Benchmade Infidel Review: Is It As Good As It Looks?

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By Elijah Langford •  6 min read

It is no secret that a knife can have a countless number of functions. Whatever it is that you need for your knife to accomplish, it is important that the quality of the knife is up to any and every task that you might have in store for it. In this review, I will be reviewing the Benchmade Infidel to see just what it can do.

There are a lot of knives to choose from out there, so hopefully this will help to give you an idea about this particular knife and the features that make it different. Let’s start by taking a look at the features of the knife.

TACTICAL FIXED KNIFE DETAILS
  • Fixed blade construction for strength
  • Full tang construction for durability
  • Anodized aluminum handle
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Amazon.com

Benchmade Infidel Review

Benchmade Infidel review

Manufacturing:

The the Benchmade Infidel is manufactured in the United States.

Blade Style:

This knife is made with a fixed blade. The blade is shaped in a ‘spear-point’ style. The spear-point style blade is made especially for piercing and slicing. This makes the Benchmade Infidel a great choice for hand to hand combat.

Steel:

The Benchmade Infidel is made of D2 Tool Steel. D2 Tool Steel is a high-grade steel with high levels of carbon and chromium. This means that the steel used for the Benchmade Infidel is very wear resistant as well as abrasion resistant. The steel is coated with an epoxy powder to provide extra durability and resistance as well.

Handle:

The handle is constructed with anodized aluminum and has a satin finish. Anodized aluminum is manufactured to be durable and resistant to corrosion.

Grip:

The anodized aluminum handle is textured for added grip. The aluminum itself can prove to be slick, but with the added grooves and texture, the handle will remain in the hand without slipping or becoming difficult to hold in damp situations.

Dexterity:

The Benchmade Infidel is constructed to be a fully ambidextrous utensil. The handle and blade are both symmetrical. This means that whether held upright, or in a downward fashion, in the left or right hand, the angle of the blade remains the same.

Sheath:

The sheath is made of a very durable plastic-like Boltaron material and has a strap with a button closure to hold the knife securely in place. There are cutouts along the edges of the sheath do decrease the weight and to allow for multiple attachment points.

Lanyard Compatibility:

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The knife has an integrated lanyard hole at the base. This will allow the knife to be worn around the neck or easily attached, in various ways, to a pack or other items.

Glass Breaker:

The knife has an integrated glass breaking tool. This is an ‘inherent’ function that is created by the angles of the metal toward the base of the knife. The handle and butt of the knife are shaped in such a way that glass can be easily broken by means of force.

Size Specifications:

The blade is 4.52 inches long and 0.144 inches thick. The overall length of the knife is 9.21 inches. The handle is 0.48 inches thick and the knife weighs 5.11 oz in total.


Pros and Cons of the Benchmade Infidel

Pros

Cons

TACTICAL FIXED KNIFE DETAILS
  • Fixed blade construction for strength
  • Full tang construction for durability
  • Anodized aluminum handle
Check Price on
Amazon.com

What Customers Have to Say About the Benchmade Infidel

Benchmade is a brand that is trusted by most and preferred by many. That having been said, I could not find any disappointed die-hard Benchmade fans. People who bought the Benchmade Infidel were unanimously impressed by how the knife feels in the hand. It is a compact, relatively heavy, good looking knife.

People are impressed by how the aluminum handle feels to hold and the manageability of the knife. Another aspect that people appreciate is that this thing is super sharp. The steel used to construct the blade is literally meant to be able to cut other steel when used correctly.

People also find the lanyard compatibility to be an important feature. The only formidable complaints that I could find about the Benchmade Infidel were concerning the sheath. Some found that the sheath did not fit snugly on the belt or that it was a bit cumbersome. This, however, did not detract from the opinion that people hold regarding the knife itself. Many have said that this knife can handle some pretty serious abuse.


Other Common Questions

Q: What does “full tang construction” mean?

A: A knife that is constructed with a full tang has a single piece of steel that makes up the blade and runs the entire length of the handle. This makes for a stronger and more durable knife.

Q: Can this knife be purchased without the black coating on the blade?

A: Yes. The Benchmade Infidel is available with a coated finish or a plain, polished steel finish.

Q: What is a “fixed blade”?

A: A knife with a fixed blade does not fold, nor does it have a retractable blade. The blade is stationary and must be protected with a sheath.

Q: Can the Benchmade Infidel be used to baton wood?

A: This is not recommended. The knife has a double edge, meaning that the knife does not have a ‘spine’ or dull side that can be struck like those made for batoning wood.

Q: Can this knife be used as a throwing knife?

A: This is also not recommended due to the fact that the handle is heavier than the blade.


Verdict

The Benchmade Infidel is sharp, durable, and built to last. The fact that this knife can be used in either hand and in any direction makes it a great tactical knife, especially in self-defense situations. The steel used to make the Infidel is extremely hard and impervious to breakage. This knife is just as mean as it looks.

With the lanyard hole, the Infidel can be worn in numerous ways and is very easy to carry with any tactical or survival kit. The only ‘problems’ with this knife seem to be matters of preference. Benchmade is known for their quality products and the Infidel does not disappoint.

Though it is not good in some survival applications, the Infidel is a wonderful tactical knife that is great for self-defense. The overall construction of the knife is very sturdy and no-nonsense. The fact that it can double as a glass breaking tool is a plus. Overall, it is a great knife that many would recommend.

Hopefully, this review has helped to give you an idea about the Benchmade Infidel and whether or not it can do what you might need it to.

TACTICAL FIXED KNIFE DETAILS
  • Fixed blade construction for strength
  • Full tang construction for durability
  • Anodized aluminum handle
Check Price on
Amazon.com

Elijah Langford

Elijah is proficient in flintknapping, fire-making, fly-fishing, and foraging. After leaving Arkansas, and then Tennessee to chase the trout he dearly loves, the Colorado Rockies have become his permanent home where he resides with his wife and daughter. Read his full interview here.