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Benchmade Bushcrafter 162
#4 — Best Premium Bushcraft Knife

Benchmade Bushcrafter 162 Review (2026)

S30V steel and a contoured G10 handle that stops your hand hurting on day three

★★★★★
9.2/10
Reviewed by William • Updated August 2026 $260

The Bushcrafter is aimed at people who use a knife for hours rather than minutes. The handle is deeply contoured with a palm swell that fills the hand, which is the difference between comfortable carving after twenty minutes and a hot spot after two hours. The S30V blade holds an edge far longer than the carbon steels most bushcraft knives use, at the cost of being harder to touch up in the field. At $260 it competes with knives costing half as much on capability and wins on comfort and edge retention.

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$260 retail
TrailCraft Score

What Works

  • Contoured G10 handle is the most comfortable here for extended use
  • S30V holds an edge dramatically longer than 1095
  • Full tang with a thick 0.16in spine
  • Excellent leather sheath included
  • Benchmade LifeSharp free sharpening service

Limitations

  • $260
  • S30V is harder to sharpen in the field than carbon steel
  • Drop point grind is less ideal for fine feather sticks than a true Scandi
  • 7.7oz is heavy for backpacking

At a Glance

TypeFull-tang fixed blade
BladeCPM-S30V, 4.4in
GrindFlat, drop point
HandleContoured G10
Weight7.7oz / 218g
SheathLeather
WarrantyBenchmade lifetime + LifeSharp

Score Breakdown

Value for Money
7.8
Build Quality
9.8
Edge Retention
9.4
Usability
9.6
Versatility
8.8

What Sets It Apart

Handle comfort is the thing you cannot judge from a spec sheet and the thing that decides whether a knife is pleasant on the third hour. Most bushcraft knives use a simple oval handle that works fine briefly and raises blisters during sustained carving. The Bushcrafter's palm swell and finger contour eliminate that, which is most of what the price buys.

S30V steel and a contoured G10 handle that stops your hand hurting on day three

Who This Is For

Bushcrafters who carve for hours, anyone with hand fatigue from simpler handles, and buyers who want premium steel with a lifetime sharpening service.

Note: Prices are current as of August 2026. Some links are affiliate links.

Also Consider

See the full comparison

All 39 options in this category ranked side by side.

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Common Questions

Is S30V hard to sharpen?
Harder than 1095 or 12C27 — it needs diamond or ceramic stones rather than a simple pocket stone. It also needs sharpening far less often.
Bushcrafter or Morakniv Garberg?
The Garberg does 90% of the job for $110. The Bushcrafter buys better steel and a much more comfortable handle for extended work.