The Benchmade Crooked River takes the look of a traditional wood-handled hunting folder and builds it on modern parts: a long clip point blade, the ambidextrous AXIS Lock, stainless liners, and a reversible tip up clip. The classic builds pair contoured Dymondwood, a resin-stabilized wood laminate, with anodized aluminum bolsters, an orange G10 backspacer, and a matching pivot ring. As a folder from the Hunt Series, it is made in the USA and backed by Benchmade lifetime LifeSharp service.
The full size 15080-2 runs a 4 inch CPM S30V clip point, 9.3 inches open and 5.33 closed. The clip point puts a fine, controllable tip up front for work around joints and hide, with enough belly behind it for long slicing cuts. It is a lot of blade for a pocket knife, which is exactly why hunters carry it.
The Mini 15085-2 keeps the same lines on a 3.4 inch S30V blade, 7.89 inches open and 4.5 closed, at 3.29 ounces. It moves easily between the field and a front pocket, which makes it the pick for anyone who wants one knife for deer season and everyday carry.
The BK-04 editions of both sizes trade wood for black canvas Micarta, with Burnt Copper aluminum bolsters and a DLC Battlewash CPM MagnaCut blade. MagnaCut adds toughness and far better rust resistance than S30V, which matters on a knife that lives around blood and weather. For a hunting folder with removable scales that keep the pivot clean, compare the Slipridge.