Benchmade Triage: "Dial 915 for Help" by Nutnfancy

Another TNP Hall of Fame blade, the Benchmade 915 Triage shows design elegance. It is ground breaking in its blending of the effective rescue cutting hook and 3.5" modified sheepsfoot blade. Though extremely lighweight and easy to carry, most of us cannot integrate the Benchmade Rescue cutters into our daily systems and they usually get left out. The 915 solves that miss with an unobtrusive rescue hook which lays unseen and flat within the handle until needed. This blackened rescue hook is made of out 440C steel and it breezes through all types of media to include thick fabrics, cordage, leather, vinyl, carpet, burlap, etc. It will provide excellent game dressing capabilities as well. This hook deploys easily with good detent, has jimping at its base, and does not lock. The N680 steel blade is mostly flat ground making reprofiling easier after long term use. This choice of steel took a fine edge but was not tested in heavy duty cutting and it arrived somewhat dull with an abrupt primary bevel (corrected in sharpening). The N680 steel promises excellent corrosion resistence with its integration of nitrogen and might make the Triage a good choice for frequent fresh water/occasional salt water use. Like its other stablemates the 950 Rift or 550/551 Griptilian, the blade has a strong tip, excellent belly, and a quality finish. The handle on this version features the vibrant, high traction orange G10 scales that are cut from some of the best handle material G10 I've seen. These scales are affixed to a highly and impressively skeletonized 420 SS frame and together they produce a surprisingly slim carry package, one of the 915's impressive attributes. These scales, a moderate finger groove, and some liner jimping provide good traction. Weight clocks in at a reasonable 5.2 oz which lighter than carrying an equivalent BM rescue hook and separate knife. The knife deploys quickly but needed some tweaking to get the balance of speed and lockup acceptable to me. The Axis lock as usual is a favored locking mechanism of mine: fast, ambi, long wearing, and strong. The Triage's blackened loop pocket clip is perfect, carrying deep with good strength. It thankfully carries tip up and can be swapped to left or right sides. The thumb studs provide good traction for deployment and are not occluded by the handle. The also are easily removed for sharpening systems that need flat portions to ensure consistent angles. The Triage in 2011 was offered in orange and black G10 scales with both serrated and plain edge versions. Value is good considering quality levels and capabilities (which dominate other blades like the Gerber Hinderer Rescue Knife). A street price of $140 is to be expected, maybe less if you're lucky. Such a unique blade also delivers 2nd Kind of Cool enjoyability. But its real calling is that of helping people and providing great utility to the soldier, kayaker, outdoorsman, police officer, parmedic, fireman, SWAT officer, or responsible civilian.///////////////////////////Nutnfancy Likability Scale: 9 of 10 (if razor sharp with more gradual bevel, adjusted from box then 10); Would like to see S30V steel version//////////////////////Music: : http://www.partnersinrhyme.com////////////// Note: Benchmade contacted me immediately upon viewing this video. They are grateful for the honest publicity and very cool about the honest observations I make on the Triage. They are addressing the sharpness issues with all due haste.