Benchmade has been around, in one iteration or another, since 1979. In that time, they’ve come up with several innovations and iconic knife designs. One of the hallmarks of their modern product line is a focus on knives that are well-suited to real-world use. The Benchmade Barrage is a great example.
The Benchmade Barrage
The knife was designed by Warren Osborne. Known for his high-end folding knives, which he’d been making since approximately 1980. Osborne passed away in 2016. However, his legacy lives on in the form of several collaborations he did with Benchmade during his career.
The Barrage was originally released in 2009. As with many of Benchmade’s most popular knives, they’ve done a series of variants over the years. The one featured here is the Barrage 581BK-04.
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Barrage Basics
The Barrage is an assisted open folding knife. Assisted open is great for those who really want an automatic knife, but aren’t quite ready to make that leap.
For those not familiar, the way assisted open works is the user thumbs the blade partially open, and an internal spring snaps the blade the rest of the way into place. With just a little practice, you can snap the blade open just about as fast as a fully automatic knife.
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The S30V drop-point blade stretches 3.6 inches, giving the knife an overall opened length of 8.45 inches. The Barrage isn’t a small knife, but it’s still very manageable and carry-friendly for EDC purposes. It’s a hair shorter—and considerably lighter—than the classic Buck 110 Folding Hunter (3.76 ounces vs. 7.2 ounces, respectively).
The blade has a Cerakote finish, protecting the steel while also lending a cool aesthetic against the handle.
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Benchmade’s Axis Assist feature provides a rock-solid lock-up. There is absolutely zero wiggle to the blade. Closing the knife involves pulling the Axis lock switch back, then folding the blade back into the handle. A safety switch is located on the back of the knife to prevent accidental openings or closings.
It’s worth noting that this safety isn’t automatic. You have to manually engage and disengage it. Personally, I don’t mess with it very often, but it’s nice to know it’s there.
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The Many Faces of the Barrage
The Barrage comes in a few different configurations. The one shown here is decked out in Redstone Richlite scales. An anodized burnt copper thumb stud and dark copper PVD pocket clip both provide handsome accents. The handle is contoured but a little chunky, nearly 5/8-inch thick at the widest point.
I have big hands and love how this handle fills my grip. Far too many folding knives feel flimsy or awkward because there’s just not enough real estate for a comfortable grip. That’s very much not the case here.
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Performance
This isn’t my first Benchmade Axis Assist knife, but it has quickly become my favorite one. The action is very snappy without being obnoxious. I’ve owned some automatic knives that want to fly out of your hand when the blade rockets into position. The Axis Assist is a nice compromise. There’s a solidity here that’s not often found in folding knives.
I’ve used the Barrage for a variety of common knife chores, including gutting and processing several cardboard boxes, slicing cheese and fruits for snacks, and a bit of feather sticking. Admittedly, I’m not great with that last one, but it’s still fun. The blade’s edge has held up quite well and is still razor keen.
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The knife carries well, with the pocket clip keeping it exactly where I want it until it’s needed. When it comes to an EDC folder, the Barrage is a bit larger than what I normally carry. But it’s lighter than it looks, and it doesn’t take up that much more real estate in my pocket. The large handle is very comfortable, with no hot spots.
Nothing against any of the other styles or colorways, but I’m quite fond of the look of this iteration of the Barrage. The copper accents look amazing, and the Richlite has a deep red color that evokes class and style.
The Final Verdict
If you’re in the market for a new EDC blade, and you want something robust as well as eye-catching, you could do far worse than the Benchmade Barrage. With a retail north of three bills, it isn’t a cheap proposition. But by the same token, with even just minimal maintenance, this is a knife you’ll be able to pass down to the next generation.
Benchmade Barrage Specs
| Overall Length | 8.45 inches |
| Blade Length | 3.60 inches |
| Closed Length | 4.79 inches |
| Mechanism | AXIS Assist with Integrated Safety |
| Blade Material | S30V |
| Blade Profile | Drop Point |
| Weight | 3.7 ounces |
| MSRP | $340 |
