Field dressing big game can ask too much of one knife. Skinning and general cutting need a controllable primary blade, while opening hide is a different job that can put extra work on the edge you still need for more precise cuts.
Price: $350
Where to Buy: Amazon
The Benchmade SlipRidge Fixed Combo separates those jobs. It pairs the SlipRidge Fixed hunting knife with the specialized SlipRidge Hook, which nests onto the same sheath. The fixed blade handles broader cutting duties, while the hook is designed specifically for opening hide during field dressing.
That two-tool arrangement is the main reason to consider the Combo instead of the SlipRidge Fixed alone.
A 3.7-inch MagnaCut blade sits at the center
The SlipRidge Fixed centers on a 3.7-inch CPM MagnaCut drop-point blade, measuring 8.11 inches overall and 0.114 inches thick. The stabilized-wood version weighs 3.61 ounces without its sheath.
Benchmade positions it between the Saddle Mountain Skinner and Steep Country for big-game processing. Its 3.7-inch blade offers a useful working edge without the bulk of a larger fixed blade.
Benchmade heat-treats its MagnaCut blades to 60-62 HRC and adds its SelectEdge geometry, aiming to balance edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance. We have not independently tested the SlipRidge, so real-world cutting performance remains to be seen.
The drop-point profile should suit the role, pairing useful belly for skinning with a more controlled point than an aggressively pointed blade shape.
The SlipRidge Hook is what makes the Combo different
The standard SlipRidge Fixed already gives you the MagnaCut hunting knife and sheath. The Combo adds the component that turns it into a more specialized field-dressing system: the SlipRidge Hook, a 440C stainless-steel tool finished in Rust Orange Cerakote.
Benchmade says it developed the hook for hunters using the gutless method. Its job is to make zipper cuts during the early stages of field dressing while leaving the primary knife available for finer work.
That is a more convincing reason for carrying a second cutting tool than simply adding another blade for redundancy. Each component has a defined role.
The value will depend heavily on how you process game. Hunters who already carry a separate hook may simply be duplicating equipment. Someone building a streamlined field-dressing kit, however, gets both tools in a system designed to travel together.
One sheath keeps the system organized
The smartest part of the Combo may not be either blade. It is how Benchmade carries them.
The SlipRidge Hook is designed to nest onto the SlipRidge sheath rather than requiring a completely separate sheath somewhere else in your pack. Benchmade’s field-carry sheath is made from Boltaron, with the Combo using an OD Green version that accommodates both the knife and hook.
That integration addresses a practical problem with specialized hunting equipment. A second tool is not nearly as convenient if you have to find it at the bottom of a pack when you are already working on an animal.
Keeping the hook with the primary knife gives both tools a consistent storage location while retaining the simplicity of one main carry system.
It also makes the Combo easier to understand as a product. Benchmade is not simply bundling two unrelated knives. The SlipRidge Fixed and Hook were designed as complementary parts of the same hunting setup.
Two handle choices
Benchmade offers the SlipRidge Fixed with either stabilized wood or Rust Orange G10 scales. The stabilized-wood version gives the knife a more traditional hunting aesthetic. Current retailer specifications list it at 3.61 ounces.
Rust Orange G10 takes a more utilitarian approach. The bright handle should also be easier to locate against many natural backgrounds if the knife is set down while working. That model is currently listed at 4.37 ounces.
Both versions retain the same basic formula: a 3.7-inch MagnaCut drop-point blade, SelectEdge geometry, and a purpose-built sheath.
The handle decision therefore comes down mostly to whether you prefer the appearance and lighter listed weight of stabilized wood or the high-visibility, synthetic G10 alternative.
Who is the Benchmade SlipRidge Fixed Combo for?
Benchmade lists the SlipRidge Fixed at $275 and the SlipRidge Fixed Combo at $350, although retailer pricing can vary. That $75 difference makes the buying decision fairly straightforward.
If you mainly want a compact premium-steel hunting knife, the standalone SlipRidge Fixed gets you the core 3.7-inch MagnaCut platform without paying for another specialized tool.
The Combo makes more sense for hunters who process their own game and would otherwise carry a separate tool for opening hide. Its advantage is not that the included SlipRidge Fixed becomes a better knife. It is that Benchmade gives the primary knife and dedicated hook clearly separated jobs while integrating both into one carry system.
Price: $350
Where to Buy: Amazon
For hunters who already have their preferred field-dressing tools, that specialization may not justify the additional cost. For someone building a premium, organized big-game field-dressing kit from scratch, the SlipRidge Fixed Combo is the more interesting version of Benchmade’s new hunting platform.
