MODIFY YOUR BENCHMADE BUGOUT INSTEAD OF BUYING - Avoid "Butterfly Tax"

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

My first Benchmade is a Mini Bugout. It came with the hideous orange scales, but only because I wanted the satin natural blade. I knew I’d mod it. It felt PITIFUL, super flimsy and fragile. I put a set of Flytanium Classic Brass Scales, brass thumbstud, and brass backspacer on it. What a difference! It feels like a real knife, is WAY snappier, way more solid lockup, better action, and looks classy as hell with the black hardware and clip. It’s now my second-favorite pocketknife after my Spyderco Para 3s (4 of them in different steels), and far and away my favorite for everyday carry in which it has to ride in my watchpocket because my Leatherman Free P4 is in the main pocket. Love this little knife now. Perfect, honestly.

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

They're excellent knives, but the Grivory versions really do lack that sense of security you get from a solid piece of metal. Check out my latest video if you want to see the changes I've made to this knife. It's now rocking 1 black scale, 1 gunmetal scale, a coated M390 blade, and opposing red and blue studs/spacers.

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

@@CuttingEdgeAction What? You can get a la carte blades in different steels?

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

@@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney No, I wish. It's from the 535BK-4.

[@averyavenue]

My first knife was the stormtrooper colorway, but I have a huge fear of being interpreted as the "wrong kind of person" in the event that I get searched by a cop (I'm in L.A.). So, I went out to REI the very next day and bought the orange one, specifically because it looks like a safety cone, lol. However, I just placed a big order on Flytanium, so both of those knives will be changing soon! I'm putting the orange scales on the black blade, and then my satin blade will have Ti scales, Ti backspacer, blue Ti screws, & blue Ti thumbstud. I can't frikken wait ^_^

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

@@averyavenue You're going to HATE taking that mechanism apart. It sucks, haha! Maybe I'm spoiled from US Spydies for ten years. Be sharp (not hungover) and don't have anything to do for the morning/afternoon.

[@andygcold]

I have and love my bugout but what I don’t like about it is how light it is. People act like they have to have a knife the weight of a piece of paper like a few extra grams is really going to make that big of a difference. It’s like carrying a few extra quarters 🤷‍♂️ 😂. What I love about a pocket knife is it’s feel and weight of it like I have something of quality but my bugout just feels cheap when it WAS NOT 😂😂

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Agreed. Grivory is plenty strong, but it doesn't provide the quality feel of any knife with metal liners/handles. The lightest thing I find myself carrying with any regularity is a Hogue Deka in carbon fiber.

[@andygcold]

@@CuttingEdgeAction exactly. I not too long received the mini bugout mesa red grivory and I get what you’re saying. I can understand a 🔫 made from carbon fiber or polymer vs steel and the weight reduction vs functionality but a knife I don’t really get. I want that weight you get from metal or wood scales with a quality feel. I never understood the whole weight reduction in something that barely weighs anything to begin with 🤷‍♂️ but to each their own. I just wish they and other knife companies start back making knives that are built to work, built to last and built to withstand the test of time instead of this lightweight nonsense but I may be in the minority so that’ll probably not happen 🤷‍♂️

[@jeffcon123]

I’ve got one with the black chevron pattern by aimfront, lol bronze axis and barrels/thumbstud, it’s really a perfect knife, the mini bugout is exactly the same I’ve got a few completely decked out

[@kyle1775]

Aluminum scales comes with m390 blade and is 260

[@t.k.o683]

Aim front scales are very nice and well priced!! Love the swoosh pattern. Would like to see scales for other models

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Agreed. I'd love some aluminum options for the Grizzly Ridge.

[@Obliticus]

Nice to see other alternatives! I have one Bugout with a set of OD Green aluminum AWT scales that is very nice. I also have a Bugout/Mini Bugout combo set that I have installed the new Flytanium Black G10 Crossfade scales. The G10 is nicely sculpted for better access to the axis lock and is as good as any Benchmade G10 I own. I'd like to find bronze/gold screws & clips, but have only seen one guy on eBay (from Australia) that makes them.... and they are very expensive (~$100 for the set).

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Check out blade4sell and screw4you on etsy. They have several gold-coated titanium options. They look more like rose jewelery gold rather than the gold on the Terminus XR LTE, though.

[@reddogdude]

Nice vid. Thanks for doing it. Was already thinking of building my own Bugout and your vid put me over the top.

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Thanks for the comment. I'd love to see your build when it's finished. I'm currently rocking an M390 blade with one factory gunmetal "starburst" scale, one black AimFront scale, and opposing red and blue studs and spacers. photos.app.goo.gl/mLaG8pdqSqZyaJvM6

[@reddogdude]

Very nice, @@CuttingEdgeAction, I like them both. Thanks for the ideas.

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

@@reddogdude Those are actually 2 sides of the same knife!

[@reddogdude]

@@CuttingEdgeAction ha! Was so focused on the scales that I didn’t notice it was the same blade. Not exactly Sherlock Holmes, huh? 2 things - I like the starburst-like scales that come with that version of the knife from Benchmade but prefer the satin finish blade as you said in your vid. Also, discovered your channel today and subscribed. Nice “small win” for me on my day off.

[@reeddiehl7118]

@@reddogdude Thanks for the sub. My upcoming videos for the next few weeks are: Types of Knife Actions and Locks, Benchmade 320 Precinct Warranty Experience, and Case Kinzua Review.

[@yankee2yankee216]

I also prefer metal to just about any kind of plastic, so for myself, I got the Flytanium COPPER scales. The Bugout (also starting out with the bright blue Grivory scales) is now MUCH more substantial feeling, and it looks TERRIFIC!

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Sounds like a clean build! Pun intended.

[@mike94560]

LOL I already did it. I installed Flytanium parts. Titanium scales, silver thumb stud, solid back spacer in blue to accent it a bit. Then I did the same to a mini Bugout. It is a lot cheaper and you get a wide selection to cheese from and you can mix and match all you want.

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Sounds like a neat build. I ended up buying the M390 variant and intermingling the scales and hardware with the knife from this video. Here are some pictures: www.reddit.com/gallery/tpy43x

[@Tronzen]

where did you get the screws...

[@aimfront435]

Great Video!!! Makes us want to own a few more Bugouts 😉

[@DiehlGames]

Thanks for the comment. Your scales are excellent!

[@daileyadventure4765]

where did you get the Philips head screws from I would much rather have them over the t6 torxs that the knife came with?

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Here's the Amazon link: a.co/d/1npC07g

[@D2G10]

Great video. Thanks

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

You're most welcome.

[@quak]

great vid boss making me want to cop my first knife

[@DiehlGames]

This knife is a great place to start. There are a ton of aftermarket options available.

[@griff7749]

Just be aware of the Bugouts fatal flaw before going all in like me. Custom made Deathgrip scales, steel lockbar, stronger springs, oversized replacement washers. Mine is awesome. But I've broken 4 sets of omega springs, stock, aftermarket, 2x he made. Just know it happens

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Four sets is pretty unlucky. I have ~15 axis lock knives and I've only ever broken one. Maybe it's because I'm constantly rotating though them 😂

[@gomezx6056]

I’ve had my Bugout for close to 3 years regular daily use since it’s my only knife. I’ve swapped almost everything about it. And still running on the same spring. I did buy extras though because it’s inevitable. They will snap one day but I’m ready.

[@evanshall]

Great video! Effects weren't too much IMO. Just have fun with it.

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Thanks! I have another video coming up detailing my ultimate Bugout build. Here's a preview: photos.app.goo.gl/RTYv2hu4ZxEaiAUZ6

[@marcvought]

Good vid. Thanks.

[@2371Anita]

It looks like a tank! 😍

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

I've changed this knife a ton since this video came out. Update coming soon!

[@2371Anita]

@@CuttingEdgeAction I have put flytanium Micarta scales and titanium thumbstuds on mine.

[@runehalm6059]

Amazing! Build.

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Thank you! It's changed a lot since I made this video. I'll do an update eventually.

[@mrc2205]

Love the knife

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Thank you!

[@G13-j3c]

It’s not s90 it’s m390 . The carbon fiber version is s90

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

I'm not quite sure what you're saying. I now have a heavily modified 535-4 that would be impossible to make on the custom configurator.

[@armLocalhost]

@@CuttingEdgeAction he's saying that the Bugout with aluminum scales that you mentioned in the video comes with M390 not S90V.

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

My mistake. I'll post a correction.

[@G13-j3c]

Not a fan of titanium. They feel gummy like copper gets like

[@tomgarcia9200]

you paid 10$ for the pocket clip? they give those out for free

[@DiehlGames]

Sometimes. They're usually at least $5 now.

[@mrsquarepants9955]

Good Soup 👍

[@G13-j3c]

Buying the 235-4 is way better.

[@skankhunt4527]

Puts on scales. Thinks he built a knife. Lol

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Sorry you're so upset about the term I used. The scales, pocket clip, and screws have all been changed. Well below 50% of the knife is factory. What would you prefer I call it if not built?