Benchmade Rant Clip-Point 512 Fixed Blade Knife
The Rant was Mel Pardue's straightforward Black Class fixed blade for Benchmade, offered in four blade shapes. The Benchmade Rant Clip-Point 512 is the clip-point, the most all-round of the four: a 4.48" stonewashed 440C blade in 0.175" stock with a fine, controllable tip and plenty of belly behind it.
The handle is contoured, textured black Santoprene, a moulded rubber that stays grippy wet and takes the sting out of hard cuts. It weighs 7.16 oz, runs 9.11" overall, and carries in a MOLLE-compatible nylon sheath.
Specifications
- Model: Rant Clip-Point 512
- Designer: Mel Pardue
- Blade Length: 4.48"
- Blade Thickness: 0.175"
- Overall Length: 9.11"
- Blade Material: 440C Stainless Steel
- Blade Hardness: 60-62 HRC
- Blade Style: Clip-Point, plain edge, stonewashed finish
- Handle: Contoured, textured black Santoprene, 0.890" thick
- Weight: 7.16 oz
- Lock Mechanism: Fixed blade
- Sheath: Multifunction MOLLE-compatible nylon sheath
- Class: Benchmade Black Class
- Status: Discontinued
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a clip-point blade good for?
A clip-point has the spine "clipped" away toward the tip, which lowers the point and makes it finer and more controllable than a drop-point. That helps with piercing, detail work and field dressing, at the cost of a slightly weaker tip. On the Benchmade Rant Clip-Point 512 the clip is paired with a full 4.48" of edge, so you get the precise tip without losing slicing length.
How is the 512 different from the other Rant models?
Only the blade shape changes. Benchmade built the Rant in four versions on the same 4.48" platform and the same Santoprene handle: the 510 bowie, the Benchmade Rant Clip-Point 512, the 515 drop-point and the 517 tanto. Blade thickness, overall length, handle and weight are shared across all four, so the choice comes down to which tip geometry suits your work.
Is a 4.48" fixed blade legal to carry?
Fixed blades are the most restricted knife category in the US and many states and cities cap carry well below 4 inches. At 4.48" of blade and 9.11" overall, the Benchmade Rant Clip-Point 512 is over the line in a lot of jurisdictions. Check your state and local knife statutes before carrying it in public.
What is Santoprene and why use it on a knife handle?
Santoprene is a thermoplastic vulcanizate, a moulded rubber that is processed like plastic. It grips well when wet, absorbs shock on hard cuts and does not turn slick with sweat. The Benchmade Rant Clip-Point 512 uses it contoured and textured so the handle fills the hand instead of sitting flat.
Is the Benchmade Rant Clip-Point 512 covered by LifeSharp?
LifeSharp is Benchmade's free lifetime sharpening and adjustment service out of the Oregon City, Oregon factory, and Benchmade's catalog listed the Rant as a US-made Black Class model. However, the Benchmade Rant Clip-Point 512 has been discontinued for years, so service coverage and parts on a long-out-of-production model are not guaranteed. Contact Benchmade to confirm before sending it in.
Where can I buy the Benchmade Rant Clip-Point 512?
Going Gear is an authorized Benchmade dealer and lists the Benchmade Rant Clip-Point 512 at goinggear.com. The Rant line is discontinued, so availability is limited to remaining stock. An authorized dealer is the only reliable way to confirm a Benchmade is genuine.
