Benchmade HUNT 15001-2 Saddle Mountain Skinner Knife Review

The Benchmade HUNT Saddle Mountain Skinner knife offers you everything you desire in a quality hunting knife.  From the S30V premium steel blade to the Dymondwood handle scales to the rich leather sheath, the Saddle Mountain Skinner is a knife to be reckoned with when the going gets tough.

Benchmade recently released their HUNT knife series.  These knives are designed specifically for those who demand the best.  Based on research projects, R&D lab tests as well as miles of field research, each and every HUNT knife is built from advanced materials and designed to give you serious performance in a ruggedly durable knife.  With a Benchmade HUNT knife, it is all about, “The art of pursuit.”

A HUNT knife offers several advantages over any competitors.  First, each one uses the CPM-S30V premium stainless steel.  Based on the CATRA testing method, S30V consistently ranks as one of the very best premium hunting steels for first cut depth as well as consistency of cut depth and edge retention over time.

The other critical point of edge retention is the edge angle.  For this reason, each HUNT knife has a blade angle of between 30° and 35°.

Because CPM-S30V is a sintered powdered metal steel, it also delivers serious durability.  To produce this steel, thousands of tiny BBs are produced that contain the exact ingredients necessary.  Then these BBs are fused into a single, solid billet that has the ingredients neatly and evenly mixed throughout the billet.  This billet is then rollered flat into the proper thickness for use as blade steel.  This process allows for an amazingly even grain structure that isn’t found in standard stainless steels.  This evenness creates a blade steel that wears evenly over time.  It also gives you serious strength and consistency.

A true stainless steel, CPM-S30V also delivers top grades for corrosion resistance.  This is critical for a knife to be used outdoors.  Moisture is certain to get on your blade.  And sometimes, in the field, there isn’t time to get the blade completely dry before you need to move on.  S30V has got your back delivering corrosion resistance 619% higher than carbon steels such as D2.

Finally the handle material.  You can pick up the Saddle Mountain Skinner Knife with G10 handle scales.  That is model 15001-1.  If you prefer the Dymondwood handle scales, you are looking for model 15001-2. Dymondwood is a layered composite of all natural fibers.  Superior to wood in that it delivers more dimensional stability as well as resistance to moisture, Dymondwood is a fantastic choice for a classic hunt knife look.

The Saddle Mountain Skinner has a 4.17″ drop point blade with just a slight recurve in the blade belly that gives you just the angle you need for long separating cuts.  The tip allows you plenty of flexibility for making detail cuts.  The Skinner is the perfect one knife solution for those who want to pack light.  It has the flexibility to be used for big, medium and even small game.  It also serves as a great companion to a guthook knife as part of a complete hunting knife set.

If you need a serious knife for serious work, check out the HUNT Saddle Mountain Skinner.  Let me know what you think of yours down below in the comment section.

SPECIFICATIONS: 

• Blade Length: 4.17″
• Blade Thickness: .14″
• Handle Thickness: .58″
• Blade Material: S30V Premium Stainless Steel
• Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC
• Blade Style: Modified Clip Point
• Lock Mechanism: Fixed
• Overall Length: 8.73″
• Sheath Material: Leather Pressure Fit Sheath
• Class: Blue