Earlier this yr at SHOT Present Benchmade introduced the Water Assortment of knives. A model new set of fishing-focused knives constructed from the comparatively new corrosion-resistant CPM-MagnaCut metal. Then at ICAST this July the Water Assortment knives gained Better of Class – Cutlery, Hand Plier, or Instrument, within the New Product Showcase. I’ve had the Intersect, certainly one of if not the smallest knife within the assortment for almost all of this yr. It’s a small handy fix-blade fishing knife that might double as an EDC knife simply. So let’s see how this award-winning Intersect has held as much as my abuse in each contemporary and saltwater for the previous 7 months.
Benchmade Protection on AllOutdoor
Specs and Options: Benchmade Intersect – Water Assortment
- Total Size – 6.55 inches (16.64 cm)
- Blade Size – 2.68 inches (6.81 cm)
- Blade Thickness – 0.12 inches (3.05mm)
- Deal with Thickness – 0.625 inches (15.88mm)
- Mechanism – Mounted Blade
- Blade Materials – CPM-Magnacut Stainless Metal (60-62 HRC)
- Blade Type – Drop-point
- Blade End – Stonewash
- Deal with Materials – Santoprene
- Deal with Colour – Depth Blue
- Lanyard Gap – Sure
- Ambidextrous – Sure
- Weight – 2.36 ounces (66.9g)
- Pocket Clip – Deep Carry
- Clip Place – Tip-down – 2 Positions
- Sheath – Molded
- Retention – Detachable Strap
- Sheath Weight – 1.54 ounces (43.66g)
- Nation of Origin: USA
- MSRP: $200
Moreover, the Intersect comes with two ensures from Benchmade, the LifeSharp Assure and the Restricted Lifetime Guarantee. The LifeSharp Assure ensures free knife sharpening for the lifetime of your blade, fill out a type and ship it to Benchmade and they’ll ship it again with a pointy new manufacturing facility edge. The Restricted Lifetime Guarantee covers all different points that might happen through the lifetime of the knife so long as you aren’t utilizing it as a prybar.
Materials Choice and Design: Benchmade Intersect – Water Assortment
The Benchmade Intersect makes use of CPM-Magnacut Stainless Metal (60-62 HRC) for the blade. It is a comparatively new metal alloy first made in 2021 by Crucible Industries within the USA. This metal scores very properly in toughness, hardness, and corrosion resistance. All of those elements make it an important metal to make use of for a fishing knife. The deal with is manufactured from depth blue coloured santoprene. It is a high-performance vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer that appears and appears like rubber however is much more sturdy. So the proper alternative for a knife that may spend a superb portion of its life moist or bloody.
For the design of the Intersect is a compact little fastened blade, with a 2.75″ drop-point blade. Best for smaller duties, however nonetheless having sufficient spine to push by means of thicker fish bones when wanted. The leaping on nearly the entire size of the backbone together with the deal with materials make the blade very simple to maintain a stable grip on even when moist.
Out on the Water: Benchmade Intersect – Water Assortment
The Intersect has been my go-to fishing utility knife for nearly each fishing journey I’ve had this yr. It has both been on my individual, clipped to my bib, or in a sort out field. If I used to be close to the water so was this knife. I gave it the identical therapy I do for these low-cost little bait knives you see on the sort out store. The knife had three actual jobs throughout this time, chopping line, chopping bait, and dispatching fish. Whereas chopping line isn’t a lot of a stress take a look at for the sting of the knife it’s a good operate take a look at of the knife and sheath. If you find yourself rigging up rods or retying you must reduce plenty of line, however not unexpectedly. So you might be continually pulling the knife out and in of the sheath. That is how I discovered I actually didn’t just like the retention strap of the sheath. I perceive the aim of the strap, it actually secures the Intersect into the sheath however in case you are in a rush it simply will get in the best way. I promptly eliminated the retention strap, which you’ll be able to simply slide out of the sheath so it’s not a everlasting factor.
Subsequent was chopping up bait, I reduce up plenty of bait on plenty of surfaces. Most of these surfaces weren’t chopping boards. The sting held up superbly to this, even with crunching by means of bones on metal and fiberglass surfaces. There wasn’t any noticeable lack of sharpness, the sting stayed true with no rolling or chipping. This was additionally the identical when it got here to dispatching my catch. Probably the most humane factor to do should you’re preserving fish is to stay them within the gills to bleed and stick them within the mind to kill them. This ends the struggling immediately and the meat is best high quality so win-win. That is precisely what I did with the knife The tip is ok sufficient to simply push by means of a fish cranium however the blade continues to be beefy sufficient to deal with being twisted whereas within the bone. The jimping on the backbone together with the Santoprene deal with was nice as a result of even with fish-slimed fingers I didn’t have to fret in regards to the knife slipping from my grip. Touching again on the beefiness of the knife, the Intersect did nice for gutting the catch again on the dock. Despite the fact that the knife is small I might simply push by means of bones on bigger grouper and snapper.
I want to speak in regards to the corrosion resistance of the Intersect now. This knife received put away moist usually, I’d repeatedly reduce up some bait or bleed a fish with the Intersect then dip it within the livewell to clean away a number of the gore, after which put it again within the sheath. This knife was left coated with salt and dried fish blood fairly repeatedly. I actually wished to see if the Magnacut was all the things that it was hyped as much as be. And truthfully, it was, even after leaving it like that the worst that occurred was a few spots of staining within the jimping.
Last Ideas: Benchmade Intersect – Water Assortment
The Intersect has turn out to be my favourite fishing knife. It matches nice within the hand, handles all the things you’ll be able to throw at it, and simply holds an edge so properly. I’ve had many fishing knives over time, lots of which simply dwell in a field now as a result of I received sick of them rusting from simply the salt spray within the air. Having a stable knife with an important edge that I don’t have to fret about rust with is nice. If you find yourself far offshore and also you solely have what you introduced with you to depend on, having a software you’ll be able to belief is significant. For a normal EDC fishing knife, the Intersect is that software. Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply I wouldn’t change some issues about this knife if I might.
The very first thing I’d need modified up is the sheath, I’m not the largest fan of the design. I perceive that it was constructed round retention, however I really feel prefer it’s overly deep and makes it extra inconvenient than it must be to re-sheath the knife. Usually instances I discovered myself simply leaving the knife out on no matter floor I used to be chopping issues up on due to this inconvenience. Which on a rocking boat or a public pier will not be one thing you must do, however within the rush of the chew I usually discovered myself doing. The opposite factor I want to speak about is the worth, there may be undoubtedly some sticker shock with the $200 value level of this little knife. I discover {that a} stretch for the typical angler to think about, particularly contemplating what number of knives I’ve misplaced over the aspect of the boat over the yr. However I do know Magnacut is a premium product that has restricted manufacturing now, so perhaps sooner or later this may get higher.
Even contemplating the 2 issues I don’t like in regards to the Intersect, I nonetheless advocate this knife to anybody who needs among the best fishing knives on the market. I might undoubtedly see myself getting one other certainly one of these knives if me or my buddies by accident drop this one into the drink sooner or later.
