Any reason not to buy a BM 921?

S

speedfan

Joined
Sep 5, 2003
Messages
390
Here is my earlier post looking for alternatives to the apparition because I had read bad things about cheap handles. I think I'm going to get a 921. Can anybody think of any reason not to? I'm going to check back tomorrow morning and if nobody has a reason, I'm going to order it by 9am tomorrow. I'm kinda psyched but I want to make sure I'm making the right decision. Is the blue of the handles the same as it looks here (http://www.pbase.com/pap/image/40821414 - no relation just a picture I found)?
Thanks,
Richard
 
That's a good picture--color is accurate. I carried my 921 for about a year and a half and really liked it, so I say go for it.
 
I have not handled one before and I have wondered if the presence of the little blade might make the grip not so comfy.
 
I had one for a short time, & I was paranoid I would chip or scuff up the perfect handle.

I ended up selling it to a co-worker & ( I swear to God, he FRAMED it & put it up on his wall at home !!!!)

The shape & grind of the main blade are perfect, the second blade I didn't see a use for but when closed, looked cool.

It did not make the handle uncomfortable, but I didn't work it hard either.
 
Only thing I can think of to dissaude you from getting a 921 is the main blade doesn't have much of a belly. If you were planning on using it for skinning elk, think again.

That said, it does work well for office work, opening letters, packages, etc. The action is smooth, and the S30V blade is nice and sharp and the handle is a piece of art.

What's not to like?
 
When you say belly I guess you mean it's not thick? That's what I'm looking for, since this will be my "clean" knife (used for things that go into my mouth) and I want it to be super sharp, which while my Avalanche which has what I would consider a moderately thick blade will push cut paper, it never feels like a razor going into things like an apple (which I only did once to test, since this is my dirty knife, and if I ate that apple I'd probably throw up from the various poisons on this blade).
 
I think all the LE 921s had black blades. There were some red and green handled prototypes with satin blades.
 
There are two reasons I did not buy one.

First, the painted aluminum handles. Type III HA would be fine but it is not and the handles will wear down to bare aluminum in places just from carying. This is keeping me away from a lot of Benchmades right now.

Second, the little slip joint blade seems like a good idea but is very difficult for me to open. It needs a nail nick or something.

Love the axis lock and S30V warnie, though.

This is what kept me away from it, but may not even matter to a lot of folks.

Chris
 
Planterz said:
I think all the LE 921s had black blades. There were some red and green handled prototypes with satin blades.
Click to expand...
Nope, not all. I have a limited edition sitting right here, pewter anodized scales, and a satin D2 main blade.
 
cmd said:
Type III HA would be fine but it is not and the handles will wear down to bare aluminum in places just from carying.
Click to expand...
Mine has been in my EDC rotation for the better part of a year now, and the finish shows no wear at all, except where I've dinged it badly enough to remove the underlying aluminum. Not sure what sort of coating or "paint" they're using, but it's much tougher than I expected.


cmd said:
Second, the little slip joint blade seems like a good idea but is very difficult for me to open. It needs a nail nick or something.
Click to expand...
Funny, mine has a nick... it's sorta hidden, though. In the row of six small holes along the spine, there's a groove machined along holes #2 through #4, forming a nick. Mine's also well broken in, so the blade opens pretty easily even without the nick (but still has excellent snap).
 
Speed,

I like the quality and size of this knife. Lightweight, easy to carry. Small 440C blade comes in handy for detail work (like cutting up lime slices to put in Coronas!). You don't find too many of these around probably because folks don't think of Benchmade when they consider multi-bladed knives.

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=921

I have one in a California raisin grape purple color (not sure when these were made) and have not had any problems with the finish. It also doesn't get any friends or co-workers nervous like my "black" knives usually do.

It is a nice companion to my red aluminum handle Protech Runt automatic, heh heh!

http://www.protechknives.com/products.asp?productID=4

Why not get both Benchmades and sell the one you like the least? They are very saleable but my bet is that you will keep both of them.
 
speedfan said:
Wait a sec, the handles are painted, not anodized?
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Like I said, I'm not sure what it is. It has a gorgeous satin-like feel to it, almost like the "silverstone" stuff inside high-quality cookware. And like I mention above, mine shows no signs of wear -- no chipping, rubbing, thinning, scratching, nothing -- after a year, and I haven't exactly babied the thing, either!

(Although maybe I should... it's one of only 50 on the planet with the D2 blade; I *was* gonna put it away, but as soon as I tried using it, I realized it was just too good *not* to use!)
 
DGG said:
I have one in a California raisin grape purple color (not sure when these were made) and have not had any problems with the finish. It also doesn't get any friends or co-workers nervous like my "black" knives usually do.
Click to expand...
Hey, I've got one of those livid-purple ones, too! (Ordered a 770, seller shipped it by mistake, hanging onto it for the right trade.) Mine has the black-coated blades, though; is yours satin?
 
Okay---thanks for posting the pic, since I now know what is being discussed. (I just can't keep the BM model numbers straight.)

I have a switchback in blue, and for quite awhile, I was carrying it in the pocket that also hods a buch of keys, a SAK, and who knows how many other metal instruments guaranteed to scratch the hell out of that nice blue finish. Well, guess what-- all those things scratched the hell out of that nice blue finish--if you don't want that to happen, carry it in a sheath or something.

The knife is VERY comfortable to use-- that lttle blade is no trouble at all. The main blade was quite sharp ou of the box--you can never be sure of that with Benchmade. (Before I get flamed--I own somewhere in the area of 20 Benchmade knives--I am speaking from experience.) The little blade needed sharpening, but a number of my friends who bought this knife say that theirs came sharp. Anyway, it was easy to sharpen. The little blade has a nail nick.

Anyway, I love this knife, and have had no problems with it at all.
 
Gryffin said:
Mine has been in my EDC rotation for the better part of a year now, and the finish shows no wear at all, except where I've dinged it badly enough to remove the underlying aluminum. Not sure what sort of coating or "paint" they're using, but it's much tougher than I expected.
Click to expand...

A friend of mine has one and the finish on the handles has lots of marks from being in his pocket with change. I'm not sure what the finish is, could be anodized but definitely not HA type III. I have 705BW with colored aluminum handles and it scratched through very easily. As for me, I'm staying away from all aluminum handles unless they are hard anodized. It's just a pet peeve of mine.

Gryffin said:
Funny, mine has a nick... it's sorta hidden, though. In the row of six small holes along the spine, there's a groove machined along holes #2 through #4, forming a nick. Mine's also well broken in, so the blade opens pretty easily even without the nick (but still has excellent snap).
Click to expand...

Guess I missed it or it may be a newer modification. Glad it's there, either way.
 
Gryffin said:
Hey, I've got one of those livid-purple ones, too! (Ordered a 770, seller shipped it by mistake, hanging onto it for the right trade.) Mine has the black-coated blades, though; is yours satin?
Click to expand...

Black blades.

Here is a link I found to a seller of the purple people eater! He also has a red one and a silver one, all special editions from the advertising. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the 921's.

http://www.newgraham.com/limited_edition_bm.htm

I usually carry mine in a kydex (sp?) sheath either on belt or in my pocket. Keeps from hooking the little green Spyderco Ladybug serrated attached to my keyring.
 
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