If you reach for a screwdriver w/ a thick handle rather than a slim one for a stubborn screw, and you accept that plenty of Randall's have been used to dig foxholes-- then the 275 is for you! Not my best photos, short of time tonight-- comparisons w/ a 520 (handle) which most are familiar w/, and I think most would agree is one of the better BMs, for grip:







The G10 feels a little sticky/grippy, which I like, tho little can compare to the grip of 520 scales. But the 275 handle is broader/deeper, which more than makes up for the difference. And the underside swell is great! For leverage prying/twisting, the 275 superior IMO. Don't recommend prying/twisting but if you want a HD folder best able to accommodate that, this knife tops. Short grind height for improved blade strength. Top jimping coarse and useful, but I wish it extended further forward-- w/ my ML hands, my thumb extends largely beyond the jimping when I'm gripping the knife for max leverage- in fact I extend my thumb beyond the jimping, it's more comfy than having the sharp tip at the end of the ramp driving into the joint in the middle of my thumb. Heavy enuf to make a noticeable difference in momentum, if chopping is an issue. But only 2 oz. heavier than a 520.

Way more sweep than I like, but I know I'm in the minority around here. You have an inch (is all) of straight cutting edge before the curve slowly starts to build.

Personally not fond of the bk, but so it goes. If I decide to put this knife into use, I'll likely remove it from the both the swedge and the main grind, I think that would look clean and sharp. Polish up the D2, to boot.

Don't understand the tapered thumbstuds, I hope it's not merely for aesthetics (but I can't figure out where it might be an advantage). My thumb slips off sooner than it would otherwise, making it more difficult (for me anyway) to impart all the energy of my thumb into cleanly snapping the blade open. And given that this is a combat knife, that would seem to be an issue. Would imagine tho that BM would install straight-sided studs if requested, tho I don't know.

Balance-- for me-- is about perfect, for the uses I would envision. A hair blade-hvy, but swing the knife around w/ a loose grip and it still wants to stay put in my hand, just about perfect.

D2 fine for me. I know many would prefer better steels, but I suspect price issues ruled here when those decisions were made. And regards price:

Methinks you get a LOT for your $$$ w/ this knife!! Thumbs UP!! Rick


And if nothing else, the extra ballast will help insure those who like showing off the top couple inches of their a**crack will never have to worry about their pants riding too high....

Thanks for the review! I dig just about everything about this design 'cept the fuller. If you have to do anything wet, it'll draw stuff right into the pivot, making cleaning that much more annoying. Anyway, that's a minor quibble. =)

Thanks Rick for the great review and comparison to the 520.

Very nice review Rick, thanks for sharing. The 275 looks like a tank of a folder. One of my favorite things about the 275 is the blade shape. However, I do wish they offered this model with a satin finished blade. I hope to pick one of these up in the near future.

Thanks for the thoughts and pics w/a 520.

Overall, I like the 275. I'm not too sure about so much blade upsweep. That might need to be slapped on the grinder to make the tip pointier.

Question about the tapered thumbstud: Would it be hard to open if you're wearing a pair of Mechanix (or some other) workgloves?

Thank you for the comparison. This is the first new Benchmade in awhile that I am excited about.

quote:

Overall, I like the 275. I'm not too sure about so much blade upsweep. That might need to be slapped on the grinder to make the tip pointier.

Question about the tapered thumbstud: Would it be hard to open if you're wearing a pair of Mechanix (or some other) workgloves?

Good thoughts, TB. Just slipped on a new pair of the flexible leather work gloves I wear, med. thick/rather slick finish. Found they actually improved opening a bit, I think cuz the "mush" of leather at the end of my thumb allows for continued contact/energy transfer for a fraction longer. Don't get me wrong-- the knife never fails to open, I just can't get the blade to "burst" out w/ the same authority I'm used to w/ many of my other BMs.

Regards: dropping the tip, as you know I commonly do that both to give me a more aggressive tip posture relative to my hand, and often also to shift the balance back a bit to where I prefer it to be (on some knives). But personally I wouldn't choose to do that on this particular knife, cuz in order to drop it to a point where it would make a noticeable diff in tip usefulness (and to me it WOULD be a noticeable diff that I would appreciate) I would at the same time be removing enuf steel to shift the balance point rearward enuf that I would lose that slight weight-forward "heft" that I think such a wonderfully planned HeavyDuty knife such as this should have. A guy could compensate of course by then removing some steel from under the liners in the rear to rebalance (been known to do that too), that just takes some careful grinding w/ small wheels. But I think the overall heft of the knife, as is, is part of its HD attractiveness-- and helps facilitate chopping. R.

quote:

This is the first new Benchmade in awhile that I am excited about.

It's funny-- I'm more excited about this knife now that I have it in hand than I was when I simply had a deposit down!

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It's funny-- I'm more excited about this knife now that I have it in hand than I was when I simply had a deposit down!

Funny that Iam just the opposite ......its a well made knife and all that , but just not for me.

quote:

Originally posted by ryxlyx:

Good thoughts, TB. Just slipped on a new pair of the flexible leather work gloves I wear, med. thick/rather slick finish. Found they actually improved opening a bit, I think cuz the "mush" of leather at the end of my thumb allows for continued contact/energy transfer for a fraction longer. Don't get me wrong-- the knife never fails to open, I just can't get the blade to "burst" out w/ the same authority I'm used to w/ many of my other BMs.

Regards: dropping the tip, as you know I commonly do that both to give me a more aggressive tip posture relative to my hand, and often also to shift the balance back a bit to where I prefer it to be (on some knives). But personally I wouldn't choose to do that on this particular knife, cuz in order to drop it to a point where it would make a noticeable diff in tip usefulness (and to me it WOULD be a noticeable diff that I would appreciate) I would at the same time be removing enuf steel to shift the balance point rearward enuf that I would lose that slight weight-forward "heft" that I think such a wonderfully planned HeavyDuty knife such as this should have. ... R.

Good points--thanks for the feedback, R..

I can't wait to put the 275, 520 and ZT 0200 into a comparison test!

quote:

Originally posted by couguar:
Thank you for the comparison. This is the first new Benchmade in awhile that I am excited about.

Me too.

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