I don't get why people are so phobic towards small knives, I love them. If I'm gonna do some real work I'll bust out a fixed blade, who does super heavy work with a folding knife anyways??

I actually like the orange because it's a "safe" color. When I get this knife out in front of people it doesn't seem scary because it's safety orange, like a traffic cone. The murdery factor on this is extremely low which is nice as someone who works in an office.

As a backpacker, this is perfect. Super light, decent steel, and easy not to lose due to the bright color. I currently take a spyderco dragonfly.

Nick Shabazz's disassembly and maintenance of the Benchmade Mini Bugout brought me here.

The thumb studs aren't ripe yet.

Benchmade, please listen to Nick and put the Bugouts on the customizer thing. Carbon fiber with 20CV would be amazing.

I subscribed for the accent and voice of this man. I found knowledge.

Fully agree w/ your review, Nick. I have many other high-end knives, but LOVE my new CF-Elite version of this. It's just so easy to carry - my only fear is that it will end up in the wash, because I forgot it was in my pocket.

Great review! I've sent emails to Benchmade already telling them, "GET THE BUGOUT ON YOUR CUSTOMIZER!!"

I was doing some work in my friends yard today and he gave me one of these knives. I love it.

After resisting getting a Bugout for almost 2 years, I relented and gave myself one for Christmas. I was going to get some orange scales until this one was announced. It's smaller that my Mini Griptilian and exactly the same size as my CRK Inkosi small which is about as small a knife as I would would go for EDC. Normally I have to loosen the pivot about 5 to 10 degrees so that the blade will fall shut, not this time. My Mini Grip doesn’t fall shut without a little wrist and I thought it might have been because the blade was so light, I guess not. I’m very happy that Benchmade produced this one and selected my favorite color for the scales. I swapped the hardware with my blue Bugout for a complementary contrasting accent on each knife. This Mini might wind up in a tie for third position with the Bugout in my extensive collection behind my Brown Exponent and Benchmade 943.

I had lock stick on my full size CF Elite Bugout. A bit of tuff-glide seems to have fixed the issue.

The new CF Elite Bugout was my first Benchmade... broke the Springs in 2 weeks and the lock was gritty as hell.... Got a Mini Presidio CF Elite and I love it... But I'm not giving up on the Bugout. I put in new springs, polished the tang & lock bar... and through trial and error found that it is the smoothest with No Lube... Actually a little graphite from a pencil worked the best... I'm going to order some graphite lube. I think the Mini would be a great EDC for my wife, when they release a black scale. Great Videos!

the orange makes me want it even though i don't need it

I love these mini Bugouts. I have three, one CF black, one orange and the white and black. I like the scales, the colours and the feel in hand. I did put Fly Titanium micarta scales on the CF one. All of my Bugouts have come perfectly centred.

Very sharp little knife, no pun intended, I love the orange and emerald orange thumb stud

beautiful little knife, can’t wait to see your scales swap, which doesn’t mean I don’t like these...👊🏻🙋🏻‍♂️👍🏻

Great review and always and solid points made! We gata convince BM to get the bugout on the custom builder!!!

Got one gifted to me yesterday...same color and I love it

You make a good point about the scales being pinched. I can pinch my delica 4 together even with steel liners..no body makes a big deal about that.

My regular bugout has zero lock stick, but my new SOCP folder has it pretty bad. Anyone know if it's using a titanium lockbar?

I like the look of the knife and blade shape but they just lost me on the quality control. And the color. I don’t have a lot of money so good reviews are much appreciated!

Gratz on 100k subs Shabazz!

LBH has taken on a new meaning: “Little Bugout Hands”

Serious question: Of these two, which would you pick? Mini Bugout OR FRN Chaparral. Trying to decide on a lightweight EDC in this size and decent steel. You give both high praises.

Hunter here. Like you say, this is very interesting to me, I started off thinking "cool, BM designed a knife specifically for me" although in the time between you posting this on insta to now I've kind of decided that I can't replace my little Falkniven U2. Maybe not as shiny but with everything that's going on just now... Ah, I just don't know.

ive read that the titanium axis lock bar is for weight reduction, however much of a difference that may make....

I agree, different color options would be good,od green would be cool.

Just bought one today in orange at REI. I am more of a fixed blade guy, but this is a nice little knife. Also bought the Saddle Mountain Skinner.

Nick ur a gem...it will look good with the black carbon fiber and that orange stud

Hey Nick, I need your thoughts on something. I just received this and I have to say I'm really disappointed with it. The axis lock literally Locked up within 5 flips. Tear down and try to fix or just return it?

Benchmade sent me a new Axis bar on my first regular 535 when they came out. I flicked it open and shut like 1000 times until my thumb hurt and it didn't smooth out so they sent a new one. It was "grinding" along the rounded part of the blade and sticking like crazy. Felt like sand stuck in the action almost.

thanks for review! appreciate

I going to wait for Advanced Knife Bro to baton with a Mini BugOut before I make my final judgement.🤣

where did you get that mini scale from thanks

Nice review. I am going to pick one up if my mini-grip ever goes away, but not compelling enough to purchase on its own. When are you going to review the whippersnapper??

I got mine in the mail a couple of days ago. I opted for the stormtrooper version. Mine, surprisingly, came with a dead centered blade, a great action and no blade play. I know, wow! But the white scales bugged me so I decided to Rit dye them a nice dark green. Great review Nick!

Hey Nick, re the lock stick - lightly scrible in the lock bar with pencil lead or s Sharpe and see if that helps. I remember reading that worked for some Strider knives years ago. Find orange if you can... lol.

At that price it’s unacceptable to have to be adjusted by the end user. Knives less than half the price don’t require any of that.

I'd like to get one of these for my son as a knife for him to carry, hopefully for the rest of his life... What would be the best steel to get?

When I get one I plan on reply the scales with either black or OD green aftermarket scales

Mini blade in the standard bugout handle for length laws?

Nick... I like the SHOUTY ORANGE handle...

Perfect color for hiking.

Nick back in April 2016 you reviewed the BM 531 Pardue; that knife and a similar one with a dagger sorta blade had G-10 scales and are really in the size range of the Bugout. I've long felt they were the ancestors of the Bugout. In fact, partly due to your review back then I have the two Pardue designs. And a totally blacked out (or as Frankie would say, 'murdered out') Bugout. I would love to see maybe a fast and quick video by you comparing them... waddya say?

I carry the storm trooper version of this knife and a griptillian everyday. I absolutely love both of them. The mini bugout handles all the small day to day tasks like opening packages and cutting zip ties like a champ.

I screenshot this and superimposed it, and it appears the length of the cutting surface of the blade is nearly the same size as the Para 3’s. Maybe a mm or 2 shorter. Is that accurate? Or is it a bigger difference in real life due to the camera angle? UPDATE: According to Knifecenter, the cutting edge on P3 = 2.63” and the cutting edge on BM = 2.75”

The configuration tool still doesn't have the 940😑 The company as a whole I feel very mixed on but I do really like the 940. The reverse Tanto shape is perfect for what I use it for. Protech Newport is very good and much better in other ways but it doesn't have quite the belly of the 940 although it's 99% as good at my tasks with the wonderful action and Protech quality. Even though I don't have any restrictions on knives here, I think I may be purchasing a calmigo as well.

Love the color of scales! Love the thumb stud colors. Blade lil small for me, glad the reg Bugout blade is right in my wheelhouse at 3.15 inch and won’t end up buying this. The Achilles heel is the omega spring. Some do break wich renders knife useless. Still worth the purchase as it’s a great knife. LOVE THE ORANGE!! LOVE EVEN MORE THE ORANGE THUMB STUDS!!

Great video

I guess like everything they went up in price, to $160. Do you still like the mini Bugout? Thanks

"It's a beautiful thing" :D I love it :)

bought the Bugout and thought at first they sent me the mini. i really do like it so small and light and know the mini would be to small for me. i think the orange color is great.

Hey nick, would love to see a review on the yookers metis refillable felt tip pen, it uses normal fountain pen ink!!

Welp. This mini bugout costs 30 Bucks more than the large one here in Germamy.

I have the mini Grip, the Bugout and the Chaparral. They are all good, even all gems, but the Chaparral is still the king in my mind.

I'm a fan of the ti lockbar for two reasons. First, I want this to be a super lightweight knife, ti is super light. Second and more importantly, titanium is a non-reactive metal. Won't rust, corrode, etc. For a knife that will be with me on the trail for months at a time, that matters a lot. Great knife!

I have yet to read Ben's thoughts on the Mini since he was asking BM about one since the BugOut's day one, but since he came out with the WE Banter he probably could care less.🤣

i think the coated blade is 136 that one goes for about 116-119. which makes a big difference in my opinion of it being over priced or not. 119 is a perfect price for that knife.

Hey Nick... wondering if you could get a Benchmade 535BK-4 Bugout in your possession and give us, beloved and faithful viewers, your take on it!

Something more obscure, the Kizer Sliver Sunburst is a classy high value knife & I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I like the Halloween color scheme :) This knife is so thin and light you can carry it in your shirt pocket, lol

Lots of hate on benchmade. I bought a Grip when they first came out (2001?). All my buddies said it would break its cheap it won't last. Almost 20 years later its never let me down. 20 years of actual use. Maybe I got lucky. My 940 is getting on in years and has been just as solid.

Afternoon, Nick - I'm admiring this one, it just might be my first Benchmade! Unfortunately, these cannot be shipped to my home state. On second thought - this seems overpriced? Thanks for these episodes...

I want the spyderco rat no. ll !

the orange handle would look so much better with a black blade

My mini grip had lock stick when I first got it too. It’ll wear off I’m sure.

Went through 3 warranty replacements from benchmade. The action felt like sandpaper on all 3 as well as awful lock stick. I told them my concerns about using titanium for the lock pin and they just ignored me. They upgraded me to a 940 but it was like sandpaper with bad lock stick as well, along with very deep machining marks on the blade and an off center edge. Sold it and bought a Spyderco Para 3 in S35VN and have never looked back. I have also since picked up a Para 3 Lightweight and believe it is superior in nearly every way.

Size Matters ;) with different scale colour i would definitely get that one. The original was a bit to big for me. That looks like the perfect fit.

While waiting for this the SOG Terminus XR came out. It's half the price so I have both the D2/G10 and the S35Vn/Carbon versions.

Thanks for sharing

Let me know if you dye the scales, while I like orange, this orange just seems “off”!

Yeah 😎 it’s truly is a gem 💎!

I own this knife. Honestly out of all my knives, this one is my Kryptonite. I cut myself with this thing too often lol it’s always when I go to close it. It grazes my lower palm religiously in the same exact spot but I still continue to carry it as my backup edc. Its a love/hate relationship.

Love the orange. RIT dying that material is easy, though

Thanks for another great review Nick. Gotta agree with you on the shortcomings, it might be a great knife but definitely not something I'd buy. I've spent a few thousand on Benchmades over the years and enjoyed most of them: their best small edc was the 705 by McHenry & Williams (I gave several of those away as gifts). Unfortunately, they discontinued that model a few years back. No matter, I don't see my small Sebenza getting bumped out of its edc position anytime soon. Though you have made curious about Civivi's offerings.

I’m looking at the Mini Bugout or the standard Bugout. I would use the knife the most at work for opening boxes/cardboard. I have to wear dress pants, so I’d assume the mini Bugout would be best for me? I don’t have tiny hands, but I don’t have ginormous hands either. I would use it mostly at work, but would be nice to use when I go camping occasionally.

Probably will get one of these. Wasn't real impressed with the Bugout, but this mini-Bugout is interesting as far as EDC carry.

Benchmade has had quality control problems for years, and they charge you a premium price for the privilege of these issues, you know, like a Range Rover!

Benchmade should put the full size and this mini in the custom shop

I’ve bought 6 knives in the last 2 months. 2 of those are Bugouts. I love this design, BUT the titanium lockbar is ridiculous. Apparently the heat treat must be difficult or something, but one knife is fine while the other is grinding my lockbar into powder. Now, they want me to ship my knife to them during a pandemic when they could just ship a new lockbar out. This is a common problem. Keep an eye out for it, Nick.

I like the orange scales.

I've yet to grab myself a "mini bugout"... although I do have TWO full size Bugouts, #1 is the BladeH.Q. exclusive Blackout Bugout & #2 is the KnifeCenter exclusive Battlewash Bugout. I do absolutely LOVE the Bugout but that being said out of all of my Benchmade knives, I never had an omega spring snap on me but on BOTH of my Bugouts, the same omega spring on the show side on both snapped🤔🤔🤔 Weird things happening there...

Standard Bugout at 117$-ish was bit on the pricy side while price of 137$ on this one is a good thing?

Strangely I like the orange it looks cool

It should be 40% cheaper nothing about justifies the current price.

I'm curious nick, how is it the price on this is fine? Yet the original bugout you commented it was overpriced and it's more blade than this? Not sure I see the logic there. Cheers

Hey nick just letting you know there's a knife shop near me using your thumbnail pics to sell there items lol just thought you may wanna know

Trying not to let all the orange hate make me sad... 😜😜 but seriously, I'm intrigued you like it as much as you do. Pretty cool little knife, if I can swallow the price I may get one... but what color? 🤔🤔

I remember when the original blue one came out at 115 usd and it was considered overpriced. Now the mini one is out an its 120 and more expensive than the mini grip, im sorry but i dont see the value in material. I guess the value in design makes up for it

Hands down best basketball shorts knife out there.

2020 is getting crazier by the day. Never thought nick would give a benchmade a positive review. I asked a benchmade employee why they don’t put a lot of knives on the custom shop. Their response....it’s a lot more labor and pain in the a**

I found this exact knife underneath the Thirsty Goat Bar in Lajitas Golf Resort in west Texas. I used to work Maintenance there and I literally just found this knife lying there. I snagged it as quick as I could. FREE BENCHMADE KNIFE!!! 😃 Who'd of thunk?

Love your SMP 300. Are you also a watch enthusiasts? Btw I had a problem with Benchmade. They're quality control is not good. Sometimes you will get a lemon but, I still love my Griptillian that's the only Benchmade in my collection, sold the rest.

The Rogue bladework scales are really nice, but be prepared to wait a long time for them. I’ve ordered scales for the full size bugout from them in the past and it took about 5 months to get both orders. I’d also recommend some flytanium screws for the bugout too if you want to customize it further.

I personally dont get the attraction to the Bugout. I owned the BHQ blackout version and it was fine, it cut nicely but it felt kinda flimsy and the action was nowhere near as good as the mini Freek. It got a lil better when I upgraded to G10 scales but I still found myself picking up the Delica more. Ultimately I sold it and still dont regret it. Plus I've been having a rash of my axis lock knives breaking omega springs and the wont send replacements, I have to mail my knife in. I dont really see a mini bugout being better since I thought the OG was too small and I only have medium sized hands

So when will a mini bailout be a thing. Or an extra large bugout. Or the medium bugout.

Your scope of people who use knives is a little slim, Nick. I'm a scenic carpenter, I make sets for TV and build them in dark sound stages. There is no part of my job, or my life, where a high vis scale is a bad idea.

Quite the hefty butterfly tax

The price tag makes this one hard for me to swallow. One hog can do a made in the USA knife with CPM 20 CV and G 10 it’s very hard for me to spend $136 on a bench made with S 30 V and FRN.