Benchmade  535BK-4 Bugout Knife

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An elegant addition to your everyday carry (EDC), the Benchmade 535BK-4 Bugout knife features an aircraft-grade aluminum handle, red-anodized spacers and studs, and a classic M390 stainless blade.

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Features

  • M390 premium stainless-steel drop-point blade with Cerakote® finish; offers exceptional edge retention and corrosion resistance; takes a very fine edge
  • Aircraft-grade aluminum handle scales are milled with a detailed pattern for a striking appearance
  • Red-anodized barrel spacers and thumb studs
  • Manual AXIS® lock folding mechanism
  • Mini deep-carry clip is reversible to suit your preference
  • Covered by the Benchmade limited lifetime warranty and LifeSharpâ„¢ services; contact Benchmade for details

Made in USA.

View the Benchmade Bugout Product LineView all Benchmade Pocket Knives

Technical Specs

Best Use

Camping

Knife Blade Type

Straight Edge

Locking Blade

Yes

Number of Blades

1 Blade

Max Blade Length (in.)

3.24 inches

Closed Length

4.22 inches

One-Handed Opening

Yes

Handle Material

Aluminum

Blade Construction

M390 stainless steel

Dimensions

7.46 x 0.41 inches

Weight

2.5 ounces

Reviews
39 reviews with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars

Ratings Snapshot

Product Rating

21 out of 23 (91%) reviewers recommend this product

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Average Customer Ratings

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use

Safety Features

Not enough safety featuresExcellent safety features

Most Helpful Favorable Review

5 reviews with an average rating of 5.0 out of 5 stars
a good purchase
Matt
3 years ago
I didn’t need another EDC. This was an impulse purchase. Having said that, I’m much more pleased with it that I would have thought. I’ve got a large hand but this knife doesn’t get lost in it. The aluminum handle provides a nice grip and the jimping helps. Never would have thought that a couple of ounces less weight would make a difference to me but it’s really nice - like it’s not even there, especially with the mini deep carry clip. It readily opens and closes with one hand. It’s visually attractive. This is my first blade with M390 so I’m not sure how I’ll feel about sharpening it, but for now this knife has been great.
Matt
10 people found this review helpful

Most Helpful Critical Review

5 reviews with an average rating of 2.0 out of 5 stars
Benchmade still has quality control problems
Jefferson
3 years ago
Benchmade has reputation for low quality control standards so I looked the knife over pretty well before I left the parking lot. Unfortunately I didn't look closely enough. I'm left handed and when I went to move the pocket clip I found that the holes for lefty had not been threaded.If you decide to pay the premium (butterfly tax) check the knife closely before you drive across town.
Jefferson
8 people found this review helpful

Customer Images

Anonymous
Massachusetts
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Razor sharp, feather light and absolutely gorgeous

3 years ago

Title pretty much sums it up, This thing is ridiculously sharp, deceivingly lightweight to the point where I'm like I cannot believe this is what this weighs, and the engraved aluminum handle is gorgeous which is not a word I ever thought I would use to describe a pocket knife. Pictures do not do the finish or color justice, basically looks like raw aluminum despite it being anodized. I was going to purchase the regular Bugout but I saw people complaining in the reviews about the grips flexing because it was so thin. The blade material is also much nicer in this version of the Bugout.

Age:25–34
Yes , I recommend this product

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use

Safety Features

Not enough safety featuresExcellent safety features
Helpful?
Matt
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

a good purchase

3 years ago

I didn’t need another EDC. This was an impulse purchase. Having said that, I’m much more pleased with it that I would have thought. I’ve got a large hand but this knife doesn’t get lost in it. The aluminum handle provides a nice grip and the jimping helps. Never would have thought that a couple of ounces less weight would make a difference to me but it’s really nice - like it’s not even there, especially with the mini deep carry clip. It readily opens and closes with one hand. It’s visually attractive. This is my first blade with M390 so I’m not sure how I’ll feel about sharpening it, but for now this knife has been great.

Helpful?
Alpha Bravo Charlie
Fairfax, VA
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

The Best Bugout

3 years ago

This feels very sturdy in my hand. The knife came perfectly centered and very sharp out of the box. I love the texture of the aluminum handle. There was no wiggle on the blade. This knife is extremely solid. Compared to carbon fiber version, this is a bit thicker in the handle and it is so much better. The blade feels just excellent. There is a good weight to it compared to the carbon fiber version.

Age:25–34

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use

Safety Features

Not enough safety featuresExcellent safety features
Helpful?
shakaz
Kingsbay Georgia
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Absolutely beautiful M390 Benchmade Bugout

3 years ago

This was a gift for my son in the Navy for his 21st Birthday. He had been looking for a nice pocket knife and couldn't decide on one so I picked this up for him. The aluminum handle is lightweight and the classic look of the knife is amazing. He was beyond happy and couldn't stop smiling. It gave him some great joy before he went back on to the USS Florida submarine for duty. Thanks, REI for carrying this particular model and handle as I couldn't find this exact one anywhere else.

Age:45–54
Yes , I recommend this product

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use

Safety Features

Not enough safety featuresExcellent safety features
Helpful?
Wolf of the Wind and Wood
Northern VA, USA
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

I do not carry another knife now.

2 years ago

I have a collection of knives. I bought this one when I got a new job as a present to myself. I bought it primarily for the M390 steel and edge retention but lets be serious, its a beautiful knife on top of that. I have a collection of knives from over the years. Birthdays, Christmas gifts and my own search for the perfect knife. I cant say I will not but another knife in the future but right now, this is the one I carry everywhere I go and I do not feel the need to dig through my collection for another one. I wanted to address the negative reviews on this knife. I am not saying anyone is not being honest but there are a lot of people who "hear" Benchmade ahs quality control problems and just repeat that to want to make it seems as if they know what they are talking about. Id ask them to take pictures of their "issue" with the knife so that we can see what they are talking about. Is it possible they damaged the threads themselves trying to move the clip? Love this knife, its the only one I carry now and that is saying a lot.

Age:45–54
Yes , I recommend this product

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use

Safety Features

Not enough safety featuresExcellent safety features
Helpful?
Phocul
Minneapolis
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Solid and sharp

3 years ago

Perfect weight and size. Only complaint is the blade is pretty much exactly the same size as the handle so closing it can possible cut palm if not careful. This is mostly due to user error on my part though.

Yes , I recommend this product

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use

Safety Features

Not enough safety featuresExcellent safety features
Helpful?
Adam
Medford, NJ
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

best bugout, best benchmade, best EDC

3 years ago

I'm sure I've made a few people upset with the title but in my humble opinion this knife hits the mark across the board. Its got a great blade (M390 is some pretty cool science), machine work on the handle is a work of art (deco) and is as functional as it is great to look at. Everyone has their own favorite shape and form factor for a knife but if you are a fan of the bugout... this knife is the pack leader by far. Its a benchmade....its centered, sharp and fast... go USA.

Age:35–44
Yes , I recommend this product

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use
Helpful?
Imgadgetman
Beltsville, MD
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Perfect edc knife

3 years ago

I have bought 6 variations of the Bugout and this is my favorite. I own 2 of this model. All came with blade perfectly aligned, opening smooth/easy, and without any play in blade. This knife has a very thin blade so it is an amazing slicer and is very easy to sharpen. Feels very lightweight yet solid with nice aluminum handle. This knife is not for batoning and you probably wouldn’t want this as your lone survive in the woods knife. To me it’s a perfect every day carry knife.

Age:55–64
Yes , I recommend this product

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use

Safety Features

Not enough safety featuresExcellent safety features
Helpful?
dragoneggs
WA
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

First Impressions - M390 blade

1 year ago

Pretty dang happy about my new EDC. The M390 blade is nice. No need to sharpen out of the box but I probably will give it a few passes on the leather. Bounced back and forth on the metal vs. S90V found on the carbon fiber grip. In the long run, I want to be able to sharpen it easy and S90V is more challenging and particular.

Age:55–64
Yes , I recommend this product

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use

Safety Features

Not enough safety featuresExcellent safety features
Helpful?
Arod
Wisconsin
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

New Favorite Knife?

3 years ago

Love the knife! My second benchmade and might be my new favorite knife. The action is really smooth after about a day of fidgeting. It's really light and thin but the scales have no flex which I love! The aluminum scales and red backspacers is very striking and honestly elevates the bugout well. Only small gripe is the pocket clip is quite stiff and I can't quite put it over jeans one handed but with tons of aftermarket clips this is a minor issue. Overall 5/5!!!

Age:18–24
Yes , I recommend this product

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use

Safety Features

Not enough safety featuresExcellent safety features
Helpful?
1 - 10 of 39 Reviews

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