Benchmade 15004 Saddle Mountain Skinner w/ Hook (USA)

Knife feels great in your hand and comes super sharp. I haven’t used it to see how the edge holds up, but on first impression I love it!!

The knife is top notch, just as you'd expect from Benchmade. As this is designed to be a working tool and not a showpiece it doesn't have a mirror finish but is quite smooth and easy to clean. The handle scales have no gaps attaching to the tang to gather dirt or goop. The model I ordered have the resin impregnated scales (Dymondwood) so worries about weathering or water damage.

My only knock is the sheath. It doesn't have the problems mentioned earlier about the point digging out the bottom. This is somewhat different. The sheath is a work of art in its own right and is designed SPECIFICALLY for this knife. Seriously, it fits like a glove and looks gorgeous. Holding the sheath upside down and shaking it doesn't drop the knife.

It's the "fits like a glove" part that is the trouble. This knife is RAZOR sharp. Inserting the knife and extracting it from the sheath causes the edge to rub against the edge side of the sheath and the knife's edge will cut small slivers of leather from that side. There's no preventing this, the sheath is simply has too much shape and fits too snugly to prevent it.