benchmade 940 or 943?

B

baliflipper02

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Aug 27, 2014
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so, I'm thinking about getting a benchmade 940, but i heard that it doesn't slice well since it has the thicker tip, so i saw that benchmade makes a model 943 that has a normal blade instead of the reverse tanto, does anyone have any experience with these blades? which one would you prefer? :confused::cool:
 
I love the heck out of my 940, and really like the fact that it has a thicker tip than the 943 but your preferences may be different than mine.

Either way, the 94x series is a great choice for EDC. Rides nice and slim in pocket, you get a good amount of cutting length, S30V steel, really smooth deployment and axis lock, etc.

I've actually got my 940 with me today.

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does the 940 slice well? I've heard that it doesn't slice as well as other benchmades because of the tip, i really like the the fact that the tip is harder to snap on the 940 though. :confused:
 
I haven't had any problems with it slicing. Despite it's clean looks, I've used it quite a bit cutting boxes, fruit, ethernet cable, plastic tubing, mail, all sorts of things and I've never once thought it felt inadequate or wished it sliced better. YMMV of course, but it suits my needs fine.

Best of luck.
 
I actually think the design looks better with the reverse tanto, so 940 for me.

It's your call, man. Buy what you like.
 
I bought a 943 because I liked the blade shape better than the 940.
I've been very happy with the 943. Makes a great gentleman's steak knife at a picnic!
 
Having owned both, the 943 does make for a better slicer. However the 940 feels and should be stronger. It depends on what you need the knife to do...at work I slice A LOT of fruit and so I almost always have the 943. That said the 940 is awesome and IMO better looking, and I'll be buying another soon.
 
I find the 940 to have a much more useful blade shape. Here's an old pic of an old 940LE:

 
I picked the 940 because it has a green handle, and I liked the reverse tanto blade shape. It makes for a great utility knife, but due to the thickness of the blade stock and the height (or lack thereof) of the blade, it's not going to be a great slicer (although it still does so very decently). I like the 940 a lot. It ranks just behind the Ritter Mini Grip for my favorite Benchmade.
 
Reverse tanto 94x is the one true 94x. The 943 is an abomination that hurts my eyes.

Er, I mean, I prefer the 940. ;)
 
Had a 940 and now have 2 943's. I stab into things and pry a good amount (within reason) on it and it's a strong blade for it's size/thickness. Suprisingly so. Whatever difference there is in strength when comparing the 940 to 943 blade shape it's minimal and the 943 is much better for slicing and filleting. Though either is great. Prefer the 943.
 
Ulf Krogstad said:
Had a 940 and now have 2 943's. I stab into things and pry a good amount (within reason) on it and it's a strong blade for it's size/thickness. Suprisingly so. Whatever difference there is in strength when comparing the 940 to 943 blade shape it's minimal and the 943 is much better for slicing and filleting. Though either is great. Prefer the 943.
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I must say I disagree bud... I had both and though I never saw the 943 as inadequate, I just didn't have the confidence in the blade after having the 940. The difference was nominal, but there regardless. I did feel that the 943 was a better slicer, but that seemed to be overshadowed by the "iffy" feeling I got from it, and I felt that the 940 was able to slice well enough for what I had needed from it.

But, as it has been said already, go with the shape you like better. You shouldn't notice a significant difference in the actual performance regarding relying on the blade strength, the blade isn't meant to pry (heavily, as stated) with or to be baton'd. I just liked the more stout tip on the 940.

TLDR: My vote is the 940, but you will be happy with either.
 
NJBillK said:
I must say I disagree bud... I had both and though I never saw the 943 as inadequate, I just didn't have the confidence in the blade after having the 940. The difference was nominal, but there regardless. I did feel that the 943 was a better slicer, but that seemed to be overshadowed by the "iffy" feeling I got from it, and I felt that the 940 was able to slice well enough for what I had needed from it.

But, as it has been said already, go with the shape you like better. You shouldn't notice a significant difference in the actual performance regarding relying on the blade strength, the blade isn't meant to pry (heavily, as stated) with or to be baton'd. I just liked the more stout tip on the 940.

TLDR: My vote is the 940, but you will be happy with either.
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I don't think you gave it enough of a chance bud. I had the same thought of it. Thought the tip would break without much force and over all just feels like a breakable knife. It's not, it's strong. Just got my newest one on Sat. and I stabbed it into a desk 15+ times and suprised how well it did. Didn't have any more or less blade play afterwards either and it was with force. If I had to pick a tip to break first it would be the 943 but I don't care for the blade shape of the 940. So whatever . OP pick what you like. Best thing to do is get both and see what you like better. As said barely a difference in strength. Their both light,skinny knives and they have their limitations. I'd take a 94X over a Para 2 or something in that class of knives. Smaller and just as tough. Tried bending it as far as it would go that one way. Didn't snap. Can't say the same of other knives. Have a Kabar D2 Extreme that has a 1/2 in bent tip from stabbing it into something the other day. Very disappointed in that.

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I have a 940 and to was apprehensive about the blade shape, but have since grown to love it. I have not had any issues slicing. Aesthetically I think the reverse tanto looks better overall
 
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