Benchmade Infidel: Real Deal ?

[CDR_Glock]

The Benchmade Infidel is an intriguing knife. It has a D2 blade but it is thin, albeit double edged. It's usefulness as a defensive knife is rather lacking given it's apparent effectiveness for stabbing/jabbing rather than slashing. Is there any practical use in your opinion, aside from being the flashiest looking letter opener?

I personally favor the Tanto given the slashing and penetrating superiority.

 

[GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL]

If the 'D2' you're referring to is D2 Tool Steel you have a good knife. A knife is not made to be a screwdriver or a chopping axe or anything of that nature. A knife is a knife, whose main purpose is slicing and dicing. If you have D2 Tool Steel for a knife blade you have a damn good knife sir. (or Madam as the case may be)....

 

[hso]

The Infidel is a weapon and not intended for more practical applications. Like any dagger blade it has it's strengths and weaknesses. There is no penetrating "superiority" in what you're referring to as a "tanto". It's simply a marketing myth. Keep in mind that the Infidel isn't the first OTF and that other companies like Microtech have been making them for much longer and in much greater variety.

Keep in mind the Infidel is an auto and may not be legal in your jurisdiction to either own or carry.

 

[CDR_Glock]

It is legal in FL. Other states, not by a longshot.

 

[Gryffydd]

It is legal in FL. Other states, not by a longshot.

Are you saying FL is the ONLY state in the US where it is legal?

 

[janobles14]

the infidel stabs well btw! it just has a let off mechanism when deployed. its one heck of a weapon and well made if you are willing to float the cash for it (which im not even close to being able to do! )

 

[sturmgewehr70]

Go with Microtech! The firing speed and quality blows the Infidel away!

 

[CDR_Glock]

I saw the reviews on YouTube. The Microtech is nice but no one has it locally. We have Keeshaw, Benchmade, SOG, Buck, Cold Steel, locally. I like to see what a knife feels like to handle.

The BM infidel is out. Thanks.

 

[nevermas]

just want to clarify, while carrying an OTF switchblade is legal in Florida, you will need a concealed carry permit to carry it concealed. Otherwise, it has to be open carry.

 

[hso]

nevermas,

Can you provide a link for that requirement?

My understanding is that FL treats all switchblades as common pocket knives and that that there's no restriction for carrying a pocket knife. Even though the OTF type knives don't appear to be very common they'd still fall into that classification because they're not a "ballistic" knife (where the blade becomes detached from the handle).

 

[nevermas]

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes...TM&Title=->2009->Ch0790->Section 001#0790.001

3)(a) "Concealed weapon" means any dirk, metallic knuckles, slungshot, billie, tear gas gun, chemical weapon or device, or other deadly weapon carried on or about a person in such a manner as to conceal the weapon from the ordinary sight of another person.

13) "Weapon" means any dirk, knife, metallic knuckles, slungshot, billie, tear gas gun, chemical weapon or device, or other deadly weapon except a firearm or a common pocketknife, plastic knife, or blunt-bladed table knife.

The wording has changed a little bit to include knife under "Weapon". Also, the common pocketknife wording doesn't appear in "concealed weapon"
http://www.thefiringline.com/library/blades/knifelaws.html

The phrase "common pocketknife" is really open to interpretation (depends on the cop or the jury), and there has been one ruling/case where a tactical knife was ruled not a common pocket knife. J.D.L.R. v State 701 So. 2d 626 (1997).
---
Ok did some more research, apparently there was a ruling by the Florida Supreme Court in 1997 (L.B. v. State, 700 So. 2d 370, 373) that interpreted the phrase "common pocketknife" as a knife with a blade shorter than 4 inches.

So a concealed weapon is any deadly device, including a knife.

But a weapon (non concealed) can be a benchmade infidel with a 3.95 inch blade.

 

[boricua9mm]

To piggyback on nevermas' post, the rule of thumb here in FL is that if you have to ask whether or not it's a "common pocketknife" then the answer is likely "No!"

An assisted opener is one thing, but a dual action OTF knife isn't likely to be considered a "common pocketknife." Either carry it openly or concealed with a permit.

For the OP, if you live in FL, you should know that you CAN purchase an automatic knife from a dealer here in FL and it can be legally shipped to you (within the state)without any legal ramifications. It just so happens that there is a great dealer down in Miami, www.thehollowgrind.com, that can get you a great deal on a Microtech. I don't own an Infidel, but I have handled one. I own several Microtechs. Nuff said!

 

[zignal_zero]

i agree with Nevermas - i'm FL LEO and i would have trouble convincing my co-workers that somebody's OTF is a "common pocket knife" and that we should just leave them alone. if it was MY stop, that's exactly what would happen. well... right after i had a conversations with him about how many cops are NOT bladejunkies lol.

as for carrying an OTF for possible use against human threats, NOT FOR ME!!!!! i like LESS moving parts for ANY equipment that i might need to prevent my death. an OTF has too many for me.

 

[CDR_Glock]

Go with Microtech! The firing speed and quality blows the Infidel away!

I did a size by side comparison between my microtech scarab and the infidel. They were about the same velocity but the microtec is louder with more palpable force.

5000/SBK by Benchmade.

Microtech Scarab:

My Dalton Offering automatic double edged knife:

 

[pitsmile]

as for carrying an OTF for possible use against human threats, NOT FOR ME!!!!! i like LESS moving parts for ANY equipment that i might need to prevent my death. an OTF has too many for me.

In favor of less moving parts here, too. OTF is good for the collection.