Benchmade Mini-Barrage 585 Review

The Benchmade Mini-Barrage, as the name suggests, is indeed a little smaller than a standard, "full size" pocket knife. However, our testers agree that it strikes the perfect balance of compact carriage and ergonomic structure. The Benchmade brand makes excellent blades and has for a long time. Like many assisted opening knives, the blade can also be locked closed. There's a learning curve to properly engaging and applying the mechanism that locks the blade closed. This product is also a sizable investment. To realize the value of this high-tech tool, we recommend treating it like any piece of technical camping equipment. Don't lose it.

Performance Comparison

Blade and Edge Integrity

While it's true that all modern pocket knives come with adequate steel, we must note that the metal and construction of the Mini-Barrage blade is above par. Benchmade puts lots of care into every design. The blade arrives polished to a sheen. The experience of cutting with a brand new (or newly factory-reconditioned) Benchmade Mini borders on sensual.

The edge and sides of the blade seem to propel themselves through delicate and durable tasks alike. Never in our half-decade of testing, whether cutting soft and corrosive things like tomatoes or robust and inert items like sun-faded climbing rope, did the Mini-Barrage blade show a single sign of weakness. The blade is just the right length to whittle on a stick or slice through a block of cheddar.

The blade's "depth" lends stability and confidence in extended usage and heavier tasks. It is a little "beefier" than your typical pocket knife of these dimensions. We like the deeper blade. We also like the steel options.

It comes with either 154CM (as we tested it) or the more expensive S30V blade steel. We've used other Benchmade knives with their S30V blade and can vouch for it. That being said, our testing with the "lesser" steel for a long time now yields no complaints from our team.

Ergonomics

Each knife we reviewed fell somewhere between good ergonomics and portability. In short, smaller knives are more portable, while we've found that larger knives (to a point) are more useful in hand. Each of our testers found that the Mini-Barrage 585 struck the perfect balance for every day, pocket-clipped usage. It isn't the smallest, nor is it the largest. The rounded, elongated-in-profile handle fills a clenched fist and sturdily delivers force to the blade's leading edge. Gentle curves on the handle leave no major pressure points to the user.

While Benchmade uses flashy and reliable materials and equips the Mini-Barrage with a smooth-operating assisted opening function, the pocket clip's location and modular design stand out. The Mini-Barrage can be configured for left or right pocket carry. When stored and clipped to the edge of a pants pocket, you can pull the knife out and the blade deployed in one smooth motion.

While self-defense types will look to this feature as a safety benefit, the actual benefit is purely pedestrian usage. Trust us when we say you will use the knife far more often when you fully embrace the convenience of this simple design subtlety. Some others take this modular pocket clip feature a step further, offering left and right-hand options as well as "tip up" or "tip down" pocket carry, depending on which set of holes you screw the pocket clip into. We've found the options on the Benchmade Mini Barrage to cover the utility most need and wish for.

Finally, the Mini-Barrage's assisted opening function works intuitively while the locks (locking the blade both open and closed) function smoothly and reliably. There is an initial learning curve to disengaging the lock that holds the blade closed. Thankfully, if you don't need that feature, you can leave it unlocked without inconvenience. Most of the assisted opening knives we have tested have locking blades.

Portability

Like its performance in the Ergonomics category, nothing about the Mini-Barrage's portability stands out. It isn't the smallest or lightest knife in our test. It is far from the thinnest. However, it seems to strike the perfect balance of size and function.

If you carry a smartphone in one front pants pocket, a small set of keys and Mini-Barrage in the other will balance out your stance and equip you for anything a day out and about might require. Unlike the other scoring metrics, other products have clear advantages over the Mini-Barrage.

For ultimate portability, whether your pocket space is cluttered or you don't justify carrying around a full-size pocket knife, other options are much much smaller. Some of these smaller knives have more features for day-to-day use.

Construction Quality

The best-designed equipment comes out of the package ready to use and never again prompts another thought about its construction or durability. With assisted-opening springs, dual thumb studs for blade opening, Benchmade's proprietary Axis blade lock mechanism, and a tab for locking the blade closed, the Mini-Barrage solves some potential failure or annoyance points in a small package. The miniaturized machinery proves to be durable and reliable. In none of our testing have we had any trouble with the performance of any of the Mini-Barrage's features.

Indeed, the other Benchmade knives in our test offer competitive construction quality. What we find notable about the Benchmade products is that they manage to be strong and durable without feeling heavy.

Other Features

The Mini-Barrage is a simple knife. The blade is the feature; nothing else is necessary. But adding to the value of any Benchmade knife, the company offers their generous and industry-leading "LifeSharp" service to all knife owners for a very affordable fee. Just return your knife whenever you wish. It will be returned to you sharpened and polished to like-new condition.

Should You Buy the Benchmade Mini-Barrage 585?

The Benchmade Mini-Barrage 585 is an excellent, precision-crafted piece of equipment. Although expensive, those willing to make the initial investment will not be disappointed. We are betting that the Mini-Barrage will serve most consumers very well, especially if those consumers take advantage of the possible customizations Benchmade enables and keep up with regular maintenance. We heartily recommend this knife.

What Other Pocket Knives Should You Consider?