Stats:
• Sizes (what blade size and what handle size?)
Blade Length: 3.36"
Overall Length: 8.20"
Closed Length: 4.84"
Blade Thickness: 0.125"
Handle Thickness: 0.735"
• Materials (what's it made of?)
Blade Material: D2 Tool Steel
Blade Hardness: 60-62HRC
Blade Style: Drop-Point
Weight: 5.59oz.
Clip: Tip-Up, Black Steel, Reversible
Lock Mechanism: AXIS

Initial impression
General observation, its hefty, but a nice feel to it. About same size as my Insingo, blade stock just larger spine to incorporate hole, thicker handles. Texture is great on the handle. Did some quick hard cutting on wood with knots, the hotspot on my pinkie due to framelock cutout (thinner area on handle) is not there on this. Same hotspot between my index and thumb, soft piece of skin. Will do some more cutting with gloves. Pocket clip is very nicely done, far enough from scale for thick pants yet not uncomfortable.









Introduction
Blade is not perfectly centred. Edge did not come shaving sharp. Cut out line due to laser cutting in thumb hole.
Comfort
Freaken awesome. Looks great, feels great especially when harder cutting. Little to no hotspots when hard cutting.
No blood yet on handle, but with soap became a bit slippery, think some aggressive jimping and more thereof would help in this regard, but that might create unwanted hotspots?







Blade & Cutting Performance (first impressions and after 10 days of EDC 18 October 2010)
Blade shape has been very useful. I have forgotten how nice some extra belly is after getting used to my Sebenza. Through one week of EDC touched the blade up continuously on a strop to get it to the sharpness I want through the first week though it was not necessary.

Shaving sharp edge at the beginning of Thursday, Sunday night not shaving sharp any more, but still cuts telephone paper cleanly, though there is some more drag on the edge.

Uses for this time included: Kitchen duty, tomatoes, avocado, cutting beef into strips, cutting chicken meat, cutting of 1 crate size cardboard box, used in the cutting of twine and other mundane things in the garage I cant remember now, but nothing major, just some rags, whittling and making about 5-8 fuzz sticks for fire using peach tree branches with knots, some whittling went through the knots, very surprised the edge did not role.

After 23 days (31 Oct. 10)

D2 has discoloured a bit due to my sweating and uses. Been edcing the knife in the waist band (IWB) for past two weeks.
Very similar to S30V when used in edc, looses shaving sharp edge quickly but does keep a working edge for a long time. Very surprised with this, expected D2 to hold a shaving sharp edge for longer. No real hard cutting (pipes etc) as of yet. Easily maintained on 1200grit sandpaper and strop or 20 light (blade weight only) strokes on Lansky turn box kit with fine ronds. Slight convex edge due to stropping.

Used for general food prep, cardboard box cutting, 8-10mm thickness, 3 boxes, some fuzz sticks for fire and lighted the fire using cotton ball, zam-buck and fire steel.

Around the corners and the pocket clip the black coating is starting to wear off.
Touched up the edge and stropped, shaving sharp again.
The edge has held up well. The stropping is hitting the edge nicely and holds an shaving edge well, better then initially in my use. Still have done little to no harder cutting chores as I have yet to get out of office environment. Have found the edge less prone to rolling when used on irrigation pipes (push cutting) then s30v, the differences are marginal as far as I can tell, but there are a lot of factors to consider (sand, debris in the pipe).


30 Days of EDC (November 7)

A lot of food prep, fuzz sticks (video) and a few boxes, had to do a few small fixes around the work place and did some cutting on a tile, the edge did not want to cut telephone paper cleanly but is still able to cut 80gsm with some drag on the edge (video), inspecting the edge revealed no chips, but slight role near the tip on the belly after a week of EDC and no touch ups on the strop.

Stropped on 1200grit wet and dry sandpaper and then on leather. 60 Strokes per side and then altering 20 strokes brought back to shaving sharpness and put a nice little convex on the edge.

November 15

I have been EDCing the knife for some time now and am very happy with it. The D2 has discoloured somewhat but that is expected. I still carry the knife IWB and paired with a old slipjoint or SAK makes a great combo for me.












Hope you can see the slight patina




Sharpening

I have read many people complaining about sharpening D2. In my experience this has not been the case.

I used 1200 grit wet and dry sandpaper with a metal polisher. It made stropping the edge and maintaining it very easy. Then strop and it is shaving sharp.

EDGE (initially)



Stropping on 1200 Grit and Leather




Size & Weight

Almost same size as the Insingo, heavier, thicker handle, appears to have same blade stock. A lot of people, including myself, thought it is a 550HG grip with G10 handles but it is not. It is heavier then 550HG grip obviously but it feels like completely different knives.
IWB carry with a belt over the clip the knife really disappears for me. Not noticeable to anyone I encountered.


Benchmade 550HG

Sebenza

BC


Ergonomics

Good with solid feel. With a lot of soap on the handle becomes slippery. Rip cage pattern catches on the soft skin between the thumb and index finger and prevents slipping of knife to an extent. The small guard prevents forward slipping, but this is where adequate jimping and the upward curve of Spyderco would be most favourable.

General

Took the blade out to inspect for any discoloration or such from a weeks worth of edc and nothing around the pivot. Pivot pin is thick as on 550HG. The Axis lock-blade interface is different then 550HG. The BC blade retention is much stronger and snaps close much more vigorously due to a slight rounded ‘corner’ in the blade that is not on the Grip, if one was to run after something less likely to open accidentally.
Maintenance so far: Once a week WD-40 or similar into the pivot and Omega springs just for in-case, no major other maintenance except sharpening.
Design
Like
G10, blade shape and heft in the hand.D2 is similar to S30V in my experience and holds a working edge for a long time. Easy to maintain the knife WD-40 into the pivot area prevents blemishes. Light coat of olive oil on the blade prevents any major corrosion issues on a hot day.
I actually like the slightly higher maintenance on the D2. I don’t know why but it just feels a bit more traditional.
Deslike
Black finish rubs off easily.
• Price
R1560 = 229USD at R6.8 for $1
Wish the blade was centred, but no big deal. The ugly laser cut mark in the hole is cosmetic, but easy noticeable.

Videos are coming. Having some internet problems

Thanks Marthinus...that was a great indepth review. I,ll have to get a plain edge soon.

great review

Excellent review and pics Marthinus, thanks!

Dang, makes me want to get the Bone Collector back from my daughter. Excellent review, nicely done.

Ok

Video time, bear with me as I am not a great camera man!

Sharpening after all the use shown here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOF5EedQtSk

Benchmade Bone Collector cardboard cutting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDgwfTkM6kw


Benchmade Bone Collector cutting tire and plastic irrigation pipe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRIslyE3m4k

Benchmade Bone Collector in use cutting sticks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Bh2DW6hOo

Benchmade Bone Collector in use cutting sticks, sharpness test

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94D_V7Jd1-c

Nice Review! Thanks for sharing, a lot of good information and very in depth, great pictures too!

I was just going to PM you Marthinus on how you did the sharpening but then saw the added video...thanks, this is really helpful.

Excellent review, you got the sharpening down to an art.
The use of Brasso as a lubricant/abrassive is ingenious as it gives just the right amount of polish to the edge of the hard D2 steel to make it shaving sharp.
Up to now I managed to put a great edge on my BC
but still not the shaving edge I want, using Brasso just might tip the scale in that direction, thanks again.

Hi everyone. Just an update.

With my Izula as my main EDC I carried the BC clipped IWB while on holiday. This included the pool and see for a while and it held up great. Some minor rust formed on the edge but that was stropped away. Only maintenance was to shake the water out, blow into the axis area and then later applied some fine oil to pivot area when I felt like it.