BM 940. What makes it special?

That's funny, I feel like the PM2 is really over-hyped and I have large hands. Different strokes for different folks; I would take the 940 over it any day of the week.

Truth be told, I would take a mini-grip over a 940 once cost is factored in. The mini grip and spyderco native 5 have remained favorites of mine for EDC for a long time.

Don't care for the PM2 or any Spyderco, most of their knives are slight variations of the same pattern.
Do you just not like any small knives? Because the 940-1has s90v, cf, axis lock, USA made, perfect blade profile, milled handles with inset steel liners, fits medium hands perfectly in my case.

I do like small knives, I have a Hogue Deka, Mini RSK, Izula and Candiru.

Benchmade QC is horrible now, sent back 3 bugouts to warranty and came back with same issue. Overpriced, better options.

ETA: Aluminum scales suck, look like crap if you actually use your knife.
 
I find it really amusing how many people seem to think that their opinion is the majority opinion. So many just foolish blanket statements. If the 940 was a bad design it wouldn't still be produced.

I am curious to know what makes the bugout a more MODERN design?

As far as cutting goes, Ive never once tried to cut some thing with any of my 940's and not been able to?
 
I bought my first 940 in (I think) 2006 and have owned a number of variations since. I still have a 940 and a 943, they don't get carried much anymore but that has more to do with the shifting of my own personal tastes, finding designs I enjoy more, and changes with what I use my knife for, not any fault in the knife that wasnt there when I walked up to the Sportsman's wear-house counter and spent a sizable percentage of the money in my poceckt on my first example.

As mentioned above the design as a number of elements, that combined make it a very compelling package.

1. Long slender blade
2. Solid feel
3. Great fidget factor before it was cool
4. Decent ergos for many hands
5. Nice feel in the hands (not the ergos)
6. Lite(ish) weight
7. Good looks
8. Generally of decent quality (big old caveat there depending on the luck of the draw)
9. Carries great
10. Doesnt seem to scare the sheeple

I could probably go on and nearly all of that is personal preference and opinion. It's ok to love the knife, it's ok to like it, its ok to dislike it. So much about the 940 comes down to subjective feel

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Don't care for the PM2 or any Spyderco, most of their knives are slight variations of the same pattern.


I do like small knives, I have a Hogue Deka, Mini RSK, Izula and Candiru.

Benchmade QC is horrible now, sent back 3 bugouts to warranty and came back with same issue. Overpriced, better options.

ETA: Aluminum scales suck, look like crap if you actually use your knife.

1st I agree with you Benchmade has a well deserved reputation of letting too many lemons leave the factory.

However I don't agree with you that aluminium sucks in any way. I could care less about wear on a knife that I'm using, and I only carry the knife in pocket not other items like keys.. I also would think you would not like titanium either then. That leaves a whole bunch of knives out!
 
Of those that own both the 940 and the Bugout, how many actually prefer the 940?

My impression is that the Bugout basically captures everything that people liked about the 940 and improves on the 940 in every way (except for those people that prefer aluminum scales). Once BM starts producing Bugouts with aluminum scales and satin blades (without color popping thumb studs and barrel spacers), I think the 940 sales will drop off.
 
It's a big knife in a small lightweight box. Super easy to carry. Can't think of anything that comes close to a blade like a 940 in an equally light and compact package.
 
Of those that own both the 940 and the Bugout, how many actually prefer the 940?

My impression is that the Bugout basically captures everything that people liked about the 940 and improves on the 940 in every way (except for those people that prefer aluminum scales). Once BM starts producing Bugouts with aluminum scales and satin blades (without color popping thumb studs and barrel spacers), I think the 940 sales will drop off.
They are different. Bugout is a smaller folder, comparable to spyderco delica. Both are very light. Whether one can replace the other is up to each individual person. I like having both (mine are both s90v/cf version).
 
Of those that own both the 940 and the Bugout, how many actually prefer the 940?

My impression is that the Bugout basically captures everything that people liked about the 940 and improves on the 940 in every way (except for those people that prefer aluminum scales). Once BM starts producing Bugouts with aluminum scales and satin blades (without color popping thumb studs and barrel spacers), I think the 940 sales will drop off.
To me the bugout is chunkier, which is apparent when both are in hand. Both are lightweight and slim in the pocket. I had both in store to choose from and went 940-1 all the way. I also have zero desire to pickup a bugout down the road.
 
My impression is that the Bugout basically captures everything that people liked about the 940 and improves on the 940 in every way (except for those people that prefer aluminum scales). Once BM starts producing Bugouts with aluminum scales and satin blades (without color popping thumb studs and barrel spacers), I think the 940 sales will drop off.

The Bugout is a direct descendant from the Pardue 530, which is why the Bugout's model number is 535. It was meant to replace the small, ultra-lightweight outdoors knife in their lineup.

The 940 is the "upscale" EDC knife in the lineup, and I don't think the Bugout's sales will affect the 940, since they see them as inhabiting two entirely separate niches.
 
Unfortunately, I’m in the camp of not warming up to the 940’s. I’ve felt a bunch over the years, but for me, the ergo’s are off. Where the knife is comfortable in my hand, the cutting edge felt too far away.

It is a nice knife for EDC...aka..city cutting. (No offense meant) It will do excellent for most tasks, but I wouldn’t trust it for construction work or bush work. (Fixed is best, but some folders also do well.)

At it’s time, the 940 was the ultimate gentleman’s knife...if it fit me better, I probably would have owned one.
 
Of those that own both the 940 and the Bugout, how many actually prefer the 940?

My impression is that the Bugout basically captures everything that people liked about the 940 and improves on the 940 in every way (except for those people that prefer aluminum scales). Once BM starts producing Bugouts with aluminum scales and satin blades (without color popping thumb studs and barrel spacers), I think the 940 sales will drop off.
I have had probably 4-5 bugouts and sold all except my m4/g10 version. Nothing wrong with it, but it doesn't stand out to me, nothing g unique about it that. I currently have 4 variations of 940. As others said, everyone has their preference but there's no way you can say that the 940 is a bad knife.
 
Like I said above, a lot of blade for size and weight. Gives up about 1/8" of blade to the Inkosi/Insingo. Both are great knives and true classics. But anytime size and weight matter, it's the green one that's the winner.940 v Inkosi.jpg
 
"It is a difference of opinion that makes horse races."
Mark Twain

I love the 940.
 
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Benchmade QC is horrible now, sent back 3 bugouts to warranty and came back with same issue. Overpriced, better options.

ETA: Aluminum scales suck, look like crap if you actually use your knife.
My last 4 benchmades were perfect out of the box.

I have an old aluminum handle Stryker and it shows some handle wear, scarred blade from hitting concrete too but Benchmade’s aluminum has a good surface hardness that rejects a lot minor scratches, just not concrete :)
 
Number 1 reason years ago was the axis lock, extremely easy and fast to deploy and retract with one hand. There’s lot of blade packed into a relatively small profile, doesn’t take up a ton of room in your pocket, it’s lightweight, ergonomically neutral so it’s comfortable for almost any task. There is much more competition now than 10 years ago so I don’t know if I would still spend $275 for the carbon fiber with S90V. Downside is you’re going to get some left to right blade play no matter how often you tune it. Still love my 940s!!!!!

The axis lock can be almost as fast as an automatic….almost.

 
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