The Benchmade Bugout 535BK-4 is the ultralight M390 Bugout — M390 blade steel under Black Cerakote in the Grivory platform that keeps the knife at 1.85 oz, delivering Böhler's third-generation PM steel performance in the lightest M390 Bugout configuration available, with a Gray Grivory handle that pairs cleanly with the all-black blade for a professional, understated carry at any price in the Bugout lineup.

The M390 blade is Böhler's third-generation powder metallurgy stainless steel — a high-carbon, high-chromium, high-vanadium formula that delivers exceptional edge retention, outstanding corrosion resistance, and a refined edge-taking ability that positions it among the top tier of production knife steels. M390 holds a working edge through months of daily cutting tasks that would require frequent touchups on CPM-S30V or CPM-S35VN, sharpens more readily than CPM-S90V while delivering substantially better edge retention than S30V, and takes a finer initial edge geometry than most production steels at comparable hardness. The Black Cerakote coating seals the blade flat against moisture and eliminates all glare while adding a second corrosion barrier independent of M390's own resistance — making an already premium steel essentially impervious to the elements. The Gray Grivory handle keeps the 535BK-4 at the Bugout's signature 1.85 oz carry weight — a meaningful distinction from the aluminum M390 Bugout variants that run approximately 3.25 oz for the same steel. Buyers who want M390 performance without the weight penalty of an aluminum handle have exactly one configuration in the Bugout lineup that delivers it, and the 535BK-4 is it.

• Blade: M390 powder stainless, hollow grind, drop point profile, Black Cerakote finish, plain edge — Böhler third-generation PM steel with exceptional edge retention, outstanding corrosion resistance, and a refined edge geometry that outperforms CPM-S30V at the factory edge level; Black Cerakote adds hard protective layering, zero glare, and a second corrosion barrier
• Handle: Gray Grivory (glass-filled nylon), textured grip panels, slim contoured profile — Grivory keeps the 535BK-4 at the Bugout's ultralight 1.85 oz carry weight; Gray is a clean, neutral colorway that pairs with the Black Cerakote blade for a professional two-tone build without the warmth of earth tones or the brightness of blue or green
• Deployment / Lock: Ambidextrous AXIS lock via dual thumb studs — the hardened steel AXIS bar cams over the blade tang and requires simultaneous bilateral release, delivering one of the most secure lock mechanisms in production folding knives; fast and fully operable one-handed from either side
• Carry: 1.85 oz, tip-up reversible clip, ambidextrous, 4.20 inches closed — the only M390 Bugout in the lineup at the full ultralight Grivory carry weight; buyers who want M390 without the weight of an aluminum handle have no other option in the standard Bugout lineup

Ideal For

Buyers who want M390 steel in the Bugout platform at the ultralight 1.85 oz Grivory carry weight — the 535BK-4 is the only configuration in the Bugout lineup that combines M390 with Grivory, making it the definitive choice for EDC buyers who prioritize both premium steel performance and minimum carry weight. Buyers choosing between the aluminum M390 Bugout 535BK-07 and the Grivory M390 535BK-4 who value ultralight carry over premium handle feel — the 535BK-4 is 1.40 oz lighter than the Burnt Brass aluminum M390 build at the same $350 price point, with identical M390 blade performance. Buyers upgrading from a CPM-S30V Grivory Bugout who want a premium steel step-up without changing the handle material, weight, or carry profile — the 535BK-4 is the direct material step-up path from any standard Grivory Bugout to M390 while keeping everything else identical.

M390 steel under Black Cerakote, Gray Grivory at 1.85 oz, and the AXIS lock — the Benchmade Bugout 535BK-4 is the only M390 Bugout that doesn't ask you to trade ultralight carry weight for premium steel performance, at $350. Add the Benchmade Bugout 535BK-4 to your cart today and get same-or-next-business-day shipping from Columbia, Louisiana, backed by the Benchmade LifeSharp Warranty. Questions? Call 888-225-9775 — we carry these knives daily.