiff pocket clip
- Scimitar blade much less fitted to piercing and a few widespread EDC duties
- Heavy for ultralight EDC (4.81 oz)
- Expensive at $350
Writer’s Word: The Benchmade Mini Bedlam 865BK-01 was supplied by Benchmade for this evaluate. I’m allowed to maintain it indefinitely, however this has no bearing on my opinions, now or sooner or later. Benchmade has not previewed this evaluate earlier than publication.
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