I’ll admit it—I’m not exactly in the target audience for the Full Immunity. I don’t live in a state that limits blade length to sub-2.5 inches, nor do I wear a badge or tactical vest for a living. But that’s exactly who this knife is made for: folks who do face those restrictions. Benchmade saw a niche and filled it—not just with any tiny knife, but with one loaded to the teeth with premium materials, solid design, and a ton of attitude in a very compact package.
They actually made two versions: the Partial Immunity and the Full Immunity. Today we’re taking a look at the latter—a blade that’s proof you don’t need to be big to be bold.
First Impressions
I’m not a “small knife guy.” If it’s not a Swiss Army Knife or a classic traditional, I tend to gravitate toward larger blades with a bit more real estate. But the more I read about the Full Immunity, the more curious I got. Could this little M4-powered Wharncliffe actually live up to the Benchmade name? Spoiler alert: yeah, it kinda does.
Ergonomics in a Fun-Sized Frame
The first thing you’ll notice is how small the handle is. With a closed length of just 3.46", you’re obviously sacrificing some grip space. But Benchmade leaned into the challenge and did something clever: they scalloped the aluminum handle to give you a natural three-finger grip. It’s tight but surprisingly effective. They even included a lanyard to give your pinky a place to land—though I quickly removed it. It felt like an afterthought, and honestly, the knife stands fine on its own.
The Crater Blue aluminum scales are chamfered and textured in a way that just works. No sharp edges, no hotspots. The jimping on the spine is aggressive enough to let you know it’s there, but not so gnarly that it chews through your thumb. Bonus points for a second set of jimping under the index finger—subtle, but it helps when you're bearing down on the blade.
I can actually pinch grip the entire blade while the handle nestles into my palm. That makes for superb control, especially for precision tasks like slicing boxes, opening mail, or whatever other tactical nonsense I pretend to be doing at the office.
Clip and Carry
The deep carry mini clip is standard Benchmade fare, but on the Full Immunity, it looks and feels right at home. Everything here is scaled down, and the clip follows suit without feeling like an afterthought. It slides in and out of the pocket easily, and retention is solid.
That said, personal nitpick time: the combo of short clip and short handle can make it feel a little less secure in-pocket. Not that it is loose—I’ve had no issues with it actually coming out—but the sensation is there. Again, this is more about me than the knife.
The Axis Lock (Because of Course)
Would it even be a Benchmade without an AXIS lock? That’s rhetorical. The lock is easy to manipulate, even on this scaled-down frame, and it still works well with gloves—a rare feat on knives this size. Tension feels great out of the box, though mine needed a minor pivot adjustment to loosen up the action. No drop-shut magic here initially, but once broken in, it flicks open and closes smoothly with that buttery Benchmade feel.
Lockup is rock solid—no blade play vertically or horizontally. Just the way I like it.
That Blade, Though…
Let’s be honest: the blade is the reason this knife exists. The rest is just packaging. And Benchmade delivered. The CPM-M4 steel is legendary for edge retention, and the Wharncliffe profile is unapologetically utilitarian. It’s like someone took a box cutter and gave it a six-week boot camp and a gym membership.
The Cobalt Black Cerakote gives the blade a mean look, but the performance backs it up. The ultra-fine tip excels at initiating cuts, and the flat edge makes clean work of everything from zip ties to cardboard. I’ve been using this little guy as my primary work knife for weeks, and it just keeps going. I used to cycle through box cutter blades like snacks—now I haven’t swapped or sharpened in ages.
I know I’ll need to sharpen it eventually, but I’m one of those weirdos who likes sharpening. It’s therapeutic. Like zen... with whetstones.
Final Thoughts
The Full Immunity was born out of restriction, but it doesn’t feel like a compromise. It’s a compact tank with a scalpel’s edge-great for folks in restrictive areas, but equally useful for anyone who wants a killer utility knife in a pocket-friendly package. It’s changed how I think about small tactical knives.
Yes, the price is steep. That’s my one big gripe. For a knife this size, you might expect a smaller hit to your wallet. But it’s made in the USA, features premium steel, precision machining, and that classic Benchmade build quality. It’s hard to argue with that—though your wallet might try.
If you’re in the market for a discreet, high-performance blade that punches way above its weight class, the Full Immunity might be the best tiny titan you’ve never considered.
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