Home / Knives / Benchmade Dresses Up Proper Slipjoint

Benchmade Dresses Up Proper Slipjoint

May 8, 2019

Benchmade has unveiled two upscale additions to their popular Proper model line, the 318-2 and 319-2. These premium variations bring upgrades to both the handle and blade steel of the modern slipjoint.

Design wise, the 318-2/319-2 emulate the dimensions and details of their predecessors. The first big change is the swap in handle scales. Instead of G-10 or Micarta as we’ve seen previously, Benchmade decided to machine contoured carbon fiber scales, and underneath the scales themselves even upgraded the liners, hitting them with an eye-catching bronze PVD coating. While the Proper was always a genial pocket companion, these carbon fiber-suited models weigh even less than the originals, at 2.11 oz. for the clip and 2.16 oz. for the sheepsfoot.

But the biggest difference on this new pair of Propers is the blade steel. Benchmade stepped it up from S30V to S90V, which has been around the knife scene for several years but still earns its super steel designation with the superb edge retention one should expect from the upper echelon of blade steels. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Benchmade implement this particular CF/S90V combination. The classic 940 also received a similar update some years ago, designated the 940-1. These additions bring the total number of non-limited Proper models up to six.

According to Benchmade the 318-2 clip point will be available on June 7th. The sheepsfoot 319-2 will follow at the end of the month, June 28th. MSRP for either version is set at $240.

Knife in Featured image: Benchmade 318-2 and 319-2 Proper

Related Items