Arcane vs. Bugout
It seems to me that Bugout and Arcane is similar in blade length. It make me think to have "Steel Class" Bugout in S90V?
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I like the Bugout as is - a great budget knife. Throwing upgraded handles & better steel increases price. And now the Bugout’s design has to compare to 940-2 & 940-1501which it doesn’t ( think VW GTI vs Porsche 911)
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I see what you are getting at. Bugout is sort of like Griptilians few years ago. Because it is light weight and budget price, anyone can enjoy the benefit of light weight AXIS lock options. S30V is good,but I prefer longer lasting wear resistance of S90v. (May be 20CV or M390
) Anyone just wants a blade, get regular one. There are G10 scaled one like what I have or Black grivory & coated blade options as well.
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/|\ I bough after market scales for my Bugout. I like the Bugout with my ghost green G10 handles. But with the G10 handles it adds weight bringing the weight of it & 940-1 really close. The blade to handle length is better on the 940-1. So my 940-1 handle is just a tad longer, but you also get a longer thicker blade & better blade steel.
I prefer the design of 940 handle feel in hand better than nearly every knife I’ve ever held( other favorites Terzuola Microstar & Emerson CQC8). The biggest buggerboo I have with the Bugout is gap between back of blade & handle by pivot when knife is closed. The thin blade & the gap easy to accept in a $116 Knife, but when you start adding cost of more expensive handle material & gold class glitter, my negatives knock it out in comparison to a $200+ Knife like 940-1501.
The Microstar is same blade length as Bugout But Microstar handle is shorter & being custom is more comfortable in hand. Not a fair comparison but I have a few Microstar ‘s with 2 in my EDC rotation for years. The Bugout not normally knocking a Microstar out of my pocket.
So for me basic Bugout is good travel knife where I can no longer carry my Microstar onto the plane & I don’t want it stolen from my checked bag. I ain’t crying over a $116 easily replaceable knife.
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I am with you Bill, on concept of use for knife carry. EDC rotation vacillate between 950, 915, 550 (550-1). dress rotations are 940 (-1, stranded,-1501), 698.
I have ZT, Spyderco, and even Kershaw for some EDC, but I am not going to use a folder that I can't close with one hand.
Hiking carry can include 810 or 275.
My requirements are the following.
* Must be AXIS lock (ok, may be Ant lock or BB lock) for Ambidextrous one handed open and close.
* Easily replaceable. Current production model is a must and less than $200. Definitely less than $300.
* Decent blade steel so that I don't need to re-sharpen often. I'll say minimum of S30V for folder less than 4"
* Due to local law, I can't carry Auto or fixed blade. The city of one of my main office has less than 3.5" rule. (The state does not have length requirement, btw.)
I am willing to spend extra for scale replacement for bling factor.
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/|\ MFL, “bling factor”? didn’t know you were a slave to the fashion scene.😎
I’m with you, but little broader on two points.
1) yes like the higher end steels too. But both Terzuola & Emerson still primarily use 154. It was best Steel for years. While I like S90v & M390 better, got to say 154 ( D2) easier to re-sharpen. That easy sharpen is an advantage in field.
2) love axis lock too, but always fear broken omega spring ( never happened & just in last month found & purchased a few aftermarket omega springs for 940). Even with no broken spring a lot more little areas to pick up crude ( sand ,mud etc). My linerlocks easier to flush out than axis lock.
3) not as critical but axis lock adds weight. I like both Emerson CQC8 & Benchmade 810-1401. They both have great deep coil in handle which keeps hand from sliding onto blade, that a great handle design IMHO comfortable & safe. Again like both but 810-1501 has axis lock & M390 + great price. The axis lock means steel liners rather than Ti like the CQC8. The 8 seems much livelier in hand then 810.
So I am down to urban environment axis lock & better steel, because at end of day I’ve fancy sharpening system to restore edge & if loose/ break omega spring mail it back to Benchmade & grab another EDC from draw.
Rural/ camping the CQC8, while I think axis lock is stronger- avoid hitting back of blade on things & if I do I’m counting on my grip strength being less than failure point of linerlock & knife falling out of my hand before loosing fingers. The 8 easier to clean & sharpen in field.
Lastly like you MFL all knives have to be ambidextrous opening & one hand closing 👍🏻
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Ha, ha ha. To me Natural G10 is good and CF is what I like as well.
1) Agree completely on ease of sharpening in the field (although, you can carry diamond sharpener. All you need is water) 150cm and D2 are tougher than S90V, etc.
2) In theory, yes but I have never have my omega spring snapped on me. Also very unlikely to see both springs snap. Unless I dunk my AXIS lock in salt water and leave it uncleaned, I am good with it.
3)I haven't found the lock that works for me. Liner/frame lock annoys me as not easy to close with left hand. It also cross the path of my finger in disengaging the lock.
Nope. I wouldn't baton folder either.My state allows fixed blade while camping, fortunately. If I need to carry folder, it may be Adamas or one of M390 4" blade jobber.1 -
Hmmm... I agree with both of you in all aspects of the threads here.
Back to the original question though. I'll start by looking at the Axis Assist flipper vs straight old Axis lock. The Arcane obviously has more guts inside when it comes to the assist part of the mechanism. The Bugout is simple like the 940s mechanics. Thus the Arcane is more difficult to dis and re assemble. Like all knives its going to be a great collector of pocket lint bunnies and other wonders of nature when used outdoors. Thus cleaning and tuning an Arcane is going to take a bit more effort.
Deployment wise I can flip any of my finely tuned Bugouts just as fast as I can any one of my autos. The flipper and assist on the Arcane might be easy for those not as experienced to deploy but I find it to be a bit slower than a regular well tuned Axis lock.
Now for the weight differences. The Arcane comes in at 2.88oz box stock while the Bugout comes in at 1.85oz. Custom scales make a difference and if you're into the fashion scene as Bill puts it and you're going to change the weight which may be more or less depending on your selection of custom scales. Is prettier better? That's something only the owner/user can decide. Box stock I think the Arcane is a better looking knife.
Now off to blade and blade steel. CPM-S30V vs CPM-S90V. Yeah as stated above the S30V isn't going to hold that edge as well as the S90V and it will be easier to sharpen in the field. I don't concern myself as much as I keep all my knives prepared for duty. I carry a old but nice ceramic rod sharpener with me when I'm in the field to touch up either but sharpen on a full system when I get back home. Blade shape wise the two are very similar and at 090" and only a single digit difference in HRC I think both are to close to call when it comes to bending. Blade chipping is going to be easier with the harder steel and that's the trade off.
Not taking into account the Gold Class variants of either knife and looking at cost the Arcane with a retail price of the Arcane at $270 vs the Bugouts $140 (Yep as listed on the Benchmade website) I'm not going to be beating up my Arcanes anytime too soon. Now on the other hand as we all know I can get a Bugout for a Benjamin these days I can afford to replace it easier and it isn't going to hurt quite as much.
So two different knives for two different purposes. I'll EDC the Arcane when I'm heading into the office or a customer site. Its a pretty knife and gets some ohhs, awws and wows when I take it out. Mine sharpen up to that of a scalpel. So I can perform light surgery if required. The Bugout not so much. I can get a great edge on S30V but not as sharp as S90V. If I'm heading to the hills for a day hike the Bugout is going to be my choice do to all the good things it has to offer. I can readily clean it out and quickly sharpen it if need be. Lose it or break it and I won't cry. I might even baton the Bugout if I find myself in a situation that requires me to.
The Arcane is my favorite flipper in the Benchmade line and its a great looking knife that is sharp and stays sharp while the Bugout's simplicity has me carrying it when I'm wanting light weight, dependability and may be in a situation to damage what I'm carrying.
In closing, I have a lot of pretty and discontinued knives in my EDC rotation. I find that I'll carry the Bugouts more often as a backup EDC along with a number of my Grips, both full and minis. Its funny how my backups actually get more use than what I may have decided is "today's blade of choice" which is where I find the Arcane has it's place.
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New Bugout released today from knifecenter, red battlewash grivory handles for $140. I would prefer it with CF.
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tu posted:
New Bugout released today from knifecenter, red battlewash grivory handles for $140. I would prefer it with CF.
I like the S30V Black Plain Blade version at $153 better than the S30V Satin Plain Blade version. It just looks better IMHO.
I may order one when they ship in early October as compared to committing to buy via pre-order. Noting that the BHQ Blackout Bugouts are still available and there is no mention of quantities being released on the KnifeCenter Exclusive 535-1903 ad page.
As I already have a 535 with Rogue Bladeworks Carbon Fiber Scales and really like it, this one would just be me keeping every model Bugout in the ole collecton. It would most definitely end up in my EDC rotation as do all my Bugouts.
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I like everything about the Arcane except the pinky bump. The only reason I haven't purchased a Bugout (since it's right in my preferred 3.25" range), is that I prefer thicker handled knives. The Arcane works out ideally for me in that regard.
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scottk posted:
I like everything about the Arcane except the pinky bump. The only reason I haven't purchased a Bugout (since it's right in my preferred 3.25" range), is that I prefer thicker handled knives. The Arcane works out ideally for me in that regard.
I was taught to be aware of my pinky when I use one handed sword. It can determine the impact by just before striking, tighten up your pinky. More you use ring finger and pinky independently of index and middle finger (most of us uses them) and make them dexterous, you will have extensive blade control.
At least that was how I have learned.1 -
Scottk you can always add some RockScale Design Titanium Scales to a Bugout to thicken it up some. I agree that the stock Bugouts are a little thin especially for a larger hand. I've done up a couple with them are RockScale Design Titanium Scales and they feel much better in the hand.
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Tim, I've thought about that. I also thought that RSD guy had a beef with some of the members here that I have ordered from and had good experience with. Although I might look into them RSD in the future, I've been wanting to transition to my Auto Stryker for EDC. Additionally, I've had a problem keeping the 913 I bought from MartyMcFly recently out of my pocket since it arrived.
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