Benchmade Infidel review: the OTF dagger, honestly
Our verdict: 4.1/5. The Benchmade Infidel 3300BK is a double-action out-the-front (OTF) automatic knife: one slider on the face of the handle fires the 3.91 in double-edged dagger blade out and pulls it back in. Benchmade builds it with a D2 tool steel blade at 60-62 HRC, a 6061-T6 aluminum handle, a deep carry clip and a nylon MOLLE sheath, weighs it at 4.9 oz and calls it a "Black Class" tactical tool for military, law enforcement and emergency responders; its product page lists it as best for military and duty, self-defense and law enforcement. It is backed by a lifetime warranty and free sharpening. The catches: in our view it is expensive for its materials and a double-edged dagger is not built for everyday chores; the owner record is tiny; and the retailer listing carries a sale-restriction notice you must read first. For an everyday knife, see our best pocket knife picks.
OpticsPlanet shoppers rate it 4.7/5 across only 3 reviews, one of them from 2017. The listing sells one row, 3300BK (black), at around $550. Check price and availability on OpticsPlanet.
How we reviewed it: a research-based review built from Benchmade's own product, warranty, LifeSharp and NSN pages, the retailer listing and all 3 owner reviews on OpticsPlanet. We have not handled or tested this knife ourselves; the score is our editorial opinion and owner ratings are shown attributed to their source. Claims we could not confirm on Benchmade's site are left out. See how we evaluate.
What the Infidel is
Benchmade describes the mechanism as "Double-Action Out-The-Front Automatic". The blade does not swing out on a pivot like a folder: it travels straight out of the front of the handle, and the same control sends it back in. Benchmade's own FAQ explains what sets the Infidel apart from most OTF knives: instead of a switch on the narrow side of the handle, it puts a front-loaded firing button on the broad face, an oversized, bi-directional slider that Benchmade says is easier to work with tactical gloves or under stress.
Benchmade's FAQ also says the Infidel is fully ambidextrous: the button sits in the center of the handle face and the dagger blade is symmetrical, so it works the same in either hand. The retailer listing credits the design to Benchmade and McHenry Design, and the pocket clip is engraved "THE INFIDEL" in the close-up video below. Benchmade's product page sums it up in one line:
“In addition to the incredibly stable, fast action and the rugged, pure tactical nature of the knife, the Infidel has a cool factor that is hard to describe without physically experiencing it.”
Benchmade, Infidel product page
Benchmade also lists the 3300BK in its 2024 NSN Products catalog, the models it says are assigned National Stock Numbers and approved for government and military procurement, with NSN 1095-01-598-4471. Its smaller sibling is the Mini Infidel (3350BK), which Benchmade lists with a 3.1 in blade and a 3.4 oz weight; it is a separate listing that we have not reviewed.
A short close-up video of the Benchmade Infidel (clip engraved "The Infidel", Benchmade logo on the blade) showing the black double-edge dagger blade, black handle and slider button. It does not show the blade firing in the frames we checked.
Blade and steel: D2, not CPM-D2
Benchmade lists the blade as D2 Tool Steel hardened to 60-62 HRC, 0.118 in thick, with a Cerakote finish, in a double-edged dagger shape. The OpticsPlanet product-name line calls the steel CPM-D2, but the same listing's specification table says D2 and its feature list says D2 tool steel; Benchmade, the maker, says D2, so that is what we print. Benchmade's FAQ says D2 was chosen for hardness and wear resistance, so the edge holds up under repeated hard use.
Our reasoning rather than a Benchmade statement: a double-edged dagger is shaped for piercing and for cutting in both directions, not for slicing food or opening boxes the way a single-edged drop point does. One reviewer put the double edge plainly: "Double edged, so you can cut coming and going." If most of your cutting is chores, the manual folders on our best pocket knife page are built for that and cost far less.
What owners say: only three reviews
The owner record is thin, and we say so plainly. OpticsPlanet shows 3 reviews with a 4.7 average: two five-star reviews and one four-star review. One five-star review is from 2017, the four-star review is from September 2026, and the most helpful positive review shows no date. That is not enough to say anything about long-term durability or how often problems occur, so treat each point below as one person's report.
“This knife is as close to perfect as you will find.”
BJCool (TX), 2017 review, via OpticsPlanet
The most helpful positive review praises the fit and finish and the overall quality, and lists one con:
“blade has a little play when extended”
Most helpful positive review, via OpticsPlanet
The newest dated review is the most detailed, and it is mixed. The reviewer says they bought the knife three or four years ago, loved it despite the expense, and that it arrived shaving sharp with a solid lockup.
“It locked up really solidly for an OTF and it came shaving sharp”
Four-star reviewer (WI), via OpticsPlanet
The same reviewer then bought a Kershaw Livewire, in their words "the double edge version with Magnacut steel", and found its lockup tighter, its weight lower and its steel better. They list price, weight and blade steel as cons, answer "At the price? Display" under best use, and answer No to would recommend.
“The lockup was so impressively tight that it shamed the Benchmade.”
Four-star reviewer (WI), via OpticsPlanet
Warranty and service
Benchmade lists the Infidel with a lifetime warranty and free sharpening and marks it "From Oregon City"; its warranty page refers to its Oregon City Factory. Its warranty page covers manufacturing defects in materials or workmanship, including internal mechanisms such as springs, locks and washers, and handle hardware or structural failure. It does not cover cosmetic wear such as coating wear, scratches or discoloration. LifeSharp, Benchmade's maintenance program, sharpens, cleans, lubricates and adjusts the knife, including a tune-up of the deployment and lockup mechanisms; the service is free, and requests made through Benchmade.com carry a $20 Service Kit fee for packaging and insured shipping both ways.
One detail matters for an automatic knife. Benchmade's warranty page says: "We can only ship automatic knives directly to active military, law enforcement, first responders, or Oregon residents." Its LifeSharp page lists the same four groups. If you do not fall into one of them, Benchmade says the knife can still be serviced and is shipped back to a participating authorized dealer for pickup.
Restrictions: read the listing first
The OpticsPlanet listing carries a Government Restriction notice. In the retailer's words, the item "may be regulated for sale to Military, Law Enforcement, or other qualified personnel", and "Our Risk Management Team will be in touch with you regarding required qualifications and documentation." The notice adds: "Certain federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations may apply." The listing also says the retailer is "unable to export this product outside of the USA". A separate note on the listing covers Illinois residents and adds: "For those outside of Illinois, this item is regulated for sale to Military, Law Enforcement, or other qualified personnel." Benchmade's own store asks buyers to accept its AKOA agreement before buying. We give no legal advice: read the notice on the listing and check your state and local laws before you buy or carry it.
Trade-offs, plainly
- In our view it is expensive for D2 steel and an aluminum handle; the most detailed owner review lists price and blade steel as cons and answers No to would recommend.
- In our view a double-edged dagger is a poor chore knife; Benchmade lists it as best for military and duty, self-defense and law enforcement, not boxes and food.
- At 4.9 oz and 8.91 in open (Benchmade), it is a large knife to carry; one reviewer lists weight as a con.
- One of three reviews reports a little blade play when extended.
- Three reviews, one from 2017, is a very small record.
- The retailer listing carries a sale-restriction notice, and Benchmade's service return shipping for automatic knives depends on who you are.
Key specifications
| Model | Infidel, Black Aluminum, SKU 3300BK |
|---|---|
| Mechanism | Double-Action Out-The-Front Automatic |
| Blade | 3.91 in (9.93 cm), double-edged dagger, plain edge (retailer listing), Cerakote finish |
| Blade steel | D2 Tool Steel, 60-62 HRC (the retailer's product-name line says CPM-D2; its spec table says D2) |
| Blade thickness | 0.118 in (3.0 mm) |
| Open length | 8.91 in (22.63 cm) |
| Closed length | 5 in (12.7 cm) |
| Weight | 4.9 oz (138.91 g) |
| Handle | 6061-T6 aluminum, black, 0.59 in (14.99 mm) thick |
| Clip | Deep carry, PVD coated; the retailer lists it as removable |
| Sheath | Black nylon with MOLLE compatible clip |
| Warranty | Lifetime warranty and free sharpening (LifeSharp) |
| Made | From Oregon City (Benchmade) |
| NSN | 1095-01-598-4471 (Benchmade 2024 NSN Products list) |
Specifications are Benchmade's unless marked as the retailer's. The retailer listing gives slightly different figures (8.95 in open, 4.8 in closed, 5 oz, a Cordura sheath); we print Benchmade's. No editorial award is claimed.
Should you buy it?
- Buy it if you want a full-size double-action OTF dagger with a face-mounted slider that Benchmade says works in either hand and is easier to use with gloves, an aluminum handle and Benchmade's lifetime warranty, and you have confirmed you can buy and carry one where you live.
- Look at the Mini Infidel if you want the same layout smaller: Benchmade lists the 3350BK with a 3.1 in blade at 3.4 oz.
- Skip it if you want an everyday pocket knife for chores: see our best pocket knife picks, which cost far less and are built for everyday cutting. Skip it too if price per material matters most to you; price is the first con the most detailed owner review lists.
FAQ
Is the Benchmade Infidel worth it?
It depends on what you want it for. Benchmade builds it as a duty knife: a double-action out-the-front automatic with a 3.91 in D2 dagger blade, a 6061-T6 aluminum handle, a firing button on the broad face of the handle and a lifetime warranty with free sharpening. The owner record is very thin, three OpticsPlanet reviews rated 4.7 out of 5, and the newest dated one (four stars) praises the lockup and build but answers No to would recommend, comparing it with a lighter knife from another brand. In our view, if you want a utility pocket knife, a manual folder costs far less and suits everyday chores better.
Is the Infidel blade D2 or CPM-D2?
Benchmade lists the 3300BK blade as D2 Tool Steel at 60-62 HRC. The OpticsPlanet product-name line says CPM-D2, but the same listing's specification table says D2 and its feature list says D2 tool steel. We go with Benchmade, the maker.
Is the Benchmade Infidel ambidextrous?
Benchmade says yes. Its own FAQ says the firing button is centered on the face of the handle and the double-edged blade is symmetrical, so the knife works the same for left- and right-handed users. The retailer listing also describes an ambidextrous thumb slide.
Does the Benchmade Infidel have blade play?
One of the three OpticsPlanet reviews, the most helpful positive one, lists as its only con that the blade has a little play when extended. Another reviewer says it locked up really solidly for an OTF, but found the lockup of a double-edged knife from another brand tighter. Three reviews are too few to say how common blade play is.
What does the Infidel warranty cover?
Benchmade lists a lifetime warranty and free sharpening for the Infidel. Its warranty page covers manufacturing defects in materials or workmanship, including internal mechanisms such as springs and locks, and excludes cosmetic wear such as coating wear. LifeSharp service (sharpening, cleaning, lubrication, adjustment) is free, with a $20 Service Kit fee for requests made through Benchmade.com. For automatic knives, Benchmade's warranty page says: "We can only ship automatic knives directly to active military, law enforcement, first responders, or Oregon residents." Otherwise, Benchmade says, the knife can still be serviced and is shipped back to a participating authorized dealer for pickup.
Are there restrictions on buying the Benchmade Infidel?
The OpticsPlanet listing carries a Government Restriction notice saying the item may be regulated for sale to Military, Law Enforcement, or other qualified personnel, that its Risk Management Team will be in touch about required qualifications and documentation, and that certain federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations may apply. A separate note on the listing covers Illinois residents and adds: "For those outside of Illinois, this item is regulated for sale to Military, Law Enforcement, or other qualified personnel." Benchmade's own store asks buyers to accept its AKOA agreement before buying. We give no legal advice: check your state and local laws before you buy or carry it.
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