Benchmade 477 Emissary 3.5 Assist Knife — New Knife Review

The Benchmade 477 is another great addition to the extremely successful Emissary platform.  The newest model, the Emissary 3.5, features the AXIS-Assist locking mechanism with a safety, an S30V stainless steel modified drop point blade, and CNC machined billet alumium handles.

The previous Emissary, model 470-1, also used the AXIS-Assist locking mechanism but it had a slide safety positioned near the AXIS system on the side of the handle.  The 3.5 has the safety positioned on the spine of the handle.  I like the position better for a couple of reasons.  First, it is out of the way of my hand so I am not bumping into it when gripping the knife in a traditional grip.  Second, the safety is actually easier for me to operate on the spine.  Some spine safeties are fidgeting, finicky things that are difficult to slide.  This one is perfect.  Easy to depress and slide with the thumb, it slides smooth in its track and locks up with a nice, quiet click when in place.  I think it is the best spine safety I have ever used.

The nearly 3.5″ blade is S30V.  This stainless steel is going to handle every day life with ease.  It will tackle heavy duty cutting jobs with minimal fuss.  It will keep an edge and it will keep you cutting smooth and easy for a very long time.  When it comes time to sharpen the blade, you can do it yourself or send it in to Benchmade through their fantastic LifeSharp program so you don’t have to fuss and bother.  They ship it back to you with a factory edge back on the blade.

The AXIS-Assist system, if you haven’t had the pleasure of using it, opens fast and locks up very tight.  To open the blade, just give either of the ambidextrous thumb studs a push and get the blade started.  The assist takes over and gets the blade open the rest of the way.  To close the blade, just pull the AXIS mechanism towards the butt of the handle.  I do this by grasping the AXIS system with my thumb and forefinger.  You can easily do it with just your thumb if you prefer.  This releases the blade from the open position and you can close it with your other hand.  When the blade is open, or when it is closed, you can slide the safety mechanism into the locked position securing the blade in its current position.  It makes for an ultra secure open blade so you can make your heavy cuts with peace of mind.

The handle is CNC machined aluminum.  It has a deep finger groove for your finger and then a more shallow and wide spot for your other fingers to rest on.  The handle has several wide bevels for a very comfortable grip.  The knife has a deep carry pocket clip that is right/left reversible.  It also has a lanyard hole.

The 477 Emissary 3.5 Assist knife is perfect for those who want a full sized blade in a classic package with all the best of materials and mechanisms.  The knife carries comfortable and unobtrusive in your pocket which makes it perfect for the boardroom warrior.  Check out the Benchmade 477 on our site here.  Let me know what you think of yours down below.