Knife Review: Benchmade Black Mini Bugout Folder

The Benchmade Black Mini Bugout Folder Knife with a CPM-S30V Black Blade

The Benchmade Mini Bugout was a response to the call for the original Bugout to be scaled down. Consumer feedback pushed Benchmade to take a great knife and make it even better. One of the biggest advantages of the Benchmade Mini Bugout Folder is that Benchmade was able to take use the original high-quality materials, but due to the scaled-down size of it, the overall weight was reduced by nearly 25%! This means that you can have your cake and eat it too. Who wouldn’t want this version of the Bugout that is more reasonable to carry with you day-to-day? Today I will be reviewing the benefits of this knife, with special emphasis on why the size makes it the ideal option for your go-to knife.

The Blade:

First of all, the Benchmade Mini Bugout was able to be made with the same high-quality steel that the original Bugout was made with: CPM-S30V stainless steel. This steel is going to offer one of the best combinations of toughness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. This means that no matter what you are taking on in your day, whether you open boxes, or are working in the outdoors, this blade is going to have your back. The two best qualities that make this the ideal steel for an EDC knife such as this one is that it has unreal edge retention and is able to resist rust. Again, this means that with a perfectly sized knife, with the combination of the fantastic steel, you won’t have to worry about this knife weighing you down, or that it can’t stand up to the job. In fact, this steel is most commonly used on high-end pocketknives, and once you use the Mini Bugout, you are going to understand why that is. Even though the Mini Bugout has been scaled down, Benchmade did not scale down on the quality whatsoever.

Second, the blade measures in at an optimum 2.82 inches long. This is roughly an inch shorter than the original Bugout. However, the original Bugout is big, really big. The original Bugout is not going to be the ideal EDC for almost everyone. The scaled down length on this Mini version is the perfect size. It is big enough that you still are capable of doing almost whatever task you feel like you want to throw at it. The size of the blade doesn’t make you feel like you are playing with a toy knife in any means. It provides the length for you to really get dirty with it. Most people look at the size of the blade on the Mini Bugout and prefer it to the OG Bugout, because sometimes the OG felt unwieldy.

Third, the blade is finished with a DLC black finish. All in all, this is one of the best finishes that you are going to come across in the industry—more reason that this should be your first choice for an EDC. DLC stands for Diamond-Like Carbon and it is a coating that is applied to the blade. Essentially, the name comes from the diamond-like abilities that the coating provides the blade with. Some of these characteristics include hardness, wear resistance, and even reduced friction. One of the best aspects of having the blade finished with a DLC is that it is going to be durable. You are going to be able to use this knife day-in and day-out without worrying about it wearing out. A bonus of the DLC coating is that it is going to be the blackest of black. Not only does this look cool, but it reduces glares and reflections as well. This aspect might be more of an aesthetic choice, but it does still add to the great aspects of having the Mini Bugout as your choice EDC. Again, the size of this may be scaled down, but the quality is not.

The last aspect of the blade that really sets this Mini Bugout apart as the perfect EDC is how much the drop point style blade can accomplish. If you are looking for an EDC that can do If you are looking for an EDC that can do it all, which is really what an EDC should be able to do, look no further than a drop point. The drop point is designed with a large belly, which means that there is going to be more sharpened edge for you to slice with. Also, the drop point’s tip is easily controllable, which means that with this EDC, you won’t have to worry about any rogue movements.

All in all, with the Mini Bugout’s blade, you get all the Benchmade quality that you expect, but in the perfect size. It’s no wonder so many people wanted a smaller Bugout—the smaller version is the perfect EDC.

The Handle:

Next up is the handle. Both the blade and the handle have been scaled down on the Mini Bugout. This provides you with the same ratios, but a much easier knife to work with. The To keep the weight down on the Mini Bugout, the handle material is critical. This is made out of Black CF Elite. What is CF Elite you ask? I’m glad you wondered, because its qualities are worth mentioning. In short, it’s a nylon polymer reinforced with carbon fiber, commonly this would be similar to Grivory, however it is going to have a lot less flex. The longer explanation of CF Elite is that Benchmade introduced this material in their line of 2020 knives, specifically for the Bugout’s. Benchmade claims that their design of this material is going t be lighter than grivory, yet still stronger than Grivory. Their claim of it begin lighter is worth noting, because one of the biggest concepts behind the Mini Bugout is that it is lighter weight—almost 25% lighter! With an EDC that you are going to have with you constantly, the less weight, the better, as long as it can still hang. And Benchmade’s CF Elite can definitely hang.

Further, one of the benefits of CF Elite is the grip that it is going to provide. The handle of the knife is pretty basic, with a slow slope of the spine of the handle, a rounded butt, a slight finger groove to keep your fingers more securely in place where you want them to be, and a belly of the handle that slopes in a way that it is going to feel comfortable and secure in your palm. The handle measures in at 3.70 inches long, which is going to fit nicely inside your hand. This size is going to allow you to use the knife throughout the ay without feeling any exhaustion set in in your hand while you work. This is one of the many benefits to having the Mini Bugout—exactly what fans were asking for. Not 

only are the ergonomics solid on the handle, in the middle of the handle, there is a crosshatch pattern which is going to provide you with improved grip as you go about your day-to-day tasks. This pattern in the palm of the handle is going to ensure that you will be able to maintain a solid grip on the handle throughout many different environments.

Better yet, the handle sports a deep carry clip, which is a classic elevation for any EDC. The deep carry clip allows the Mini Bugout to sit low in your pocket. This position will allow you to go about your day without worrying about whether or not your knife is secure in your pocket—it is. In fact, you almost won’t even need to include your pocketknife in your pocket check for phone, wallet, keys. You can rely on this deep carry clip to keep the Mini Bugout secure, and ready for use the moment that you need it. Not only is it a deep carry clip but it is also reversible. This means that the clip can be attached for either left or right-handed carry. This is one of the many details that elevates the Mini Bugout from similar knives. Benchmade always pays close attention to detail and we see that in this specific detail. The left/right reversible clip allows this knife to be carried by a wider array of people, because it is going to be comfortable for a wider array of people. This is one of the many qualities that makes the Mini Bugout the perfect EDC knife.

The Pros

The first advantage of the Mini Bugout that has yet to be mentioned is the fact that it is made in the United States of America. This means that it is going to have quality that you can rely on. Quality that you can rely on translates into a knife that you can rely on, which is exactly what this is. It’s a knife that is not going to let you down when you need it most.

The biggest advantage of the Mini Bugout is that it is a scaled down version of the original Bugout—smaller size, with the same high-quality materials and craftsmanship. The overall length of the knife measures in at 6.49 inches long. This is an ideal length for you to be able to seriously utilize it. The knife is not going to be so big that it gets in the way when you are trying to work with it, it’s not going to feel awkward in your hand, yet it’s going to provide the length that you need for nearly any job. All in all, the size is supreme.

Then, because this is a Benchmade knife, and Benchmade doesn’t skimp on quality, we know that it has been made of superior materials. The blade is CPM-S30V stainless steel, which is a steel that is going to be able to stand up to all your daily activities without wearing down or wearing out. The drop point blade that is finished in a black DLC only adds to your advantages—the blade becomes even tougher than it started out as. Plus, the drop point blade shape allows you to take on basically any task that comes your way.

Finally, the handle is made out of Benchmade’s black CF Elite material, which is similar to Grivory—only better. It’s stronger, has less flex, and is a lighter weight material. This all means that this knife can take what you throw at it. With the lightweight handle material, the Mini Bugout weighs in at 1.5 ounces. This is a knife that won’t get in the way but can also be the star of the show when you need it to be.

The Wrap-up

Thank goodness that enough consumers asked for a smaller version of the Bugout, and thank goodness that Benchmade listened, because through it, we got the Mini Bugout. This is a scaled down version of the original, but it is still built the same high-quality materials in both the blade and the handle. The smaller scale translates into the Mini Bugout being almost 25% less heavy than the original, which means that this is a great knife to choose for your EDC. The Benchmade Mini Bugout is made out of CPM-S30V stainless steel that is finished with a black DLC. It can do it all due to the drop point blade shape. The black CF Elite handle scales are lightweight, offer excellent grip, and looks fantastic. The L/R reversible deep carry pocket clip feels like the cherry on top of this already fantastic knife. When it comes to the Mini Bugout, Benchmade got all the details right. The Black Mini Bugout folder knife is the perfect choice for your EDC. And, BladeOps has it in stock right now. Do yourself a favor and buy it now.