Every day carry (EDC) blades have a multitude of practical uses, but what happens when you must rely on a knife for survival? This is where the Benchmade 915 Triage excels. The modified sheepsfoot blade, environment-resistant steel, carbide glass breaker, and safety cutter make the 915 Traige a valuable asset as a survival tool. However, the 915’s sharp edge and Axis locking mechanism also make it a handy folder for every day needs.
Blade
The 915 Triage features a satin-finished modified sheepsfoot blade of a unique steel: N680. N680 has excellent corrosion resistance, even in salt water. It also has strong wear resistance and edge retention properties. Benchmade’s 915 Triage features a modified sheepsfoot blade shape, which provides a long cutting edge (3.5in) and a rounded tip (which is valuable in avoiding injuring someone in the application of cutting something near their skin, such as, removing clothing from the site of an injury). Benchmade’s 30°-30° v-grind gives the 915 Triage a sharp, but durable edge.
Opposite the main blade is a safety/strap cutter tucked into the grip. The hardy 440C steel isn’t as environmentally resistant as the main blade’s N680 steel, but it features a protective black Cerakote coating as a corrosion resistance aid. The hook shaped strap cutter is two inches in length, but its edge is .5in across. The flat grind on the 440C gives the cutter a sharp, lasting edge.
Grip
Benchmade markets the 915 as a survival folder, and as such the grips offered are textured G10 scales in black or safety orange. Using G10 grips over stainless steel liners keeps this decently-sized knife at a manageable weight: 5.1oz. The grip is ample enough to accommodate large hands, but isn’t so big as to be unwieldy for smaller hands (such as this reviewer’s). The Benchmade 915 Triage’s single finger groove and jimping on the back of the grip add to its ergonomics when using a traditional grip style. The knife’s pommel and the base of the safety cutter feature additional jimping that helps the user get firm purchase on the folder when utilizing the 915’s alternate edge. At the butt of the Triage is an additional survival feature: the carbide glass breaker.
Deploy and Locking Mechanisms
Both the main blade and the strap cutter are deployed via thumb stud. The thumb stud on the modified sheepsfoot blade is ambidextrous, while the safety cutter’s stud is necessarily single sided (the 915’s grip features a small cutout through which the hooked cutter’s stud protrudes. In this fashion, the cutter remains flush with the liners until deployed. The 915 Triage’s main blade features the Benchmade folding knife standard: the Axis® locking mechanism. When engaged, the knife is without wobble or blade play. The strap cutter does not have a locking mechanism, but the nature of the hook-shaped edge means that its use isn’t hampered by that fact.
Carry Considerations
The 915 is a bit on the large side for what might be considered a convenient EDC folder (closed, it measures 4.7in, with a fully deployed length of 8.2″), and its .45″ width makes it a tad chunky. But, this reviewer only found issue carrying it when wearing tiny-pocketed girl jeans. Other than that, the reversible deep pocket clip helps the folder tuck away neatly (in a tip up configuration), and keeps it there with strong retention. For those who appreciate the convenience of keeping a blade on a lanyard, the 915 also features a lanyard hole at the butt of the knife.
The Benchmade 915 Triage is an effective cutting tool with strong, wear resistant steel, a sharp, but sturdy edge, and a stable locking mechanism. These elements allow the 915 to function well for a wide range of everyday uses. But, if you’re depending on an EDC blade to do more than open your mail, you may appreciate the Triage’s corrosion resistant steel, modified sheepsfoot blade shape, and its additional survival features – the hooked safety cutter and the carbide glass breaker. The Benchmade 915 Triage will perform for everyday tasks, but you may find it most valuable as a tool in your survival loadout.
Specifications
Blade material: N680 blade, 440 C safety cutter
Blade hardness: 57-59 HRC blade, 58-60 HRC safety cutter
Blade length: 3.5in
Overall length: 8.2in
Weight: 5.1oz
Locking mechanism: Axis lock
Clip: tip up, reversible
MSRP: $170
