Luke Cuenco 04.16.25
Once I first picked up the Benchmade Mini Bedlam (865BK-01), its daring and trendy black/coyote/OD inexperienced G10 deal with and glossy graphite Cerakote blade caught my eye, and that’s possible going to be the case for anybody that sees you carrying round this newer providing from Benchmade. Benchmade’s status 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 type of EDC knife. Right this moment, we’ll go over just a few the reason why chances are you’ll need to take a tough take 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: Cut 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 helpful throughout a current tenting journey. At 4.81 ounces, it’s not the lightest EDC, nevertheless it feels substantial with out dragging down your pocket or taking on an excessive amount of house.
Blade Efficiency – Benchmade Mini Bedlam 865BK-01
The Mini Bedlam’s 3.45-inch scimitar blade, comprised of 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 power and finesse. One draw back to this blade type is that it’s extraordinarily unhealthy at prying attributable to 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 would possibly 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 metallic, 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 without having a touch-up. Nonetheless, the scimitar design isn’t nice for piercing. Once 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 palms have been moist from rain or sweaty throughout a hike, the Bedlam simply stayed safe in gloves and on my naked palms with out a lot effort. At 5.2 inches closed, it matches my medium-sized hand completely, with a curved form that feels pure throughout prolonged use, like after I was breaking down containers or trimming kindling into actually skinny items. If you happen to desire smoother scales, it might really feel abrasive over lengthy durations. The burden, 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 offers the blade a pleasant stability 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 just about 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 apply. To assist with this, Benchmade has determined to make use of its fashionable 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 perhaps a bit harmful. That being stated, as soon as I had mastered it, the mechanism is so satisfying that I caught myself fiddling with it greater than essential. 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, nevertheless 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, nevertheless it’s stiff, and with a straight pocket, the tail finish of the blade noticeably stands proud about 1.5″ from the highest of your pocket. With angled pockets like within the image beneath, that is a lot much less of an issue and is definitely sort of good. Even with the additional little bit of grip protruding, sliding it out and in took effort, particularly with thicker materials like searching pants. Over time, the clip loosened barely, nevertheless 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 arduous use, the Mini Bedlam holds up impressively. The CPM-S90V blade exhibits 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 just a few 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 which means just a few chinks within the blade aren’t going to cease the slicing. The G10 deal with seems practically new, regardless of publicity to dust and moisture over a number of vary periods. Cleansing is easy—a fast rinse clears out particles from out of doors duties, and a fast blowout with the air compressor retains the interior mechanisms free from any undesirable moisture. The AXIS Lock stays easy, with no grit or stickiness. The blade wanted a light-weight sharpening solely after weeks of slicing abrasive supplies, and I’ll possible use a blade sharpener to re-profile the broken parts of Bedlam’s blade.
Last Ideas – Benchmade Mini Bedlam
The Benchmade Mini Bedlam is a tactical folder that delivers on efficiency and magnificence in virtually equal elements.. Its CPM-S90V scimitar blade slices like a dream, with edge retention that’s arduous to beat and a end that’s distinctive even for Benchmade blades. The G10 deal with affords 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’ll find extra use out of a slicing EDC blade versus a extra versatile drop level or tanto blade. A number of drawbacks preserve it from perfection. The scimitar blade struggles with piercing, and the load would possibly deter ultralight followers. The clip’s stiffness and the excessive value might additionally give some pause. However with all that being stated, I feel this can be a nice blade for EDC collectors, and one that’s effectively price its $350 price ticket if you happen to’re trying to strive one thing out of the bizarre 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 coloration 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)
- Dear at $350
Writer’s Be aware: 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.
