Home / Knives / New Benchmade 591 Boost 591 is for the Working Person [UPDATE]

New Benchmade 591 Boost 591 is for the Working Person [UPDATE]

April 19, 2019

[UPDATE 4/19/2019: added new commentary from Benchmade on the design and implications of the 591]

Benchmade has just added the new 591 model to its Boost series of knives. This variant targets workers who need to rely on a durable, edged tool for hours a day, and comes with some unique tweaks to serve that market segment.

The 591 emulates the handle, visual cues, and opening mechanism of the standard Boost, which featured a unique approach to ergonomics from the start. “The 590 was designed from the start to be a ‘hand tool,'” explains Benchmade’s Matt Glass. “The handle ergonomics are more rounded than you’ll see on most pocket knives.  That coupled with the material makes the handle feel more like a tool than a knife.” Glass is referring the 590 and 591’s dual durometer construction, a pairing of a hard polymer handle to a softer, rubber-like Versaflex insert – although rather than the standard gray/black coloration the 591 has an eye-catching red/black scheme.

A blade shape comparison between the 591 and the original Boost reveals the biggest change to the new model. The standard Boost packs in a large, 3.7-inch drop point blade made from what we now know is the company’s line-standard steel, S30V. But the 591 opts for a smaller blade, measuring 3.43 inches long and made from super durable 3V we’ve seen on several recent Benchmade models, including the Puukko and the Bailout.

Benchmade modified the normally-pointy end of the 591’s blade to make it into a prying tool. That meant thickening the steel and getting rid of the point. Furthermore, the entire edge is chisel ground, which could reduce the chance of damaging the edge during prying tasks but also makes it easier to touch up that 3V edge quickly. “We have seen what mechanics do with their knives, so the pry tip design is leaning into what we have seen,” Glass tells us. “Sometimes to get the job done, the best tool is the one that’s close by and in your pocket.”

We asked the company if the idea of a pry-ready blade is something that might make its way into other new designs. “The design team won’t rule out additional uses of this, as they chose the right blade style for the intended purpose of the knife,” notes Glass. “Both the Triage and the Boost have an opposing bevel design option, as they are truly tools of a trade that find the prying use a needed feature. “

The 591 comes in a single configuration, with a coated blade and red/black color scheme. MSRP is set at $190.

Knife in Featured image: Benchmade 591 Boost

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