Benchmade 940 or Hogue EX01

U

unbrokenchain33

Joined
Jul 26, 2012
Messages
463
I am between these two models for my next purchase:

Benchmade 940 with black blade and green handle
Blade Length: 3.40"
Blade Thickness: 0.115"
Overall Length: 7.87"
Closed Length: 4.47"
Blade Material: S30V Stainless Steel, BK1 Coated Blade
Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC
Blade Style: Modified Reverse Tanto; Ambidextrous Dual Thumb-Studs
Weight: 2.90oz.




Hogue EX01 in green OD aluminum and 3.5 inch drop point blade
Blade Length: 3.50"
Overall Length: 8.00"
Cutting Edge: 3.375"
Blade Thickness: 0.15"
Blade Material: 154-CM Hardness: 57-59 RC
Blade Style: Drop Point Blade
Handle Length: 4.75"
Handle Material: Aluminum Handle Color: OD Green
Weight: 4.60 oz.



Let me start by saying that this will be more of a leave it at my desk knife, than an actual EDC. Therefore the clips and weights won't push me one way or another. I want a knife that feels good in hand, and is fun to flick open and close with one hand. In my search, these two fit the bill. They are very similar in size, and materials and I can find them online for the same exact price.

I prefer the overall aesthetics of the Hogue. But I've read that some people have issue with the unnecessary safety lock getting in the way. I am also a little hesitant in making a non-cheap purchase with a company that hasn't been producing knives very long. Though I know the designer of the Hogue has. The button lock looks easier to use, but I kind of wish that you could press it from both side, as you can access the Axis lock from either side of the knife.

People have nothing but good things to say about the 940. I'm not in love with the black blade, but it's the only one I could find that's comparable in price to the Hogue. I also know that Benchmade's may not always have top notch fit and finish. I prefer the knife to be sharp out of the box since I'm not the best sharpener. But this may be the last time I can get a 940 as cheap as the Hogue.

Questions:
How does the button lock compare to the Axis lock? For ease of use and one-handed fun.
How do the thumbstuds compare?
How about the ergos? Just from look, the Hogue seems like it may fit my hand better.
Is there one you can recommend over the other? And getting both is not an option, for now.
 
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I don't care for reverse tanto/wharncliffe's so I'm gonna say the Hogue. Button lock is a good lock from what I hear.
 
I wouldn't worry one bit about Hogue quality. I would even venture to say it is one of the best in the business for production knives.
 
The two are not really similar, a better comparison would be the Hogue and Benchmade Presidio 520. The Hogue will certainly fill the hand better than the 940, the button lock is easier to use and IS ambidextrous - you simply depress the button with your index finger in the left-hand, thumb in the right-hand...
Gerber also uses the button-lock, for example the Propel:

[video=youtube;vEGP9yAigYg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEGP9yAigYg[/video]


But why are you interested in spending so much on a knife which you intend to use simply as a yo-yo? There are cheaper knives and cheaper Yo-Yos as well. Why do you care about initial sharpness if it is just a yo-yo?
The Hogue is designed as a "hard-use" folder, able to take a beating, as is the Gerber. The 940 is an elegant EDC which carries a long blade in a much slimmer profile and can still handle a lot of hard work, should provide better edge-retention as well. Benchmade offers life-time sharpening service for the cost of shipping.
 
I am a Hogue fan and have several versions of the EX01. I find the button lock easier to use one handed than a BM axis lock. The ergos for me are nearly perfect on the 3.5 inch version. They are great users too and good slicers as well.

If i understand correctly from what you posted above you are looking at the aluminum handled version? I have found the gmascus handles to be very blade heavy, imo the aluminum balances much better. Some have mentioned the aluminum handle may be uncomfortable to use in very cold conditions, i haven't tried using any of mine outdoors in the cold yet.

Something i was unaware of until recently: Hogue will sharpen your knife for free. I contacted them to ask the best way to sharpen and they responded just send it in to them and pay the shipping, no charge to sharpen it.
 
Both are completely different knives so I guess I will have to say one or the other straight forward. Like both the knives but get the Hogue.
 
They are very different.... it shall realy depend on how you will use them.
The osborne it a very good EDC but may not be the best choice for hard use where a good grip may be necessary.
 
chiral.grolim said:
But why are you interested in spending so much on a knife which you intend to use simply as a yo-yo? There are cheaper knives and cheaper Yo-Yos as well. Why do you care about initial sharpness if it is just a yo-yo?
Click to expand...

I plan on using the knife, but just stating that it won't be one that will be riding in my pocket everyday. So the weight and clip aren't dealbreakers. Thank you for the video and your input though!
 
Hogue. I like benchmade, but hate the 940. It's tiny in my hands and I just can't do it. The hogue looks super nice too. And the button look is unique.
 
I feel like we are in an overbuilt knife bubble. LOL. Seriously, I've been considering selling all of my big beefy folders. I just don't carry them. They just sit in the closet. I remember getting my ZT 302 in 2007. I thought it was the coolest knife ever. I carried it twice. I'm going to go against the grain and say go with the 940. Mine is sitting in my pocket as I type this.
 
Pete3 said:
...And the button look is unique.
Click to expand...

:confused: Gerber has been using the button-lock for years and currently uses it on the DMF, Instant, Venture, and Propel, among others. It isn't unique to Hogue by any means.

unbrokenchain33 said:
I plan on using the knife, but just stating that it won't be one that will be riding in my pocket everyday. So the weight and clip aren't dealbreakers. Thank you for the video and your input though!
Click to expand...

:thumbup: Glad I didn't come off too strong. So are you more interested in a "beefy" knife or a slender knife? I think that that is the comparison here. If you ever DID want to take the knife around as EDC, the 940 is the better choice unless you're doing heavy work with it (e.g. prying, pounding) where a full-width grip is needed - then go Hogue... or Gerber ;)
 
unbrokenchain33 said:
What constitutes an overbuilt folder?
Click to expand...

Answers may vary, but I'd say "overbuilt" means thicker/heavier without being stronger, or stronger than is beneficial for the intended purpose, possibly even detrimental to the intended purpose. For example, I use a light-weight poly webbing with a side-release plastic buckle on sheath leg-straps in drop-leg carry. I could use heavy-duty nylon webbing with much higher breaking strength, but that added strength is useless since the buckle will fail before either webbing-material does. I could use a stronger buckle (e.g. steel cam), but the added strength is unnecessary for the intended purpose and the added weight is detrimental to the purpose. To exaggerate this, i could use a chain and pad-lock for a leg-strap - stronger than needed, heavier than desired. The same goes for knives. Another example might be disposability - e.g. a single-use scalpel made of expensive exotic high-wear steel would be "overbuilt" because it would be thrown away before the edge had been exhausted, before the knife had earned its worth over a knife of cheaper materials. Most folks use their knives for low-force cutting of relatively soft, low-abrasion materials with very little lateral stress or edge-twist (e.g. slicing tomatoes, opening mail/packages). For this, a thin (<1/16") sharp blade with low edge-retention will suffice - a basic box cutter. A knife like the Gerber or Hogue is designed to withstand a LOT more stress - twisting, prying, higher force cutting into hard/abrasive materials. A common test-question for any cutting task is: "What is the 'least' (i.e. thinnest, cheapest) knife i can use for this job?" If your knife is thicker/stronger than is necessary for the task, it is "overbuilt".
 
My vote is based purely on the pricing.

If you can still find the 940 for like $130-$140 ish, then it wins hands down. If you have to pay the $178.50 per the new Benchmade pricing model, then Hogue all the way.
 
Pete3 said:
Hogue. I like benchmade, but hate the 940. It's tiny in my hands and I just can't do it. The hogue looks super nice too. And the button look is unique.
Click to expand...

I'm with Pete3 on this one.
Everyone seems to like the 940.
But, I've had a few apart and let's just say; if the world all goes to hell I would not want this to be the only knife that I have.
 
Scurvy092 said:
My vote is based purely on the pricing.

If you can still find the 940 for like $130-$140 ish, then it wins hands down. If you have to pay the $178.50 per the new Benchmade pricing model, then Hogue all the way.
Click to expand...
+1 the 940 is a great knife at $130 but for $180 not so much
 
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