Bugout 535-3 First Impressions
The new Bugout 535-3 holds all the same specs as its other Bugout brethren. Blade Length, Blade Thickness, Open and Closed Lengths are all the same. The blade grind remains the same as does the edge bevel. The 535-3 weighs in at 2.02oz. just a smidgen over the 535's 1.85oz.
The S90V blade as I mentioned above has the classic Bugout Grind. Mine came almost surgical sharp from the factory. It easily removes the hair from my forearm in a single pass. I did notice that there are minimal vertical grind lines on either side of the blade including the flats and partial swedge. Mine seems to have a very nice polish on the entire blade almost looking like it was stonewashed and then taken to a polishing wheel. The edge on this one is perfect from the choil all the way to the tip. Its perfectly even and consistent. As with the latest Benchmade first production knives this blade only sports a "First Production" laser marking without FP numbers on the steel side.
The Carbon Fiber handle on this baby is beautiful! It really play tricks on the eyes especially in sunlight. It's very hard to tell the fiber direction. Tilt the knife one way and it looks like the fibers are laid out in a diagonal, tilt it a little and they take on a standard horizontal/vertical appearance. I guarantee nobody will complain that they can squeeze the scales together on the 535-3. They are super rigid and you would need a pair of pliers to get them to move closer. One very noticable difference is the lack of scale material at the lanyard hole. While I personally am not big on lanyards this design seems to make better sense to me. It is a very large and open hole making the addition of a lanyard super easy and the backspacer is a nice change up to the barrel spacers of most other non modded Bugouts. All the hardware on this model is black DLC including the mini Deep Carry Clip. I like how the backspacer blue anodization almost matches the thumbs stud. This particular backspacer came in a matte finish and the thumb stud is a high polish blue as seen in the photos. Color wise they are slightly different. I'm not sure if there will be variations on this in the production runs . That is yet to be seen.
I have to say that the 535-3 is now my favorite Bugout. I think it is the most rugged Bugout to date not taking into account models generated on the Benchmade Customization Portal. As with all other Bugouts it fits the hand very nicely. Even larger hands will appreciate its grip. The Carbon Fiber is smooth yet grippy enough not to slip. And I'm a CF crazy collector. Who knows I might even add a lanyard to it. The only other mod's I can think of would be a complete Blue Ti hardware set and clip although I really like the stock look. It just all sets off together very nicely.
And I have to mention that QA on mine is awesome! The best I've seen in the last year!
Great job on this one Benchmade! Design kudos of course to Jason!
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Thanks Tim !
I'm really looking forward to adding this one (or a few of these) to my bugout collection.
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/|\ Nice write up Tim.
As to strains running in different directions, that make sense. I’m sure the fabric is laid down in different directions before the solvent is applied to make it stronger
I’d like to do a comparison test against a 940-1. I’m predisposed to the 940-1 ( thicker (strength) longer blade (little more cutting edge) & lastly for me the handle on all 94X’s is most comfortable. The 535-3 with thinner blade likely slices better. The 535-3 looks great but for me I just don’t see it knocking the 940-1 out of my pocket as cost of each favors neither. Lot to love about the regular 535 for $119.
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Dam you and your write up ............. now I want one ....lol
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Dj when you get tired of let me know I’ll buy it from you.
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Thank you for the write up Tim. I handled the Bugout before I purchased a mini-bugout 533bk which i am very happy with. The reason I went with the mini was because in my hand the regular seemed to be a bit blade heavy or balanced forward. How do you find the 535-3 in this regard? Thank you and again that is one beautiful knife.
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I finally broke down and bought one ............ not here as of yet though
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[@mention:663495676880073806] posted:
Thank you for the write up Tim. I handled the Bugout before I purchased a mini-bugout 533bk which i am very happy with. The reason I went with the mini was because in my hand the regular seemed to be a bit blade heavy or balanced forward. How do you find the 535-3 in this regard? Thank you and again that is one beautiful knife.
/|\ I’m sure the 535-3 is better balanced (handle to blade) not only is the CF heavier then plastic but the 535-3 also has the Al backspacer. I too wait for Tim report in on this.
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[@mention:589599268366008688] posted:
I finally broke down and bought one ............ not here as of yet though
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[@mention:663495676880073806] posted:[@mention:589599268366227375] posted:
Thank you for the write up Tim. I handled the Bugout before I purchased a mini-bugout 533bk which i am very happy with. The reason I went with the mini was because in my hand the regular seemed to be a bit blade heavy or balanced forward. How do you find the 535-3 in this regard? Thank you and again that is one beautiful knife.
/|\ I’m sure the 535-3 is better balanced (handle to blade) not only is the CF heavier then plastic but the 535-3 also has the Al backspacer. I too wait for Tim report in on this.
Bill you hit the nail on the head. Most of the 535-3 2.02oz weight difference feels like it is in the handle to me. Compared to the 535's 1.85oz. weight I have to say that the 535-3 is better balanced handle to blade. Some of that with the extra weight added by the AL backspacer over barrel spacers.
As Sean mentioned the 533 I looked at the Mini Bugout 533BK-1's Grivory and 533BK-2 CF-Elite scales, the fact that they both weigh 1.5oz I lean toward it being more blade heavy compared to the 535-3. Remember that the hardware between 535 and 533 is all the same. Granted at 1.5oz the 533 is a bit hard to notice that with large hands. I did break them out, compared them and could just barely determine the 533's to be a bit more nose heavy.
Glad you guys enjoyed the write up!
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i have an earlier production (not a first production) and a more recent one. Noticed the blue spacer on the earlier one is much lighter and the swedge on the top of the blade is shorter and less pronounced. Just found that interesting, perhaps they made a few adjustment/improvements I guess. I do like that the backspacer is closer matched to the thumb studs now whereas before they were not. Or maybe my earlier one was just off a bit. Either way, that's been my beater knife and it's held up great. Got the second one as more of a keeper.
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Mike did you buy the second one from an authorized dealer? The reason I mention this is that there should be no difference between the two blades. As well the 535-3 is being counterfeited in large numbers these days
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[@mention:589880809437764246] posted:
Mike did you buy the second one from an authorized dealer? The reason I mention this is that there should be no difference between the two blades. As well the 535-3 is being counterfeited in large numbers these days
Hi Tim, the first was purchased from Smoky Mountain Knife Works. The second from Blade HQ. Both are authorized dealers I believe.
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Here are pics
I'm replacing the pivot screw on the one since I accidently almost stripped it trying to center the blade which was pretty bad when I got it.
In any case, you can see that the older one is a shade lighter on the backspacer and possibly also see the difference in the size of the swedge on the edge of the blade.
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The one that I did the FI here on had a noticably lighter back spacer although from the pictures I took it's hard to tell. Now I'm to have to dig the 3 I have out of the safe and look at the swedges. Considering how long the 535 has been in production I would have to say it's extremely odd that there would be a change in the blade.
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I have noticed the top swedge on many different models having slight variance from batch to batch. For example, 551’s, 710’s and 730’s have had very noticeable differences in their swedge from model to like model. I frequently pass on a good deal on a model I’m looking for because I’m picky AH, and always looking for the best looking blade.
This isn’t unique to BKC, either. A keen eye can catch these subtle grind differences from ZT, Sypderco, etc.
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Ps, as far as the blue (and other colors) Ano’ goes, these vary a LOT in my experience. For example, I had to request new thumb studies for a 551-191 because the two blues studs were VERY different colors on the same knife.
i suspect this is why BKC is moving towards the PVD option. Seems to be more uniform and consistent.
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On one, I'm thinking about replacing the thumbstuds and backspacer with the copper flytanium ones. Has anyone tried this or confirm that the flytanium backspacer will fit on this particular model? Be nice to distinguish it from the other I have and at least in my head I think the copper will be a nice touch.
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[@mention:646324604467407966] posted:
On one, I'm thinking about replacing the thumbstuds and backspacer with the copper flytanium ones. Has anyone tried this or confirm that the flytanium backspacer will fit on this particular model? Be nice to distinguish it from the other I have and at least in my head I think the copper will be a nice touch.
/|\ Believe Jadon & others have said the 535-3 has different offsets then normal 535.
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[@mention:646324604467407966] posted:On one, I'm thinking about replacing the thumbstuds and backspacer with the copper flytanium ones. Has anyone tried this or confirm that the flytanium backspacer will fit on this particular model? Be nice to distinguish it from the other I have and at least in my head I think the copper will be a nice touch.
I got a backspacer from Rockscale Design that fit. You can contact them & check if anything is compatible
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MikeG the Flytanium backspacer should work on the 535-3.
Flytanium usually states that they will fit only given models if there is a difference. The 535-3 has round holes for the back spacers. The Flytanium and the Rockscale Design back spacers both have flats ground on two sides of the screw holes to allow multi model use. In this case I think you'd be good to go as the Flytanium ad doesn't state that they will not work.
Let us know what you decide and how you fair!
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[@mention:589880809437764246] posted:
MikeG the Flytanium backspacer should work on the 535-3.
Flytanium usually states that they will fit only given models if there is a difference. The 535-3 has round holes for the back spacers. The Flytanium and the Rockscale Design back spacers both have flats ground on two sides of the screw holes to allow multi model use. In this case I think you'd be good to go as the Flytanium ad doesn't state that they will not work.
Let us know what you decide and how you fair!
thank you, I'll give it a shot and post the results either way. appreciate the feedback.
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[@mention:646324604467407966] posted:
thank you, I'll give it a shot and post the results either way. appreciate the feedback.
Paying the Butterfly tax for a great made in USA knife is something we are all familiar with. I mentioned Rockscale because it will keep your knife made in USA. Adding a Flytanium made in China part, you lose the Made in USA knife
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Unfortunately they don’t made copper or brass backspaces or thumb studs
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Have you tried Bladeswelove
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Received the flytanium copper backspacer. It does appear to work. Just waiting on the thumb studs now.
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Looks pretty good!
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Thumb studs came today so now it’s complete. I kinda like it.
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