Lighter and Better Performance
The carbon fibre Freek is noticeably lighter in the hand compared to the standard Freek. The fit and finish are excellent. The blade is centre perfect and the pivot mechanism is very smooth. The knife comes razor sharp and scored 75g on a BESS test. This is described as a straight razor level of sharpness and can easily shave hair. The edge is “toothy” and equates to an edge applied with a coarse stone. This improves the cutting ability . If Benchmade have deliberately chosen to give a coarse finish (it feels like a 400 grit edge) then top marks to them! This has been proven to be the best type of edge for longevity in use on catra edge retention tests. This maximises the S90V steel which has the highest edge retention for a stainless steel at 9 and toughness at 3.5 on the Larrin Thomas tests. This is the PhD guy who developed Magnacut and is his favourite stainless steel for edge retention. So when you combine this with the carbon fibre grips and carbon fibre is stiffer and 5 times stronger than steel - you start to see why I selected the title. This knife feels lighter and potentially not as sturdy as the normal Freek but is actually potentially stronger. I say “potentially” because the CPM M4 steel scores a 6.5 on toughness and a 6 on edge retention and has a slightly longer tang at the back of the blade to sit under the axis lock slide button. The S90V tang is fully under the axis slide button but there is not a noticeable lip as there is on the M4. As both are squarely under the lock slider I see no difference in strength to the lock for battoning here. Where there may be a difference is in the screw bar which abuts the back of the blade when it is open. The M4 version is likely a steel bar and screw. The DBK testing of that version definitely shows it to be as tough as steel would be. They have not tested the carbon fibre version and for weight saving the screw may be a lighter alloy? I have battoned the carbon fibre knife on small diameter sticks to achieve kindling with no issues at all. However, I have not gone “full on” like the DBK tests have done. There is no need. This knife design is sturdy enough to let you prep wood for a fire and open up the sternum on a deer carcass when gralloching if you have not got a gralloch saw to hand for this task. That is plenty tough enough. The knife excels at the cutting tasks. The edge retention enables the lower leg joint cuts to remove the hooves at the knee to be done for a good number of deer before needing sharpening. I have just stropped the edge to date to bring it back. This cut quickly dulls knives like Mora’s or Opinel’s as the steel is softer. The S90V is said to be 62 to 64 Rc which shows in the edge retention. This is ideal for this type of use. You will benefit from sharpening on a diamond stone at this level of hardness. Silicon Carbide stones will take longer but can do the job. Aluminium Oxide stones longer still and may struggle. The knife is worth investing in a good diamond stone. It carries “unnoticeably” in your pocket. I prefer to keep it in a nylon pouch. Avoids scratches and lint and keeps the blade sterile for gralloching. This is an excellent knife. Highly recommended.