940-1 Osborne: yay or nay?

It's Benchmade's best knife offering in my opinion. Truly fantastic design, light weight, easy to carry and more than enough blade for most every EDC task you could imagine.
 
My Benchmade 940-1 and Crooked River are the only two Benchmade knives that I've kept long term. The 940-1 gets the most pocket time due to the smaller size and light weight. Excellent EDC knife, but a little pricey for what you get.
 
There's a new one I just saw from a dealer I can't mention, the 940DLC-180. Rounded contour black/red carbon fiber handles, DLC coated M390 blade. $323 though. For that price, pick up a 940-1501 from Knifeworks for $200 and get custom hardware of your own choice.
 
It will be a cultural shift but I think you can give it a try
It is a light urban EDC knife with a strong blade geometry

I like knives with blades in the 3.5” range and when I need something light with still enough blade the 940-1 is my pick

I am more an more into manual franelocks and the 940-1 is the only BM I have still in my rotation

For a comparison I’m still use my 0350 and 0630 from ZT and the 940-1 is a good option when I don’t need the string of these ZTs
 
Do it. You're getting a lot of blade for such a small sender package. It carries way smaller than it's actual size. It's lightweight but I've never felt is was not built tough.
 
ZTFan said:
Well I was just effectively talked out of preordering the Benchmade micro Pocket Rocket, but it seems sad to just leave that $10 Knifecenter gift card sitting in my account. I’ve been eyeing the 940-1 for a while, and it seems to have positive reviews on Knifecenter and BladeHQ.

Would you recommend this knife? I currently carry a ZT 0393 and love it. Thanks.
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  • It carries really thin and light in the pocket. Unlike my Para 2 I don't feel it as much when I reach for my phone. I also don't feel it drag my pocket down when wearing shorts.
  • If you're into deep carry you can call Benchmade and they will send you a deep carry clip for free
  • The scales are true Carbon fiber and not a CF/G10 combo.
  • It has a gentleman's classy folder look to it and less "murdery" and tactical so sheeple in the office environment shouldn't be scared of it.

My advice to you (which was passed on to me from a user here)would be to pick one up at a local knife shop if you can as you will be the best quality control of what you end up with. I had to return 3 different units to Amazon because of uneven grind, sticky axis lock and blade centering issues.

The one I have in my possession now is perfect and I'm happy with it.
 
[B]ShannonSteelLabs[/B] said:
Aw crap man im not sure if i have a pic of the edge. Ill hack to get one when i get home. I chipped it out so it needs a resharpen.
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(evilgreg): It disappears into your pocket but when you need it you've suddenly got plenty of knife in your hand (sort of the opposite of the PM2, which takes up your whole pocket but then when you open it is mostly handle).

I have carried several BM models in the past as EDCs. I've had numerous 710's... and one fancy Contego....won here in a GAW. I gave the nib Contego away to a law-enforcement officer who was going thru a rough time at the moment.
Conclusions: I don't need/want a chippy steel for casual EDC.
As has been mentioned by numerous folks above, the Benchmade price is ridiculous.
I've NEVER felt the need for a EDC blade longer than the 3.25-3.5" length.
I do PREFER a little heft in my EDC, and commonly carry 4 to 5 ounces by choice.
Of course I like S90V and 20CV, but I have it in Spydercos.
p.s. I feel like a Johnny Reb sneaking into a Union campsite at night.
My apologies if I riled anybody, but I didn't throw the first stone...
don
 
Sonnydaze said:
(evilgreg): It disappears into your pocket but when you need it you've suddenly got plenty of knife in your hand (sort of the opposite of the PM2, which takes up your whole pocket but then when you open it is mostly handle).

I have carried several BM models in the past as EDCs. I've had numerous 710's... and one fancy Contego....won here in a GAW. I gave the nib Contego away to a law-enforcement officer who was going thru a rough time at the moment.
Conclusions: I don't need/want a chippy steel for casual EDC.
As has been mentioned by numerous folks above, the Benchmade price is ridiculous.
I've NEVER felt the need for a EDC blade longer than the 3.25-3.5" length.
I do PREFER a little heft in my EDC, and commonly carry 4 to 5 ounces by choice.
Of course I like S90V and 20CV, but I have it in Spydercos.
p.s. I feel like a Johnny Reb sneaking into a Union campsite at night.
My apologies if I riled anybody, but I didn't throw the first stone...
don
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Yea im not happy about chipping out the S90V. Did some stupid shit.
 
My one and only complaint about the 940-1 was the thumb studs seemed to be too close to the handle. It may not be the correct way to use thumb studs, but I like placing my thumb under the stud and lift the blade open. Other than that, nice knife, so I’ll say “Yay”.
 
I have three 940s. The Cabela’s model in D2 and carbon fiber (can’t remember the model # offhand), the -1 and the -1701. Two are absolutely perfect and one has a slight amount of blade play. Other than that all are centered and flick open and shut easily. I tend to carry other knives at the moment, though.
 
Pointy81 said:
My one and only complaint about the 940-1 was the thumb studs seemed to be too close to the handle. It may not be the correct way to use thumb studs, but I like placing my thumb under the stud and lift the blade open.
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The thumb studs definitely don't respond to my usual approach, the one I try without really thinking about it. But after a couple days of practice with four methods (right edge of the tip of my thumb and flick straight forward; left edge and do the same; thumbnail flick; middle finger thumbnail flick) I've pretty much got it down. A couple more days should have my favorite method -- left edge thumb tip -- nestled into muscle memory.

If they pushed them further out they'd be easier for me to get at -- but the blade would have to sit higher, or be wider, and the knife would then lose its delightful slimness! :)
 
Dadpool said:
The thumb studs definitely don't respond to my usual approach, the one I try without really thinking about it. But after a couple days of practice with four methods (right edge of the tip of my thumb and flick straight forward; left edge and do the same; thumbnail flick; middle finger thumbnail flick) I've pretty much got it down. A couple more days should have my favorite method -- left edge thumb tip -- nestled into muscle memory.

If they pushed them further out they'd be easier for me to get at -- but the blade would have to sit higher, or be wider, and the knife would then lose its delightful slimness! :)
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The 940-1 is a gorgeous knife. I agree, they shouldn’t redesign the knife itself in any way, maybe they could just use a different thumb stud design instead. It’s obvious they haven’t had too many complaints, otherwise the issue would have been addressed by now.
 
Yes, you should get one. I find the 940-1 feels more rigid than my 940-2 due to the carbon fiber. Beautiful and functional design.
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Hold onto your gift card and get a LNIB 940-1 on the exchange for $180-220.

The resale--unused--on the 940-1 is a big drop for whatever reason. Recently sold mine. Just a little tight on the studs; like putting myself in a thumb war. It's decked out in REAL CF, blue ano, s90v, lightning speed, etc.

Hard to go wrong. I prefer the mini Ritter compared to the 940-1 if looking at that overall size knife, and I carry the full sized Ritter myself.
 
You can't go wrong with the 940; it's a classic IMO.
 
Phixt brings up a very good point. I found mine basically brand new on the exchange here for $180. No way I would have been willing to pay retail for one. Not that it’s not a fantastic blade, but $280 is more than I’d personally spend on any user knife.
 
ZTFan said:
Would you recommend this knife?
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Mine is PERFECT !
No problems. Fantastic action, easy axis lock pull.
As far as a 940 I love it and am totally happy with my purchase.
As knives go I don't understand the thick tip but it is one sweet knife.

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Too small, and too expensive for me. If I had $170 to burn I would go with the 810, Contego. It looks like larger version of the 940.
 
Wowbagger said:
Mine is PERFECT !
No problems. Fantastic action, easy axis lock pull.
As far as a 940 I love it and am totally happy with my purchase.
As knives go I don't understand the thick tip but it is one sweet knife.

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I guess you like ignoring my posts don't you. I took your advice and went to a mom and pop shop and picked up a 940-1. The axis lock is smooth, grind is normal, blade is centered.
 
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