Modern traditional knives are a growing trend and Benchmade is entering the arena with a brand new slipjoint called the 319 Proper. Other Benchmade models like the discontinued Lone Wolf Tailout and the Summit Lake series also capture a traditional vibe but the 319 Proper is Benchmade’s first ever non-locking folder.
“[It] is definitely a callback to traditional slipjoints,” Benchmade’s Derrick Lau tells us. “This year is our 30th anniversary and we wanted to cover the whole map.” The Proper has a 2.86-inch S30V sheepsfoot blade, modified with a slight belly. Weighing 2.3 oz., it doesn’t have a pocket clip and is meant to be carried loose in the pocket, with or without a lanyard.
The Axis Lock has been Benchmade’s bread and butter for decades, but the Proper sees the company breaking away from locking knives altogether. Making a non-locking folder meant balancing ease of opening with back spring strength. A fuller works in place of a nail nick, and for added safety, Benchmade employed a half stop that catches the blade between the open and closed position. “Obviously it’s not like an Axis Lock but it’s pretty sturdy,” Lau says.
Continue reading on Knife News
Photo courtesy of Knife News
