Benchmade's "Explosive" new Bushcrafter Knife- The EOD

For 2015, Benchmade Knife Company has added a new version of the 162 Bushcrafter knife to its line called the "EOD." The EOD, which stands for "Explosive Ordnance Disposal," was developed after Benchmade got word that members of the US Navy's EOD team in California were using original 162 Bushcrafter knives to cut C4 Plastic Explosives. I don't know about you, but I think that's a pretty wild way to use the Bushcrafter. Apparently, EOD team members appreciated the Bushcrafter's combination of cutting performance, rugged build quality, size, S30V stainless blade, and G10 handles.

A member of the US Navy's EOD Team trains for bomb removal:

(photo credit: US Navy)

After Benchmade sat down with some of these Navy Bushcrafter aficionados, they decided to create a new version of the Bushcrafter with a couple of minor changes suggested by the EOD guys. 

One of these changes was to ditch the original leather sheath for a new kydex sheath. A better choice since the guys spent all of their time in and around saltwater:

Because the EOD guys were using the knife for decidedly "less bushcrafty" tasks, no firesteel loop was required on the sheath. This also serves to lighten the knife's carry weight, important when they have to wear heavy, gargantuan super suits designed to withstand a close perimeter bomb blast!

Another minor change was the handle color. The red liners were removed and the color switched from the original Bushcrafter's green to coyote brown.

Everything else about the new EOD Bushcrafter knife remains the same as the standard 162. You can check out our full review of the original Bushcrafter knife here. Bombs away!

Cheers, Jason

For more information, visit www.benchmade.com/products/162-1

About the author

Jason Schwartz is the founder and senior editor of Rocky Mountain Bushcraft. He is a former Red Cross certified Wilderness & Remote First Aid Instructor, and has taught bushcraft and wilderness survival techniques to the Boy Scouts of America, interned with the US Forest Service, and studied wilderness survival, forestry and wildland firefighting at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, Colorado. Jason has also written for magazines such as The New Pioneer and Backpacker, including writing the "Tinder Finder" portion of Backpacker's "Complete Guide to Fire," which won a 2015 National Magazine Award (NMA). Email him at rockymountainbushcraft @ hotmail.com (without spaces)