From tactical auto-folders and OTFs to balisongs and bushcraft blades, Benchmade’s current catalog of American-made cutting tools includes a wide variety of knives, though absent from the Oregon City outfit’s lineup is a purpose-built EDC fixed blade.
As rigid everyday carry knives have grown in popularity in recent years, the company has now opted to get in on the action and fill this previous gap in their product range with the all-new Benchmade Dacian EDC fixed blade knife.
The Basics
Spanning 7.57” overall, the Dacian is a purpose-built EDC fixed blade that features a 0.12-inch-thick full-tang construction culminating in a 3.54-inch spear point profile. Composed of CPM MagnaCut, the Dacian’s full-tang construction comes sandwiched between a set of Micarta scales with an overall thickness of 0.39” — making it low-profile, while still being substantial enough to provide excellent grip.
The 0.12-inch thickness of the blade is admittedly nothing to write home about, but it gives the knife just enough strength and structural integrity to handle most hard-use applications — though I still wouldn’t mind seeing Benchmade upgrade the Dacian to a slightly thicker tang.
Available Variants
Upon its initial release, Benchmade is offering the Dacian in two different versions. While both boasts MagnaCut blade steel and Micarta handles, one features a bare satin-finish blade steel with denim Micarta scales and the other sports brown canvas Micarta scales paired with a blade finished in what Benchmade calls “titanium blue.” Both versions also feature custom Benchmade-branded hardware.
A Rigid Workhorse
Made in America, the Dacian features a super-economic handle shape that allows offers excellent grip thanks to the knife’s use of Micarta scales. Jimping adorning the bottom of the handle and the spine of the blade afford extra grip and control for both fine-use and hard-use tasks. A large integrated finger guard set just ahead of a pronounced choil provide plenty of security for the user’s hand, too.
What Makes It Special
There’s no shortage of EDC-specific fixed blades currently on the market, however, there are several factors that make the Dacian stand out from the rest. With its versatile blade shape and roughly 7.5-inch overall length, the Dacian is compact enough to lend itself to everyday carry use, while still being large and robust enough to actually tackle hard-use applications — making it just as much of a workhorse as Benchmade’s larger fixed blades, albeit in a more pocketable and EDC-friendly package.
As my all-time favorite blade steel, I also applaud Benchmade for producing the Dacian in Crucible Industries’ revolutionary CPM MagnaCut, as this cutting-edge powder metallurgy blade steel offers outstanding toughness, corrosion-resistance, and edge retention, while still being relatively easy to sharpen. And, as a brand that produces what are unequivocally what are some of the best knives that money can buy, there’s something really special about seeing Benchmade deliver its own take on an EDC fixed blade.
Included Extras
Alongside a custom hard Polymer sheath, the price of each Dacian fixed blade also includes Benchmade’s usual lifetime warranty, as well as the brand’s LifeSharp Services, which will clean, tuned, re-sharpen, and even re-hone your knife, for free, for life.
Spec Sheet
Brand: Benchmade
Model: Dacian
Class: EDC Fixed Blade
Overall Length: 7.57”
Blade Length: 3.54”
Blade Thickness: 0.12”
Blade Steel: CPM MagnaCut
Handle Material: Denim Or Canvas Micarta
Weight: 3.37oz
Sheath: Polymer
Manufacturing Origin: USA
Pricing & Availability
Available for order now, the Benchmade Dacian EDC Fixed Blade Knife has been priced at $320.
Recap
Benchmade Dacian EDC Fixed Blade
Benchmade debuts a compact MagnaCut and Micarta fixed blade knife that’s been engineered from the ground up for EDC use.
