Benchmade 3550SBK Pardue Auto – 154CM Push-Button Automatic Knife
The Benchmade 3550SBK Pardue Auto is a compact push-button automatic knife from Mel Pardue's long-running collaboration with Benchmade. Press the button and the 2.98" 154CM spear point fires from the handle and locks open, ready to work. An integrated safety lets you block the button when the knife is stowed.
The black combo edge pairs a plain forward section for clean slicing with rear serrations that bite through rope, webbing and other fibrous material. Machined 6061-T6 aluminum keeps the handle rigid at 2.80 oz, and the black anodized finish holds up to daily pocket carry.
Key Features
- 2.98" 154CM stainless spear point blade, black coated, combo edge
- Push-button automatic deployment with integrated safety
- Black anodized machined 6061-T6 aluminum handle
- 2.80 oz carry weight, 7.10" overall length
- Removable steel pocket clip, tip-down carry
- Mel Pardue design, made in Oregon City, Oregon, USA
Specifications
- Model: Benchmade 3550SBK Pardue Auto
- Blade steel: 154CM stainless, 58-61 HRC
- Blade length: 2.98"
- Blade thickness: 0.090"
- Blade shape: Spear point, combo edge, black coated
- Handle: Black anodized 6061-T6 aluminum
- Opening: Push-button automatic with safety
- Closed length: 4.10"
- Overall length: 7.10"
- Weight: 2.80 oz
- Origin: Made in the USA
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an automatic knife?
An automatic knife, sometimes called a switchblade, deploys its blade from the fully closed position at the press of a button or switch, driven by an internal spring. The Benchmade 3550SBK Pardue Auto is a side-opening automatic, so the blade swings out from the side of the handle rather than sliding out the front.
How does the push-button automatic on the Benchmade 3550SBK work?
A coil spring holds tension on the blade while a plunge lock catches it in the closed position. Pressing the button releases that catch, the spring swings the blade open and the lock re-engages to hold it there. The Benchmade 3550SBK Pardue Auto adds an integrated safety that blocks the button so the knife will not fire in a pocket or pack.
Are automatic knives legal?
It depends entirely on where you are. Automatic knife laws vary by country, by state and sometimes by city, and they have changed in many US states in recent years. Confirm the current rules for your location, and for anywhere you plan to travel, before buying or carrying the Benchmade 3550SBK Pardue Auto. Going Gear cannot advise on the law where you live.
Is 154CM a good blade steel?
154CM is a proven American stainless steel that Benchmade has used for decades. It holds a working edge well, resists corrosion and sharpens without much fuss. On the Benchmade 3550SBK Pardue Auto it is a sound match for an everyday automatic that needs to stay ready in a pocket.
What is LifeSharp?
LifeSharp is Benchmade's lifetime factory service. Send your Benchmade 3550SBK Pardue Auto to Benchmade and they will sharpen the blade, replace worn hardware where possible and return it to working condition, free of charge for the life of the knife.
Where is the Benchmade 3550SBK Pardue Auto made?
The Benchmade 3550SBK Pardue Auto is designed and manufactured at Benchmade's facility in Oregon City, Oregon, USA.
Is Going Gear an authorized Benchmade dealer?
Yes. Going Gear is an authorized Benchmade dealer, so the Benchmade 3550SBK Pardue Auto ships as a genuine factory product with full manufacturer warranty and LifeSharp coverage.
