Benchmade 4400 Casbah Auto Knife, CPM-S30V Satin Blade

The Casbah side-open automatic knife is one of many new knives released by Benchmade this year. Modeled after the late H&K Patrol auto knife, this design features a textured Grivory® handle scale, a recessed firing button, a front-mounted slide safety design, multiple jimping locations for maximum retention in multiple grip styles and mild finger grooves which further improves upon control. This Black Class model, the 4400, features a black Grivory® (nylon copolymer) handle, stainless steel liners, a drop point style blade in a satin finish and the deep carry pocket clip is designed for tip up carry only but is eligible for a left or right hand carry option. Made in the USA.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Blade Length: 3.4"
• Overall Length: 7.8"
• Blade Material: CPM-S30V Stainless Steel
• Blade Finish: Satin
• Handle Length: 4.4"
• Handle Material: Grivory®
• Weight: 3.4 oz.

The Benchmade CASBAH

This is a brand new knife with a rich history. This knife was designed to mimic, but upgrade the H&K Patrol Automatic knife which had been produced by Benchmade Knives for H&K up until the end of 2016.

Heckler and Koch is a German company that designs and produces handguns, military rifles, submachine guns, and grenade launchers. This company was started with the fall of Germany at the end of World War II. The French Army dismantled the entire Waffenfabrik Mauser AG factory, however, there were three engineers—Edmund Heckler, Theodor Koch, and Alex Seidel who saved everything that they could from the factory. They created their new company under the name of Engineering Office Heckler & Co, but switched it two Heckler & Koch in 1949. By 1956, the West German government needed a new infantry rifle and Heckler & Koch quickly stepped up to the plate. By 1959, their G3 was the standard rifle of the German Army.

Since then, they have been producing some of the best Defense and Law Enforcement Technology and also hunting or sports firearms. In 2002, Heckler and Koch was bought by private owners, Andreas Heeschen and Keith Halsey. These two decided to revamp H&K. They have been focusing on product diversification, and internationalizing their distributions. Heckler and Koch is the leading company for firearms.

While focusing on product diversification, they decided that they wanted to start producing tactical knives. They didn’t have the experience or machinery to actually produce those at that time. They partnered with Benchmade. They worked together to produce an “affordable alternative to the more expensive products under Benchmade’s own brand”. These knives were good quality, but still affordable. The deal between the two companies was that Benchmade would design and manufacture the knives, they would still retain the use of any resulting innovations, but HK would lend its name and branding to the product to get a wider target audience.

This collaboration produced many fantastic knives that have become very popular. One of these knives was the HK Patrol. Recently, however, Benchmade and HK broke ties. From what both companies have released, everything was cordial. While Benchmade is not against some future collaborations, for the time being they are focusing on designing, growing, and promoting solely their own line of knives.

The HK knives were very popular and fantastic knives. While they did discontinue them all immediately, they have been upgrading a few of the designs. One of those is the Patrol. They have renamed the knife CASBAH.

The Blade:

The past blade steel for this knife was a D2 steel. The revamped version of the knife sports CPM-S30V steel. D2 steel is less expensive than the newer option and isn’t quite as hard or tough. While S30V is considered a true stainless steel, D2 is actually only a semi-stainless steel. S30V steel is a fantastic option for this new knife for a variety of reasons. For starters, S30V is a very hard steel. It has been known to be hard on grinders, but because of this, you can be sure that it is going to hold a better edge for longer periods of time. S30V steel has fantastic rust and corrosion resistance properties. Because of these properties, the blade steel is a great option if you are in need of a survival knife. It is a premium steel that is going to be able to stand up to a beating. It can handle extreme conditions better than most other steels. This steel also makes this knife a great option for an everyday carry knife because S30V steel does not require tons of maintenance. While D2 steel is a good steel option, the step up to S30V steel really makes this new version a much higher quality blade. S30V steel is a step up in every single characteristic that D2 sports. While this knife is going to be costlier because of it, each and every dollar is worth it.

The shape that this blade sports was and still is a drop point style. This shape of blade is a great design for your all-purpose knife. It is sturdy and can stand up to almost anything. The drop point shape is one of the most popular blade shapes on the market today. The style of shape gets its name because the back of the blade runs straight from the handle to the tip in a slow curve, creating a lowered point. This lowered point is what gives the blade shape so much strength. The lowered point also gives great control to the tip, so if you need to work delicately, this is going to work for you. Another great thing about a drop point style is that it has a big belly that makes slicing a breeze. Having this belly makes the shape a good option for everyday carry knives, because most of your everyday tasks are quick slicing. Really a drop point shape only has one drawback—a broad tip. This makes piercing a trickier task. Drop point blades are one of the best options for your tactical and survival knives because the tip is so strong and the blade can hold take quite the beating without breaking down.

The Handle:

This handle was and still is made out of Grivory. So what even is Grivory? Grivory is a type of thermoplastic synthetic resins that has been produced and branded by EMS. The material has a stability level of 50% or greater. This is a glass filled resin. Grivory has quite a few great qualities. This synthetic material has higher chemical resistance than most other materials. It has a higher strength and stiffness, even at extremely high temperatures. Compared to other materials, Grivory is very resistant to warpage and it is not as sensitive to moisture absorption. This material can be used in fuel and coolant lines, LED headlights, fuel liner connectors, and many other things. EMS uses this material under the name Grivory and it makes a fantastic knife handle material. You can choose either a blue or black colored Grivory. This material has been texturized so you don’t have to worry about your grip slipping in wet or stressful scenarios. The handle, whichever color you pick will feature stainless steel liners. Stainless steel liners do add a little bit of weight, because it is a heavier steel. But, stainless steel has such great durability and corrosion resistance, that it makes perfect sense to use as a liner material. Because they use a stainless steel as the liner material, it cuts down on time and maintenance.

The Mechanism:

This knife is an automatic knife. That means that it is not going to be legal in all the states and towns. Always make sure you know your local knife laws before purchasing your knife, and especially before carrying your knife. This automatic is a push-button with an integrated safety mechanism. When you push the button on the handle, the knife is activated by a spring that is contained inside of the handle.

The Specs:

The blade on this knife has a 3.4-inch blade that is 0.114 inches thick. The overall length of this knife is 7.8 inches long, with a closed length of 4.4 inches long. The handle on this blade is 0.59 inches thick. The knife weighs 3.43 ounces, which is actually a pretty light knife. The stainless steel liners add a little bit of weight to give you some heftiness behind it.

The Extras:

This knife has a few extra features that really pull the knife together and gives it a level of greatness. First of all, it has a great pocket clip. This pocket clip is a deep carry clip, meaning it is easy to conceal in your pocket. It will also be very secure in your pocket, so you won’t have to worry about losing it. It is a reversible pocket clip, so you can carry it either left or right handedly. But, it is only tip-up carry.

The second extra feature is the lanyard hole that has been drilled into the handle. I would say that this is my favorite feature on this knife for a few reasons. For starters, carrying your knife with a lanyard helps secure your knife against losing it. You can easily securely tie your knife onto practically anything. Another great aspect of carrying your knife with a lanyard is that if you use a bright lanyard, you are going to be able to find it quicker. This will make it easier to find in dark situations or places where your view is obstructed for some reason. Plus, if you are using your knife in wet and slippery scenarios, you can secure the cord around your wrist to help keep your hand from running across the blade. This is when the handle is extremely slippery. One of the greatest reasons to tie a lanyard onto your knife is being deeply carried in your pocket. When your knife is so deep in your pocket, it becomes harder to pull out quickly. This lanyard will give you just a little bit of extra length to grab on to. As an added bonus, your lanyard can be a style statement. You can choose whatever lanyard look you prefer and really customize your knife in a unique way.

Pros of the Benchmade CASBAH Knife:

• ·This knife has a rich history, because it was designed after the H&K Patrol.
• ·The steel is very hard.
• ·The steel is very tough.
• ·The steel is very resistant to rust and corrosion.
• ·The steel is going to hold a great edge for long periods of time.
• ·The steel is a great option for a tactical or survival knife.
• ·S30V steel is a fully stainless steel, instead of the previous semi stainless steel.
• ·Premium steel.
• ·The drop point shape is great for all purpose use.
• ·The blades big belly makes slicing a breeze.
• ·The blade tip is very strong and durable. It can definitely take a beating.
• ·The Grivory handle comes in either blue or black.
• ·Grivory is a very tough, durable material.
• ·Automatic knife means that it will open quickly.
• ·Relatively light knife.
• ·The reversible pocket clip allows for ambidextrous carry.
• ·The handle has a lanyard hole drilled into it.
• ·This knife has an integrated safety mechanism.
• ·This is a great tactical, survival, and everyday carry knife.

Cons of the Benchmade CASBAH Knife:

• ·Because of the upgraded characteristics, it is going to be more expensive than the Patrol was.
• ·The shape has a broad tip, making stabbing or piercing a harder task.

Conclusion:

The Heckler and Koch Patrol was an excellent knife that became very popular. When Benchmade decided to focus on their own line of knives and revamp an already great knife, you know that you are going to have fantastic results. Benchmade started with great handles made out of Grivory, which is a very durable material. They have texturized the Grivory to provide you with good grip. The knife has stainless steel liners to add a little bit of weight and durability. The handle features a lanyard hole, that makes it extra safe to carry. The pocket clip also is reversible, making it an ambidextrous friendly knife. The size of this knife makes it perfect for everyday carry. The patrol was previously fitted with a D2 steel blade, which was sufficient. However, Benchmade wanted the CASBAH to be spectacular, so they shook up the steel and made it S30V. This is a premium steel that has excellent durability, corrosion resistance, and strength. The shape of the blade is a drop point, which makes it an excellent all around steel. Because of the previous design and how Benchmade decided to revamp it, this knife is going to perfect for your tactical knife, your survival knife, or an everyday carry knife. While the Patrol would have been a good addition to your collection, the CASBAH is going to make an excellent addition to your knife collection. Benchmade did a spectacular job with the CASBAH.