SWAT-Ready? Benchmade SOCP Review

In this article, Randall Chaney reviews the Benchmade SOCP dagger. The knife and trainer reviewed here are personally owned by the author.

Instructor Greg Thompson founded the Special Operations Combatives Program (SOCP), and his background in training military units and Federal law enforcement led him to develop it as a “realism-based, task-specific system” for hand-to-hand fighting in full combat gear or SWAT armor. The Benchmade 176BK SOCP dagger is an extension of this mindset.

SOCP has quite the pedigree. It’s the first combatives program officially implemented by U.S. Army Special Forces. Since its inception in 2010, it has also been adopted by the Army Rangers, Air Force SERE and Pararescue, Naval Special Warfare SEALs, Marine Force Recon, Marine MARSOC, Coast Guard Direct Action Teams, FBI, ATF, Border Patrol, and state and local law enforcement agencies.

The core concept of SOCP is “Fighting in Kit with Weaponry.” Thompson envisioned the SOCP dagger as a transitional tool to get you back into the fight from a close-quarters attack and on to your long gun or pistol. Both the knife and its sheath were maximized for defensive capability and accessible carry in body armor.

Where It Fits

Made in Oregon City, Oregon, the Benchmade SOCP dagger is stripped down to its essentials. It does not need handle scales. The ring on the butt of the full tang knife and the finger scallops of the handle shank provide a locked in grip. Since the knife will likely be wielded by an operator or officer wearing gloves, this profile finds good adhesion in the hand.

The ring diameter is 1 and 3/32nd of an inch, which is generous for gloves. It is also large enough to give the index finger adequate room to maneuver and not bind up in the reverse or icepick grip. The squared-up and aggressively jimped thumb shelf on the ring is a solid platform to enable forcible penetrations.

Intended for MOLLE or PALS webbing carry, the injection-molded sheath is slim enough to thread into the nylon segments. Ridges in the sheath body help hold it fast in the MOLLE. A black metal clip snugs the rig down on a vest or in the straps of concealable body armor. Holes at the top and bottom of the sheath are placed for lashing or zip ties to allow more mounting options.

Into Action

For a quick presentation, the sheath is open-topped and intended for the user to quickly draw the SOCP ring with the index finger and get the blade into action in a reverse grip. Because the frame of the knife is unobtrusive, the operator can easily run a rifle or pistol with the knife still in his or her palm. No need to offload the blade when transitioning back to the firearm.

I found that maintaining a hold on the knife while using a firearm increases that “get off me” capability. In a fight for your life, the sharp edge protruding under a pistol, shotgun or rifle grip can assist in staving off repeated CQC attacks or gun-grabs. I mean, you pulled the SOCP dagger for a reason, after all. Just be careful if you try to reload a pistol magazine!

Benchmade’s SOCP dagger can also be carried for EDC self-defense. Its minimalist presence makes it pleasant in a pocket, waistband or pack. Benchmade makes a SOCP-branded leather backplate available. Bolted to the sheath, it pads the ring area for a more comfortable IWB ride. Check your local laws and don’t get yourself in a jam.

The Details

With 7¼” of 440C stainless steel overall, the SOCP knife is a flat-ground double-edged dagger. On earlier models, the 3¼” blade portion was only sharpened for an inch and a quarter back from the tip. Thompson intended the dagger to be used mainly for gross motor skill thrusting. Later iterations now have a full 3” of edge.

Around the same time the blade was more fully sharpened, Benchmade introduced a redesigned clip for the sheath. The old clip is similar to a standard deep carry clip you would find on a pocketknife. For a better hold on webbing, the latest clip has a “J” shape with two small retention tabs that better hook the material underneath.

For a knife this short, the SOCP dagger must be brandished with determination because it lacks a stop to keep your hand safe from the edge. That is where I like less of the keen steel in the original system. There is more room for error. But one can conduct serious business with a scant blade. Think biomechanics, targeting and training.

Holding an Edge

You could use this knife for everyday tasks, but my motto has always been, “Never use your defensive blade for utility tasks.” A dull knife will not be your friend in close quarters battle or personal protection. Besides, having a Swiss Army knife or multitool on you increases your usefulness.

As with many knives designed for self-defense, Benchmade is your huckleberry and makes a training blade for martial practice. When I purchased my dagger, I bought the SOCP trainer as well, which is covered in bright red Cerakote. The training knife is also 440C and comes with an identical sheath.

The SOCP training dagger has no bevels on the blade whatsoever. It is full width from stem to stern. Not only does this make it blunt for safety, it allows the trainer to be employed as a less-lethal tool if you find yourself in a “liberally” regulated territory. I would never try carrying the trainer onto a commercial aircraft, though. Its adversarial identity might draw unwanted attention.

Benchmade Knife Company is not the only one to bring the SOCP knife concept to operators. Spartan Blades also makes a Thompson-approved version, known as the Spartan CQB Tool. It is the same knife in another steel with a different sheath design. Spartan founders Curtis Iovito and Mark Carey are Special Forces veterans with over four decades of combined service, so their custom version is unsurprising.

Conclusion

Benchmade’s SOCP dagger is available with either a black or sand-colored sheath. It is also sold in combination with the training dagger. The current suggested retail price for the SOCP dagger is $130.00. The combo is $180.00. A Mini SOCP Spear-Point single-edged knife, at about 2/3 the size of the dagger, costs $120.00. The SOCP leather backplate is ten bucks.

Finally, the knife is available as the Benchmade SOCP Rescue Tool. Gray Cerakoted, it features a cutting hook, a carbide tip for breaking glass and an O2 wrench in the same ringed handle. This tool is retailed at $110.00. There, you have many great choices!

Greg Thompson’s lightning-fast Benchmade SOCP dagger is mission-specific to help guard dog your security. In my estimation, the entire package is well thought out from blade to sheath. Whether a military operator, SWAT police officer or aware citizen, this excellent knife can protect you with distinction.

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