Meet the Benchmade Adira folding knives…built to work hard and go the distance in challenging environments or for those whose attention to knife maintenance is somewhat lacking
by Dexter Ewing; photos by Marty Stanfield, Marty Stanfield Photography
The Adira series from Benchmade Knife Company is the their answer to knives that are totally impervious to both saltwater and freshwater environments. The components that make up these knives were carefully selected due to their high corrosion-resistant properties, making the Adira series folders not only functional but they also remove worry for those of you who work or play around naturally corrosive environs.
Currently available in two blade sizes — 3.8 and 3.2 inches — the Adira folders feature blades made from premium CPM MagnaCut. MagnaCut is a high-performance stainless steel known for its unprecedented edge-holding capabilities. It also possesses properties that make the steel rust-free.
The blade lock is none other than Benchmade’s own Axis Lock crossbar lock, the lock that pioneered the crossbar lock trend in folding knives that is so popular at this time. The Axis Lock is both strong and safe — a true steel-on-steel lockup. It’s also an ambidextrous lock by nature, with exposed lock bar ends that can be accessible from either side of the handle.
Finally, the Axis Lock is safe because, when you unlock the blade and rotate the blade closed, the Axis Lock keeps your fingers out of the radial path of the blade. Accidental cuts are eliminated.
The handles are molded from ultra-tough Grivory, a molded thermoplastic material that has a high fiberglass content, making the material very rigid but lightweight. It is a close relative to what is known as Zytel — a common thermoplastic used for lightweight folders.
The handle design incorporates several features that enhance both aesthetics as well as function. Think “hand traction” with various chamfers and contours specifically designed to promote user comfort during extended use. The handle features integral front and rear hand guards to capture the user’s hand and keep slipping to a minimum.
A black coated steel pocket clip affixes to the handle to carry the knife tip up in the pocket. An extra set of clip screw holes are present on the other side of the handle to quickly and easily remount the clip for left-handed users.
A titanium handle spacer adds rigidity to the handle’s overall construction. And to round things off, a paracord lanyard is included for easy access.
The full-size Adira measures 9 inches open while the Mini Adira comes in at 7.4 inches, giving you two distinct sizes for your cutting needs. The Mini Adira is better suited for everyday carry while the full-size Adira is capable of serious work with its added blade length for cutting power. I will also add that the Adira and Mini Adira are also available with a partially serrated blade for those who cut tougher materials on a regular basis.
Both knives also come in two colorways: Depth Blue handles with stonewashed blades and Tempest Gray handles with blue titanium nitride coating. Two sizes, two edge format styles, and two colors. What more could you want for options?
As far as performance goes, the Adira models are a straightforward design, with their ergonomic handle paired with a highly useful drop point blade shape. There is plenty enough blade belly for slicing chores, with the full-size Adira’s nearly 4-inch blade providing ample real estate to manage larger cutting jobs.
In-hand, the Mini Adira feels agile. Combine this with its comfortable carry-ability and this would be the choice should you wish to carry on a daily basis. The full-size model fills the pocket, and you are more aware of its presence than you are with the Mini Adira.
Regarding after-use care, I’m one who always advocates for proper cleaning and drying of any knife. With the rust-free Adira models, wash the knife off with dish soap under running water and put it up wet. The moisture won’t hurt a thing. If you are around water a lot, such as an avid fisherman, you could use the Adira to slice up bait. Rinse the knife off and keep on keepin’ on. You can wait until later to properly clean your knife and do all this without worry of rust on your blade, handle, or handle hardware.
Something must be said about this as a convenience rather than a necessity. As far as edge holding is concerned, MagnaCut certainly goes the distance. So, yes, believe the hype you hear about this blade steel. It does offer maximum edge holding and is fairly easier to resharpen than CPM S30V — another widely used, high-performance blade steel that, unfortunately, is notorious for being a pain to resharpen if you lack the proper equipment and necessary skills. What this translates to is you really don’t have to worry about frequently sharpening your knife while you’re out in the field…or on the water. You can focus on having a great experience as opposed to worrying if your blade is sharp enough to cut more bait or field dress a deer.
Finally, the Grivory handles have rigidity to them, which helps to eliminate flex found in lesser lightweight handle materials.
Overall, I’d say the Benchmade Adira and Mini Adira folding knives are a great choice for anyone who either works or plays around any sort of marine environment as well as perhaps a gift for someone who loves using knives but isn’t as diligent about keeping their knife clean in between tasks.
The full-size Adira featuring Depth Blue handles with the plain or partially serrated blade (18060 and 18060S) runs $250. The full-size Tempest Gray handles with plain or part serrated blade (18060BT-01 and 18060SBT-01) is $260. The Mini Adira in plain or partially serrated blade in Depth Blue handles (18065 and 18065S) as well as the Mini Adira in plain and partially serrated blade in Tempest Gray handles (18065BT-01 and 18065SBT-01) are all $240.
And to enhance the appeal, the Adira and Mini Adira family are all made in the USA.
