![]() ![]() A knife is dead weight until you need to use it, so I love saving multiple ounces vs other options when I’m backpacking.Īlthough most hunting knives are stainless, that doesn’t mean they are rust proof (the industry term literally means “stains less than carbon steels”). The Benchmade Altitude is so light I tend to just throw it in the lid of my pack and forget about it. Pro: Ultralight, low maintenance, and nice and visible That’s quite a testament to such a skinny, lightweight knife and something I haven’t found in a knife like this before. Since then, I still haven’t wrapped the handle and just use it as is. To say I was surprised at how comfortable the knife was would be an understatement: my wife and I used only the altitude to butcher the entire elk and neither of us had a complaint. The moment of truth hit when I was fortunate enough to make a shot on a nice 4×5 on the first night out (they just taste so good). I even brought a second knife on my first hunt as insurance just in case things didn’t go as planned. I actually planned on wrapping the handle but never got around to it in the rush of a new marriage and new job (we’ve all been there). I have to admit, when I first picked up the Altitude I wondered just how comfortable it was going to be to use. S90V is the currently the king of production Pro: Actually comfortable to use I’m a stickler for keeping a razor edge on my knife and I only had to hone it once per elk, which surprised me. You can easily butcher an entire elk (and probably multiple animals) without being forced to sharpen it. To put it plainly, the benchmade altitude has unbelievable edge retention. The end result: an extremely consistent steel that is far stronger and more wear resistant than other alternatives. That powder is then bonded together under tremendous pressure to make a pristine steel blank. ![]() The carbides and other alloys cool down so quickly they stay in perfect ratios since they don’t have time to clump together. S90V is made by mixing the steel when it’s liquid and then spraying it at high pressure into cold air which makes an ultra fine metal powder. That’s important because the carbides are the part of the metal that forms the microscopic “teeth” of the blade. What does that mean in plain english? To simplify, the different molecules in knife steel alloys tend to clump together as they slowly cool off after they’re mixed. But the real magic is in how it’s made: S90V is a third generation “supersteel” that’s made with a power metallurgy process. First off, it has an extremely high level of vanadium (9%) which forms incredibly hard vanadium carbides for fantastic edge retention (also why it costs so much…). To understand just how well the Altitude retains its edge, you need to understand why S90V steel is so exceptional. But is it worth it?īelow are some of the pros and cons that I found over the course of two seasons with the benchmade altitude: Pro: Phenomenal edge retention Overall the benchmade altitude is built for a very specific niche: ultralight hunting with ultrapremium materials. Benchmade also makes a small contribution to BHA (Backcountry Hunters and Anglers) for each orange version sold, which is great to see. Like all benchmade knives, it comes with Benchmade’s legendary Lifesharp service (you send it in, they resharpen it for free for life). ![]() ![]() The knife also comes with a nice kydex clamshell style sheath. That translates to the price: while the MSRP of the Altitude is $240, you’ll generally find it online for about $200, or less if you find coupons for major retailers. Paired with one of the best steels on the market (S90V) and a bright orange cerakote finish (or black DLC coating), it’s clearly in the “no expenses spared” camp. What sets the benchmade apart from other ultralight fixed blades (and there are many) is that it comes with carbon fiber micro scales that help you get a solid pinch grip on the blade. ![]()
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