Benchmade - Azeria 125 Full Tang/Fixed Blade Knife for EDC Self Defense

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As a purely defensive knife like the TDI, super steels aren't as important as every day users. Get it sharp, use it only when you're forced to, and it will be sharp enough to do the specific defensive job. You don't use a sidearm as a hammer any more than you'd use these defensive knives to break down cardboard boxes.
 
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I think this is basically Benchmade's equivalent of the Ka-Bar TDI, which is something of a specialty knife. The angle of the handle puts it in line with your arm for thrusts, and the wharncliffe blade is highly efficient for point cutting while not really giving much up on a stab.

But I don't know that I'd pay Benchmade prices for a TDI. And you're talking to someone who's carried $500+ customs and considers Benchmade to be an entry-level knife.

N680 is a nitrogen steel. It is extremely corrosion resistant, but edge holding is pretty meh. I think it was probably selected because the knife is anticipated to be carried by physically active individuals, often in deep concealment close to the skin, where it will be exposed to a lot of sweat; but at the same time, it's not a utility knife, so the relative lack of edge holding will not be a factor without daily use.
 
I have one, but it's rebranded as the HK Plan D. I got one on sale for around $50. Things I liked about it was that it is very light and carries well in the supplied sheath. For cutting up boxes for the recycling bin, it's great. For other stuff, not so much so just keep that in mind.
 
Some of my brother officers carried the Ka-Bar TDI as a last ditch close in fighting weapon. Personally, I don't see much use with that design and handle angle other than that.

In that situation, as long as the knife doesn't break, I don't think blade alloy matters very much.
 
I think this is basically Benchmade's equivalent of the Ka-Bar TDI, which is something of a specialty knife. The angle of the handle puts it in line with your arm for thrusts, and the wharncliffe blade is highly efficient for point cutting while not really giving much up on a stab.
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^This^

If that design appeals to you I'd just get the Kabar TDI. Les expensive and works the same.

You could also go with some other style of small fixed blade (Izula or Spyderco Street Beat Etc) and carry it centerline as a F.O. Knife.
 
I'm a fan of versatile knives. Something like the mentioned Street Beat or the larger Street Bowie are much more useful in general. I also feel they make better defensive tools. Both are very lightweight and easy to carry for their blade length.

John
 
Jake38 said:
N680 ... is extremely rust-resistant
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Yes it is, "extremely" might be subjective, but it is at least better than 420. The edge holding is "meh", but then it doesn't need to hold an edge very well when it is purpose designed as a last ditch "get off me" defensive knife.

Here's what Alpha Knife Supply has to say about it -

There are several stainless steels containing nitrogen available to knifemakers. N680 is an inexpensive nitrogen steel.

The advantage of adding nitrogen to steel is corrosion resistance. The nitrogen frees chromium to provide corrosion resistance. N680 specializes in resisting corrosion caused by clorides i.e., salt, sweat, etc. The picture below shows the result of salt spray test:

N680-420CorrosionTest.jpg

The trade off for the low cost and extreme corrosion resistance is edge holding. The edge holding is better than 420, but not as good as 154CM. Excellent edge holding and extreme corrosion resistance are available but cost more.

N680 is easy to grind and heat treat. The steel is fine grained. Paul Bos heat treated N680 for us. Cyrogenic treatment is highly recommended.

N680 was the first nitrogen stainless steel we tested. We have tested several since. Our current favorite is Z-FiNit. Z-FiNit steel outperforms N680 in every way except price.
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N690 is a good steel similar to VG10 from Japan. When we found N690 we bought several pieces and had them shipped to us. We gave the steel to knifemakers to test. The results were good. We now have access to large sheets. N690 is sometimes compared to 440C. I don't think 440C is a good steel for comparison. VG10 is much closer.
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Speedo66 said:
Some of my brother officers carried the Ka-Bar TDI as a last ditch close in fighting weapon. Personally, I don't see much use with that design and handle angle other than that.

In that situation, as long as the knife doesn't break, I don't think blade alloy matters very much.
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Blade ain't gonna break it's full tang. It's used like you would be punching someone. Nothing special no training needed
 
You can also pocket carry small fixed blades. I have a Spyderco Ronin that I have a couple pocket sheaths for. Just get them made or make one yourself.

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At work I can't carry a gun, so I usually have a folder (boxes, packaging, seatbelt, straps or whatever) and one for defensive use.
 

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I have this. Actually, I have the earlier HK-branded model, which they called the Plan D. It carries well clipped inside a front pocket, sometimes I'll carry it in the left pocket, opposite my gun. It's small, flat, generally goes unnoticed.

I have used it for general warehouse work, it's angled well for opening and breaking down cardboard boxes, plastic bands, and that sort of thing. It holds and edge okay, and it's easy enough to resharpen. I don't recall what steel is used, but like HSO said, it's primary function is self defense, so that's not really important.
 
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