Make A RUKUS
Neil Blackwood designed the Skirmish. Originally it was a custom knife with a 5.5 inch blade. The Benchmade versions (Large and Mini, 4.25 and 3.75 inches) are smaller but have the same attitude and beautiful looks. Many Benchmade fans, though happy with the Skirmish, wanted a big bad Blackwood design with an Axis lock. The RUKUS is the answer.
Pictured is the full-size RUKUS. It has a ~4.25 inch blade and a very long handle. G-10 and Micarta grips give it a very unique custom look. The knife is also available in a Mini version, and also with a stain finished plain edge (rather than the black coated combo edge pictured).
The big RUKUS is a handfull. It is so long that you need deep pockets to carry it. It is also a little cumbersome to open. The blade and handle are so long that opening the blade via the thumbstud rotates it out of the range of your thumb (or, mine at least). You have to choke up on it to reach. However, one cannot deny the advantages of a larger knife. It can cut many things far easiler with fewer sawing motions (due to a longer draw), it can chop much easier (due to the higher blade weight), and it can be superior for self defense, though that is not why I carry a knife.
The Mini version is much easier to carry and less cumbersome to use for many tasks. However, it is still a big folder. Do not think about the Mini Griptilian when you think Mini RUKUS. Much difference sizes!
There are also different scale materials you can buy from Benchmade, including wood and carbon fiber.
The ergonomics are pretty good on the RUKUS, but not great. The knife is very wide and has several hot spots. For someone with larger hands than mine, however, the knife would likely fit better.
As with all Axis lock knives there is some blade play, but it is minimal. Due to the sheer size of the RUKUS handle, the handle also wobbles a bit (from liner to liner). I doubt this would lead to a failure, but the knife does not feel solid overall.
Still, few knives can match the sheer impression of the RUKUS for the money. However, I prefer the Skirmish.
Hi Brandon,
well i can´t see how you can tell, that all AXIS knives have blade play. Regarding many comments on different internet knife forums almost everybody states the oposite.
I have some axis folders and can not agree, that all Axis knives have blade play. If yours have, better contact Benchmade because in general, they don´t.