Benchmade has added a new hunting knife family to its lineup, and the Benchmade SlipRidge Fixed looks like one of the company’s most purpose-driven field knives in years. It combines a 3.7-inch CPM-MagnaCut drop-point blade with a full-size handle, multiple grip positions, and a sheath system designed around field dressing and big-game processing.
The SlipRidge is not trying to be a giant survival knife or a lightweight EDC blade. It is a premium hunting knife built for skinning, opening joints, working around bone, and breaking down an animal in the field.
Benchmade offers the fixed blade by itself or as a combo with the separate SlipRidge Hook. Hunters can also choose between traditional stabilized wood and highly visible Rust Orange G10 handle scales.
The design looks promising, but this is still a first look—not a long-term field review. Until the knife has processed deer, elk, or other big game, its real-world edge retention, comfort, and sheath performance remain open questions.
Benchmade SlipRidge Fixed Specifications
Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
Knife type | Fixed-blade hunting knife |
Blade length | 3.7 inches |
Blade shape | Drop point |
Blade steel | CPM-MagnaCut stainless steel |
Blade hardness | 60–62 HRC |
Edge | Plain edge with Benchmade SelectEdge |
Handle options | Stabilized wood or Rust Orange G10 |
Construction | Full tang |
Sheath | Modular Boltaron sheath |
Optional tool | SlipRidge Hook made from 440C stainless steel |
Fixed-blade price | $275 |
Fixed-blade combo price | $350 |
Prices and availability can change. Benchmade’s SlipRidge family was introduced in September 2026.
A Hunting-Focused MagnaCut Blade
The centerpiece of the SlipRidge Fixed is its 3.7-inch CPM-MagnaCut blade. Benchmade heat-treats this MagnaCut stainless steel to 60–62 HRC, a useful range for balancing edge stability, toughness, and field sharpening. MagnaCut has become one of the most desirable modern knife steels because it offers an impressive mix of corrosion resistance, toughness, and edge retention across grades.
That combination makes sense in a hunting knife. Field dressing exposes a blade to moisture, blood, hair, connective tissue, and occasional contact with bone. Hunters need an edge that stays sharp without becoming so brittle that a minor twist or impact causes damage.
The SlipRidge uses a drop-point profile with a high tip and generous belly, a shape that improves control and precision during skinning and processing. A close-up of the knife shows how the angled tip meets the curved cutting edge, creating a profile that should work well for long skinning passes while reducing the chance of puncturing the hide or internal organs.
At 3.7 inches, the blade is large enough for processing deer and elk without becoming cumbersome. Longer blades may look impressive, but they can make detailed work around joints and inside the body cavity more difficult. The SlipRidge’s moderate blade length should give hunters a practical balance of reach and control.
Benchmade SelectEdge
Benchmade equips the SlipRidge with its SelectEdge sharpening geometry. The goal is to create a sharper, more efficient cutting edge for applications where slicing performance matters more than brute-force chopping.
That approach fits this knife. The SlipRidge is designed to cut hide, meat, and connective tissue—not split firewood or pry apart heavy material. Hunters should still avoid twisting the edge against bone, regardless of MagnaCut's strength.
The factory edge should arrive ready for field use. Benchmade says every Benchmade knife begins with high-grade steel laser-cut for precision before each blade is meticulously ground, beveled, finished, and hand-sharpened at its facility in Oregon City, Oregon. That manufacturing process helps explain the premium price and the manufacturing excellence behind every edge.
Benchmade backs its knives with the LifeSharp program, which combines a limited lifetime warranty with free sharpening and maintenance for eligible knives. Owners can contact Benchmade customer support or use the Benchmade customer-support chat to confirm service instructions before sending a knife in. Hunters who maintain their own edge should use appropriate hand-sharpening methods and follow Benchmade’s recommended angle.
Made in Oregon City
Benchmade knives are proudly crafted at the company’s state-of-the-art facility in Oregon City. The SlipRidge follows the same production approach used across the company’s premium lineup: high-grade steel is laser cut, machined, heat-treated, meticulously ground, finished, and inspected before the knife leaves the factory.
Readers who want to see more of the company’s design and production work can also explore Benchmade’s Beyond the Bench stories and any official product video showcasing the knife’s features. An exploded-view image would be particularly useful here because it can show the full-tang blade, handle scales, fasteners, and sheath components more clearly than a standard product photo.
Designed for More Than One Grip
The most interesting part of the SlipRidge may be its handle and choil design. Benchmade added a deep finger choil and contoured pinch points that allow the user to move closer to the blade.
That matters when switching between different field-processing jobs. A normal hammer grip offers leverage for longer cuts, while choking up on the blade provides more control when working around joints or making careful opening cuts.
The handle looks substantial without pushing the knife into oversized territory. That should help hunters wearing light gloves and anyone with larger hands. The real test will be whether the contours remain comfortable after prolonged cutting and whether the handle develops hot spots when it becomes wet or slick.
Stabilized Wood or Rust Orange G10
The SlipRidge Fixed is available with two very different handle styles.
Stabilized Wood
The stabilized-wood version has the classic appearance many hunters want from a premium fixed blade. It pairs a traditional handle with modern MagnaCut steel, giving the knife a more refined, heirloom-style look.
Stabilizing the wood improves its resistance to moisture and dimensional changes, but it is still the dressier of the two options. Hunters who appreciate traditional rifles, leather gear, and natural materials will probably prefer this version.
Rust Orange G10
The Rust Orange G10 model is the more practical choice for hard field use, even though Benchmade also offers an OD Green G10 option elsewhere in the broader SlipRidge line. G10 is tough, stable, and highly moisture-resistant. The orange color is also easier to locate when the knife is placed on leaves, grass, or the bed of a truck.
A bright handle can prevent a very expensive mistake at the end of a tiring pack-out. For hunters focused on visibility and low-maintenance performance, orange G10 is likely the better choice.
The SlipRidge Hook Combo
Benchmade also sells the SlipRidge Fixed as a combo with a dedicated field-dressing hook. Instead of cutting a hook into the spine of the main knife, Benchmade created a separate skeletonized tool from 440C stainless steel.
The hook is meant for controlled opening cuts. It can help open the hide while reducing the chance of cutting into internal organs. Keeping the hook separate also leaves the SlipRidge blade clean and uninterrupted for skinning and breakdown work.
This is a smart setup for hunters who regularly use a gut hook. Those who never use one may be better served by buying the fixed blade alone and saving $75.
The hook and knife share a modular Boltaron sheath. That keeps the combo compact, but it also creates the biggest early concern. Reaching past a second exposed cutting tool while drawing the main knife may feel awkward until the user becomes familiar with the system. Any hunter buying the combo should practice drawing and returning both tools before using them in a wet, low-light field-dressing situation.
The SlipRidge is a cutting tool, not a pry bar, screwdriver, chisel, or punch unless a knife is specifically designed for one of those jobs. Using the angled tip to pry can damage even high-quality MagnaCut steel and may void the warranty.
Benchmade SlipRidge Folding Hunting Knife
- Useful 3.7-inch hunting blade
- Drop-point profile with plenty of belly
- Multiple grip positions for detailed work
- Full-tang fixed-blade construction
- Choice of classic wood or visible orange G10
- Compact optional field-dressing hook
- Modular Boltaron sheath
- Benchmade LifeSharp service and warranty support
Potential Drawbacks
- $275 is expensive for a dedicated hunting knife
- The $350 combo will be difficult to justify for hunters who rarely use a gut hook
- The shared sheath may make the knife draw feel crowded
- Long-term edge retention and comfort still require real field testing
- Stabilized wood is attractive but less visible than orange G10 if dropped outdoors
Check Amazon for the latest Benchmade SlipRidge availability
Buyers should confirm the model number, handle material, blade steel, and seller before ordering. Do not assume another Benchmade hunting knife is the SlipRidge simply because it appears in the same search results.
Price, Shipping, and Customer Support
The regular price is $275 for the SlipRidge Fixed and $350 for the combo with the separate field-dressing hook. On Benchmade’s product page, shoppers can select a handle, choose Add to Bag, review available ratings and reviews, and check the latest shipping estimate.
Benchmade currently advertises fast, free shipping and 60-day returns on qualifying direct orders, with in-stock knives generally shipping in one to two business days. Shipping, return eligibility, and delivery time can change, so confirm the current terms at checkout. The combination of free shipping, 60-day returns, lifetime warranty coverage, and free sharpening adds value to an otherwise expensive hunting knife.
Who Should Buy the SlipRidge Fixed?
The SlipRidge Fixed makes the most sense for hunters who want a premium, American-made field knife and are willing to pay for MagnaCut steel, refined ergonomics, and Benchmade service.
Choose the stabilized-wood model if traditional styling is a priority. Choose the Rust Orange G10 model if visibility, wet-weather stability, and easy maintenance are more important.
The $350 combo is best for hunters who already know they like using a separate field-dressing hook. Everyone else should consider the standard $275 fixed blade, which delivers the main advantages of the SlipRidge without adding another sharp tool to the sheath.
Benchmade SlipRidge Fixed vs. a Folding Hunting Knife
Benchmade also offers a folding SlipRidge with a 3.5-inch MagnaCut clip-point blade, weighing about 4.17 ounces. The folder is easier to carry and may cross over into everyday use, but the fixed blade remains the stronger choice for repeated field processing.
A fixed blade has no pivot or lock to collect blood, hair, and fat. The folding SlipRidge uses Benchmade’s AXIS lock for ambidextrous one-handed opening and closing, and it rides with a deep-carry pocket clip. It is easier to rinse, simpler to inspect, and ready to use as soon as it leaves the sheath. The folder’s liner construction, full liner construction, removable scales, and optional carbon fiber handle swaps also make cleaning and customization easier, even though the fixed blade remains simpler in the field. For hunters who expect to process an entire animal, those advantages usually outweigh the added carry size.
The folding model makes more sense for someone who wants one premium knife for hunting, camp chores, and everyday carry. The fixed SlipRidge is the more specialized tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
What steel does the Benchmade SlipRidge Fixed use?
It uses CPM-MagnaCut stainless steel, a premium knife steel known for its combination of toughness, corrosion resistance, and edge retention.
How long is the SlipRidge Fixed blade?
The drop-point blade measures 3.7 inches, a practical size for skinning and processing deer, elk, and other game.
How much does the Benchmade SlipRidge Fixed cost?
The fixed blade is priced at $275. The combo with the separate SlipRidge Hook is priced at $350.
Does the SlipRidge come with a sheath?
Yes. Both handle versions include a modular Boltaron sheath. The combo sheath also carries the separate field-dressing hook.
Is the SlipRidge Hook built into the blade?
No. It is a separate skeletonized 440C stainless-steel tool. This keeps the primary drop-point blade free for skinning and meat processing.
Which handle is better for hunting?
Rust Orange G10 is the most practical choice because it is durable, moisture-resistant, and easier to find if dropped. Stabilized wood offers a more traditional appearance.
Is this a full review?
No. The SlipRidge is newly released, and a complete judgment requires an entire hunting season and real animal-processing work. Current conclusions should be treated as first impressions based on its design, materials, and early handling.
How should I care for the SlipRidge?
Clean and dry the knife after field processing, then apply a light knife-safe protectant as needed. Avoid aggressive polishing compounds unless Benchmade approves them for the exact finish. Even a quality semi-chrome metal polish can alter a stonewashed or coated surface. Never use the blade as a screwdriver, chisel, pry bar, or punch.
The fixed SlipRidge has no pocket clip, but owners of the folding SlipRidge should inspect its hardware periodically because handle, pivot, and pocket-clip screws may loosen with use. A small amount of removable thread locker can help keep fittings secure when applied according to Benchmade’s instructions.
Final Thoughts
The Benchmade SlipRidge Fixed looks like a serious hunting knife rather than a general-purpose blade dressed in hunting colors. Its 3.7-inch MagnaCut drop point, deep choil, pinch points, and full-size handle all serve a clear purpose in the field.
The price is high, and the combo sheath deserves careful evaluation. Still, the underlying knife appears well designed for the hunter who wants control, corrosion resistance, and dependable cutting performance in a compact fixed blade.
The Rust Orange G10 version is the practical workhorse, while stabilized wood gives the SlipRidge the classic appearance of a knife worth keeping for decades. If field testing confirms the early promise, this could become one of Benchmade’s strongest dedicated big-game knives. Order yours today!
