Benchmade 940. Pros? Cons?

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blessedcajun

Joined
Apr 22, 2010
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Hey guys. I am in the market for a BM 940. But first, I've heard several people say they had a difficult time keeping theirs sharp. I've heard others say it's the best knife they've ever owned. What's your opinion? Not talking about price, just pure qualities and those with some blade time with 'em. Thanks ahead of time.
 
No cons to that knife.

People who can't keep it sharp don't know how to sharpen.

I personally have a 943 in s30v and I LOVES IT.
 
I like the sharper point of the 943. I wish they offered higher end blade steels. The handles are available in Carbon fiber, Aluminum, and Titanium.
 
I prefer the 943 for the sharper tip. I regret selling mine. I am tempted to order the gold class 940, M4 steel and titanium handles with carbon fiber bolsters. If it was based off the 943, I would be in for sure.
 
But after the looks and feel of the blue-class 940s, does anyone have any negatives about the knife? I know they may be hard to find but any of your concerns would be helpful. Sharpness, ergonomics, etc.
 
I honestly thing from a design aspect, it is almost a perfect pocket carry knife.
The whole package when closed is so streamlined and compact that it goes almost unnoticed in your pocket.
And somehow the handle remains comfortable when deployed as well.
I had a 943 stolen, and I am giving serious consideration to replacing it...it is just a bit spendy.
 
It's a great knife.

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I'm not in love with the reverse tanto, partially for aesthetic reasons, partially because of the tip - but it still pokes well enough probably 98% of the time.
I AM in love with the non-assisted axis lock.
Mine came (used) sharp as a bowling ball. Couldn't get it much better on stones or sandpaper/mousepads, but I was still learning the technique, and have no idea where the bevel was set. A couple passes on a WorkSharp, and I'm shaving arm hair. No more trouble maintaining the edge, either.
I only traded mine up to a PM2 because I have XL hands and REALLY wanted M390 (in a non-assist - otherwise it would have been the 581.)

Go get it, enjoy it. Next to the Para2, it really is one of the best EDC's around. In fact, as the PM2 is in my RFP right now, the 940's in my jacket pocket.
 
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@tjswarbrick, see that's my dilemma, pm2 vs 940, I already have a 940 on the way, just not sure if I'll keep it. Time will tell. Thanks for your input.
 
blessedcajun said:
Thanks, guys. Tim, how do you keep yours sharp?
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You have to learn how to sharpen a knife eventually, I'd recommend starting on some kitchen knives. Whether you use a guided system, paper wheels, or freehand on stones. I would recommend a sharp maker to start off with. It can sharpen most cutting appliances in your home, not just your folders.
 
blessedcajun said:
Thanks, guys. Tim, how do you keep yours sharp?
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Hey sorry it took so long to get back to you, I haven't actually used the 943 to the point of dulling it, I edc it when I'm goin light. But I'd do it the same way I do any other knife, freehand convex on sandpaper grits from 320 down to 2000 then strop.
Hasn't failed me on any steel yet, and always works.

If you don't want to sharpen it yourself, you can always have benchmade do it to though, they sharpen for $5 I think.

But the convex method once you learn it, is flawless I find, YMMV.
 
I've loved the 940 since I got it ~12 years ago. EDC'd it for 6+ years; used it more than any other folding knife and it never let me down. Biggest pro would be how much knife is crammed into such a thin, slender, lightweight, portable package. Most knives in the 3 1/2 inch blade range are bulkier in some dimension but this one almost disappears inside a pocket. For anyone who values portability, this is a knife to look at. The axis lock is also particularly well-suited to this model and deploys in a flash. It's pretty ergonomic for a metal-handled knife, owing to the minimal but effective contouring on the handle. Cons would be that the blade shape is not very versatile -- e.g. it's not a slicer; and the jimping could be better.

I hope you're not forced to decide between the Paramilitary 2 and the 940! They're both excellent designs, but also very different. If you did a flash poll right now I'm sure the PM2 would win the majority, but if you can afford it they're both worth a place in your pocket.
 
I really wanted one until I handled one. I was surprised how small it was and how thin the blade was (sharp edge to top edge, not blade thickness). Aside from that, the build is super and it felt like quality. Did not cut with it so cannot comment on that. I ended up getting a ZT201 first, then sold it and got a spyderco tenacious which is, for me, the ideal blade size (and cheap!), just to give you an indicator of my preferences. I also prefer the 943 shape.
 
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I really dig my 940. Although it's not an inexpensive folder, I actually get very high-mileage from mine because it's classy enough to carry on (rare) suit-wearin' days but casual enough to toss in the jeans. Good materials, excellent fit & finish, solid lock-up, smooth deployment, light/slim/compact package... the list goes on. If I had to nit-pick for faults, I'd mention that I wasn't impressed with the factory edge (not a big deal) and it's fairly easy to scratch up the handle coating (I found this out while fixing fault #1.) Be sure to tape up the top of the handle before sharpening if you want to avoid unnecessary scratches on the scales...
 
I'd also like to hear more on the 940 as I've been thinking of getting one for quite some time, but it is an investment, at least for my wallet.

I'd like to know what users think of the lock-up. For example, the axis-bar on my BM585 (which i love and purchased for much less than I've been able to find a 940) travels nearly the entire length of the liner cut-out - it's pushed all the way back by the tang in closing and travels to within a few millimeters of the forward end, keeping the lock-up tight regardless of wear on the tang, and the lock-bar contacts the tang such that, viewed from above, the base of the tang is flush with the lockbar.

How far onto the 940 tang does the lock-bar make contact?

Secondly, what aspects of the 940-series would you change, features you wish it had / didn't have? I've already read that some would prefer a different scale material, G10 perhaps. What else?
 
I prefer the blade shape of the 943, but that's a minor thing. The 940/943 is a fantastic carry knife. It carries like a small knife but has the blade length and usability of a much larger one. I can't think of any cons at all and I haven't had any problems keeping it sharp.
 
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