Let’s get this out of the way first: The Benchmade Infidel is a self-defense knife. Period. I don’t recommend using this knife for cooking, camping, or even opening your Amazon packages.
I once worked in customer service for GovX.com. It let me get to know our audience of Americans with military, first responder, and law enforcement backgrounds, and it was an opportunity to learn how they used the gear and apparel available on our site. With that in mind, I often received calls from customers who had purchased the Benchmade Infidel, complaining about how the automatic open and closing mechanism had stopped working.
Use the Benchmade Infidel the right way
After discussion with our friends at Benchmade’s HQ in Oregon, we learned the likeliest reason for the failure of the mechanism was because customers were applying downward pressure on the blade. The same way one might use a cooking knife to slice vegetables.
It might seem counter-intuitive to open a review of one of GovX’s finest knives by talking about customer complaints. But I do so to provide you with honest information. This is not a multipurpose EDC knife. The single purpose of the Benchmade Infidel is self-defense.
That’s why police officers top the list of GovX members who buy this knife. In dangerous situations where an officer might not have immediate access to his or her firearm, or close-quarters fights, the rapid out-the-front action of the Benchmade Infidel could mean the difference between life or death.
Out-the-Front automatic action
The Infidel’s most distinctive feature is what makes it serve the purpose of a self-defense knife: The Out-the-Front automatic opening action, or OTF. Since the Infidel’s arrival way back in 2006, Benchmade has continued to produce more OTF knives, but the Infidel remains the company’s front-runner for this style of weapon.
The action is self-explanatory: Push the button up to unleash the blade, and pull it down to retract back into the handle. The double-action open and closing mechanism was engineered brilliantly. It locks the blade securely in place when deployed, and the sturdy steel liners guide the blade out of the handle. The button can be used by both lefties and righties and opens with a satisfying momentum that doesn’t feel unstable.
I’ll admit, I was intimidated when I opened the blade for the first time. Just an anxious moment when I thought the knife would jump out of my hand … but the moment the blade deployed I kept a confident grip on the handle. The action was surprisingly lightweight. I realized the only person the Infidel should intimidate is whoever it might be used against.
To reiterate, this is a personal defense weapon. I won’t beat around the bush: The double-edged spear-point dagger is for inflicting bodily harm, whether against another person or a predatory animal. Benchmade uses D2 tool steel on the Infidel, a high-carbon “semi-stainless” steel with terrific hardness. This blade won’t lose its edge. Not for a while. And the tip of the blade is needle sharp, designed for piercing and stabbing without losing its point.
Carrying the Benchmade Infidel
Benchmade designed the handle to support the blade’s purpose as a self defense tool. The ergonomic, ambidextrous T-6 aluminum has plenty of ridges for an extra confident grip. The extra wide handle at the bottom prevents it from slipping out of your hand in a dicey situation.
As far as stowing options go, the Benchmade Infidel is open to customization here. While the push button and the handle are ambidextrous, the pocket clip is not. The carry tip-down pocket clip is for right handers who want to carry the infidel in their pants pocket. You can also choose to run it on your plate carrier or duty belt using the included MOLLE-compatible Cordura sheath.
Conclusion
The Benchmade Infidel is a high-end choice for knife enthusiasts and uniformed professionals who want extra defense on their side. Designed for intimidation, the Infidel will last you years of service. So long as you promise to use it correctly and avoid cooking dinner with it.