Every year I look forward to a couple of new knives from Benchmade and every year they come up with something cool. This year it's the "Switchback"--which won the prestigious "Knife of the Year" award from the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence.

The innovation this time is a two-blade design with a normal primary locking blade that is 3.4" long. On the back of the handle is a secondary 2" blade that does not lock. There are a couple of distinctive features. Lock-back knives have almost always been plain and black, but this time the aluminum handles are anodized to a pleasing blue color and tastefully embellished with a little scroll-work. The stainless steel pocket clip can be placed on either side

To me, the single most important feature of a pocketknife like this is it be capable of one-handed operation. Benchmade's excellent Axis lock makes this a piece of cake. Instead of the more common spring mechanism, the Axis lock consists of a pair of buttons on either side of the handle just below the blade's pivot point. When the blade is opened they pop forward a bit to lock it. To close all you need to do is pull the buttons back a little with your thumb and forefinger. The way I do it is to unlock the blade and then close by pressing the back-side against my pocket. But be careful, they're really sharp.

I've never been accused of great fashion consciousness but my knife is decidedly stylish.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Publishers' Development Corporation
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

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