I was lucky enough to be sent one of Benchmade’s Boost folders for an initial look. Stay tuned for a long-term review in the coming months.

The Benchmade Boost folding knife.

Benchmade is no stranger to folding knives. I carried a Griptilian many, many years ago while on active duty and it’s nice to see that their quality hasn’t declined. The Boost family of knives comes in several lengths and finishes; here we’ll examine the 590.

Benchmade Boost 590 folding knife with Versaflex handle.

The Boost is an everyday carry folder featuring Benchmade’s assisted opening, AXIS Assist. The handle of the knife is made of Versaflex and has a rubberized texture for added “grippyness” to help maintain control when you flick the knife open. The blade locks with the familiar Benchmade slide mechanism and also has a “lock out” feature that won’t allow the knife to deploy when engaged, or if engaged on an open knife won’t let the blade close. This is a nice touch for some of the more clumsy wielders. The handle has also incorporated an ambidextrous mount for the deep concealment pocket clip, and a lanyard hole.

The Boost’s blade is made of CPM-S30V, widely regarded as some of the best blade steel available. CPM-S30V is 58-60 HRC, making it an excellent choice for the daily grind (see what we did there?). As for the blade design, Benchmade fitted the 590 with a drop point and a 3.7” long cutting surface. It’s .12” thick and it has an ambidextrous thumb assist.

Benchmade Boose 590 folding knife blade.

Out of the box, the Boost is razor-sharp, as expected. The contours of the grip make it feel comfortable in the hand, and the tackiness of the grip is welcomed. At 4.6 ounces the Boost is a little heavier than I prefer for an everyday carry knife, but the assisted opening and lock are a fair trade-off. I look forward to keeping this one in my pocket for the next couple of months.

Benchmade Boost 590 features are as follows, per the manufacturer.

Benchmade Boost 590 Description and Specs:

The Benchmade website description is lackluster and anemic at best, though the specs are spelled out clearly.

[The Boost 590] Dual Durometer handles greatly increase grip performance while maintaining strength on this fast-action assist. Made in USA.

The description on Amazon (where it has 4.5 stars out of 5, with 20-some reviews as of this writing) is much better.

HIGH-QUALITY: The CPM-S30V stainless steel blade is extremely well-balanced, offering superb edge qualities and rust resistance. The Grivory and Versaflex dual durometer handle greatly increases grip while maintaining strength.

WELL-DESIGNED: The Boost 590 is a fast-action assisted-opening knife. It can be opened and closed quickly with either hand.

ALWAYS READY: The 590’s quick, one-handed opening makes it easy to hold and use. The reversible pocket clip offers ultimate accessibility.

VERSATILE: The Boost 590’s drop-point, utility blade style and all-around functionality make it ideal for everyday carry.

GUARANTEED FOR LIFE: Benchmade’s Limited Lifetime Warranty and LifeSharp Service keep your knife in the best condition. If your knife needs repair or sharpening, Benchmade will take care of it. Available for knives purchased from an authorized dealer.

• Designer: Benchmade
• Mechanism: AXIS Assist
• Action: Assisted-opening
• Blade Steel: CPM-S30V (58-60 HRC)
• Blade Length: 3.70″ (9.40cm)
• Blade Thickness: 0.120″ (3.048mm)
• Open Length: 8.52″ (21.64cm)
• Closed Length: 4.83″ (12.26cm)
• Handle Thickness: 0.70″ (17.78mm)
• Weight: 4.59oz. (130.12g)
• Blade Edge: Plain
• Blade Finish/Color: Satin
• Blade Style/Shape: Drop-point
• Clip Type: Deep-Carry
• Clip Position: Reversible Tip-Up
• Glass Breaker: No
• Handle Material: Versaflex
• Lanyard Hole: Yes
• MOLLE Compatible: No
• Sheath Type: None

AC

♚

The Boost varies in price depending on where you order it from, and when. We’ve seen prices fluctuate. The drop-point 590 is on Amazon.com as of this writing, within an entire Benchmade section.

We’re set up as affiliates there, so making your purchase thataway will also help us out a bit.

This article was originally published on our companion site, Breach-Bang-
Clear.