Benchmade's Claymore Drops the Two-Step Safety for One Press

Benchmade's Claymore debuted at the start of 2021 and quickly built a reputation as a serious tactical automatic. Five years and several revisions later, the newest version is the most interesting one yet, because the change is not cosmetic. Benchmade went back into the firing mechanism rather than the blade steel or the colorway.

The key update condenses what used to be a two-step process into a single deliberate action. Instead of disengaging the safety and then pressing the button, you pull back slightly on the safety slider while pushing the button, deploying the blade with one diagonal press. Just as valuable for anyone who carries an auto daily: closing the knife automatically resets the safety, so there is no separate step to remember before the knife goes back in a pocket.

The revision applies across all eight blade and handle configurations plus the two Mini Claymores, and the underlying knife stays the same. Full-size versions run a 3.6-inch blade in 154CM stainless, a material chosen for corrosion resistance and toughness rather than maximum edge retention, paired with a light Grivory handle, a reversible deep-carry clip and a lanyard hole. Blades arrive in black Cerakote as either a drop point or a tanto, plain or serrated. Handles come in black or ranger green, and weight lands between 3.5 and 3.7 ounces depending on blade shape.

The Mini Claymore changes the formula by shrinking rather than simplifying. It carries a 3-inch 154CM drop point with black Cerakote and a plain edge, pairs it with the same black or ranger green handle options, and weighs 2.5 ounces, which puts it in the same weight class as far smaller conventional folders.

One detail worth knowing before you buy: every version hides a bit of Morse code at the top of the handle spelling out “FTE,” short for “front toward enemy” — a nod to the anti-personnel mine the knife is named after. It is a small flourish, but it is the kind of thing Claymore owners tend to point out first. Full-size models list at $250 from Benchmade.

For a breakdown of how the Claymore compares against the rest of Benchmade's automatic lineup, the brand's own product pages are the fastest reference.