NASA Takes Benchmade Knife Company to the Moon
Benchmade has been building dependable, American-made knives for over 30 years. As an industry leader, we continually pioneer new technologies, craft award-winning designs, and utilize precision manufacturing to create the best tools. Now, Benchmade will venture into the final frontier as the knife astronauts carry aboard NASA’s Artemis missions to the Moon.
“We at Benchmade have always believed in building premium tools that perform no matter the situation,” says Vice President of Marketing Joe Prebich. “It’s amazing to know the men and women of Artemis II will have a tool they can rely on as they venture into a pivotal next chapter of space exploration.”
The knife chosen for upcoming NASA missions is the Benchmade 916SBK-ORG Triage®. The Triage® will make its first appearance on Artemis II, the first crewed voyage around the Moon since 1972, in a series of missions focused on exploring the lunar surface. A four-person crew of astronauts will man the Orion spacecraft on a 10-day flight into space. Each crew member will have a Benchmade Triage® stowed in the Orion Crew Survival System (OCSS) spacesuit.
“We designed the Triage® for first responders who needed a tough, reliable, and versatile tool,” says Director of Product Line Management Vance Collver. “The Triage® had to combine the reliability of our tactical folders, the strength and ease of the Axis ® Lock, the speed and cutting efficiency of our rescue hooks, the effectiveness of a carbide glass breaker, and the convenience of carrying an EDC knife with a reversible pocket clip.”
Artemis II is slated to launch in November 2024, marking the first mission use of the Benchmade Triage®. NASA chose the Triage® to provide additional capabilities to the Artemis crew in the Orion spacesuit. The combination of the large grip, blunt tip, and belt cutter allows for safe and reliable operation for crew members in space suits with gloved hands. All subsequent Artemis missions will feature the Triage® in the OCSS spacesuit as NASA continues to explore more of the Moon.
The space-ready Triage® is a versatile tool for emergency situations where hard-use failure is not an option. The corrosion-resistant N680 blade steel has an opposing bevel blade style that creates a flat, blunt tip for prying and scraping, increases the blade's toughness, and helps prevent accidental punctures. It’s paired with the ambidextrous AXIS®️ lock, a strong and reliable mechanism for safe one-handed opening and closing of the blade. The Triage® has a partially serrated edge engineered for cutting fibrous and other tough materials, temperature and chemical-resistant G10 scales for textured grip, and a 440C stainless steel folding hook to efficiently cut through straps, cords, fabrics, or clothing without damaging the blade or injuring the user.
Benchmade knives and tools have been carried and trusted on explorations all over the globe. Now, Benchmade will go to space on adventures with NASA to explore more of the Moon than ever before.