Flipping Awesome! Benchmade Lowden Review

It is impossible to ignore the impact Benchmade has had on the knife world. Whether introducing new, market-changing functionality like the Axis lock, or the overall level of quality that many other brands have been chasing for years, the Butterfly brand remains world-renowned.

However, one thing the Oregon knife maker has not been known for is embracing the growing flipper-style trend. Benchmade had the 300 Axis flipper in 2014 and the 601 Tengu flipper in 2021, but both have since largely faded from memory. And aside from the longstanding 495 Vector assisted flipper currently in its lineup, that’s it.

When you consider how large Benchmade’s knife offering is and how well-received its designs are, you would assume that Benchmade would have more flippers. Well, the time has come; in August, Benchmade will release the Lowden.

Designed like a dagger, the Lowden is a manual flipper knife built for both performance and style. Where its blade shape may not be as conventional as ones found on popular outdoor and EDC knives, it works well in this format. The only thing it’s missing is a lanyard hole.

In short: The Benchmade Lowden is a premium, hard-use knife with an unconventional blade style. The first manual flipper from Benchmade in more than 10 years, its form allows it to function with ease and reliability while its blade shape leaves you to your imagination.

The Benchmade Lowden Review

Design & Features

Built with anodized aluminum handles with a stainless steel inset frame, the Lowden is built like a brick … outhouse.

The tapered and stylized handles resemble a dagger from its petite, rounded pommel that balloons up to the pivot to house the M390 spear point blade. This shape plays well with the flipper and the Axis lock, which can be used as a secondary method of opening.

The Lowden has a cerakoted, deep-carry pocket clip that can be switched to left-hand carry. It also matches color with the Axis lock button, another nod to the direction Benchmade has been going in with its color palette in general.

It’s also in line with some of the other changes in shapes, materials, and overall form of recent offerings from the brand. Looking at knives like the Dacian, Adira, and now the Lowden, it’s obvious Benchmade is not in Griptilian territory anymore.

The brand appears ready to take risks with its latest offerings, and I’m here for it.

First Impressions

I hate to admit it, but part of the appeal of a flipper knife is its fidget factor. Benchmade obviously got the memo because the Lowden is flicky, fidgety, and everything you want in a high-functioning flipper knife.

You’ll get the same results whether you use the flipper tab or the Axis button to deploy the blade.

If I am being honest though, I loved the shape and extra details put into the handle. But I wasn’t big on the spear-point blade.

In a world where drop-point, sheepsfoot, and clip-point style blades dominate the outdoor knife market, the spear point on the Lowden feels out of place, out of the box. Thankfully, it’s not, as I started to realize its benefits within a few hours with it in the woods.

My main complaint is the lack of a lanyard hole. I take a lot of guff from people about my affinity for lanyards, especially on knives with deep-carry pocket clips. However, I am strictly a function-over-form guy, and a good lanyard increases the ease of deployment tenfold.

Not a deal breaker, overall.

In the Field

The spear point blade is far from synonymous with the outdoors. However, I found the benefit to this shape early on, and it wasn’t just when I was dropping it into my picnic table trying to look cool.

What I found was that in this format, and in that setting, the Lowden is a highly functional utility knife. You can cut rope and drill holes with it; it’s great for both slicing and piercing.

And every other aspect of this knife makes it prime for hiking, camping, and living outdoors. M390 is a strong, easy-to-maintain steel with high corrosion resistance and good retention.

The handle shape and build provide an incredible foundation for a work knife. And, ultimately, the combination of a flipper opening and Axis lock is everything you ever wanted for ease of use and reliability.

I would also like to see a sheepsfoot version with a lanyard hole. I believe that this knife will be a hit for Benchmade, enough so that we could see different versions of the Lowden. It’s a little outside the design aspects of Benchmade, but as we’ve seen, their designs are evolving.

Conclusion: Who’s It For?

Fans of Benchmade should jump on the Lowden when it’s released in August. A manual flipper with an evolved design format is very off-brand for Benchmade, which makes it very on-brand for a brand that seems to be going through an evolution.

People looking for a reliable, general-use knife also shouldn’t sleep on the Lowden. It’s premium and durable, but also very adaptable. Beyond that, the Lowden is comfortable and easy to use. It fits in all hand sizes and is fast to deploy, which makes it fun to use.

For a lock, you’re not going to beat the Axis, so that makes this knife something you trust. I have no doubt that as time goes on, I will find more things for the spear-point blade to tackle.

Beyond that, the Lowden is comfortable and easy to use. It fits in all hand sizes and is fast to deploy, which makes it fun to use. For a lock, you’re not going to beat the Axis lock, so that makes this knife something you can trust.