Benchmade Outlast 365BK – Dual Blade OPTION Lock Rescue Folder
The Benchmade Outlast 365BK is the rare rescue folder that does not ask you to compromise. It carries two blades in one handle: a 3.59" CPM-S30V drop point for precise cutting, deployed with a traditional thumb stud, and a thicker fully serrated opposing bevel CPM-3V blade for aggressive material processing, deployed using the integrated oxygen bottle wrench. Both blades wear a Cerakote coating. Benchmade's OPTION lock takes the strength of the AXIS lock and adapts it to run two blades from a single handle, and a carbide tipped glass breaker plus an integrated rescue hook finish the package.
If you have been searching for a rescue knife with a seatbelt cutter, a rescue knife with a glass breaker, or a firefighter rescue knife with real cutting ability behind it, this is the model that keeps coming up. Black G10 scales give a secure grip with gloves or wet hands.
Specifications
- Blade Length: 3.59"
- Blade Thickness: 0.090"
- Primary Blade: CPM-S30V drop point, Cerakote coated, thumb stud opening
- Secondary Blade: CPM-3V opposing bevel, fully serrated, Cerakote coated, O2 wrench deployment
- Blade Edge: Combo across the two blades, plain plus fully serrated
- Handle Material: Black G10
- Handle Thickness: 0.69"
- Lock Mechanism: Benchmade OPTION lock
- Overall Length: 8.41"
- Closed Length: 4.82"
- Weight: 5.96 oz.
- Pocket Clip: Deep-carry, reversible tip-up or tip-down
- Other Features: Carbide tipped glass breaker, integrated rescue hook, integrated oxygen bottle wrench
What are rescue knives used for?
Rescue knives are built for freeing people and processing material at an incident, not for general everyday cutting. The Benchmade Outlast 365BK is unusually well equipped for that job: the rescue hook cuts a seatbelt or clothing without an exposed point, the serrated CPM-3V blade tears through webbing, rope and rubber, the carbide glass breaker takes out a tempered side window, and the oxygen bottle wrench handles medical gas fittings. The S30V drop point is there for everything that needs a clean, controlled cut instead.
What is an opposing bevel blade good for?
An opposing bevel grind puts the primary bevel on the side of the blade facing away from the work, so the edge bites and pulls material into the cut instead of skating off it. On the Benchmade Outlast 365BK the fully serrated CPM-3V blade uses that geometry, which is why it chews through seatbelt webbing, hose and heavy cordage far better than a conventional serrated edge would. It is a deliberately aggressive blade and it is not the one you would use for fine work, which is exactly why the Benchmade Outlast 365BK also gives you the plain S30V drop point.
What is an axis lock on a knife, and how does the OPTION lock differ?
The AXIS lock is Benchmade's spring-loaded crossbar: a hardened bar rides in slots in the liners and drops into a ramp on the blade tang, locking it open and letting you close the knife one-handed from either side. The OPTION lock on the Benchmade Outlast 365BK is built on that same principle but adapted to control two independent blades in one handle. To close either blade on the Benchmade Outlast 365BK, pull the bar back, fold the blade clear of the pivot, and let the bar return before you seat the blade fully. Keep your fingers out of the blade path while you do it.
Is CPM-3V stainless, and how should I care for it?
No. The CPM-S30V primary blade on the Benchmade Outlast 365BK is stainless, but the serrated CPM-3V blade is a tool steel, not a stainless one. CPM-3V is chosen for extreme toughness and impact resistance, which is what you want in a blade that gets used hard at an incident, but it will develop surface rust if it is left wet. The Cerakote coating protects most of the blade, so the exposed edge is what needs attention: dry the Benchmade Outlast 365BK after any wet use and wipe the serrations with a light oil now and then.
Is a 3.59-inch blade legal to carry?
A 3.59" blade puts the Benchmade Outlast 365BK above the common 3.00" and 3.50" statutory cutoffs used in a number of US cities and states, so this is a knife worth checking on rather than assuming. Blade length limits, locking blade rules and rescue tool exemptions are all set locally, and some jurisdictions treat a marked rescue tool differently from a general purpose folder. Confirm the rules where you live and where you travel before carrying the Benchmade Outlast 365BK daily.
Is the Benchmade Outlast 365BK made in the USA, and does it come with LifeSharp?
Yes. Benchmade builds the Benchmade Outlast 365BK in Oregon City, Oregon, and USA-made Benchmade knives are covered by LifeSharp, the company's lifetime sharpening service. One practical caveat: LifeSharp support for heavily serrated edges is limited, so the fully serrated CPM-3V blade on the Benchmade Outlast 365BK may not come back the way the plain S30V blade will. Ask Benchmade what they can do with the serrated blade before you send it in.
Where can I buy the Benchmade Outlast 365BK?
Going Gear is an authorized Benchmade dealer, so the Benchmade Outlast 365BK sold here is genuine factory stock with full warranty support and not gray market. This model has been discontinued by Benchmade, so availability depends on remaining inventory. If the Benchmade Outlast 365BK is out of stock, our current Benchmade rescue and tactical folders are the place to look.
