I carry a Microtech Combat Troodon with a Bowie blade. Besides price, I have no complaints and have never found a substitute. They also carry a lifetime warranty if you don't unscrew or open the action.

Finally another big knife from sog! I had a sog vulcan tanto a long time ago. I lost it and it got discontinued, and there were few other over-built crossbar lock knives that intrested me.

I like my knives with a flat butt suitable for a reverse grip with a thumb on top. A suitable ramp works too.

I’m sure it’s a great knife, but I think cost is a major factor in EDC, since I’m not likely to regularly use expensive knives.

@thomasmaloney843

2 ай бұрын

I tend to use the beaters My expensive stuff tends to be safe queens.

OTFs are fun, but only have one advantage over other pocket knives, that is you can have it double edged. Everything else about them is a disadvantage and the lock up on 99% of them is not solid, they can not fully deploy with just some pocket lint or dare I say any dirt. For working tools, there are plenty of great grinds on many other types of pocket knives. Now as far as for thumb exercise or as a fidget toy, OTFs cannot be beat. Just know they are ultimately toys and thats not a bad thing, just know the compromise.

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

Totally!! 👍

@flapxjackson

2 ай бұрын

Agreed. I’ve had two OTFs malfunction to the point I don’t want to bother with them anymore. Who needs to carry a knife that could fail at a critical moment when you need it most. One of them is an older MicroTech Scarab. Even when it does work, sometimes the switch is so hard to move, I’ve used both thumbs just to open and close the knife. If I buy an auto knife anymore , it’s an out the side. But mostly I use crossbar locks. They’re just as quick to open and close as an OTF.

The claymore otf is one that you should check out

Interesting comparison. I wonder if you had either the Hogue compound or Hogue counterstrike With 20 CV at a similar price point with a drop point blade and G10 over aluminum If you would keep the same opinion. Those knives are obviously heavier than the shootout. But with a better corrosion resistance, steel, and comfortable edge retention. Giving up some toughness to the cru wear. I think charging that much money for completely completely polymer handles is a dealbreaker for me. At that price point, I expect both premium steel and premium handle materials.

G'day Aaron, probably the most practical OTF designs I've seen. Still, you'd get a lot of folder, (or two), for the same dough. If you're gonna have a glass breaker at all, it's got to be totally effective against vehicle windows IMO, since one can break "normal" glass with just about anything. Cant say I've ever used a lanyard on anything smaller than a BK-9, and even then not permanently. Besides, if an auto is all about rapid deployment, you'd need a clip or larks head knot arrangement of some description, slowing the whole process down. Ultimately, just leave their butts alone I reckon ; ) Cheers Duke.

I just bought a Fox Ryu and I like it a lot. You should try it.

If Benchmade used aluminum they would raise the already overpriced knife another $100. They have lost their minds the last few years.

I would agree Aaron. I would like the polymer scales as well. I have never liked aluminum scales on pocket knives. Just my preference. They should have done the Shootout in Carbon Fiber Elite. I like the material on my Presidio. Doesn’t feel as cheap and may have cut down on that hollow sound. I just wish OTF’s were legal in my state. 😤😤😭😭

To answer the question, glass breaker over lanyard hole every time. An aluminum version would be cool but benchmade would want $450+ for it

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

Hahah probably

I would prefer either a launch 15 or maybe a Kershaw blur...own both and i can deploy then quickly when needed

I love my shootout super light weight and slicey good otf knive

Lightweight, slicey, reliable...doesn't matter the price, you'll buy it only once🙂

Stay equipped! Stay Prepare! Stay GT.!

At 8:55 is that the new Benchmade h20 knife?

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

Yes, video coming soon

@albsureinc23

2 ай бұрын

I think is called the adira

I agree, the Benchmade blade shape is much more useful for everyday use and it’s a plus that it doesn’t have a ridiculous glass breaker on the end. People criticizing the price don’t realize that these are not outside the box vs. the Kershaw and less expensive than the microtech. Unfortunately VA’s dumb knife laws prevent me from owning one. Thanks for a thorough review.

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

Sorry you can carry one thanks for sharing!!

I bought 2, and both glass breakers fell out the first time I fired them. As for the butterfly tax, knowing the wholesale price on these vs retail is absolutely sickening...

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

I am sure

@danjones7

2 ай бұрын

what do you think the price difference is?

I am still hesitant to buy an OTF. I just can't imagine that the mechanics can hold up to EDC tasks other than opening boxes. Maybe I just need to try one.

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

Thankfully Benchmade has an excellent warranty, I have not had one fail yet.

Glass breaker everytime.

I had a bounty hunter microtech for quite a while. It was a total shelf queen because the tension on the slide was just way too much. Ended up hurting my thumb if I actually tried using it. And sending the blade back? Had to shift my grip into a position I was not happy with. Kind of turned me off of OTFs, because they're so well regarded and I kind of hated it.

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

Ya I get that! My Microtech ultratech is similar

I want the drop point version. Not paying $300+ tho.

I'm not a fan of OTF knives in general, so I haven't made it my business to learn a lot about them. This review was packed with a bunch of good, thoughtful information. For everyone that's going to complain about the price, are you really going to trust the OTF mechanism on a cheap knife?

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

Hahah that is a good point! This had a great action

What do you think about using it for food prepp? I ask cause i use my knives for almost everything,cutting packages,boxes, fabrics ect... but also i clean them and use for food prepp as well. Only cause its so much more satisfying to food prepp with pocket knife lol.

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

Yeah, slices like crazy but OTF have to be cleaned well before you bring them back, so they don’t gunk up the internals.

@tonyvalentin9215

2 ай бұрын

@@gideonstactical that's what I thought ,but thank you for your input it's greatly appreciated. I went with the demko ad20.5 tanto in 3v instead, but I might get an otf eventually.

Have you tried Axial? Second best in reliability to Hawk.

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

I will have to look into that

So whould you say that your opinion on otf knives has changed? I think it whould be nice to cover some budget brands to i personally have been using a cobratec lightweight for edc so far its been great thanks for the great videos.

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

Not a bad idea, and no my attitude hasn’t changed towards them. Manual folders are obviously the best. But this OTF is quite good. And it’s great to have them in the collection if you can legally and afford it.

Bet ya can’t hammer that benchmade into a 2x4.

I thought the Drop Point blade Shootouts dont launch till in May or June? You saying you got an early release?

Options are a good thing, and I really do like Benchmade, but with the polymer and without Magnacut, I will pass. For my use, the superior weather protection is higher on the priority list...that is why options are positive. I would have to take the Kershaw, if I had pick only one and for my specific uses.

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

Fair enough! 👍

Aaron did I win?? lol I need a Camparo 🙏 ❤

The only thing that a benchmade has a potential to replace would be my bank account. So no, I'm not going to get one.

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

Hahah!! Totally get, but best I have in the otf arena

grrrrr OTF illegal in Canada

Oddly enough I've found myself recently stepping back and away from the "super steels" for the tried and true standby's, and honestly I prefer VG 10 or N690 to the high tech stuff.

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

Those are great steels, and for most people more than enough. but give me a good K390, cru-wear, or magnacut has been performing really well or s35vn for me.

@DamionJR4923

2 ай бұрын

I still really like 154cm and LC200n

@Cabur_Skirata

2 ай бұрын

@@DamionJR4923 love those too! Along with 80CrV2 for my fixed blades

You've got to be kidding! Way over priced for my budget.

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

What am I kidding at?

@charleescorner8095

2 ай бұрын

Not everyone’s budget are the same man lol

@DamionJR4923

2 ай бұрын

Make more money and don’t tell the wife

@jon27d

2 ай бұрын

"oh that? I've had that for a long time."

@Piersoloutdoors

2 ай бұрын

Not everyone is the same can’t cater to everyone every day all day 24/7:365.

No way....i prefer to get a Griptilian and also a nice multi tool for that money

I just can't, with an OTF.. not after my Microtech broke by literally doing nothing but fidgeting with it!!

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

That sucks!

Definitely one of the best OTF's out there for the money. Warranty alone is worth it. Keep it going forever. Yeah it's expensive but people want to have their cake and eat it too. It's not cheap for BM to manufacture every knife in their catalog in the USA, pay 300+ employees 'living wages,' and price knives cheaper than, say, Kershaw who subsidizes their USA knife production with overseas OEMs for the vast majority of their catalog. Basic economics, folks.

Hand puppets.

Fidget toys for weird kids. I appreciate the workmanship on some otf knives, but I can't imagine how it is an improvement in knives.

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

Totally understandable

interesting- otfs still not for me, but interesting

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching. Definitely not for everybody and have quite a bit of limits but if you can afford and legally own great to have in the collection.

Benchmade considers themselves the high end brand and charges way too much as a brand in my mind. I don't own one in any form, nor do I ever see myself owning one.

I'm sorry, but the OTF mechanism completely negates EDC usability. You'll have to wash, dry, and sanitize the blade after each use in order not to clog those tiny tiny springs.

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

I think you might be missing the point of the video for OTF Knives this is the best for Edc I have used. I don’t disagree with you that yes, you have to keep them clean. They’re more likely to jam with grit, but I found myself carrying this quite a bit lately, because of it usability and utility where most OTF are designed for stabbing only.

Houge needs to get off their ass and start making more Compounds with the tritium in switch, ive been waiting for over 7 months.

@The4cp

2 ай бұрын

Same with the CRKT Rebellion. Been waiting since early December.

Off topic if you could only Have 1 fixed blade knife What would it be not Trying to put you in a spot Was wondering you get To test so many

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

That’s like asking which is my favorite child! 😂 Lionsteel T5 or Ursus 45 are awesome!!

@stuartrollings602

2 ай бұрын

@@gideonstacticaltwo of my faves as well!

I’m not a fan of the Shootout. For exactly the reason you lined out. It’s plastic. It is an expensive knife, but it doesn’t have the feel of an expensive knife. It just doesn’t appeal to me. I’ll stick with my Microtechs and Kershaw Livewire.

OTF's are a joke.

Prices of these knives are absolutely ridiculous! I always carry a fixed blade as an EDC! Ya never know what's going to go down! And you can't count on a folder for hard, survival use!

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

All OTF knives are more expensive because there’s a much smaller market. So I have to make up engineering costs.

@vorpalblades

2 ай бұрын

Depends on the folder. Cold Steel and Benchmade both make severe duty folders.

I'll never understand otf knives. Expensive and not durable.

@gideonstactical

2 ай бұрын

But so awesome to use

👍👍👍.🇺🇲🔪🔥🌲

For the love of God's America please never cover benchmades