When Benchmade’s 2025 catalog dropped at the beginning of the year, one of the most intriguing entries was for a modern flipper knife that, at the time, did not have a physical prototype or even a name. Now it is here and available, and it is called the Lowden.
In terms of output, Benchmade is thoroughly modern, committed almost exclusively to folders with all the trappings of current gen knife-tech – and that makes sense, because one such piece of tech is central to the Benchmade brand: the Axis Lock. However, one thing that is not so common in the Blue Butterfly catalog is flipper knives. They certainly exist, but don’t form a large part of the company’s core offerings.
The Lowden is (you probably saw where we were going with this) a brand new flipper for Benchmade. There is a distinctive switchblade style to this one, but in terms of specs it is a tried-and-true EDC piece, with a 2.79-inch cutting edge. At the time in January, the steel was specified as CPM-20CV, but this production models are actually rolling out in M390 – which, as all the steelheads in the audience know, is a close match metallurgically to that Crucible offering.
Meanwhile the handle is a sleek aluminum chassis, available in either rich red or deep blue anos, with a deep fuller running down the center line until just under the pivot. The deep-carry pocket clip can jump to either side, and, last but not least, we have the Axis Lock, a signature piece, much-loved and -discussed; the Lowden is 100% ambidextrous, and weighs a sprightly 2.99 oz.
The Lowden is available now(den).
Knife in Featured Image: Benchmade 491 Lowden
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