Benchmade Opportunist, a few questions...

[Fascion]

With the looming potential price increase on Benchmade products, I'm thinking of expediting an item or two on my want list. Among them is the BM 440 Opportunist (a fitting name, indeed.) I just have a few hesitations about this knife that I'm hoping someone can shed some light on...


First up, the jigged aluminum handles. Does this jigging continue underneath the wooden scales, or has this area been left flat?

In looking at dozens of pictures of this knife on Google trying to figure out the answer to the last question, I've noticed that the wooden scales seem to come in two flavors... one, a near solid color... the other, a two-tone. Is this just a luck of the draw kinda thing? Or perhaps the pre-clip version used one and the post-clip version the other?

Next issue, disassembly... is it possible?
I mean, I'm sure is it... but is it practical, or a complete PITA?
I had figured there was probably a screw or two underneath the wooden scales, but after playing around in a graphics program a bit, it looks like the tip of the blade, when closed, would be right about where I would expect a hidden screw to be.

Lastly, a silly question... is it safe to assume there is some sort of detent or other form of retention to keep the closed blade closed? How firm is the retention?


A big thanks for any insight into some of these quirky questions.

 

[DallasSTB]

With the looming potential price increase on Benchmade products, I'm thinking of expediting an item or two on my want list. Among them is the BM 440 Opportunist (a fitting name, indeed.) I just have a few hesitations about this knife that I'm hoping someone can shed some light on...


First up, the jigged aluminum handles. Does this jigging continue underneath the wooden scales, or has this area been left flat?

In looking at dozens of pictures of this knife on Google trying to figure out the answer to the last question, I've noticed that the wooden scales seem to come in two flavors... one, a near solid color... the other, a two-tone. Is this just a luck of the draw kinda thing? Or perhaps the pre-clip version used one and the post-clip version the other?

Next issue, disassembly... is it possible?
I mean, I'm sure is it... but is it practical, or a complete PITA?
I had figured there was probably a screw or two underneath the wooden scales, but after playing around in a graphics program a bit, it looks like the tip of the blade, when closed, would be right about where I would expect a hidden screw to be.

Lastly, a silly question... is it safe to assume there is some sort of detent or other form of retention to keep the closed blade closed? How firm is the retention?


A big thanks for any insight into some of these quirky questions.

Well, I have one in my hand right now so let's see....

The jigging does not appear to extend underneath the wood scale. There are a few very small ripples near the edge of the scale, but overall the scale sits very flat and is stable.

I agree that the wood on the scales tends to vary in photo's you find on the net, but the 3 or 4 I've seen in person all look like mine -

I haven't disassembled this one, but it looks pretty straightforward. Upon close inspection, I can't see where they would hide a screw. There is a small pin on the backside that I assume is meant to hold a lanyard, but that seems to be held in place by pressure across the two handle scales. It is a liner-lock, so you don't have to worry about messing the the Axis-lock spring like on a 940. That makes me nervous.

The detent is very stable. The liner lock tab has a tiny roller ball bearing that snaps into a detent on the blade when closed giving it a nice snap. I don't have any worries about it opening.

I got this for Father's Day last year and really like it. It fits in my EDC rotation on Khaki Day. It's also the fastest opening manual knife I've ever seen, and I have several BM's and Sebenza's. It pops open with a thumb flick like you wouldn't believe. Got it stupid sharp on a Sharpmaker too. Do yourself a favor and get it. You'll be glad you did.

-Steve

 

[Fascion]

Wow, I didn't expect these question to be answered so thoroughly so quickly.

Thanks much, Steve. Order submitted! :thumbup:

 

[puukkoman]

I had one for a while. Very nice knife. Mine was pre-clip, which I preferred. Didn't really use it, so I gave it to a buddy for a wedding present.

 

[Fascion]

A little brown box showed up on my doorstep a few hours ago and in it, among other things, was my new Opportunist. Love that quick shipping from Knifeworks! :thumbup:

First impressions are pretty good, but to address some of my earlier concerns...

While I haven't taken the wooden scales off yet, having it in hand, I can tell it is indeed flat underneath... as well as every so sightly recessed, which is a definite plus.

Mine is very clearly two-toned. I thought I'd be a bit disappointed in this, but it's actually not all that bad. The scales appear to be something like two-tone "Dymondwood." Though I would certainly have preferred a single, flat color, the fact that they chose to do one side with light>dark and the other with dark>light (backspacer light>dark>light) gives it a certain non-mass produced feel to me for some reason.

I haven't tackled the issue of disassembly yet, but in a quick glance into the handle, I noticed a very out of place bump in the wooden backspacer and that can only one thing... a screw!




As far as complaints go, I've got a couple.

There is a minor rattle which appears to be coming from the lanyard pin.
Really, Benchmade... it's just loose in there? Not looking forward to when I inevitably drop that thing during disassembly.

The thumbstud sits far too close to the handle, making one-handed opening a bit of a chore.

The blade is a tad off center and refuses to center with pivot tightening. It's not rubbing, though, so I'll survive.




Overall, though, I'm pretty impressed.
At 2/3 the weight of my current EDC, the 556 Mini-Grip, this thing practically disappears into a front pocket. It feels much less cold and synthetic than a lot of my folders and may well dethrone the Mini-Grip as the most comfortable folder I've ever held.
Only time will tell if it's a "2x Mini-Grip $" impressed, though.

 

[lambertiana]

Mine is pre-clip, and it has two-tone wood. Overall, I am quite impressed with the fit and finish, it comes close to my small sebenza. Perfect blade centering, everything is finished quite well and precisely, and it is very smooth. The detent holds it very securely when closed.

My only gripe is the thumb stud - it is too close to the handle, which makes it harder to open.