freaking coolest knife ever.

[chromestarhustler]

guy at work showed me a benchmade i had never seen before. he got it from the airforce. benchmade black coating tanto point. quarter serrated assisted open by a button on the side not on the rear of the blade. anyone know what this knife is and where i can get one. the place i go doesnt have this one and i hadnt seen it in the catalog. makes me feel like throwing my spyderco and titanium benchmade away. must have one

[B Wood]

most likely a Benchmade AFO ...that is the most common issued auto knife


http://www.onestopknifeshop.com/images/benchmade/bm-aforock.jpg

automatic knife......i.e...switchblade....check your laws in the state you live in

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=9050

I have one....nice knife
benchmade is a great company as well

it may be a Stryker as well

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=9100

[CZ-75a]

Sounds like a model 722 or 553 unless by "assisted" you mean auto - then it sounds like a stryker - which has been around for a while. I have the stryker.

[B Wood]

heya cz - do you have a source for 722's? Have one.....need another. great knife...too bad BM discontinued it

[fastprofessor]

I would also suggest looking at the microtech UMS automatic knives if they are legal in your area. Microtech also make a lot of other high quality automatic side folders and out the fronts, but I think their UMS (used to be UDT) is their most useful and best value automatic.

http://www.midwestgunexchange.com/pictures/mt300707-tac.jpg

Very well made knife. I've carried/used/abused mine every day for 3 years. If it ever needs to be replaced (not likely) I will buy another one.

[chromestarhustler]

blade looks like a 722. but the blade is a little longer. and auto. so of course looking threw the catalog i am getting the feeling that it is a military or leo knife only. damn. 9100 sbk looks very close. but it really looks like a 4 inch 722 blade on a 9100 sbk frame. so whatever model that as. to bad i guess i cant have one.

i got a few small assisted gerbers and bucks. but i usually carry one small assisted. then a larger folder. they are like a team buck rush and then the spyderco endura. or the gerber and the titanium benchmade. this one knife would have replaced me carrying two knife.

[CZ-75a]

Originally posted by B Wood
heya cz - do you have a source for 722's? Have one.....need another. great knife...too bad BM discontinued it

No, but it's still on their website (black class).

I'd try eBay as there seems to be a lot of NOS merchandise moved there - probably all "fell off the truck." ;)


There's a model 5300 auto tanto on their site, but its blade is a 1/4" shorter than the stryker - I don't believe any BM folder is much over 4".

[CZ-75a]

Originally posted by chromestarhustler
blade looks like a 722. but the blade is a little longer. and auto. so of course looking threw the catalog i am getting the feeling that it is a military or leo knife only. damn. 9100 sbk looks very close. but it really looks like a 4 inch 722 blade on a 9100 sbk frame. so whatever model that as. to bad i guess i cant have one.

i got a few small assisted gerbers and bucks. but i usually carry one small assisted. then a larger folder. they are like a team buck rush and then the spyderco endura. or the gerber and the titanium benchmade. this one knife would have replaced me carrying two knife.

If you can live w/o the auto feature, then why not the 722? Personally, my stryker is a conversation piece because I've never lived anywhere where it was legal to carry, just to own and it isn't nearly as quick to deploy as an AXIS lock, IMO, esp. if you take the time to thumb the safety lock on.

[StarPD]

A true Benchmade "Stryker", an Elishewitz design, has a modified Tanto blade and a solid black aluminum handle. I have one, an automatic. It's an excellent knife, well made and sold as a rock. It's somewhat large and heavy, a little cumbersome for the blade length, but quite capable.

A Microtech with the same blade length is considerably slimmer and lighter, but just as strong and durable. Of course, Microtechs cost more too.

ALL of my non-fixed blade knives are Microtechs- except for the one Benchmade "Stryker". It's that good.

BTW, I think the original version as I have may be out of production. Too bad, as it was in my book, one of the very best all-around "using" knives outside of the Microtechs.

[Forrester]

Kukri?

[Odd Gibbs Shooter]

This is the model they make for the Airforce. Its called the 9100.
Most of them have the black coating and the serrated blade. This pic is just a generic I found on the net.
I have carried one everyday for the last 10 years. And to tell the truth its about the best knife I have ever had!

BTW I helped designed and program this little baby when I was working for Benchmade in the mid 90's.

http://www.tadgear.com/edged%20tools/images%20for%20pages/9100.jpg

[StarPD]

Odd Gibbs, I just checked my own BM, and that "9100" as shown in the photo you provided IS the Elishewitz "Stryker". Mine has the black combo blade, and you're right. It's a super tough knife, a great EDC one, and a keeper. The black Teflon coating WILL wear off though, unlike the black boron carbide coating on my Microtech UT6, which is my EDC. Even so, it's a great piece.

I'm a dyed in the wool Microtech man, but the fact that out of all the many other knives I've owned, I kept only this in addition to my Microtechs says a lot about it. I've had most of the other popular knives from the best known makers, and again, outside of the MTs, nothing compares to it.

I've not been able to find one anywhere, and the new BMs I've seen don't have the same rugged solid aluminum handle as shown in the photo you provided.
Anyone know if this knife is still available? If so, I too can heartily recommend it.
If you can't afford the more expensive Microtech, this is the only alternative as far as I'm concerned. Anyone who wants a dead reliable and tough knife can't do much better.

Oh yeah, I also like the safety switch on the back of the handle that keeps the button from being depressed and allowing the knife to be opened or closed accidentally. It's a good idea more makers should include.

[chromestarhustler]

thats it. it has black coated finish and serrated blade. he is gonna try and get me one. razor sharp. buttery smooth action. a little on the heavy shock side. meaning when the blade whips open there is a small amount of enteria at the blade point. but still sweettttt. good work. i am working on getting one

[StarPD]

Hustler, you're gonna love that knife.

BTW, when you get it, open the blade and look down on the blade from the top. You'll notice that the blade is VERY thick just behind the point, almost like a bulge. That's to give strength to the point so it won't break if you have to stick it into anything too tough for an ordinary knife.

Enjoy.

[USMC 0341]

Elishewitz makes some great designs. I actually had the pleasure of meeting him and talking knives for a while. He was doing a promotion at a Tokyo knife shop and since I was the only other English-speaker in the room and the only other former Marine as well we had something in common. Quite an interesting guy.

[AndyC]

My wife used to babysit him - small world :smile:

[larphred]

I have an AFO designated model 9050 that was a gift from a good friend. Impact arms now has them on sale for around $149. Good price.

[Voided37]

Ya'll seem to like a good knife...Like me.
This thread made me think of the designs thru the years that i had made up my mind I was gonna get if mine broke or as soon as i could afford it or SOMETHING. Then the day would come when mine needed replacing and I'd find the model i'd decided on was discontinued, or company folded or sold out to another or this or that and i'd have to forget the one i had my eye on.
Anyhow, all i'm saying is, get it while you can...

[USMC 0341]

Ain't that the truth.

A few years back I was really into blades and had subscriptions to a few different knife publications. There was a picture of a knife made by a guy in South Africa that I really took a fancy to.

One day I realized that I had kept that magazine edition out and opened to that page for more than six months. I really liked the lines and form of the blade.

At that point I wrote a letter and sent it to the maker. He replied and sent some photos of similar blades with different materials, scales, details, etc. I placed an order and even though it cost more than I had ever spent on any three knives before I ordered it from him.

Shipping would have been a problem so we arranged for a friend of his who was travelling to a knife show in my area to bring it along.

To this day it is a pride and joy. I still am very happy with this purchase and enjoy just looking at it.

[Voided37]

You made my point, friend [no pun intended].

I bought a Randall Model 1, R77 Limited Ed. about 1985....
Cost 280.00 then and if i could get the same model from the same folks now it wouldn't be that much higher. But the middleman closed their doors years ago and the waiting list from the factory is now 4 YEARS DEEP! NUTS! Randalls are not THAT good....

But i still have it and have only lightly sharpened it ONE TIME. I love it so much i don't really use it, it just sits...
I got a Smokey Mountain Knife Works raggeddy bowie that i take every where...LOL;)

[StarPD]

My Randall #14, circa 1966 in it's black sheath adorns my web gear. It's still a virgin. My Randall # 1 - 6" stainless w/ black Rucarta handle is my using knife, and it goes hunting with me. A buddy decided to dress a rabbit on a rock with it, and chipped the blade. I tried to repair it and butchered it. I eventually sent it back to Randall, and they somehow resurrected it and made it perfect again. It is as sweet as any knife I have ever used, and then some.

My non-fixed blades are Microtech and the one BM "Stryker" mentioned in above posts.

Fine knives are expensive, and there is usually a wait to get the very best. But there's satisfaction of owning the best, along with the superior workmanship and performance that returns dividends for many years after the purchase price is forgotten. Case in point: I no longer remember what I paid for either Randall, or any of my MTs or BM. But I enjoy them every time I use them, and whatever they cost, they were worth every penny. :)

[Voided37]

StarPD,


Hear Here!!! :smile:

[StarPD]

Not to hijack this thread, but Voided, I see by your profile that you are a sport bike enthusiast. My last bike was a 1990 ZX11C1 "Ninja" that I had tweaked. It was not only FFFFFFFFFFAST, but handled like a 750.

I guess great minds DO think alike. :smile:

[Voided37]

Yeah, man.
Kawasaki started it all far as killer motorcycles[fastttttttt].
I'm working on a Suzuki GSXR1000. Their phenomenal. Gave up on Harley breaking down all the time years ago. [Still love Harley though]
Don't wanna hijack the thread either so i'm outta here...LOL