Bestech Bison - Knife Review - The Practical Blade
Published: 4 years ago
Check this knife out on WhiteMountainKnives.com and use discount code "TPBWMK" to save 10% and get free shipping anywhere in the U.S.!
Video Script:
Bestech Bison Notes
Notable Features:
Full forward finger choil.
DLC coating on D2 is always nice, to help prevent corrosion.
Titanium scale (with CF options) give the knife a luxury feel to match its build quality, along with titanium backspacer and pocket clip.
Lockbar insert / overtravel stop, no lock stick
Ceramic ball bearings
Notable Good:
Action + Centering + No Blade Play = trifecta
Blade geometry (HIGH flat grind, thin edge)
Ergos are AMAZING. First knife that feels like it was built custom for my hand.
Pocket clip angle - Pocket clip is beautiful and conveys DESIGN INTENTION. Notice that the pocket clip is not perfectly parallel with the lockbar cutout. This extremely slight angle allows the knife to sit at that same slight angle in your pocket, causing the flipper tab to be less intrusive in your pocket.
Notable bad:
Relatively soft detent, if that bothers you. Can fail the action if intentionally trying.
As a nitpick, I wish they offered a model with titanium scales on both sides. I’d REALLY love this in full-black titanium, although the version that comes with a CF show-side scale kind of scratches that itch.
Price? $110. Will discuss in general notes.
General Notes:
Bestech uses D-shaped pivots in every knife I’ve handled, meaning no free-spinning pivot BS to deal with.
Once you get to the $100 price point, I am convinced you need to be doing something great. The knife is $110, or $100 with a 10% discount code on WMK. Given that the blade is D2 steel, I feel like they’re walking the line of pushing the price in terms of value. For $110, you’re getting close to the price point where some other companies (specifically other Chinese companies) have knives in CPM S35VN blade steel and full titanium scales. Normally I might knock this knife for its price, and I’d put it at about a $20-30 premium - that is to say, I’d feel more comfortable paying $80 for this knife. However, if someone guaranteed me that every knife I bought would be as good as this one if I just paid an extra $20-30, I’d gladly give them that money every time.
If you'd like to support the channel, please consider using my special links below to purchase the exact same tools I use to maintain my knives, and generally make my knife life more pleasant. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Cleaning / Lubrication:
Knife Pivot Lube (Apply to bearings, washers, detent tracks, etc... to protect parts and create a smoother action): https://amzn.to/3mhEYME
Frog Lube Cleaner, Lubricant, Protectant (Primarily applied to blades / steel liners to prevent rust): https://amzn.to/2RkAk2i
Disposable Cotton Cleaning Patches (A small and disposable medium to apply cleaning products to): https://amzn.to/32tla0M
70% Rubbing Alcohol (for getting rid of gunk): https://amzn.to/3bXkynt
Cotton Swabs / Q-tips (For getting rid of gunk in tight spaces): https://amzn.to/3hzNGCA
Assembly / Disassembly (Drivers / Bits):
I STAND BY WIHA! WIHA provides hardened steel bits - and for those of you who are new to this - hardened steel bits are critical to ensure you don't strip bits and get in a nasty situation where your knife is half-disassembled and your bit no longer works! Do NOT buy those cheap 50-piece kits that come with "everything" for like $10. They will not last you, you will regret it.
Wiha 75981 | 7 Piece Pocket Clip MicroBit Set (Small set with bits and driver - arguably all you need): https://amzn.to/35xwmeU
Wiha 75988 | 10 Piece Torx MicroBits Set (Bit set, in case you need more bits): https://amzn.to/3itzpZj
Wiha 75992 System 4 Precision Interchangeable Bit Set, Torx, Slotted, Phillips, Hex Inch, ESD Safe Precision Handle, 27 Piece In Compact Box (Bigger set for... MORE stuff): https://amzn.to/2GYM34E
Wiha 75965 Precision Micro Bit Ratchet Steel Storage Box, 65-Piece (Biggest set for... MOST stuff): https://amzn.to/35yjlSn
Blade Sharpening / Polishing:
The KME sharpening kit might seem a bit pricey at first, but in my opinion it is 1) Much more affordable that its competitors, 2) Insanely simple to use, and 3) A small price to pay for nearly-indefinite self-sharpening for all of your knives. You can also create your own "stones" using balsa wood and diamond compound to give yourself a mirror edge at a fraction of the KME polishing accessories prices.
KME Precision Sharpening Kit (Basic kit, can reprofile edges as well as get them razor sharp, no expertise needed): https://amzn.to/2ZzVwGa
5k grit to 100k grit Diamond Polishing Compound (for mirror edges): https://amzn.to/2Fs1O3t
Balsa Wood (To apply diamond compound to and use with KME system): https://amzn.to/3izk21C
Video Script:
Bestech Bison Notes
Notable Features:
Full forward finger choil.
DLC coating on D2 is always nice, to help prevent corrosion.
Titanium scale (with CF options) give the knife a luxury feel to match its build quality, along with titanium backspacer and pocket clip.
Lockbar insert / overtravel stop, no lock stick
Ceramic ball bearings
Notable Good:
Action + Centering + No Blade Play = trifecta
Blade geometry (HIGH flat grind, thin edge)
Ergos are AMAZING. First knife that feels like it was built custom for my hand.
Pocket clip angle - Pocket clip is beautiful and conveys DESIGN INTENTION. Notice that the pocket clip is not perfectly parallel with the lockbar cutout. This extremely slight angle allows the knife to sit at that same slight angle in your pocket, causing the flipper tab to be less intrusive in your pocket.
Notable bad:
Relatively soft detent, if that bothers you. Can fail the action if intentionally trying.
As a nitpick, I wish they offered a model with titanium scales on both sides. I’d REALLY love this in full-black titanium, although the version that comes with a CF show-side scale kind of scratches that itch.
Price? $110. Will discuss in general notes.
General Notes:
Bestech uses D-shaped pivots in every knife I’ve handled, meaning no free-spinning pivot BS to deal with.
Once you get to the $100 price point, I am convinced you need to be doing something great. The knife is $110, or $100 with a 10% discount code on WMK. Given that the blade is D2 steel, I feel like they’re walking the line of pushing the price in terms of value. For $110, you’re getting close to the price point where some other companies (specifically other Chinese companies) have knives in CPM S35VN blade steel and full titanium scales. Normally I might knock this knife for its price, and I’d put it at about a $20-30 premium - that is to say, I’d feel more comfortable paying $80 for this knife. However, if someone guaranteed me that every knife I bought would be as good as this one if I just paid an extra $20-30, I’d gladly give them that money every time.
If you'd like to support the channel, please consider using my special links below to purchase the exact same tools I use to maintain my knives, and generally make my knife life more pleasant. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Cleaning / Lubrication:
Knife Pivot Lube (Apply to bearings, washers, detent tracks, etc... to protect parts and create a smoother action): https://amzn.to/3mhEYME
Frog Lube Cleaner, Lubricant, Protectant (Primarily applied to blades / steel liners to prevent rust): https://amzn.to/2RkAk2i
Disposable Cotton Cleaning Patches (A small and disposable medium to apply cleaning products to): https://amzn.to/32tla0M
70% Rubbing Alcohol (for getting rid of gunk): https://amzn.to/3bXkynt
Cotton Swabs / Q-tips (For getting rid of gunk in tight spaces): https://amzn.to/3hzNGCA
Assembly / Disassembly (Drivers / Bits):
I STAND BY WIHA! WIHA provides hardened steel bits - and for those of you who are new to this - hardened steel bits are critical to ensure you don't strip bits and get in a nasty situation where your knife is half-disassembled and your bit no longer works! Do NOT buy those cheap 50-piece kits that come with "everything" for like $10. They will not last you, you will regret it.
Wiha 75981 | 7 Piece Pocket Clip MicroBit Set (Small set with bits and driver - arguably all you need): https://amzn.to/35xwmeU
Wiha 75988 | 10 Piece Torx MicroBits Set (Bit set, in case you need more bits): https://amzn.to/3itzpZj
Wiha 75992 System 4 Precision Interchangeable Bit Set, Torx, Slotted, Phillips, Hex Inch, ESD Safe Precision Handle, 27 Piece In Compact Box (Bigger set for... MORE stuff): https://amzn.to/2GYM34E
Wiha 75965 Precision Micro Bit Ratchet Steel Storage Box, 65-Piece (Biggest set for... MOST stuff): https://amzn.to/35yjlSn
Blade Sharpening / Polishing:
The KME sharpening kit might seem a bit pricey at first, but in my opinion it is 1) Much more affordable that its competitors, 2) Insanely simple to use, and 3) A small price to pay for nearly-indefinite self-sharpening for all of your knives. You can also create your own "stones" using balsa wood and diamond compound to give yourself a mirror edge at a fraction of the KME polishing accessories prices.
KME Precision Sharpening Kit (Basic kit, can reprofile edges as well as get them razor sharp, no expertise needed): https://amzn.to/2ZzVwGa
5k grit to 100k grit Diamond Polishing Compound (for mirror edges): https://amzn.to/2Fs1O3t
Balsa Wood (To apply diamond compound to and use with KME system): https://amzn.to/3izk21C