← Comparisons
Head to head

Benchmade Bugout 535 vs WE Knife Kitefin

Benchmade Bugout 535 runs a 3.24″ drop point blade in CPM-S30V; WE Knife Kitefin runs 3.24″ of drop point in CPM-S35VN. The Benchmade Bugout 535 is the lighter of the two by 1.03 oz.

01234567 in
  • Benchmade Bugout 535 · Drop Point
    3.24″ blade · 0.09″ spine · 1.85 oz · ~0.95″ tall
  • WE Knife Kitefin · Drop Point
    3.24″ blade · 0.1″ spine · 2.88 oz · ~0.79″ tall (derived) · family outline
Spine thickness, same scale
0.09″
0.1″
Length and spine thickness drawn to true scale from published specs. Outlines traced from makers' photos, except where marked as the shape family's.
SpecBenchmadeBenchmade Bugout 535Check priceWE KnifeWE Knife KitefinCheck price
Blade length3.24″3.24″
Spine thickness0.09″0.1″
Overall length7.46″7.49″
Closed length4.22″4.25″
Weight1.85 oz2.88 oz
Blade shapeDrop PointDrop Point
SteelCPM-S30VCPM-S35VN
GrindFlatHollow
LockAXISFrame Lock
Handle materialGrivoryTitanium
Country of originUSA—
Price bandPremiumPremium

Tinted rows are where these two differ.

The steel difference

CPM-S30V

The long-time American benchmark. Holds an edge far longer than 420HC and still sharpens on ordinary stones. Chippy if you pry with it.

CPM-S35VN

S30V with niobium swapped in for some vanadium: slightly tougher, noticeably easier to sharpen, marginally less edge retention.