In recent history, the Benchmade knives brand has kicked off the start of each year with the reveal of a massive number of all-new blade designs — along with a myriad of updated takes on existing models — that will see releases over the following months. Part of the Oregon City outfit’s 2023 drop included the new Immunity lineup, which featured the Full Immunity, smaller Partial Immunity, and the Auto AXIS-equipped Auto Immunity. And after being met with an incredibly warm reception, the company has now opted to supplement the Immunity’s existing 290, 2900, and 2950 Series models with a new super premium, top-of-the-line Gold Class variant known as the Benchmade 290-241 Full Immunity. 

Made in America, the Gold Class 290-241 sports the same winning design used by the standard non-Gold Class Immunity knives, though sees practically every construction replaced with some of the finest materials that money can buy. This spare-no-expense folder gets rid of the regular knife’s aluminum handle and swaps it out in favor of a pair of unidirectional carbon fiber scales set over Sapphire Blue PVD-coated liners. Boasting the same 2.49” length and pointy Wharncliffe profile as its non-Gold Class counterparts, the 290-241 ditches the lineup’s normal CPM M4 blade steel in favor of an upgrade to a super top-shelf  Ægir-patterned Damascus steel construction courtesy of Swedish firm Damasteel. Accented with matching Sapphire Blue PVD-coated thumb-studs, the blade’s non-show-side also comes decorated in each Gold Class Full Immunity’s limited production number. 

Like other Gold Class additions to Benchmade’s legendary lineup, the 290-241 Full Immunity benefits from meticulous attention to detail and a plethora of small and subtle yet meaningful modifications and updates. This includes a custom Sapphire Blue PVD-coated pivot collar as well as a mini deep carry pocket clip that’s been hit with the same Sapphire Blue PVD treatment. Even the AXIS lock has received a redux, with a blacked-out AXIS slider that’s now juxtaposed via Sapphire Blue internal AXIS hardware. And, just like every other model in Benchmade’s Immunity lineup, the new Gold Class-spec comes with a paracord-mated lanyard bead — in this case a Sapphire Blue one to match the rest of the knifes’s PVD-coated accents. Additionally, like all Benchmade knives, the Gold Class Full Immunity comes backed by a lifetime warranty, and its price includes a lifetime of Benchmade’s LifeSharp service. 

On sale now but only available until December 31st of this year, the Benchmade 290-241 Gold Class Full Immunity has been priced at $600.