The Benchmade Triage 916 Knife might be one of the best tools to have on hand in an emergency. Even the name “Triage” implies the three main purposes of this folding knife, which include a flip-out strap cutter, carbide window breaker, and rugged, purpose-built blade. Grippy G10 handle scales, backed with full stainless steel liners, inspire confidence because of their rigid construction. The simplicity and power of the AXIS blade lock make blade deployment and folding nearly effortless.
Thankfully, we have not been in (or had to create) a “situation” to use this knife as it was designed. After our own testing and use, we find it very reassuring to know that having this knife clipped in a pocket could literally prove the difference between life and death.
Benchmade Triage 916 Knife Features
The Black Class of products from Benchmade were designed for special purposes and extreme duty. Vocations like law enforcement, public safety, emergency medical response, firefighters, and military personnel should come to mind. This is not to say that “regular Joes” can’t appreciate these blades too. The Benchmade Triage 916 Knife belongs to the Black Class for good reason. This dynamic tool really works well as an EDC (everyday carry) since it includes a sharp blade, but even more so because it raises the bar on what an EDC knife can do.
When we first flicked the blade out, it had the appearance of being twisted. Further examination showed that the blade features what Benchmade calls an opposing bevel grind. In other words, if you were to take a cross-section of the blade, it would look much like a parallelogram. This was accomplished by giving a chisel grind on the bottom sharp edge and a chisel grind false edge on the top opposite side. This style edge makes for a very strong, thick blade that lends itself well to flush cutting and slight (we said slight!) prying applications.
The flattened-off tip provides yet another place to leverage in an emergency prying situation and minimizes the possibility of puncturing or poking with the tip. There’s nothing worse than trying to free somebody trapped in a car and accidentally filleting them in the process—not good.
The primary blade is made of a type of steel that is known commercially as N680. It is a chromium-molybdenum-based stainless steel that also has vanadium and nitrogen added in the mix. What does that mean? Well, the additional alloying elements give N680 stainless steel excellent corrosion resistance, especially in salt water and other highly corrosive environments.
It is also extremely hard. Practically speaking, that means it has high wear resistance and the ability to preserve a keen edge. It’s obvious (at least to us) that this knife is purpose-built from the start just from the blade material selection. Blades are offered in matte-finish stainless steel and black with cutting edges that are straight and partially serrated.
The handle of the 916 Triage is made of black textured G10 material that is backed with full 420J stainless steel liners. We are seeing more and more that G10 is becoming a favorite handle material choice, and for good reason. It is an extremely durable material that is made up of layers of fiberglass soaked in resin that is then compressed and baked. It is absolutely impervious to moisture and stable in almost any environment. For the 916 Triage, both black and emergency orange color options are available, but no matter which you choose, the G10 provides good looks and an amazing grip.
Benchmade put its AXIS locking mechanism in this knife, and we think it ranks among the best locking systems available. We love the fact that it’s so simple to use with either hand and offers such a positive lock-up every time. While this is not an assisted-opening blade, flipping it open is easy with the ambidextrous thumbstuds. Ingeniously tucked away in the lower backside of the handle, almost as a surprise, is a hook-shaped safety cutter that is deployed by flipping it out by means of a low-profile thumbstud.
To keep this knife in easy reach, there is also a reversible clip that keeps the knife in a tip-up orientation in your pocket. Last but not least, a small pointed carbide glass-breaking tip completes this rescue tool ensemble.
Testing and Use
While the Benchmade Triage 916 Knife is marketed towards emergency and rescue professionals, we actually found that for the “average Joe” or a contractor, this is a great EDC (every day carry) knife. It was easy to get distracted at first with all the functions and features, but once we put it in our pocket, it seemed to disappear until we needed it. The handle is barely a half inch thick, and the clip design allowed the knife to ride low and flat in our pockets.
At first, it seemed to us that this knife should have had some kind of assisted blade opening, but with a little practice, we found that we could flick the blade out with speed and ease. On top of that, it’s possible that an assisted blade mechanism could potentially be a problem, given the intended use and the need for simplicity and ruggedness. We can’t praise the textured G10 handle scales enough either. Even after frequent use and handling, the scales have retained their texture and grippiness. Wet hands and gloves are no problem either with this easy-to-grasp knife.
While no real emergency situations came up in our testing period (whew!), we did find some ways to simulate what this knife could do. We used it to cut rope, seat belts, nylon straps, cloth, duct tape, and fiberglass ductwork. It’s amazing what you can find in a junkyard and in the worksite dumpster. All was done with ease. The knife arrived razor sharp, but since we have used it so much over the last month or so, we actually had to sharpen it again.
While Benchmade does offer free sharpening service, we figured we would give it a try. Given the nature of many of the stainless steels out there, getting a sharp edge can be tricky if not downright difficult. This was not the case with the Triage 916. While we did have to use a slightly different procedure to get the edge right, since most of the sharpening happens from one side due to its chisel grid, we found that honing a new edge was fairly easy.
Conclusion
If you want to be an adult Boy Scout and always be prepared, leave your Swiss Army knife at home and pick up the Benchmade Triage 916. We found many attributes that are likeable to this knife beyond the obvious built-in features. The texture of the G10 handle scales was among some of the best we have experienced, and the handle profile and size instill a sense of confidence. What’s more is that when folded and stowed in your pocket, you will almost forget it’s there until you need it again.
Benchmade delivers top quality, which you can discern by the silky smooth blade opening, complete absence of blade wiggle, and arguably one of the best locking systems on the planet. The AXIS lock works easily, with either hand every time. For the rescue or emergency response professional, this knife should be at the top of your list. It could even help you save a life. For everyone else, if it’s good enough for the pros, it’s good enough for your to-get list as well.
