Compact Crossbar Locks: Benchmade Bugout vs Hogue Deka | KnifeCenter Reviews 

Now that the Deka is in Magnacut and can be had for less money than the S30V Bugout this becomes an even easier choice for me. Deka all day.

Deka all the way.

I'm a newbie to the knife EDC world. I purchased the Yellow Mini Griptilian first. It was my first Benchmade and experience with an Axis lock. I liked the Axis but found it to be "sticky". I have read and seen reviews that say you have to "break them in". Then I bought the Deka Red, White and Blue Edition. The able lock worked flawlessly out of the box. I immediately felt like a a bar lock veteran, with perfect flip open and drop shut precision. I am now anxiously waiting on the Hogue Ritter RSK MK1 I just purchased. Definitely a Hogue fan.

Better (imo) blade Steel, more rigid g10, longer lasting springs, still super light, Deka all the way for me. I have an all black one with a wharncliffe blade and I love it.

I must watch every one of your upcoming videos and I can learn a lot from it. Keep making videos like this.

I think if your main concern is weight (eg carrying in jogging shorts) you got to give it to the Bugout. However, for general characteristics the Deka wins. Some people don’t like how the Bugout handle can be bent... feels cheap. Many guys buy the bugout and then buy G-10 scales for another $40... if you do that you should have just gotten a Deka.

Excellent job. What a great comparison video of two exceptional knives!! Thank you!

I was literally comparing these 2 knives side by side on KC last night. I’ve had my Bugout for about 2 months and it’s dominated my edc rotation.

If anyone is interested, the new, revised Deka has a slightly different g10 milling that works with more pocket clips. It also has an option for a deep carry clip which is much nicer to use. I think it's a no-brainer for most people. Deka is the same price as the bugout (about $140 as I'm writing this) despite having superior g10 handles and 20cv. More importantly, it is much more rigid. Getting a bugout with g10 + 20cv will run almost $60 more and because it doesn't have all the screws, will still not be rigid. To get an actually rigid knife requires spending another $70 on top for titanium scales. I should also mention that the titanium crossbar on steel with the bugout means the lock will always stick a little and to my knowledge, you can't get a steel replacement.

I own a blacked out Deka, and it is by far my favorite knife right now. It feels great in the hand, and the Able Lock is incredible! Living in Texas, where it’s always shorts weather, the Deka does a great job hanging out in my shorts pocket.

MADE IN THE U.S.A. THANK YOU DAVID FOR LETTING US KNOW WHERE THE KNIVES ARE MADE

Hello D.C.A., I'd choose both the drkst. Hogue👍 and the blk.out Benchmade👍, btw good job describing the differences, for sure👍👍!! Keep up the good work and keep these vids coming! Have fun and be safe, take care, "God Bless", sincerely, Randy. 👍👍🙏😇👊

I now own both and am going to keep the Deka and sell the bugout. However I am keeping my mini bugout as well!

You give great reviews!

I love my Hogue Deka, it feels amazing in hand, to use, and I think it looks better too. Also not knocking Benchmade though. Love the competition.

The deka does look a bit more premium to me.

I've got a couple of Benchmades including a blue class model. Thinking about a Hogue micro flip. Looks like all there knives are good quality.

The hogue Deka, definitely. Like the warncliffe design better also.

I will say the bugout appears to have the superior blade geometry, but the deka is just so damn attractive with its milled scales

I have had only a couple of issues with numerous Benchmade knives I’ve owned/own using their omega springs but had one break on my Bugout after very little use. Anecdotal evidence but I’ve heard numerous others having the same issue with the model. There’s replacement sets on Etsy for about $7 that seem to be better though I’ve not had them on mine for long.

Thanks for the videos I got burned by bladehq’s free shipping and will be ordering from you guys now

I saw the hogue deka and it just looks so good I was gonna go with a bugout with s90v or the Osborn/940 both benchmade but I think I’m gonna buy the deka

Love the bugout after i put flytanium g10 scales on it

damn thats a tuff call. I definately prefer the overall design of the bugout with the straighter handle but Hogue makes a strong argument here with the g10/ blade steel etc. hmmm If Hogue would fix that handle and make it where i can get a full 4 finger grip I'd be all over it.

Broke the omega spring on my bugout, while waiting for the repair from benchmade I purchased a deka. I haven’t received the house yet but I can’t wait to compare

David C. “Handerson” throwing the comment section a curveball at 8:10 with “My hands sit just slightly on the large side...”

Deka hands down

The Hogue looks dope

Get the Deka rev2 20CV. Great knife, I've had the wharnie for 3 months.

I've been running a Bugout in M390 and I just switched to the Deka. The Deka is just all around better put together imo.

I have a Dekka and love it. Haven’t been able to convince myself to get a bugout. It just doesn’t feel $130-$150 value to me. But hey, I’m a bit different.

I have a bugout that I love very much. I have handled the hogue and it is very nice and I think I will pick up one of the warncliff ones up eventually. On the hogue I handled you could touch the blade with ur finger when it was closed Fairly easily. There are things I do like more on the hogue but overall I believe the bugout is still king!! P.S. I have really gotta get one of those battlewash red bugouts* lol.

Easy, Deka!

I own five Bugouts and two Dekas. Honestly, for me, it's a toss-up. The Deka is more stylish while the Bugout is probably a better all-around knife. I love them both. The Bugout is definitely more popular, but it has been around much longer.

Thx, good

For the money & as delivered, the Deka seems to be the better buy with better steel, excellent factory edge, and handles that don’t flex. On the Bugout’s stock FRN you can literally squeeze them hard enough for one side to touch the other when open. To me they do feel cheap. I replaced mine with Rogue micarta scales - about $90 The Deka lacks a deep carry clip but aftermarket ones for the ZT 0450 (I think...) addresses that issue for about $30 I modified a deep carry Benchmade one with the butterfly on it but the MXG or other brand for the ZT is far easier. I find the spine on the Hogue a bit more uncomfortable for my thumb when doing hard pushes through material despite the blade stock being thicker than the Bugout’s. Much more of a radius than the squarer back of the Benchmade.

Best 2020 knife the We Banter!

I don't understand why Benchmade isn't releasing Bugouts in every color of the rainbow.

Love both companies and knives although I think the Bugout is WAY overhyped. That being said the Hogue Deka is a much better knife and the ABLE lock fixes some issues with the Axis lock. Hogue is always a step or two ahead of Benchmade and slightly more reasonably priced as well. I just don't like the scales on the Deka, just not doing it for me. If was Carbon Fiber or even solid colored G10 I'd like it much more. Thanks again Mr David C Anderson.

Will the lock bar from a Bugout fit a Deka? The texture on the Deka is unforgiving!!!

Now that the deka comes in magnacut with a deep carry pocket clip, are we still comparing them?

I got the Deka in Magnacut, Wharnie master race baby

I prefer the cleaner design of the Bugout... the Deka has better steel but the blade shape and the G-10 design of the handles doesn't do it for me (too gaudy)

The Deka needs a few more screws on the handle.

The hogue seems like a better deal. Plus hogue is a far more respectable company than benchmade. I've been saying the LW para 3 kicks the bugouts ass for a while and the deka is on the same boat

Bench made bug out remind me of the KaBar Dozier

I miss the black blade battlewash bugout (BBBB)

I think I would have to go with the Hogue. I have been looking at the Bugout for a while and I have been hesitant to buy one because of the Grivory handles. I don't like the flex. Sorry but that wouldn't be my Benchmade of choice.

I own the bugout but would much rather the Deka.

Does the Deka have a partial length metal liner or a full length one? Or none?

I understand that the Spyderco Manix 2 is a ball-bearing lock and not a crossbar, but I really don't understand why no one ever throws in a Manix 2 in any of these comparisons. Their lock is better! It's worth the comparison to show that!

RIP Battlewash Bugout. So sad I missed it.

I could see Benchmade offering more premium models of the Bugout in some time. With other brand staples like the Griptilian & Crooked River being available in 20cv, M4, and S90V it's only a matter of time before a more premium-feeling Bugout drops

I'm pretty sure both are necessary

I’m going back and forth on these right now. I’ve had a lot of Benchmade knives but the hogue looks better. The aftermarket support on the Bugout is huge. The deka does have aftermarket pocket clips to get it deep carry.

The reason the Deka feels like a much more premium folder is because IT IS a premium folding knife! With the possible exception of Spyderco, the design/materials engineers at Hogue represent some of the very finest industry specialists in this market. This is yet another reason why the ‘fit, finish and action’ on Hogue knives is incomparable to most any other company. Benchmade isn’t even in the same league…not even close.

My Deka purchased November 2022 was accidentally put through the laundry and the spring completely rusted out.. gone. I thought these springs were stainless steel? My Benchmade 940 has been EDC for over 10 years with no spring failure or not a dust spec of rust. Seems Hogue is using shoddy springs.. Definitely a downside of axis locks if the springs aren't dependable. Hogue is sending new springs free of charge no questions asked, but I definitely didn't expect a knife at this price point to have such issues with a bit of water exposure.. Would be interesting to see a knife influencer do some tests with springs from different manufacturers.

I have a mini bugout which has been awesome, but I love a good wharnie, and 20cv sealed the deal for me.

Non benchmade benchmades are always superior

The ONLY thing that bugs me about the Deka is the blade shape. I just can't bring myself to like it. Still want one though lol

Blade geometry is a much better cutterfor the bugout.

The Deka is clearly the better knife. The only gripes I have are: 1) they are always facing production delays and 2) there is WAY too much hardware involved in the takedown and maintenance.

Bugout easily!! Much, much better pocket clip than the Deka. Thumb stud on the Deka is sharp as hell. Not sure what they were thinking with that one. Bugout is also NOTICABLY thinner in the pocket, even though the widths looks so similar. Ergonomics are similar, but the CF Elite bugout handle is far better than the gen 2 Deka. The edges of the Deka scales are pretty sharp. Action out of the box was similar, but the Deka blade was screaming sharp! The Bugout was just decently sharp out of the box.

David: "The Deka has a little bit extra when you put it in your hands." Me: "that's what she said!"

I was really looking forward to receiving the Knifecenter exclusive hogue deka that I ordered last week(The red gmascus and satin blade version). Today I received the wrong hogue deka(the blue gmascus with a black coated blade) and in what appears to be used condition. I've spent hundreds with you Knifecenter can you please make this right?? I've filled out the website contact form and I anxiously await your reply

The Deka isca better made knife with better materials, but because the bigfoot is the better design, id choose it.

Easy Deka for me. I'm sorry, I hate to be biased, but Benchmade and Spyderco prices have always biffed me. Theyre constantly charging premiums just for their brand names, and the price never seems to align with the materials. Hogue is newer to the scene and less well-known, but I'll be damned if I'm NOT going to get excited about 20cv at that price. And for a better axis lock than the company that literally invented it? SHAAAAAME! Benchmade needs to step up its game, or these are the kinds of designs and manufacturers that are going to eventually push it aside. Literally bought a Deka watching this video. Stumbled across a sale on one for $120 and absolutrly couldnt pass it up.

Deka

I prefer the Bugout by far. Hogue makes a nice knife, really like the Ritter RSK's but the Bugout is for me. There's so many rad scale options on the aftermarket, just nothing you can't do. Own five and counting.

M4 Bailout

How have I not subscribed this this channel yet 🤔 #fixed

I own a Manix 2 XL, and a few Benchmade Axis knives. I wanted to get a knife for my lefty wife, and it was between the Deka, and Bugout. Even though I own a Hogue, it’s a button lock. I kind of wish I saw this video before I chose the Bugout. Being a Benchmade, I assumed it had jimping on the blade, and it does not. This kind of pisses me off, because this is a deal breaker for me. Should have gotten the damn Deka. Blade HQ, can I send it back for a Deka?

I heard the Deka's blade can cut the meat of your palm when closing because the blade is the same length as the handle. If you don't understand what I'm saying check out Gideon's Tactical review.

Deka over a loose BM all day.

Knowing material prices, the bugout is at its cheapest still a rip off. Frn and the amount of s30v you get on the bugout should make it no more than 80$ max. Look at the competition. Kershaw and Gerber come to mind with better prices. Hogue all the way!

So I have the deKa, bugout, and para 3 LW in M390. My bugouts action is super gritty. I have to use graphite to get it to work at all and that only lasts a couple days until it needs more. But when it is working nice it has the best action of the 3. The deKa is kinda mushy. Doesn’t snap out. And doesn’t drop shut without blade ply. The para 3 snaps out and drops shut with little side play and off center but is way to stiff if I get rid of the play since it only has one washer. Of the 3 I carry my Para the most, deKa second, and never carry my bugout. With that said I have handled bugouts with great actions and would probably carry it more than the deKa just because of the “snappy” action. But in all reality I don’t carry any of them hardly anymore since I got my spydiechef. It’s slim, titanium, love the blade shape, and literally won’t ever rust under normal use.

Bug out 👍

Think the bugouts more expensive now in 2023.

Bugout is over priced for what it is. The Axis lock can be sticky. It's the weight and blade shape that makes people gravitate to it.

I want the price and materials of Hogue with the range of aftermarket parts offered for Benchmade. Yeah I'm a difficult customer :)

Bugout CF-ELITE....🔪

Hogue deka all the way.

I ordered something from you guys almost a month ago & it never arrived. It was my first time ordering from you & it will be my the last.

Idk why they call the Benchmade ranger green. It looks coyote to me.

Bought my deka today no anti-gun funded knife for me.

Can you just review everything ever please?

Benchmade will always be superior in my mind but I would like to handle a deka just to see what people like so much about it

As much as the Hogue has better material, its shape just isn’t my cup of tea. It’s almost reaching fugly, and that goes to show my taste in knife design. The drop point shape on the Bugout is is picture-perfect for me, and I wish more knife makers used a similar, clean and simple design for their drop points. Winner is the Bugout for me.

The design of the Bugout is head and shoulders above. If you like premium materials, Bugout 535-3 or any G10 version has you covered. The Deka design is like every other me2 knife in the market.

Hogue’s tolerances are less than a single hair. Benchmade can’t make an even grind if they tried.

Meanwhile in 2023 a deka is 150€ where I live and a bugout 200€🙈

The Deka allways seemed more like the griptilian to me .

Deka all day long…

⚘👌

The Hogue clip plate is ugly. It sticks out like a sore thumb on all of their knives that I’ve seen. It’s inexcusable in my opinion. It’s not a deal breaker, but it’s a huge aesthetic flaw. I’d still give this Hogue a try. I do love my Bugout.

Spell check sucks sometimes

Bugout handle sucks. Too thin and has a couple hot spots for hard/prolonged use.

The Deka I’m sure is a well made knife, but both blades are unattractive and I don’t think I could live with either. 🎸🔪

The "bugout" is massively overpriced!

Bugout is bland as hell. Deka has some style to it.