Benchmade
Benchmade Bugout 535
$200
Best Pocket Knives · head-to-head
Benchmade Bugout 535 vs Cold Steel Recon 1
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Cold Steel Recon 1 is cheaper at $169.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Cold Steel
Cold Steel Recon 1
$169.99Cheaper
Which is better: the Benchmade Bugout 535 or Cold Steel Recon 1?
The Benchmade Bugout 535 wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Cold Steel Recon 1 is the cheaper at $169.99. Get the Benchmade Bugout 535 for the stronger spec sheet, the Cold Steel Recon 1 to spend less.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Benchmade Bugout 535 | Cold Steel Recon 1 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $200 | $169.99 |
| Brand | Benchmade | Cold Steel |
| Released | — | — |
| Blade length (in) | 3.24 | 4 |
| Blade steel | CPM-S30V | CPM S35VN |
| Lock type | AXIS lock | Tri-Ad lock |
| Opening mechanism | dual thumb studs, ambidextrous manual opening | dual thumb studs, ambidextrous manual opening |
| Blade shape grind | drop point, flat grind | clip point, flat grind, DLC coated |
| Handle material | Grivory (glass-filled nylon) | G-10 |
| Closed length (in) | 4.22 | 5.375 |
| Weight (oz) | 1.85 | 5.3 |
Sources — Benchmade Bugout 535: benchmade.com (verified 2026-08-11). Cold Steel Recon 1: coldsteel.com (verified 2026-08-11).
What's the difference between the Benchmade Bugout 535 and Cold Steel Recon 1?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (7 of 8). Matching specs are omitted.
- Blade length (in): Benchmade Bugout 535 3.24 vs Cold Steel Recon 1 4
- Blade steel: Benchmade Bugout 535 CPM-S30V vs Cold Steel Recon 1 CPM S35VN
- Lock type: Benchmade Bugout 535 AXIS lock vs Cold Steel Recon 1 Tri-Ad lock
- Blade shape grind: Benchmade Bugout 535 drop point, flat grind vs Cold Steel Recon 1 clip point, flat grind, DLC coated
- Handle material: Benchmade Bugout 535 Grivory (glass-filled nylon) vs Cold Steel Recon 1 G-10
- Closed length (in): Benchmade Bugout 535 4.22 vs Cold Steel Recon 1 5.375
- Weight (oz): Benchmade Bugout 535 1.85 vs Cold Steel Recon 1 5.3