From 2011 till a couple of months in the past, Benchmade’s 162 Bushcrafter sufficiently served as the emblem’s bushcraft-specific providing.
Designed via knifemaker Shane Sibert, the 162 had an total duration of 9.2 inches and carried a Scandi-ground, drop-point blade, and G10 maintain scales. It even got here with a leather-based sheath that had a integrated sleeve for a ferro rod. And in all probability maximum strangely, it used S30V stainless-steel for the blade — a transfer remarkable within the bushcraft area on the time.
Now right here we’re, 11 years later, and the 162 Bushcrafter is an icon within the knife international — liked via the hundreds. 11 years is a very long time to have a product unchanged to your lineup, so in March, Benchmade offered the brand new 163 Bushcrafter and 165 Mini Bushcrafter. Each retained a majority of the options that made the unique 162 so efficient (S30V metal, G10 scales, and far of the similar geometry).
I had the chance to check each new variations of the Bushcrafter, however targeted my efforts at the Mini model. With an inch smaller blade and a half-inch shorter maintain, I used to be inspired with its robust construct and how it are compatible into my hand. Now not simplest was once I checking out a knife that was once changing a legend, however a extra compact model that was once extra EDC-friendly and subsequently extra universally adaptable.
On paper, the adjustments Benchmade hired have been modest. However in observe, they marked a dramatic development in each shape and serve as.
In brief: Benchmade’s 165 Mini-Bushcrafter is an development over an iconic knife that has served us all neatly for greater than a decade. As an alternative of a full-blown reimagining of the 162 Bushcrafter, the 165 has refined however notable adjustments which enhance the total person enjoy of this new, quickly to turn out to be icon.
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OAL
7.58” -
Blade duration
3.38” -
Blade metal
CPM-S30V -
Blade form
Drop level -
Grind
Flat -
Hardness
58-60 HRC -
Sheath
Leather-based -
Elevate
Proper aspect -
Weight
6.45 oz.. -
Worth
$380
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CPM-S30V Stainless Metal -
Optimum hand keep watch over and are compatible -
Total stout construct -
Drainage hollow in sheath (unusual in leather-based)
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The knife will a long way live longer than the sheath -
The sheath is right-hand simplest
Benchmade 165 Mini Bushcrafter Evaluate
Not like maximum bushcraft knives in the marketplace, the unique 162 used S30V top class stainless-steel for the blade — a large no-no within the bushcraft international. Or, a minimum of, it was once.
An controversial false impression about bushcraft knives was once that they had to be comprised of carbon metal as a result of carbon metal is more difficult than stainless. Subsequently, the speculation went, it could rise up to the pains and calls for of bushcraft higher. Then again, developments in metallurgy during the last twenty years have made steels like S30V simply as tricky, if no longer harder than, carbon steels used for knives lately.
Moreover, stainless-steel has the additional benefit of corrosion resistance. This added belongings offers stainless-steel an edge over carbon metal, particularly in bushcrafting.
Blade Design
The Benchmade 165 Mini-Bushcrafter is a full-tang top class bushcraft-style knife. It makes use of 0.164-inch-thick S30V blade metal and G10 maintain scales. The 165 has a drop-point blade form with a swedge, or false edge. This marks an development over the former 162 Bushcrafter, which had a Scandi grind.
This new blade form assists in keeping the end of the blade consistent with the middle of the maintain, and improves the knife’s total stabbing and piercing features. This form and grind aggregate could also be more potent than that discovered at the 162.
Moreover, the blade at the 165 includes a fuller. There are many arguments about what the fuller represents on a blade. Some declare it’s simply seems to be, a byproduct of forging.
Others declare it permits for blood to go with the flow up and out of a puncture. I’ve discovered that this selection is helping to scale back suction. Whether or not you’ve were given the 165 stabbed into the aspect of a deer or a sappy tree, it’ll be more straightforward to tug out as a result of the fuller.
Maintain & Sheath
Like conventional bushcraft knives, the handles at the 165 are thick (0.925 inches) to offer for a positive and protected grip. The maintain scales taper at the back and front, permitting the center to swell and seat into the crevice of your palm extremely neatly.
Moreover, there’s a small guard at the back and front of the handles. This assists in keeping your hand from sliding backward and forward. Even supposing, the grip of the G10 must stay your hand correct the place it belongs.
Except for the much-appreciated lanyard hollow, there are two different holes within the maintain of the 165. Benchmade will have inserted those to lower the load of the knife and building up its stability. The holes may additionally paintings to style the knife right into a spear or use it as an anchor. I do know I’m considering outdoor of the field right here, however that’s what bushcraft and survival are all about.
The sheath for the 165 is darkish brown, full-grain leather-based. And it has a sleeve for a ferro rod. I discovered that the Uberleben Hexå suits neatly within the slot and throws a major spark.
The one factor other people will have with the sheath is that it’s strictly for right-hand put on simplest. However, so are a majority of the leather-based sheaths available in the market on this planet lately. As a left-handed individual, I’ve simply come to understand I wish to handle it. It hasn’t confirmed to be a large handle this knife or any others.
Mini-Bushcrafter vs. Complete Dimension
It’s true. I won each new Bushcrafter fashions to check. However the Mini appealed to me extra in shape and serve as. The largest explanation why I selected the 165 Mini-Bushcrafter over the 163 Bushcrafter was once how it are compatible in my hand. The Mini supplied a substantial, balanced grip and supreme keep watch over over the knife.
I’ve a much wider hand, however the Mini’s maintain duration allowed my 4 hands to sit down in between the fore and aft guards with out a lot wiggle room. At the full-sized 163, I felt there was once more space than I wanted.
First Impressions
Except for being a shorter knife, the adjustments at the 165 Mini — regardless that small — are vital.
Principal amongst them is the verdict to desert the Scandi-grind. This has been principally a non secular requirement for bushcraft knives. Bushcraft other people will spend hours extolling some great benefits of a excellent Scandi grind. However that grind isn’t as efficient or as sturdy because the top flat grind and swedge on each new Bushcrafter fashions.
In his e book Bushcraft: Outside Abilities and Desert Survival, Mors Kochanski states, “All general-use knives must have the blade tip as regards to the profile center-line of the maintain.”
This new blade form and grind keeps and improves upon this facet, which makes for simple keep watch over of the blade when drilling, stabbing, and puncturing — in addition to element paintings, like whittling and shaping.
The second one notable alternate within the new Bushcrafter fashions is the inclusion of a notch behind the blade edge. This comprises a ferro rod.
There are a long way too many of us ruining their blade edges via operating a ferrocerium rod throughout them. The addition of this notch must lend a hand clear up this. If no longer, the backbone of the blade was once left unbroken and in addition serves as an efficient floor to make use of a ferro rod.
The 3rd and ultimate notable addition to the brand new Bushcrafter fashions was once the inclusion of the fuller. I’ve already long past over what I imagine the serve as of the fuller is. Whilst you believe {that a} knife designed for the wasteland can be utilized anyplace and in any state of affairs, together with processing meat or stabbing right into a juicy tree, you begin to perceive some great benefits of the fuller.
Within the Box
Through the years, I’ve encountered many various knife shapes, blade grinds, blade steels, and extra. However this can be a uncommon pleasure when you’ll be able to undergo down on a knife such a lot that it might shear curly bits of a thick department with a noisy, luscious shearing sound. I actually spent an hour with the Mini-Bushcrafter making fur sticks and tinder piles simply to enjoy that entire scene.
Past that, one in every of my favourite sides of this knife is its quite compact measurement. It’s more straightforward to hold, more straightforward to keep watch over, and does simply up to the full-sized fashion will do. It’s spring in New England, in order that manner the entirety is rainy. So, I wish to make sure that I’ve complete self assurance within the grip I’ve at the knives I’m the use of for heavy paintings. Now not as soon as in 2 months was once I apprehensive about my grip at the 165 or my keep watch over over it.
The only factor I used to be apprehensive about was once the total thickness of the maintain. I’ve numerous enjoy with the unique 162 Bushcrafter. It was once a beefy knife with a thick maintain, however there was once much more contouring on that model over the 2 new Bushcrafters.
However, as I discovered in my checking out, the 162, 163, and 165 are the entire similar thickness. Even though the 163 and 165 lack one of the crucial total roundness discovered within the maintain in their predecessor, I’m happy and luckily stunned with how neatly the 165 suits and feels.
In Conclusion
Total, I feel a knife like this forces other folks to do extra with it. My spectacular mound of wooden shavings apart, I discovered myself attaining for my pocket knife a heck of so much much less after I had the Mini Bushcrafter on my hip.
It’s additionally no longer as conspicuous as a full-sized knife, which is helping it mix into the EDC international a bit greater than you could be expecting. I don’t really feel just like the elephant within the room is putting off my belt after I stroll into the fuel station for my trail-side, over-processed jerky and Muscle Milk. I didn’t have any reservations about sporting across the 165.
After 11 years, it was once time for Benchmade to retire the 162. The 165 Mini-Bushcrafter stands as a shining instance that gigantic issues are available small doses. Except for its smaller stature, the few adjustments that have been comprised of the unique have marked efficiency enhancements that create a greater total enjoy.