Benchmade Snipe

Review by Phil
Elmore

Benchmade‘s
Snipe is another hefty, large-framed tactical folder similar to the company’s Ambush model. It’s also another of Benchmade’s “red” class of products, meaning it provides what the
company describes as “‘best in class’ value… leading innovation,
modern materials, and quality manufacturing” at a lower price point
than the company’s “blue,” “black,” and “gold” class inventory.
Its official specifications are as follows:

Blade Length: 3.97 inches
Blade Steel: AUS 8
Closed Length: 5.33 inches
Handle Material: Synthetic (plastic)
Lock Mechanism: Benchmade’s Proprietery Levitator Lock

The long, relatively slim handle makes
for a good grip in my large hands. The plastic handles are
aggressively stippled. A metal spacer in the frame extends beyond the
handle and is deeply grooved for its length. (This spacer also
bears a lanyard hole.) The grooves are repeated in the form of a
thumb ramp on the blade spine, and also in the liners where the index
and middle fingers rest while the knife is held in a forward grip.
The grooves, the shape of the handle and spacer, and the subtle
curve of the knife overall make it extremely comfortable and secure in
my mitts.

The low-profile pocket clip is affixed
to the handle using two Torx fasteners. It had good tension out
of the box and is fairly unobtrusive (except for the letters BENCHMADE
scribed along its length). The clip is configured for right-hand,
tip-down use only, and while it can be removed, it cannot be reversed.

The modified drop point blade opens
smoothly using the small, ambidextrous thumb studs. My sample was
nicely sharp out of the box. the nicely curved belly and sharp
point afforded good cutting and penetrating performance in the usual
test media (stacked cardboard and heavy plastic barrels). The
cutting edge is ground on both sides, except for the serrations, which
are chisel ground.

The knife locks positively with no
blade play. Releasing the lock involves pressing the eye-shaped
button inset in the handle. This takes enough force that
accidentally releasing the blade in use seems unlikely. I tried
to ham-hand the grip in order to push the lock during cutting, but I
did not manage to do it.

The size and heft of the handle,
combined with the metal tip of the extended spacer, make the Snipe an
excellent fist load for striking using yawara/pocket stick techniques.
The point on that spacer would do considerable damage and leaves
deep divots in wooden doors. I know, because I did just that with
it.

For those wishing a slightly
slimmer knife in the large-framed cutter category, the Snipe is a good
choice. At last check it was already discontinued prior to this
write-up, so if you can find one, buy it while you have the chance.
>>

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