The brand emailed back within 24 hours, and we got the ball rolling. I had an email out to Benchmade asking to test it before the video was even over.
Toward the end of the video, he gives a quick look at the new CLA. Andersen of KnifeCenter fame posted a video that gave us all a first look at a handful of the new knives coming from Benchmade this year. First ImpressionsĪt January’s SHOT show, David C. I’m a fan of the OD Green, which is complemented with both Coyote Tan and Black accents, but the Ivory version is something to admire. Both configurations support Benchmade’s EDC and Tactical classifications for the CLA.
#BEST EDC AUTOMATIC KNIFE UPGRADE#
This is the right move, as the automatic action on this knife is impressive, if not initially intimidating.Īside from the upgrade to MagnaCut, the 2023 CLA comes in either OD Green G10 or Ivory G10. Neither of these provides as much structure for the knife as they do the action itself.
On the lock side, there is a tapered plate that extends back about 3 inches. On the CLA, button side, there is a steel plate that extends back from the pivot 1½ inches. (Photo/Nick LeFort)Īdditionally, this knife carries some Benchmade standards: a button lock, blade lock, and a deep carry pocket clip. The pivot is reinforced to compensate for the auto opening, but otherwise, the G10 scales create the framework for the knife. The CLA has G10 handle scales and a DLC Battlewash MagnaCut drop-point blade. And it is unquestionably Benchmade’s best offering this year. In short: After almost 5 months of testing, I am convinced the new Benchmade CLA with MagnaCut steel is perhaps the best EDC knife of 2023. People were not surprised, nor were they deterred. It would also add about $130 to the price tag. Life couldn’t get much better until, in February, Benchmade announced it would upgrade the CLA steel to MagnaCut with a DLC Battlewash finish. It had G10 handles and a 154cm drop point blade - materials that assured buyers that the CLA was premium, practical, and ready for abuse above and beyond the regular needs of a knife owner. The CLA marked a successful attempt to create an automatic that was equally well-built but used composite handles to bring down the weight and bulk.Īnd over the last 8 years, the CLA made its way into the pockets and hearts of folks looking for a workhorse EDC. Previously, Benchmade was known for stellar, but bulky, automatic knives with aluminum handles. When it first launched, the CLA (Composite Lite Auto) was Benchmade’s first nonmetallic-handled automatic. And the brand also came out with some new knives, like the Immunity lineup and the soon-to-be-classic Narrows.įor me, though, one knife stood out above the rest (and not just because of its DLC Battlewash blade and OD green G10 handles): the CLA. From color schemes to blade steel, the brand’s 2023 catalog was an expanded array of Bugouts, Bailouts, Barrages, and beyond. Benchmade decided to make 2023 the year of upgrades.
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