We’ve just received our new catalogs from Benchmade for 2011, and they have 20+ new products this year, though many are variants of existing product SKUs. Quick rundown:
New Products:
- 470 Emissary by Osborne (S30V blade with Aluminum Handles, Axis Lock)
- 53 Mangus Balisong – released late this year, this model has a D2 blade with Green G10 handles.
- With the acquisition of Lone Wolf Knives in late 2009, Benchmade is bringing out a new product series featuring the Paul Lock. The first entries are the 250, 235, 240, 245, and 230.
- 915 Triage is a new rescue series knife that is reminiscent of the Stryker Series, but features a sheepsfoot blade and the Axis lock
Variants of existing products:
- There’s a new Tanto variant of the Barrage, the 583 series, as well as an aluminum bolster variant with the standard Blade, model 581
- The Shoki (480) now has a brother, the 480-1 which features Carbon Fiber scales
- The 740 Onslaught has a little brother, the 746 Mini-Onslaught
- The Auto Bedlam 8600 now is available in manual action as the 860 Bedlam
- The Rant fixed blade line adds two new models: the 512 Clip Point, and the 517 Tanto models
- Nimravus Cubs are now available with tanto blades as the 148 Tanto Nimravus Cub
- There are a couple new rescue hook variants:
- The 8BLKH which has a T handle for extra leverage (this may be intended as an offering for military personnel performing airborne operations or loadmaster duties)
- The 15BLKWSN which combines the features of the 7 and 8 rescue hooks.
- The Bone Collector Series models all are now available with Walnut Handle Scales (marked with -2 in the SKU):
- 15010-2 Bone Collector Fixed Blade with Gut Hook
- 15005-2 Bone CollectorFixed Blade
- 15000-2 Bone Collector Skinner
- 15030-2 Bone Collector Folder
- 15020-2 Mini Bone Collector
So, to sum up: lots of new products in the Blue and Black Class, lots of variants of popular existing models. No new automatics just yet, at least visible in the paper catalog. I’ll update with word on what’s discontinued for 2010 as soon as I know.
EDIT: Word from Benchmade is that the Catalogs were sent out a bit early. Whoops! We can’t place orders on any of this stuff until SHOT, but we’ll start taking pre-orders on the products as soon as I can get them added to the site.
EDIT 2: Looks like I was wrong about a lack of new autos! Benchmade also will be introducing the 3800 NTK automatic featuring a D2 Blade and Kraton Handles. In addition, Benchmade is phasing out the 9100 Auto Stryker and replacing it with the product improved 9101 Auto Stryker with a strong lock & open backspace design handle; this is the same thing they did in 2010 with the 9051 AFO II series. Good job Benchmade!