In this detailed review of the Benchmade Adira 18060, a substantial EDC knife, and part of the Benchmade Water Collection, find out if it could be the ideal companion for your outdoor lifestyle on and off the water – read the Benchmade Adira 18060 Review to see for yourself. The Benchmade Adira 18060 is designed to be especially suited for demanding cutting tasks in and around wet environments. Featuring a CPM-MagnaCut drop-point blade, an AXIS Lock mechanism with stainless springs and it comes with a hi-vis orange lanyard for easy access and visibility. The Benchmade Adira 18060 knife blade runs on phosphor-bronze washers making opening and closing smooth, easy, strong and super reliable. Once opened, the axis lock holds the blade securely, and is ambidextrous, so can easily be used by left-handed and right-handed users. Join me in this Benchmade Adira 18060 Review for all the details.
(Thanks to Heinnie Haynes for helping make this review possible.)
What’s in the box?:
Benchmade have gone all-out on the premium experience with the Adira’s packaging, so there are a few more things to look at in this section. I put my hand into view to give a sense of scale for the box.
Slipping off the outer sleeve reveals the orangey glory of the main box. Flipping up the box lid shows even more layers to the packaging. The knife is presented to you with the blade open, in a felt-topped custom cut out layered box liner. Neatly stored to the back of the box is a Benchmade microfibre cloth rolled up and stored in its own section. With the knife lifted out you can see the layers of the liner, with the ‘LifeSharp’ information where the blade was sitting. All of this attention to detail certainly elevates the experience of receiving this knife.
A good look round the folded Adira 18060 – Things to look out for here are:
A packed gallery here, starting off with every-which-way views of the folded knife. One of the Adira’s main orange highlights is the lanyard (which can easily be removed if you don’t like them) which definitely aids grip, handling, stability and visibility. The pocket clip arrives set up for right-handed (tip-up) carry and has a mounting point on the other side for a left-handed setup. The lanyard hole is generous, taking the doubled-up paracord of the supplied lanyard easily. The anodised aluminium backspacer is a subtle, complimentary, colour to the blue handles. The stainless steel liners have thumb jimping for grip, and support the axis lock and pivot. The pivot bolt is one-sided for easy adjustment if required, but it arrives perfectly set up. There is jimping on the blade’s thumb ramp extension and at the butt of the handle. Another Orange highlight on the Adira is the double-sided thumb stud.
A good look round the opened Adira 18060 – Things to look out for here are:
As we swing that large blade out more details are revealed.
Starting with the action of the Axis lock, and once the blade is deployed, the Grivory handle’s shaping and ergonomics can really be seen. A generous integral finger guard sits to the front, ensuring your hand will not slide forward onto the blade. Grip features are incorporated all over the handle including grooves on the palm swell, and jimping near the butt.
Now, with the blade open, we can get the clearest view of the phosphor-bronze washers sitting between the liners and blade tang. Renowned for its performance and corrosion resistance, CPM Magnacut is proudly emblazoned on the blade next to the Orange thumb stud. The equivalent position on the other side of the blade has the Benchmade logo and model number engraved. Taking in the whole blade, plus its spine and swedge design, and then right in to the very tip.
The Blade and Handle – Detailed Measurements:
For full details of the tests and measurements carried out and an explanation of the results, see the page – Knife Technical Testing – How It’s Done.
The blade is made from CPM-Magnacut steel.
The Factory edge up close:
Followers of Tactical Reviews will know my views on factory edges, but to recap:
Anyone using a knife will need to sharpen it. That first factory edge is just like the first tank of fuel that a new car comes with (or first charge of the battery).
A good factory edge is a ‘nice to have’ but not a ‘make or break’ for a good knife, as you will be putting your own edge onto it soon enough.
The factory edge does however indicate the care a knife maker has put into the final finish.
It is for this reason Tactical Reviews measures factory edge sharpness and specifications, and includes this information in the detailed technical testing.
As a further look at the factory edge, this section has been added to include some high magnification photos of the factory edges.
What is it like to use?
Benchmade’s design approach for the Water collection knives; using robust, reliable, simple design, with strong, corrosion resistant materials, is actually in line with all of my own valued preferences for knife design principles – from the outset this firmly aligns the Adira to my personal tastes.
When it comes to locking knives, in relation to being a UK resident, if I have ‘good reason’ to carry a knife, then I also prefer a substantial folding knife that is capable of hard work. So in this sense the Adira is hitting the spot nicely as well.
Here is the Adira 18060, very comfortably in my XL glove-size hands.
As intended, the Adira is a real Water baby, very much at home in and on the water. If getting into deeper water I would prefer to add a float to the lanyard in case I did drop it. Lily pads might keep it afloat for a short time, but ultimately it will sink into the depths.
The action, out of the box, is silky smooth, with the blade tang running on phosphor-bronze washers; always my preference for stability, maximum strength, reliability and ease of maintenance. All through the testing there was not a hint of any change in the action, nor would I expect it.
With the extended thumb ramp naturally bringing your grip up onto the blade, and making it easy to apply pressure behind the cutting edge exactly where it give maximum power to the cut. This also lifts the thumb studs slightly, making them both more accessible when the knife is folded, and further away from the cutting edge and any interference when sharpening.
Of course we are very familiar with the axis lock, and how the grip you take to release the lock automatically puts your hand out of the way of the blade path, making for safe and easy one-handed closing (perhaps with the blade spine pressing against something to help swing it closed as you hold open the lock).
Despite not being a full flat grind, and having a good sized blade, the blade stock used means the Adira’s blade is nicely slicey, and it’s an eager enough cutter.
Sitting writing this review, I have the Adira to hand, and having been given a wash with soap and water and good rinse, it is looking as if it hasn’t been used at all. The stonewashed blade finish always being a good choice in this regard, and all the other parts cleaned up to look like new (as so far I’ve not dropped or dinged anything).
As well as being an excellent user, a knife like the Adira, would also be an ideal ‘standby’ or ’emergency’ knife as you know that while in storage it won’t develop any issues, and will be in perfect condition when called into service however long that might be from now. You might even feel the need to get one to use and one to have as an emergency backup.
Review Summary
The views expressed in this summary table are from the point of view of the reviewer’s personal use. I am not a member of the armed forces and cannot comment on its use beyond a cutting tool or field/hunting knife.
Something that might be a ‘pro’ for one user can be a ‘con’ for another, so the comments are categorised based on my requirements. You should consider all points and if they could be beneficial to you.
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What doesn’t work so well for me
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The front part of the handle is a little slim and digs in to your fingers.
Packaging could be considered excessive.
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Things I like
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The whole design ethos of the Water Collection.
Magnacut blade with stonewashed finish.
Highly corrosion resistant throughout.
Phosphor-bronze pivot washers.
Ambidextrous Axis lock.
Orange colour highlights.
Lanyard included to aid grip.
Two-position pocket clip.
Substantial sized knife.
Thumb ramp extension.
Jimping where you need it.
Review Videos
Starting with a short format sixty second review:
Onto a full video review covering many more details:
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