Could This Budget Knife Brand’s Latest Release Be a Legit Benchmade Bugout Killer?

The Kershaw Bel Air Carbon Fiber’s combo of blade and handle materials pulls out all the stops. And yes, it’s made in the USA.

kershaw bel-air carbon-fiber pocket knife

By Steve Mazzucchi

Published November 11, 2024

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Celebrating its 50th year in business, Kershaw’s big slogan these days is “Just Getting Started.” If its latest release is any indication, perhaps that is indeed the case.

The blade is really where the similarities end. Benchmade’s is a 3.24-inch drop-point made of excellent S90V super steel. Kershaw’s is a 3.1-inch reverse tanto made of (wait for it) MagnaCut.

Because the brand just introduced an EDC knife that really reaches for the stars. The new Bel Air Carbon Fiber (~~$324.99~~ $194.95) maxes out on materials in a way that rivals Benchmade’s best Bugouts — and may even surpass them.

kershaw bel air full view — The Bel Air’s marbled carbon fiber handles have a distinctly different look from Benchmade’s scaly aesthetic.

Better than a Bugout?

At a glance, this new knife bears a strong resemblance to the similarly monikered Bugout Carbon Fiber ($330). As you would expect, both knives bear carbon fiber handles. The difference is in the details, as the Bugout’s handle has more of a snakeskin pattern while the Bel Air’s CF is of the marbled variety.

The similarities extend beyond the handles, however, with both knives deploying via ambidextrous thumb studs and returning home via proprietary slide-lock technology: Axis Lock for Benchmade and DuraLock for Kershaw.

Even though they are made of similar materials, Benchmade’s version is notably lighter, an utterly insane 2.02 ounces versus Kershaw’s more pedestrian 2.9 ounces.

kershaw bel air folded — Closed or open, the Duralock mechanism keeps the blade firmly in place.

Both knives are made in the USA, with reversible tip-up pocket clips and similar-looking silver blades.

Emphasis on the word “looking,” because the blade is really where the similarities end. Benchmade’s is a 3.24-inch drop-point made of excellent S90V super steel. Kershaw’s, on the other hand, is a 3.1-inch reverse tanto made of (wait for it) MagnaCut.

(Interestingly, Kershaw introduced MagnaCut to this knife early this year. It’s only now that it’s getting the carbon fiber handle.)

While an argument can be made that (obsessing over) super steel is overrated, there can be no denying that MagnaCut is the hottest steel in town right now, thanks to its unrivaled blend of edge retention, toughness and corrosion resistance.

kershaw bel-air blade steel — Kershaw makes damn sure there is no mistaking the blade steel on this beauty.

Despite the fact that some fans would love to see it, Benchmade has yet to release a MagnaCut version of its bestselling knife. Perhaps because it is already such a hit.

Whatever the case may be, the closest you can get is probably the TaggedOut Carbon Fiber, which has a bigger (3.48-inch) blade that only comes in orange and costs $375.

In fairness to Benchmade, the brand also offers Bugouts with less-premium materials starting at $180, and adorable Mini Bugouts starting at $170. The Bugout Carbon Fiber, as previously stated, costs $330.

All of which adds up to this conclusion: If you’ve got your eye on a top-notch, carbon-fiber-handled EDC knife with a 3-inch super steel blade, the $195 option from the 50-year-old brand that is just getting started is worth a long, hard look.

You (and your wallet) can only chuckle if, say, one of your coworkers happens to call it a Budgout.