Oregon City’s Benchmade Knife Company staged one heck of a blowout to mark the release of their new Codex87 Horizon Edge knife. The knife features a new patented forge welding process which allows a high-end super steel, in this case Rex-121, to be fused with Damasteel, to maximize the knife’s cutting ability in certain areas along the edge.
This press release from Benchmade should help explain it…
Benchmade Sets a New Standard in Blade Innovation with Codex87 Horizon Edge™
A first of its kind use case of a bi metal blade revealed during an exclusive invite only event in Las Vegas
Portland, Ore — (January 22, 2026) — Benchmade Knife Company, the undisputed leader in American-led knife innovation, revealed Wednesday evening the Codex87 Horizon Edge™, a first-of-its-kind application that utilizes bi-metal blade technology through selective steel application along a single cutting edge. This announcement marks a defining moment for the brand and reinforces Benchmade’s position at the forefront of modern blade innovation.
The Codex87 Horizon Edge™ is not simply a new utilization of blade steels, but a new way of thinking about blade design. By engineering two unique zones of material properties within one continuous edge, Benchmade applies the right steel in the right place for the right job on a brand favorite hunting knife, the Saddle Mountain Skinner. The result is a high-performance tool that delivers both precision cutting and structural strength, eliminating the need for carrying multiple knives in the field.
“At its core, the Codex87 Horizon Edge™ challenges the idea that a knife must rely on a single material to do everything,” said Vance Collver, Director of Knife Culture & Innovation at Benchmade. “Knives are among humanity’s oldest tools, but the way we make them doesn’t have to stay static. This technology allows us to selectively apply extreme materials where they matter most; pairing razor-sharp cutting performance with the toughness required for harder use and unify them into one working system.”
Unlike traditional single-steel blades, the Codex87 Horizon Edge™ introduces a fused bi-metal construction, in which the base blade steel Hakkapella™ Damasteel®, is combined with a separate steel, Rex121, applied specifically along the cutting edge. Benchmade’s patented blade design uses a laser to fuse a secondary alloy powder along the edge of the blade. This process creates one unified blade that behaves as a single structure while delivering two distinct performance advantages.
One section of the edge is engineered for high hardness and wear resistance, optimized for fine slicing and long-lasting edge retention. Adjacent areas are tuned for strength and toughness, providing the durability required for tasks such as prying or breaking down game. This selective use of materials directly addresses a common challenge faced by hunters: balancing precision cutting with strength without carrying multiple tools. Codex87 Horizon Edge™ solves that problem by integrating both capabilities into a single blade.
“Customer data consistently tells us that edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance are the most valued blade attributes,” said Joe Prebich, Vice President of Benchmade. “The Codex87 Horizon Edge™ allows us to optimize those separate desired qualities within a single knife, a direct testament to Benchmade’s desire to think different and try new things.”
The innovation used to create the Codex87 Horizon Edge™ lies not in novelty for novelty’s sake, but in how high-tech methods are applied to solve real-world material challenges, allowing Benchmade to explore extreme steels and deploy them selectively for maximum performance. Currently unmatched in the market, the steels themselves are well understood and purposefully selected to create the perfect choice for those looking for a knife with extreme edge retention, high hardness, and high wear resistant material.
For more information on the Codex87 Horizon Edge™ please contact Senior Account Manager London Krapff at [email protected].
About Benchmade Knife Company Benchmade Knife Company has been designing and manufacturing premium knives in Oregon City, Oregon, since 1987. Family-owned and operated, Benchmade remains committed to American manufacturing and to the dedicated people who make its products combining precision, innovation, and craftsmanship to build knives that are trusted for life.So that is what Bechmade has to say about it. Obviously, they are very excited about it. The launch party was pure Vegas. I had heard of companies staging big blowouts in the past, but that sort of thing has been cut back on in recent years. Benchmade brought it back, for a night at least. This was as big of a deal as a video game launch at E3 or a major unveiling at Detroit Auto Week. It was a fun thing to be a part of.
So, what about the knife itself?
If I have one beef with the way this was handled, it is that I feel like after all the time and money, I know very little about the knife itself. Granted, the patent is for a process, and it is highly likely that we will see other knives get this same treatment. Sort of how they do Gold Class releases of popular knives, that are then given an over the top treatment. I expect this technology will become standard on Gold Class offerings.
The process is certainly something to be excited about. Stainless steels are famously persnickety about forge welding, and while Benchmade did not go into great detail about the process, it is unique enough that they were able to get a patent, and they are justified in celebrating a little.
I don’t know too much more than that. I was able to handle the knife Wednesday before the event, but it was in a back room at their booth, and I had to leave my notebook and camera outside. I will be doing some follow up with the company before I write more about it for print.
The release party itself was held at the Esports Arena at the Luxor. It was definitely over the top.
Thankfully, I was given a VIP pass, and could skip the line.
Once in, I skipped the hat line, where they were iron-pressing your choice of Benchmade patch onto trucker caps. But I did hit the tshirt line, which was moving much faster.
There was a stage (with a concert to follow), a poker game, food, an open bar, and most importantly for many of us in attendance, a chance to catch up with friends and fellow media members. One is moving so fast at SHOT Show, you almost have to schedule time to relax with friends as well.
The sliders and egg rolls were solid, and I actually managed to eat roughly a full dinner. No complaints.
About 90 minutes in, they showed a hype video and brought out the knife.
It was a fun evening, and one that I won’t soon forget. It was a window into the earlier days when this sort of thing happened regularly. Though I am told that this one was big even by the old standards.
So I would like to thank Benchmade for a fun evening and a look behind the scenes. I want to wish London, my marketing contact good luck as she was extremely pregnant and will be taking a well-deserved break. And I want to assure you, our readers, that there will be much more on this knife and the patented technology as I learn more myself.
Read the full article here