It took me some time to get behind automated knives. Actually, if I wasn’t gifted a Benchmade AFO II many moons in the past, I could by no means have began utilizing it. Automatics are difficult and if one thing goes improper with them, you can be left with a paperweight when you really want a dependable knife (fortunately, that hasn’t occurred to me but).
Then there’s the legality situation. That you must know the legal guidelines the place you might be if you’re carrying one or you can find yourself in some sizzling water with authorities. Professional tip: the LegalBlade app by KnifeRights and Blade HQ are important knife legislation sources. Even with these potential drawbacks, I’ve come to simply accept automated knives into my blade assortment. I take advantage of and carry them usually; I recognize their efficiency and the vibe that comes together with it.
However there stays one type of automatics that at all times feels extra like a weapon greater than a instrument — to the purpose that I’ve by no means thought of them an EDC. I’m speaking in regards to the OTF — “out the entrance” — automated. At the very least, that’s what I believed till I took on the problem of utilizing an OTF auto as my EDC.
For the final month, Benchmade’s Shootout OTF has been my pocket-carry taskmaster. In that point, I’ve come to understand the nuances of this auto — in each its kind and performance. The Shootout OTF is an thrilling knife to make use of that may make it interesting to customers of various backgrounds and experience. However, is it an EDC? Learn on to seek out out.
In brief: Benchmade’s Shootout is a double-action out-the-front knife. Though it faces the identical authorized scrutiny as a regular automated, it’s twice as enjoyable to make use of and carry. However is it EDC choice? After a critical quantity of testing, I feel so.
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OAL
8.22” -
Blade size
3.51” -
Blade metal
CPM-CruWear -
Blade coating
PVD -
Blade form
Tanto -
Grind
Low and flat -
Hardness
63-65 HRC -
Lock kind
Double-action backbone fireplace -
Carry
Deep, left or proper hand, tip-up -
Weight
2.8 oz. -
Worth
$350
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Light-weight development -
Double motion, backbone fireplace performance -
Professional-level fidget issue -
CPM-CruWear metal -
Textured grivory deal with casing
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Not for twisting, turning, or prying -
Professional-level fidget issue
Benchmade Shootout OTF Knife Overview
Benchmade affords 5 Grivory fashions of the Shootout ($325-375), plus two fashions which have the model’s CF-Elite carbon fiber deal with materials. This fall, Benchmade will launch an electrical purple Grivory variant that’s visually gorgeous. The Crater Blue model that I examined will keep within the rotation for a short while.
It’s rugged sufficient to pair effectively with a flannel and work boots and sharp sufficient to go along with a swimsuit (if I ever must put one on once more).
Design & Options
The Benchmade Shootout OTF is a light- to medium-duty automated knife. It’s created from contoured and textured Grivory casing and carries a tanto-style CPM-CruWear blade. The blade additionally has a PVD coating for added corrosion and abrasion resistance. For carry choices, the Shootout has a deep carry pocket clip and a lanyard slot within the butt cap of the knife.
The Shootout is a double-action, spine-fire-style knife. This implies the blade is deployed and retracted utilizing a singular button. This additionally makes the Shootout fairly enjoyable to play with, however it will possibly appeal to a variety of consideration with the noise it makes going out and in.
In case you get this knife, I like to recommend you relax with it in public. In case you want a fast repair, go run off someplace and get a number of backbone fires in. However don’t take too lengthy, or individuals are going to assume you’re a weirdo.
CPM-CruWear is a tricky instrument metal that manufacturers like Benchmade have rotated into their lineups prior to now few years. Other than being a tricky, high-alloy metal, CruWear (like M4) has first rate edge retention. It’s simple to sharpen and may be honed to a razor edge with little effort and time.
The draw back: CPM-CruWear can corrode pretty simply should you don’t handle it.
Benchmade’s selection so as to add PVD (bodily vapor deposition) coating to the Shootout’s blade was one. PVD includes a skinny layer of safety that’s vacuum-bonded to the floor of the metal. It’s similar to Cerakoting by way of longevity, however a lot thinner.
What’s in a Title?
Other than its identify, Benchmade’s Shootout sequence doesn’t share many traits with the Bugout and Bailout strains.
All three share Benchmade’s Grivory materials for handles. This enables for the knives to be light-weight and sturdy with wonderful grip. Plus, the butt cap on each the Bailout and Shootout can be utilized for lanyards. However that’s about it.
Nonetheless, it needs to be acknowledged that every one three strains have benefitted from some critical consideration by the butterfly model. This summer time and now transferring into fall, Benchmade continues to introduce new deal with colours and blade coatings to those line-ups.
First Impressions
My expertise with OTF knives could be very restricted. I’ve messed round with a number of at knife reveals, however I by no means owned or carried one earlier than the Shootout. From the get-go, I actually favored the contouring and the grip of the deal with. It match my hand effectively and was additionally very light-weight.
Benchmade has gone some nice instructions with its shade mixtures and the juxtaposition of the Crater Blue Grivory and bronze PVD coating of the blade, backbone fireplace button, and butt cap seems very sharp.
‘Unintended Hearth’ Take a look at
The widespread false impression about OTF knives accessible to civilians is that should you press it towards your physique and fireplace it off, it’ll stab deep into you. That is sort of true, however not totally. It’s going to suck should you maintain it towards your leg and spine-fire it, however solely the tip of the blade will stick into you.
As a way to take a look at this concept, I sacrificed considered one of my backyard Beefeater tomatoes. The top end result was roughly one inch of blade going into the fleshy pulp of my fresh-picked backyard treasure.
So, not that I’m selling it, however you’d get higher penetration should you deployed the blade and used your power to stab it. However bear in mind: As soon as the blade is out, it’s out — and it received’t retract till you manually retract that backbone fireplace button.
In case you’re involved a few pocket accident, I’d notice that it takes appreciable, intentional effort to deploy the backbone fireplace. In concept, it’s doable the mechanism might snag on one thing, and the correct amount of motion and power might fireplace it. However that might require a near-perfect storm of things. For my part, the Benchmade Shootout is protected to hold.
Within the Discipline
I had no concept of what to anticipate from this auto on my first out of doors journey with it. By design, I knew I couldn’t pry with it. And there was no means I used to be going to baton kindling with it. As somebody who overlaps an EDC knife with the knife I stick with it out of doors adventures, I knew that the Shootout would lean extra towards each day duties as an alternative of camp ones. That method labored out nice, however I additionally found its worth within the nice outdoor.
As a consequence of its slender profile and razor-sharp edge, the blade turned out to be superior for slicing up veggies. The recent and humid climate in New England resulted in some critical backyard development. Within the month I examined the Shootout, I introduced in three to 4 cucumbers a day and twice as many tomatoes.
Due to this, I did a variety of prep work on the entrance deck, getting my farm-to-table groove on. On path, the Shootout made for an amazing shaving instrument to craft tinder bundles and fir sticks. I had little doubt it might slice via rope and straps if I ended up in a jam, however I left something extra demanding to my belt knife.
I might be remiss if I didn’t point out the fidget issue right here. The Shootout offers hours of senseless enjoyable. You may cycle the blade out and in, zone out, and actually absorb time. However I wouldn’t suggest it in public. Off the path, within the yard, watching TV at dwelling — positive. In public, spine-firing this knife and retracting it is just going to attract the eye of somebody who’s going to freak out about it. Suppose Murphy’s Legislation.
I’m actually completely happy the deep carry pocket clip buries it so deep in my pocket, so I received’t put a lanyard on it.
Professional tip: Make it possible for the blade is clear and dry earlier than retracting it. As soon as the blade goes again into its spring-loaded Grivory cave, no matter’s on it will possibly, and can, gunk issues up.
Conclusion
Until you’re working for some black-ops outfit on the aspect, you’re by no means going to wish an OTF knife. However upon getting the prospect to fidget with one, you’ll need one.
They’re a little bit of an habit. Even when I decide up the Shootout to place it into my pocket, I have to cycle it three or 4 occasions at a minimal. So, simply understand that a bit of self-control can go a good distance with a knife like this.
Nonetheless, a knife just like the Shootout really could make for an amazing EDC knife. It’s sturdy, reliable, and created from fascinating supplies. Moreover, it solely requires a bit of upkeep right here and there to maintain it working in good order.
You may jam up the spring should you don’t push the backbone fireplace button sufficiently, however a flick of the wrist offers a simple repair. In case you use this knife as designed, you’ll get a lifetime of use out of it.