By Jodi Stemler
At a private event during SHOT Show, Benchmade Knife Company announced a new knife that could be the one do-it-all blade that hunters can carry in the field. I got a chance to handle the knife during a private meeting in their booth before the launch event—but only after signing my life away that I wouldn’t talk about it until after the public announcement. Without actually using it in the field, it’s hard to know if the knife will hold up to the hype. However, I can say it was lightweight, gorgeous, and wicked sharp, and I have a feeling their proprietary technology used to make the blade could withstand the torture test that is field-dressing and deboning an animal in the backcountry.
So, what makes this knife different?
The knife is a riff off Benchmade’s well known Saddle Mountain Skinner, but what makes it different is its Codex87 Horizon Edge. This is a brand-new concept in blade innovation that uses a first-of-its-kind application of a bi-metal blade technology through selective steel application along a single cutting edge. If you’re confused it’s OK, Benchmade explains this concept pretty clearly.
Unlike traditional single-steel blades, the Codex87 Horizon Edge introduces a fused bi-metal construction, in which the base blade steel Hakkapella Damasteel, is combined with a separate steel, Rex121, applied specifically along the cutting edge. Benchmade’s patented blade design uses a laser to fuse a secondary alloy powder along the edge of the blade. This process creates one unified blade that behaves as a single structure while delivering two distinct performance advantages.
One section of the edge is engineered for high hardness and wear resistance, optimized for fine slicing and long-lasting edge retention. Adjacent areas are tuned for strength and toughness, providing the durability required for tasks such as prying or breaking down game.
This selective use of materials directly addresses a common challenge faced by hunters: balancing precision cutting with strength without carrying multiple tools. Codex87 Horizon Edge solves that problem by integrating both capabilities into a single blade.
“At its core, the Codex87 Horizon Edge challenges the idea that a knife must rely on a single material to do everything,” said Vance Collver, Director of Knife Culture & Innovation at Benchmade. “Knives are among humanity’s oldest tools, but the way we make them doesn’t have to stay static. This technology allows us to selectively apply extreme materials where they matter most; pairing razor-sharp cutting performance with the toughness required for harder use and unify them into one working system.”
Having different knives for different applications has been the norm for breaking down an animal in the field, but carrying multiple knives in the field adds weight to a pack. As a result, many hunters have either carried all the cutting tools they may need—or made the decision that they’ll use the same knife knowing full well the precision for specialized meat cuts might be compromised when the same blade is dulled when cutting through a joint, or even using for miscellaneous tasks like cutting nylon or other random materials.
Despite being designed to be so purpose-driven, this knife is gorgeous. The handle is a lightweight wood that fits comfortably in the hand. The blade has a Damascus steel finish clearly conveying its strength and durability while also being beautiful. The sheath is a sueded leather stitched on the edges with leather lacing with a belt loop to keep it in close reach without it getting in the way.
As Benchmade’s press release concludes, “The innovation used to create the Codex87 Horizon Edge lies not in novelty for novelty’s sake, but in how high-tech methods are applied to solve real-world material challenges, allowing Benchmade to explore extreme steels and deploy them selectively for maximum performance. Currently unmatched in the market, the steels themselves are well understood and purposefully selected to create the perfect choice for those looking for a knife with extreme edge retention, high hardness, and high wear resistant material.”
Keep your eye out for the full announcement when the knife is officially released.