If I had to pick between the standard or mini Freek I choose the mini, it’s a great size for EDC use! BTW in future reviews I’m going to be doing pocket checks. Today I was carrying the benchmade bug out. What are you packing today?
Recently found your channel and enjoyed your presentation on the 565-1. I have several blue and black class models and don't mind paying a bit more for Benchmade knives considering the broad offering, general quality and warranty. I ordered the mini freek a few days ago to rotate in my EDC group. Cheers!
I own several Benchmades and the price didn't bother me at $259.00. With the materials used I feel it is a premium knife that is just outside their gold class. I buy mostly automatic knives made by Benchmade so I am pretty use to that price point. Now if I were going to purchase a basic Bugout then yeah I can honestly say they are priced very high. But I do not like the Bugouts anyways so it doesn't matter. Benchmade has really stepped up their game in recent years between premium steels as well as other materials. And their carbon fiber is extremely well done. S90V is not a cheap steel and the fit and finish on the newer Benchmades are second to none when it comes to manufactured knives. I will admit however I also own a few gold class which are a bit up there in price and I am looking at a full sized Bugout in titanium and damascus and I kinda like it. The regular Bugouts with the cheap plastic or whatever they call it handle. And the basic steels used and to be point blank the fit and finish on everybody's precious Bugouts actually suck. If you have the mini Bugout sitting on the table and next to it is the mini Freek and you check them both out and you are honest with your answer . Then you will see the more than obvious differences between the two. I also do not like Spyderco knives with the exception of their upper tier models like the Rubicon do to how different it is .. Otherwise Spyderco has worn out that design that seems to just keep recycling itself year after year. Told ya I was different. But I am extremely happy with my choices. So whatever you prefer is all that really matters in the grand scheme of things.
I seen this knife and had to have it, but it was listed at $270-$310, way more than i was willing to pay so I waited for awhile and finally bought it for $200.
I agree with you on the price. S30V bladesteel would have been perfectly adequate and maybe they could have reduced the price point some. I won’t be buying one.
Yeah I really like the knife, solid design, maybe they’ll come out with something in that mid tier tang soon I think it would do well. Thanks for watching!
Like an Infidel? Haha! 🙃 That is an exceptional OTF. I also own a Hawk. If you think Benchmades are expensive then you most certainly would not want a Hawk. But talk about a solid lockup like no other. But seriously Microtech also make exceptional OTF's .
Agreed. It's gorgeous but $263 is absolutely INSANE! You can thank the hoard of high end Chinese knives flooding into US shores at $200, $300 even $400 and more for this. When Benchmade and others saw these $200 knives coming in,which compare very favorably with their own $200+ knives, without changing a thing and without batting an eye, they jacked their prices up $100 almost across the board. If a Chinese knife sells for $200 then a US made knife will sell for $300. And so it does. Well, I hope their markup money keeps them afloat because these Chinese manufacturers are KILLING it with design, materials, features and performance while Benchmade and others just stay the course for the most part. But how many more knives would Benchmade sell if only they hadn't tried to gouge us and kept prices to a reasonable level, say $180 to $220 for the mini freek? I'd probably own 2 of them at that price! Hope their greed and arrogance pays off for them. What they ought to be doing is killing it with design, materials, features and quality and selling at a reasonable price and RUNNING THE CHINESE MAKERS OUT OF THE INDUSTRY the way they have done US makers. Instead, the fat cat corporate officers jacked prices through the roof and gave themselves huge raises. How's that working out?
Nothing is worse than a new knife that gives you issues, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth!! 6 weeks is unacceptable for a replacement knife, they need to bump you up to the front of the line for warranty work!! That being said I own a bunch of Benchmades, some I use daily but I've never had an issue with the Omega springs, maybe I've just been lucky so far. I have heard of it happening so it's not entirely unheard of, wonder if they got a bad heat treat on a batch of springs.... Thanks for sharing, it's good for us to know if a knife we spend upward of $300 on is having problems.
Really? I’ve owned many Benchmade’s over many years, that have been carried and fidgeted with for hours and hours and hours. I’ve never broken one spring (although I’ve read on the internet that it may happen). Yet, you’re waiting on a third replacement knife after only owning this for two months because the omega springs broke. Play the lottery! You’ve basically been struck by lightning 12 times, on cloudless days, at the North Pole, in December.
@@toddstamos89 Hey dude i’m not bashing one of my favorite knife companies for no fucking reason shit happened and maybe I just did get unlucky. Just stating facts.
@@ransom0122 I do not believe he was taking a serious jab at all. I have owned Benchmades for years upon years. I have also never had an Omega spring break so I too was surprised to read what you said. Out of all the models I own going back as far as models from the 80's all I have ever had happen was weak Omega springs. And I fiddle with mine all the time as they are fidget friendly . I wish you the best of luck.
This means the Bugout should be $25.00 max then. It isn't even as good as many Ganzo knives. Just saying. It is very hard to find any American made knives in solid nice carbon fiber with exceptional blade steel and fit and finish anywhere near the $130.00 mark. Most with the same specs run $400.00 or more. Look at what people pay for standard ZT knives. So I disagree with you and I spend a lot of time in the knife world. If the Mini Freek was $130.00 I would be worried as to what was wrong with it. I mean you are talking Bugout price there. And it truly isn't even on the same level. But it is all about personal tastes and your opinion matters. I just see things differently that's all.
Most underrated Benchmade in my option, I carry the full size everyday and love it.
Agreed really a wonderful hard use knife!
If I had to pick between the standard or mini Freek I choose the mini, it’s a great size for EDC use!
BTW in future reviews I’m going to be doing pocket checks. Today I was carrying the benchmade bug out. What are you packing today?
Good thing I get knives at cost because of where I work at!! Definitely picking it up
Recently found your channel and enjoyed your presentation on the 565-1. I have several blue and black class models and don't mind paying a bit more for Benchmade knives considering the broad offering, general quality and warranty. I ordered the mini freek a few days ago to rotate in my EDC group. Cheers!
I own several Benchmades and the price didn't bother me at $259.00. With the materials used I feel it is a premium knife that is just outside their gold class.
I buy mostly automatic knives made by Benchmade so I am pretty use to that price point. Now if I were going to purchase a basic Bugout then yeah I can honestly say they are priced very high. But I do not like the Bugouts anyways so it doesn't matter.
Benchmade has really stepped up their game in recent years between premium steels as well as other materials. And their carbon fiber is extremely well done. S90V is not a cheap steel and the fit and finish on the newer Benchmades are second to none when it comes to manufactured knives.
I will admit however I also own a few gold class which are a bit up there in price and I am looking at a full sized Bugout in titanium and damascus and I kinda like it.
The regular Bugouts with the cheap plastic or whatever they call it handle. And the basic steels used and to be point blank the fit and finish on everybody's precious Bugouts actually suck. If you have the mini Bugout sitting on the table and next to it is the mini Freek and you check them both out and you are honest with your answer . Then you will see the more than obvious differences between the two. I also do not like Spyderco knives with the exception of their upper tier models like the Rubicon do to how different it is .. Otherwise Spyderco has worn out that design that seems to just keep recycling itself year after year.
Told ya I was different. But I am extremely happy with my choices. So whatever you prefer is all that really matters in the grand scheme of things.
Thanks for the great video.👊
You’re right about the price 👍
Thank you :)
I seen this knife and had to have it, but it was listed at $270-$310, way more than i was willing to pay so I waited for awhile and finally bought it for $200.
Looks nice and a bit better size than a mini grip.
Oh and pocket check, finch 1929
It strikes a nice balance.
Solid pick on the finch 1929!
I agree with you on the price. S30V bladesteel would have been perfectly adequate and maybe they could have reduced the price point some. I won’t be buying one.
Yeah I really like the knife, solid design, maybe they’ll come out with something in that mid tier tang soon I think it would do well.
Thanks for watching!
That's why I never jumped on the Benchmade wagon. Because the knives I like from this brand are just way too expensive. I would rather buy an otf.
Like an Infidel? Haha! 🙃
That is an exceptional OTF. I also own a Hawk. If you think Benchmades are expensive then you most certainly would not want a Hawk. But talk about a solid lockup like no other.
But seriously Microtech also make exceptional OTF's .
Agreed. It's gorgeous but $263 is absolutely INSANE!
You can thank the hoard of high end Chinese knives flooding into US shores at $200, $300 even $400 and more for this. When Benchmade and others saw these $200 knives coming in,which compare very favorably with their own $200+ knives, without changing a thing and without batting an eye, they jacked their prices up $100 almost across the board.
If a Chinese knife sells for $200 then a US made knife will sell for $300. And so it does.
Well, I hope their markup money keeps them afloat because these Chinese manufacturers are KILLING it with design, materials, features and performance while Benchmade and others just stay the course for the most part.
But how many more knives would Benchmade sell if only they hadn't tried to gouge us and kept prices to a reasonable level, say $180 to $220 for the mini freek?
I'd probably own 2 of them at that price!
Hope their greed and arrogance pays off for them.
What they ought to be doing is killing it with design, materials, features and quality and selling at a reasonable price and RUNNING THE CHINESE MAKERS OUT OF THE INDUSTRY the way they have done US makers.
Instead, the fat cat corporate officers jacked prices through the roof and gave themselves huge raises.
How's that working out?
Love the knife, but I’ve had two in two months that both broke omega springs. Waiting on my third one and they told me it’s a six week back order...
Nothing is worse than a new knife that gives you issues, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth!! 6 weeks is unacceptable for a replacement knife, they need to bump you up to the front of the line for warranty work!!
That being said I own a bunch of Benchmades, some I use daily but I've never had an issue with the Omega springs, maybe I've just been lucky so far. I have heard of it happening so it's not entirely unheard of, wonder if they got a bad heat treat on a batch of springs....
Thanks for sharing, it's good for us to know if a knife we spend upward of $300 on is having problems.
Really? I’ve owned many Benchmade’s over many years, that have been carried and fidgeted with for hours and hours and hours. I’ve never broken one spring (although I’ve read on the internet that it may happen).
Yet, you’re waiting on a third replacement knife after only owning this for two months because the omega springs broke. Play the lottery! You’ve basically been struck by lightning 12 times, on cloudless days, at the North Pole, in December.
@@toddstamos89 Hey dude i’m not bashing one of my favorite knife companies for no fucking reason shit happened and maybe I just did get unlucky. Just stating facts.
@@ransom0122 I do not believe he was taking a serious jab at all. I have owned Benchmades for years upon years. I have also never had an Omega spring break so I too was surprised to read what you said. Out of all the models I own going back as far as models from the 80's all I have ever had happen was weak Omega springs.
And I fiddle with mine all the time as they are fidget friendly .
I wish you the best of luck.
$130. max
This means the Bugout should be $25.00 max then. It isn't even as good as many Ganzo knives. Just saying. It is very hard to find any American made knives in solid nice carbon fiber with exceptional blade steel and fit and finish anywhere near the $130.00 mark. Most with the same specs run $400.00 or more. Look at what people pay for standard ZT knives. So I disagree with you and I spend a lot of time in the knife world. If the Mini Freek was $130.00 I would be worried as to what was wrong with it. I mean you are talking Bugout price there. And it truly isn't even on the same level.
But it is all about personal tastes and your opinion matters. I just see things differently that's all.
We have been convinced the election was stolen, these prices are wild