BM 940 Pocket Carry Question

G

gwlee

Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
175
Has anyone had a Benchmade 940 open in their pocket? I have been carrying a 940 for a couple of months, and I am pleased with it, the pivot is adjusted properly, and I've had no problems. However, it's opens so easily that I am concerned that it might come open in my pocket, or open as it's withdrawn from my pocket if the thumb stud catches on something.
 
If you carry your 940 in your FR pocket with blade against the seam opening is highly unlikely. I carry AXIS knives on a regular basis for few years now and never had a problem of thumb stud catching on fabric and opening while taking the knife out of the pocket either.
Then again, I suggest you exercise some caution. It's only natural to be careful around sharp blades ;)
 
I carry mine tip up so the blade is against my pocket seam. But I think it's got pretty good blade retention all things considered.
 
Well, the 950 is not a 940, but its pretty similar in design. I have had the thumbstud catch and partially open the blade when pulling it out, and I carry it tip up. Now, this happened when I was pulling the knife out while in the drivers seat of a car, so it was somewhat cramped conditions, and it possible caught on my seatbelt or something that normally wouldn't be around your pocket. The snag was light enough that I didn't notice till I saw it visually though, so it was very smooth still. Just as an example.
 
I carried mine for months and never had any problem with it opening accidentally. The detent on the axis lock is more than adequate the blade securely closed.

unless your pants are sprayed on.
 
I carry 940/943s inside the placket of my shirt below the third button from the top. The tip faces right, and the back of the blade faces the ground. I have exprienced no problems except a little surface rust (which wipes right off). This position gives better access to the knife in the case of a car accident.
 
Never had my 940 open in my pocket. It does just fly open but blade retention is great.
 
tiguy7 said:
I carry 940/943s inside the placket of my shirt below the third button from the top. The tip faces right, and the back of the blade faces the ground. I have exprienced no problems except a little surface rust (which wipes right off). This position gives better access to the knife in the case of a car accident.
Click to expand...

Cool idea, but not sure how this works, could you elaborate? Isn't the placket the thin strip of cloth running along the buttons where the fabric is double? But then how would you be able to fit the knife in horizontally? Seems like it would just barely fit in vertically, and then you'd have to open up some of the stitching. Or am I misunderstanding you? Or do you sew in an extra pocket? I hope you don't mind the third degree, but I'd like to try that with my new 940 I just ordered when it arrives! :D
 
I have mine adjusted so the pivot is tight enough it would be pretty much impossible to open accidentally... no worries here...
 
I have had my 940 and my grip open if the thumbstud catches on my pants. This only occurs when I tend to push out against my pocket for whatever reason but just something to watch out for.
 
Thanks to everyone who provided their experience with the BM 940. Every design has its advantages and disadvantages. I like the relatively long and narrow blade of the 940, which isn't compatible with a round-hole opener, and its easy one-handed closing, but I see the potential for unintentional opening, so I will be careful with it, maybe try tightening the pivot screw a touch so see if it increase the blade retention.

Might go back to carrying my back lock that has much stronger blade retention and a round-hole opener that's less likely to snag on my pocket or waist band. It's 1/2" longer and 1.5 oz heavier for the same effective blade length, and it doesn't close as easily one handed, but it might save me some stitches in the future.
 
I carry a 940 Quite often and have never had any issues with it deploying in my pocket, BTW I always carry it in my front right pocket of pants.. It has turned out to be a Great EDC carry...
 
The 940 was my EDC for at least 5 years (had it for about 10?) and not once has it opened inside my pocket. The distance from the end of the clip to the thumbstuds is about an inch, so when you pull it out there's nothing holding it against the inside of your pants which would tend to cause the thumbstud to catch. Furthermore the handle is thin and smooth so it tends to glide out of the pocket as opposed to grabbing the fabric. (And the thumbstuds themselves are well designed -- big enough but not pointy or protruding.) I'm playing with the 940 now, trying to envision how it could open inside a pocket, and the only answer I can come up with would be: not easily. Maybe certain pants would be more problematic than others.
 
Last edited:
The omega springs hold them closed as well as lock them open.

also check the pivot screw, usually a very minute degree of change will tighten them up pretty quick

I have had this problem too, it's relatively simple when you wear it in the "wrong" pocket and the clip is mounted for the oposite hand. right hand clip, left hand pocket loose blade or broken omega and that blade has nothing to hold it shut. But a right handed person would likely never know this. :)

Check your carry and clip mount, if your like me and clip it to the rear of the pocket then mount the clip ojn the correct side, and the back of your pants pocket will provide a means to stop even a loose blade for deploying dangerously.
 
Dear jblane, In men's shirts the button hole (left) side goes over the button side. The opening faces right. Take the knife in your right hand and slide it inside (under) the shirt like you were going to clip a tie. It helps to support the cloth with your left hand. When you are done, the tip of the clip actually goes past the placket, the knife is roughly horizontal, the tip faces right, and the back of the blade faces the floor. You don't need to support the cloth to extract the knife. Third degree is OK. It's fourth degree that gets a little uncomfortable.
 
ron_m80 said:
The omega springs hold them closed as well as lock them open.

also check the pivot screw, usually a very minute degree of change will tighten them up pretty quick

I have had this problem too, it's relatively simple when you wear it in the "wrong" pocket and the clip is mounted for the oposite hand. right hand clip, left hand pocket loose blade or broken omega and that blade has nothing to hold it shut. But a right handed person would likely never know this. :)

Check your carry and clip mount, if your like me and clip it to the rear of the pocket then mount the clip ojn the correct side, and the back of your pants pocket will provide a means to stop even a loose blade for deploying dangerously.
Click to expand...

Often as not, I carry the knife clipped to the wrong pocket, loose in the pocket, are in the waste band, so I can't depend on the blade being against a pocket seam. I might try to tighten the pivot screw to increase retention, but the screw is properly adjusted (no play), and the lock mechanism provides most of the retention, so I don't expect adjusting the pivot screw to make a significant difference.
 
I carry my 940 every day with no issues. I keep it in loose pockets, or clipped to my gym short-style biking shorts, again with no issues of it opening. If the pivot screw is tightened even a tiny bit you can feel the difference, but I like it at the most loose position without blade play, and a little blue loctite. And again, never once have I had a problem with it opening when I didn't want it to.
 
I've got 2 BM940's and carried one for months. Sometimes in my front pocket of trousers, upper jacket pocket in the cold weather, around the house in my left shirt pocket like a pen and never had the least problem.

Caution is great but we'd have heard about it if it was an issue - it's a "must have" knife for BM collectors and some folk would have been posting this kind of problem.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top