KNIFE ACQUIRED FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION
* Type: Previously Purchased
* Condition: Like New
* Commercial Availability: No - Discontinued
* Sharpening: Original Factory Edge
* Marks on Blade: None
* Marks on Handle: None
* Box: Original, in like-new condition
* Manuals, Certificates and Warranty Documents: Benchmade certificates
* Inspected and Certified by our in-house laboratory

The Benchmade Foray 698-181 Gold Class is one of the most prestigious interpretations of the compact Foray, produced by Benchmade as a Limited Edition from the Gold Class series, the line dedicated to the most exclusive models in the American manufacturer's production.

Gold Class represents the pinnacle of the Benchmade philosophy: selected models are reinterpreted using premium materials, special machining and superior finishes, transforming a production knife into an object primarily intended for collecting.

The 698-181 combines a spectacular stainless Damasteel blade with Loki pattern with a handle made of marbled carbon fiber with mother-of-pearl inlays, creating a striking contrast between technical materials and natural details that makes each example visually distinctive.

One of the most sought-after versions of the Benchmade Foray

The Foray was conceived as a compact and elegant folder, characterized by balanced proportions and Benchmade's renowned AXIS Lock mechanism.

In the 698-181 Gold Class version, the technical foundation of the model is elevated through significantly more refined materials: Damasteel, marbled carbon fiber, mother of pearl, dark-finished components and anodized details.

The result is a knife that retains dimensions perfectly suited to EDC use, but whose materials, rarity and positioning place it primarily in the world of Benchmade collecting.

Loki Damasteel Blade

The blade measures approximately 82 mm and is made from stainless Damasteel with Loki pattern, with a declared hardness of approximately 58-60 HRC.

Damasteel is produced through the processing of different stainless steels using advanced metallurgical techniques that create the characteristic layered pattern visible across the blade surface.

The Loki pattern used on this version creates a particularly pronounced design and makes every blade slightly different from an aesthetic point of view.

The drop-point profile also preserves the functional character of the original Foray, offering a versatile and well-balanced geometry.

Marbled Carbon Fiber and Mother of Pearl

The handle uses marbled carbon fiber, a lightweight and structurally strong material characterized by an irregular, three-dimensional texture.

The handle scales incorporate mother-of-pearl inlays, producing different reflections and shades depending on the lighting and viewing angle. Historical specifications for this model identify these inlays as Black Lip Mother of Pearl.

It is precisely this combination of technical carbon fiber and natural material that gives the 698-181 a personality clearly distinct from standard Foray versions.

Gold Class Details

The 698-181 version also features a number of details specific to the Gold Class configuration:

• Loki Pattern Damasteel blade
• Marbled Carbon Fiber handle
• Black Lip Mother of Pearl inlays
• Steel liners with DLC coating
• DLC-coated hardware
• Anodized thumb stud
• Anodized barrel spacers
• Reversible tip-up deep-carry clip with DLC coating
• AXIS Lock locking system

These features belong to the 2018 Gold Class configuration of the model, now discontinued and particularly appealing to Benchmade collectors.

Technical Specifications

Manufacturer: Benchmade
Model: Foray 698-181
Series: Gold Class Limited Edition
Year: 2018
Production Status: Discontinued
Production: Industrial
Country of Manufacture: USA
Type: Folding knife
Opening: Manual via thumb stud
Lock: AXIS Lock
Blade Profile: Drop Point
Steel: Stainless Damasteel
Pattern: Loki
Hardness: approximately 58-60 HRC
Blade Length: approximately 82 mm
Blade Thickness: approximately 3.5 mm
Closed Length: approximately 105 mm
Overall Length: approximately 186 mm
Handle Thickness: approximately 14 mm
Weight: approximately 98 g
Handle: marbled carbon fiber with Black Lip Mother of Pearl inlays
Liners: steel with DLC coating
Clip: reversible deep-carry, tip-up, DLC-coated steel
Pouch: Benchmade Gold Class fabric pouch