I have this knife for over 20 years! I sent it back to Benchmade twice last month to be refinished and engraved. I have been through at least 30 knives since I first got this knife and it still remains one of my favorites. Spot on review, thanks Kev
My 940 is one of my favorite knives (right up there with my zt0450). It was my first real expensive knife and I stressed over the price a lot. After getting it though, I can say it is totally worth it.
Hi Kevin. My 940 is fantastic and has always been. I have had it for about 6 years and absolutely love it. No failures ever. My para 2 and 940 and delica probably get most pocket time ! 👍🏼
One of the best reviews of my top 3 knives I have seen. Cannot legally carry in the UK, but I help out on shoots and outdoor stuff, 3 knives, in my opinion, Kevin, CS Recon 1. spdy pm2 and the 940, for folding blades. Been in UK Forces where you cut your toothbrush in half to save weight, got a proper green handled one, supervised by Rob Bixby to make sure I got a good grind. Pisses me off that I can't just carry it, it is definitely worth the money, if you like a good watch, this one is a rolex.
I've always been a spyderco guy, but I got a Bugout for Christmas and I love it so much, I decided to get a 940. It'll be here Friday, and I'm super excited.
I’ve got two Osborne’s, a green aluminum 940 and a carbon fiber 940-1, and they are both great knives but you really have to buy them in person so you can check the fit and finish, opening, blade play, etc. For the 940-1 I recommend buying at REI, they frequently send out 20% off coupons which ends up saving you almost $60. If you buy online be sure the seller offers easy returns in case you get a lemon, of which there are more than a few despite the elevated price of entry for Benchmades. That being said, the 940 in all iterations is a superb carry knife (though, as others have noted, it’s not a slicer like the Delica 4, so if you plan to be cutting up a lot of cardboard, this ain’t your best choice).
The Omega springs on mine broke twice over a period of about two years with only light use but Cate at benchmade sorted it out for me under warranty. About 8 weeks turnaround time from here in the UK. When it came back the second time the centering and action were perfect too with not a hint of blade play in any direction. I've since had it prefessionally re-ground to fifteen degrees per side with a beautiful mirror finish. It's so perfect now in fact that I daren't use it at all..!!!
Thanks FlamQ Dbltap - but our 'leaders' are clue-less, directionless and self-serving. The Labour leader Jeremy Corbin is an ex-terrorist supporter and Anti-Semite while the Conservative leader is unable to even choose who's side she's on. We need, NEED, Nigel Farage to take control but the sheeple majority here are scared of the new direction he advocates. Without him, the British Empire is is becoming an immigration 'sponge' for Sharia-supporting armies of angry, delusional activists who are happy to reap the benefits of our society while simultaneously trying to destroy it.
Jason Barefoot reading this was hard. Exactly the same optimism I had when I saved up and bought my 940. Just to have it stolen out of my cubby at a trampoline park by an employee
When you open it its like the blade ( modified spey blade not reverse tanto or whatever they call it ) is longer the the handle . Its a thinner blade may be good for utility ! Very light like you don't feel it in pocket ! Just got it so Ill have to use her for awhile !
I agree with your handle comment. Just a bit too narrow for what is a relatively heavy blade. That is being a bit nit picky but that's why I sold mine.
This is a bad ass knife!!. I found one hornhunting the middle of nowhere half buried in the dirt. looked like it was there for a year or so. Its still in excellent condition
Punches above its weight. Not many 3.4 inch bladed knives disappear in your pocket. Slices surprisingly well with a decent edge like 17dps. Knifeworks exclusive in 20cv is $199. It’s the one to get imo.
The knife is excellent and lightweight and compact, perhaps too compact for primary use, but perfectly suited for everyday carry. This leaves the primary niche to be filled by a larger, high-quality fixed blade knife. However, 3:22 "That nicely anodized purple backspacer" - Coming from a designer's angle, I wonder how anyone can love the green and purple combination. I could understand (though still not like it) if the knife was called "Aurora Borealis" but no, it's just all green and tiny purple, love it or hate it. I think if they had a more neutral spine or no spine at all, like in newer versions, they might gain 10-20% more customers.
I have all the knives you compared the 940 to. Out of all of them the CS American Lawman gets more carry and is a better EDC knife than any of the others. It’s built like a tank, cuts great and is more ergonomic than any of the others. The only thing it doesn’t have is “fidget factor” , which I don’t care about when I carry a knife to actually use.
Really love the 940 in all it’s iterations! Really hate the fact that Benchmade decided to profit off their reputation by overcharging for their products and reducing quality control. Competition from China, Japan, etc. will be the demise of Benchmade’s arrogance and abuse of their client base!
Im not into high end ! I love the 940 . After I got the clone 940-1 I liked it so much I had to have the real 940 ! I shopped and got one for $130.00 ! $30.00 more than I think its worth but ! I bought it used so that I don't have to deal with benchmades lack of quality control ! The crooked river large I got was like un finished condition out of box it was a total cull ! Dont buy benchmade through the mail new . Unless you have the time and money and you like dealing with returns ! Go to the store and try them ! I heard of one guy trying 9 knives of one model before he found one that worked !
I bought my g10 940 last year for the "Collection" for $170, it's artistically pleasing , the action is perfect , but a little pricey. The grey g10, 20cv griptilian is a much better buy and all around knife , imo, and fits my XL hands a hell of a lot better .
Brian F I've owned over 20 BM's and have handled dozens more.. You are on the money.. The G10 551-1 dosent get enough attention.. It's one of BM's better knives and values...
The Smoke is a lot more knife for not a lot more money but it's not readily available . The G10 940 is 222 Cdn and the standard is 239 Cdn . You can get better knives for a lot less .
i would love the smoke or the aero if i could have got one. i lost out and refuse to pay the mark up secondary market price. i do love my 940 though. mine has the black blade.
i like the axis lock more than the frame lock on my zt0450 which is its biggest competitor in my collection. they are both nicer than my intrigue but the intrigue is 30 dollars and not 160-170 dollars. its pretty nice for 30 dollars though. i am a big fan of the spyderco endura ffg.
Looks like is ground a little to thick on the primary grind for my liking. Given the stock thickness and grind height, looks like a candidate for a re grind to zero with a micro bevel.
The para2 is a awesome slicer but the blades too fragile. The 940 is a beast that you can beat on. Love the 940 but it's too small that's why I got the knifeworks contego m390 steel can't beat it
Your criticisms are the only reason I haven't purchased one. It just feels a bit small in my hand which makes it too light duty for me. Otherwise, I really like the look. Just needs to be a bit more substantial for the price.
Benchmade has parkerized deep carry clips available nowadays, as well as the Bugout clip which is also parkerized. They'll send them out to you for free.
I realy like it to mee is best folder for that price and its higy, its just perfect. I love blade, and axes lock is wery good. Also i have Kizer V3 it has been my EDC for 5ares and for 70€ knife worth ewery penny. Also i both my Benchmade for ritail price becose lifetime waranty. But when i comper 940 Carbon for 300€ with my Microtech ultratech that is just too worlds off kvality. And steal in Ultratech is M390 bohler and details are ewryvere its feel like 350€ knife but 940 Carbon vith 90V steel is just plain and too price its working knife for hamering. To mee 940 is working knife for 200€ castumer servis must bee extrimly good:)) extimly
I like BM and the 940 just misses in too many ways for me. I'm glad others enjoy it. If they made it a bit bigger maybe it would be something I would buy.
If you live in Canada, I would not recommend sending a knife to Benchmade for sharpening or repairs. When it comes back by mail, it will likely be detained for testing by Border Services and if they can flick it open like Kevin did in the video the knife will be seized and destroyed.
Extremely useful advice. As much as Spyderco and Benchmade are rivals in America. It is just not feasible to own a Benchmade knife in Canada. If you are Canadian just go with Spyderco.
I’ve been looking at the 940 in carbon fiber and s90v steel but I don’t know much about s90v and it’s an exspensive knife to buy at like $260 but if I could pick I’d love the Benchmade Anthem but that costs even more at $400 or so yikes Plus I’m so bored of s30v and I’m moving torwards other super steels.I do own the 810 contego in m4 which is just a larger 940 and I love it except the handle it’s really ruff and a pocket killer but other than that great blade.
I have many high end steels but avoid non stainless.. I also avoid S90V.. It's very hard and can be chippy.. The BM G10 551-1 in 20CV is one of their better knives.. My store has it for $170..
What kinda 940 is that? I've never seen one even close to as thin behind the edge as a para 2? U stated that the 940 was thinner behind the edge.....ohh and actually benchmade makes a parkerized deep carry clip now
It's a light duty knife compared to the others. More of a gents carry for me. Thinking of selling my American lawman. The finger choil is too big for one finger, too small for two fingers. The point of the choil digs into my middle finger. Recon 1 is much more ergonomic for me.
I have a love/hate relationship with the 940.. I've had 5 variants but down to 3.. I'm near 4 big BM dealers (5 counting REI).. I own at least 12 BM's and have handled dozens more.. For some reason, the 940 has the worst QC problems.. Many have over sharpened blades, off center, pivot screw backs out etc.. The pivot screw adjustment is way too finicky.. With my big hands, it's awkward opening/closing the knife but fine once in hand..I still love the design and how it disappears in the pocket (I carry all my knives loose)...
Short answer....no. The edge is way to thick unless you reprofile it. BM is also quite expensive, especially for us not living in US. And has way to bad QC.
I think the ''bad BM qc'' thing is blown waaaayy out of proportion. No, they don't always come with centered blades and an action with no play, usually though when I buy a knife the first thing I do is lube it and find the perfect pivot tension. Also an off center blade does not directly affect performance unless it is rubbing on the scale.
...I herd Benchmde "workout their QC issues by around 2019...buy a Benchmade today in 2023...should be okay. Unless the copy has been sitting around in that store for 5+ years...unlikely...
Kevin cleary Still too thick for me. But more so the thickness halfway up the blade (and spine) is the real issue. It's more of a sharpened wedge than a light use cutting knife. Just my opinion though.
I do like the design of 940 but the price is ridiculous. If it's around the $100 range it would be great. I can't see myself spending that kind of money on a pocket knife that sits in my pocket 95% of the time. A more affordable pocket knife does the same job, just as good or even better.
For me, this is a knife of missed opportunities. I like the design. A lot. But it's let down by Benchmade's... Let's say "variable" fit and finish, less than ideal grind, and out dated steel.
Mátyás Türk totally agree s30v is getting real old and even the s90v carbon fiber version I want s35vn 20cv cpm154 m390 those are probably my top 4 at the moment
I have many high end steels but steel type isn't high up on my list..I just broke down 15 big, heavy duty moving boxes with a VG10 Delica.. It dulled to where it won't cut paper but I made a lot of long cuts and it still would have cut more cardboard...Anyway, I agree about the QC.. It's still not good.. I mentioned in my comment the 940 has the worst QC of all the BM's I've owned/handled...
My problem with S30V is not about hype, but edge stability. It's literally the only steel that chipped on me during light EDC use. And it chipped regularly even with the famous Bos HT. So when i see it used, while S35VN is available, that's better in every ways, it just shows me, that the maker doesn't care. VG10 i don't mind, as long as it is used in budget knives. The Delica is as expensive as a knife in VG10 should be at most.
Mátyás Türk I haven’t had a problem with chipping or anything just not the easiest to sharpen and I like to try new steels out.Im sure the s30v that chipped during light use had a heat treat problem.
I had two spydies (Native and Swick) and a Buck (Vantage Force Pro). All of them chipped at 15 dps, and stabilized at 17. S30V is like that. I'm not talking chunks missing of course, but more than enough to annoy me.
