I’m going to start by confessing that I’m a fan of the Benchmade Bugout. I picked up one of the blue Grivory handled ones as soon as they came out. I also scored a carbon fiber one in a trade at some point. They’ve both been a part of my regular EDC rotation ever since. When I saw the latest version at SHOT Show, the Bugout 535-09, with aluminum bolsters and redstone handles, I knew I’d need that one too.
The Benchmade Bugout 535-09
The new Bugout, the Model 535-09, follows the same lines as its earlier siblings. It has a 3.23-inch drop point blade with dual thumb studs. It still locks up with Benchmade’s ambidextrous AXIS lock. And it retains the same trim proportions, being under ½ inch thick.
Where it differs is in the use of premium materials. Not that the previous version skimped on components by any means. However, the 09 model kicks things up another notch.
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First off, the blade on the latest Bugout is made from CPM-S90V stainless steel. The blade has a subdued stonewashed finish and is treated to a 59-61 Rockwell and has excellent edge retention.
If you’re worried about resharpening this premium steel, don’t be. The Bugout comes with Benchmade’s LifeSharp service. They’ll re-sharpen your knife to a factory edge for free, for the life of the knife. The service includes cleaning, oiling, adjustments if necessary, and re-sharpening.
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You do have to send your knife out to Benchmade for the service. However, I suspect most of you have another knife to carry while it’s out for its spa service.
The Bugout in Hand
Carbon fiber was a big step up over the original Bugout’s Grivory, but now Benchmade has gone even further. The 09 model is the first Bugout with a bolster. It uses a matte finish 6061-T6 aluminum bolster and liner mated up to handle scales of Redstone Richlite.
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We’re seeing Richlite used a lot more in knife handles lately. It’s a material similar to paper micarta, and it’s used in kitchen countertops and cutting boards. It’s durable and comes in a variety of colors, just like G10 or Micarta.
In addition to the matte aluminum and red, Benchmade adds a pop of color with orange thumb studs and an orange accented rear spacer and lanyard hole. The result is classy, with a little bit of an old-school look with the bolster.
The matte aluminum and brick red handle don’t scream tactical either. You could pull out your Bugout in mixed company without panicking folks that you’re carrying an evil black killing knife.
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Despite the new handle materials, it still maintains an extremely thin profile at just .42 inches thick. Weight is a feathery 2.52 ounces. That’s a touch more than the original Grivory Bugout, but still extremely light. The 09 Bugout is fitted with a reversible deep carry pocket clip set up for tip-up carry.
The 535-09 is a good-looking knife made from top-quality components. It’s made in the USA and carries Benchmade’s lifetime warranty, in addition to the Lifesharp service. The upscale materials do come at a cost, though, and the MSRP on the 535-09 Bugout is $400.00.
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Hands on with the Bugout 535-09
I’ve been using the 535-09 for the past couple of months. I carried it daily at work in my retirement job as a school police officer. I’ve carried it around a bunch off duty as well. It even went on a camping trip with me late in the spring. Over time, using it in various environments, I had a chance to get a good feel for the knife.
First off, I love the aesthetics of the latest Bugout. When I looked at Benchmade’s new offerings at SHOT Show earlier this year, the 535-09 jumped out at me visually. It’s the knife I would have grabbed first in the case. That’s saying something, because Benchmade always has a lot of great offerings to choose from.
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The bolster gives it a much different look than previous Bugouts. I appreciate that while Benchmade added the pop of color to this version, they still kept things subdued. I’m not a fan of flashy, shiny knives. The brick red Richlite and matte aluminum, with the subtle orange accents, is classy without being overdone.
A Thin Profile
Functionally, I’ve always found the Bugouts worked well for me. It’s an ambidextrous design that I can use in strong side pocket carry off duty, or on my support side when in uniform. The AXIS lock locks up solidly and is easy to disengage with either hand, too.
I love the lightweight and thin profile of the whole Bugout line. It’s really the first thing that endeared me to them. I find that I just don’t carry a bulky, heavy knife, even if it might be a good design or good quality. I prefer a knife that I can forget I have until I need it.
Just ask my wife how many times I’ve left my old Bugouts clipped to my pants and ran them through the wash.
I’ve heard some folks comment that the thin handles can affect comfort during use. I can see the argument if you were doing a lot of carving or bushcraft kind of tasks. It is a little thin if you are really bearing down on the handle or using it for extended periods.
For EDC use, though, I’ve never found it to be an issue. I can get a solid grip on the knife and never feel that I need more handle for what I am doing. It’s been fine for casual camp use, too. Food prep, cutting cordage, and light whittling don’t present any issues comfort-wise.
A Solid, Comfortable Performance
A fair criticism of the original grivory handled Bugouts was that there was some flex to the handle. This was never something that bothered me personally. It doesn’t affect the performance, but I get how some folks didn’t care for it.
If that was an issue for you, the aluminum and Richlite handle on the 535-09 fixes that. It’s solid, with no flex. There’s a slight increase in weight, but also an increase in the structural feel of the knife.
I like the Richlite handles a lot. Aside from being solid, they have more warmth to me than the original Grivory or carbon fiber scales. Richlite will take a patina over time, too. Sweat, oils, or blood will all darken the color and add to its character as you use the knife. You don’t get that with the other Bugout handles.
I can’t say I did anything crazy with the Bugout since I had it. It did all of my usual EDC chores like opening boxes and packaging, and cutting cord and tape. All of the basics. I did some food prep with it while camping—cutting meat, cheeses, and bread. The thin blade makes for a nice slicer.
The 535-09 would be a great choice for a backpacking knife for those who are weight-conscious. It gives you a lot more capability than something like the ultra-light backpackers’ favorite, the Swiss Army Classic, without much of an uptick in weight.
Okay, it is heavier than a Classic, but it gives you a knife that will handle food prep as well as basic survival chores if needed. At less than 2.5 ounces in weight, it’s a worthwhile tradeoff for function versus mass.
Is the New Bugout Worth the Price Tag?
There’s no question that the 535-09 Bugout is an exceptionally good knife. The question is, is it worth what Benchmade is asking for it?
I started by saying I’m a fan of the Bugout line. That hasn’t changed using the newest one. I appreciate the new handle materials, both in aesthetics and strength. The S90V blade is an upgrade as well, not that I had any issues with the previous S30V blade. Suffice it to say I haven’t gotten to the point that my knife needs the edge touched up yet.
I’ll admit a $400 price tag isn’t for the faint of heart. This isn’t a knife I’m going to recommend to my non-knife nut buddies who just want a beater EDC. But for folks who understand and appreciate the materials and the design of the latest Bugout, I’d give it a thumbs up. It’s hard to find a trimmer, lighter EDC knife, made to these specs.
You’re paying for Benchmade’s design expertise and experience gained through previous iterations of the Bugout design. It’s using top-quality materials, and the old adage of getting what you pay for holds true. Not to mention, you’re getting an American-made knife backed by a lifetime warranty and lifetime sharpening service.
If you want something beyond a basic EDC blade, the Bugout 535-09 has a lot to offer.
Bugout 535-09 Specs
| Open Length | 7.46 inches |
| Blade Length | 3.235 inches |
| Blade Thickness | 0.09 inches |
| Closed Length | 4.22 inches |
| Handle Thickness | 0.42 inches |
| Mechanism | AXIS® Lock |
| Blade Style | Drop-Point |
| Pocket Clip | Yes |
| Blade Finish | Stonewash Polish |
| Blade Color | Satin |
| Clip Color | Black |
| Clip Finish | Black Oxide |
| Clip Position | Tip-up |
| Clip Type | Mini Deep Carry |
| Ambidextrous | Yes |
| Handle Material | Aluminum/Richlite |
| Handle Color | Ash Gray/Redstone |
| Lanyard Hole | Yes |
| Blade Steel | CPM-S90V Stainless Steel (59-61HRC) |
| Weight | 2.52oz |
| MSRP | $400.00 |
