Product Description

The Benchmade Mini Barrage Gold Class 585BK-251 is the most premium assisted opening compact folder in the Knifeworks Benchmade lineup — CPM-S90V under DLC Black coating, Purple Haze carbon fiber handle, Gold Class tolerances, and the AXIS-Assist mechanism in a 2.91-inch format that delivers maximum edge retention, the fastest legal deployment available, and a visual appearance that no other production assisted folder can match.

The CPM-S90V blade is Crucible's high-vanadium powder metallurgy stainless steel engineered for maximum edge retention through vanadium carbide content that resists abrasion at a level that most production knife steels cannot approach — the steel that holds a working edge longer than M390, Elmax, CPM MagnaCut, and CPM-S35VN under demanding daily cutting tasks. In a Gold Class assisted opening knife, CPM-S90V means the blade that deploys fastest also stays sharp longest — the maximum edge retention steel paired with the fastest deployment mechanism in Benchmade's production lineup. The DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) Black coating adds a second independent layer of protection: a physical vapor deposition hard coating bonded directly to the blade flat at the molecular level, thinner and harder than Cerakote, chemically inert against moisture and environmental exposure, and producing zero blade glare across the entire blade surface. The Purple Haze carbon fiber handle is the defining visual feature of the 585BK-251 — woven carbon fiber with a purple iridescent tint that creates a shifting, dimensional appearance under different lighting conditions, producing a handle that reads as understated in low light and dramatically distinctive in direct light. Gold Class production standards apply to every tolerance, pivot fit, blade centering, and finish specification on this knife — producing an assisted opening experience that is smoother, more precise, and more refined than any standard production Mini Barrage.

• Blade: CPM-S90V powder stainless, drop point profile, DLC Black coating, plain edge — high-vanadium PM steel with maximum edge retention that outlasts every other steel in the Mini Barrage lineup; DLC hard coating adds chemical inertness, surface hardness, and zero-glare appearance; requires diamond or CBN abrasives for resharpening
• Handle: Purple Haze carbon fiber, woven pattern with purple iridescent tint — the most visually distinctive handle material in the Benchmade assisted opening lineup; carbon fiber is lighter than Grivory and Richlite, stronger under torsional loads, and more dimensionally stable; Purple Haze tint creates a shifting iridescent appearance unique to this Gold Class build
• Deployment / Lock: AXIS-Assist spring-assisted opening via thumb stud — assist spring drives the blade open at automatic-comparable speed when the thumb stud is actuated; AXIS lock bar locks the blade open with full bilateral release security; Gold Class tolerances produce a notably smoother and more refined deployment feel than standard Mini Barrage production
• Carry: Confirm exact weight from live product listing, tip-up clip, 4.00 inches closed approximate — compact assisted opening carry profile; Gold Class carbon fiber handle keeps carry weight below standard Grivory Mini Barrage variants

Ideal For

Gold Class and premium assisted opening buyers who want the absolute ceiling of the Mini Barrage platform — CPM-S90V maximum edge retention, DLC double-layer coating, Purple Haze carbon fiber, and Gold Class tolerances in a single build that represents the highest specification Benchmade has produced on the Mini Barrage frame. Collectors and premium EDC buyers who want a production assisted opening folder with genuine visual distinction — the Purple Haze carbon fiber is a limited Gold Class handle treatment that produces an appearance no standard production Benchmade folder can replicate, making the 585BK-251 immediately identifiable as a premium carry piece. Buyers who carry a standard AXIS-Assist Mini Barrage and want the most significant upgrade possible in the same platform — CPM-S90V over standard steels, DLC over satin or stonewash, Purple Haze carbon fiber over Grivory or Richlite, and Gold Class tolerances over standard production all represent meaningful improvements in every component simultaneously.

CPM-S90V under DLC Black, Purple Haze carbon fiber that shifts under light, Gold Class tolerances on the AXIS-Assist, and the most premium compact assisted opening build in the Benchmade production catalog — the Benchmade Mini Barrage Gold Class 585BK-251 is the ceiling of what Benchmade makes in an assisted opening compact folder, at $500. Add the Benchmade Mini Barrage Gold Class 585BK-251 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.