Benchmade 525 Mini Presidio

Reviewed 03/19/2015 by rtv

-Price Paid: N/A
-Used for Every Day Carry
-Owned for Greater than 1 year

Comments:

I have the 525 and have used it every day for many years. it gets
heavy use worn on the belt and subjected to lots of friction.
it is by far the best heavy use knife i have owned. I have no idea what the other reviewer was talking about in ref to the exterior finish coming off...i think he might have gotten a bad one or they had a bad batch. mine is still great!

Reviewed 05/30/2012 by Travis

-Price Paid: $235.00
-Used for Every Day Carry
-Owned for Greater than 1 year

Comments:

First off let me say that I have a 5500, which is just an auto version of this knife.
Same axis lock and everything.
I am super happy with this knife, it is by far my favorite of all my knifes I have owned. I have a few other benchmades, kershaws and other knifes but nothing ever feels as good in my hand as this knife. My only regret is that I would have got the D2 steel on mine instead of the 154CM. Its not that I have a complaint about the 154CM but I am very hard on my knifes and could use the D2.
This knife feels so solid in my hand, its almost feels as solid as a fixed blade does and to me that is how a folder should feel. GREAT JOB BENCHMADE!

Reviewed 08/29/2011 by Jerry

-Price Paid: N/A
-Used for Every Day Carry
-Owned for 1 year

Comments:

I purchased a new 525S to replace my old 527S that had fallen into a fire while I was burning off some brush from my land. I can say that the 527 Volax scales really don't like being in a fire (LOL), so out with the old in in with the new.

I guess I have been luckier than most and got my 525S at a bargain price, it's built like a Sherman TANK and if I have an issue it would be the quality of the coating on it's aluminum scales. I don't normally treat my EDC carry knives all that hard but I have noticed a bit of rub-off.

But the build quality and materials makes it a great American knife, I would use the words Commercial or Military Grade compared to the 527. I like to have some "MEAT" in my hands when I am using a knife and the 525 does give you that feeling, I hope that this one last me a lifetime and stays out of the fire...:)

Reviewed 08/11/2011 by Tony

-Price Paid: N/A
-Used for Every Day Carry
-Owned for Greater than 1 year

Comments:

There is no doubt that I am a huge fan of Benchmade and despite what I am about to say regarding the 525 Model I still am..:)

I think that the 525 is the biggest marketing mistake that they have ever made and the resale values reflect it.

Firstly looking at the knife it's self after using one it's greatest flaw is the Coating on the scales, it just wont stand up to ware and rubs off at the drop of a hat.

My point being that when you compare the price of there 527 Ultra Model to the 525 it's very difficult to justify the enormous price difference and what do you get for the price difference of $95.00 for the basic 527 and $175 for the basic 525 (that's almost DOUBLE).

Basically they are same sized knife with Benchmades FANTASTIC Axis Locking System however the 525 has 154 Steel and the 527 has 404, then the 525 has Aluminum Handles that loses it's coating and the 527 has Solid Valox that doesn't lose it's color.

I haven't meet any one that's been really unhappy with a Benchmade Knife that uses 404 Steel, but I have meet many that are extremely unhappy with the black coating rubbing off there scales exposing the aluminum.

For EDC the 527 is actually lighter compared to the 525 and the 527 has better traction and ergonomics in your hand.

In all honestly I can't see the value in the 525 and have noticed that being reflected there second hand sale prices.

I personally almost feel like Benchmade has shoot it's self in the foot by bringing out both models and I now only buy the 527 Models as gifts for friends and every one that I have given one too loves them.

Perhaps the 520 and 525 should have stayed as Military and Police Automatic Models ONLY, BUT my God if they can now produce Frying Pans with a coating that can stand up to even heavy "Sand Paper" endurance tests.

Then Benchmade should be able to apply a more durable coating to it's 525 and 520 Scales, especially if these models are to be used for "HEAVY almost Commercial use" in the Military or Police Forces...!!

Reviewed 08/10/2009 by Trey

-Price Paid: N/A
-Used for Other
-Owned for Less than 1 Month

Comments:

I have a gold class mini-presidio, but it should function the same as any other mini just with better materials. It's my first axis lock knife and I'm now a big fan of Benchmade's go-to lock mechanism. The gold class is beautiful, with a carbon fiber handle and damascus blade. I'm not actually going to cut anything with it of course but if I had a standard mini presidio I would definitely carry it. The only reason I gave it a 5 for value is the gold class is 3 times the price of my military and it's not 3 times the knife. It's still very nice though. I expect I'll be adding more benchmades to my collection after handling my mini presidio.

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