Benchmade Harley-Davidson T-Rod 13450 Two-Position Fixed Blade Knife
The T-Rod is the strangest and most collectible piece in Benchmade's licensed Harley-Davidson line. Press the button, flick the wrist, and the handle swings from a conventional in-line grip into a T-shaped push-dagger configuration. The Benchmade Harley-Davidson T-Rod 13450 is a fixed blade in both positions, held by a BALL lock rather than a folding pivot, so the blade never stows inside the handle.
The blade is a satin-finished modified clip-point in 440C, and the handles are aluminum. It ships in a leather belt sheath.
Specifications
- Model: Harley-Davidson T-Rod 13450
- Fixed Blade Length: 3.33"
- Dagger Blade Length: 5.05"
- Overall Length, fixed position: 7.65"
- Overall Length, dagger position: 6.25"
- Blade Thickness: 0.156"
- Blade Material: 440C Stainless Steel
- Blade Style: Modified Clip-Point, two-position fixed blade / dagger
- Blade Finish: Satin
- Handle: Aluminum, 0.140" thick
- Weight: 5.20 oz
- Lock Mechanism: BALL Lock
- Sheath: Leather belt sheath, no pocket clip
- Status: Discontinued licensed Harley-Davidson model
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the two-position T-Rod mechanism work?
Depress the BALL lock button and the handle pivots ninety degrees relative to the blade, then locks again. In the in-line position the Benchmade Harley-Davidson T-Rod 13450 handles like an ordinary 3.33" fixed blade at 7.65" overall; rotated, the handle crosses the tang and it becomes a T-handled push dagger at 6.25" overall. The blade is rigidly locked in both positions, which is why Benchmade classed it as a fixed blade rather than a folder.
What is a push dagger good for?
A push dagger puts the blade in line with the knuckles and the force of the thrust behind the palm rather than in the fingers, so the grip does not depend on hand strength and the knife is hard to twist loose. It is a defensive and close-work pattern rather than a utility shape. The Benchmade Harley-Davidson T-Rod 13450 is unusual in offering both that grip and a conventional one in the same knife.
Are push daggers legal to carry?
Push daggers are singled out by name in the knife statutes of a number of US states and cities, and several ban possession or carry outright regardless of blade length. Because the Benchmade Harley-Davidson T-Rod 13450 converts into a push-dagger configuration, it can fall under those provisions even though it also functions as a plain clip-point fixed blade. Check your state and local law before carrying it, and understand that a knife legal in one state may be prohibited across a border.
Does Harley-Davidson make knives?
No. Harley-Davidson licenses its name and Bar and Shield mark to cutlery makers. Benchmade held that license from the late 1990s into the early 2010s and built the line in-house, which is why the Benchmade Harley-Davidson T-Rod 13450 carries both marks. Harley-Davidson branded knives sold today come from other licensees and share no specifications with the Benchmade-built models.
Is 440C good knife steel?
440C is a genuinely stainless high-carbon steel and a long-standing production standard. On the Benchmade Harley-Davidson T-Rod 13450 it means the satin blade resists rust with no special care, sharpens easily on a common stone, and holds a working edge well for a knife of this size and price class.
Where can I buy the Benchmade Harley-Davidson T-Rod 13450?
Going Gear is an authorized Benchmade dealer and lists the Benchmade Harley-Davidson T-Rod 13450 at goinggear.com. The licensed Harley-Davidson line is discontinued and the T-Rod is one of its scarcer models, so availability is limited to remaining stock. Buying from an authorized dealer is the only reliable way to confirm a Harley-Davidson marked Benchmade is genuine.
