BM921 Swithback (S30V)

Rauder

Rauder

Joined
Mar 1, 2002
Messages
43
I recieved my Benchmade 921 the other day and I must say this is one sweet knife. The fit and finish are excellent. The anodized blue aluminum frame is even and looks great. The S30V main blade is RAZOR sharp as is the 440C secondary blade. The knife feels very thin (but not too thin) in the hand and rides very well in the pocket. The axis lock is butter smooth and locks up like a safe. I have not used it to cut very many things yet but it will see plenty. Does anybody else own one of these gems? 921 What do you think of the knife? Anybody have any other knives with S30V blade steel and what do you think of it? Is it hard to sharpen? Thanks for all responses.:)
 
I have a MT LCC in S30V. Reprofiled the edge with DMT Aligner. The steel is tough. Took a long time even with diamonds. The wire edge also took a lot of stropping to get rid of. After that, my arm hairs jumped up on the sight of the edge! But I broke the point about 1/16" when the knife dropped from the edge of the bed onto ceramic tiled floor. Reprofiled the point, so no problemo.
 
Had one, good knife, good blades both, the small one was very useful to me! Handy for cutting the odd box or tape that you don't want to muck up the main blade.

But a word of warning, DON'T let the small blade snap shut, as the bouncing motion drives the blade into the backspring and will flaten the edge so, just take it easy and close it by hand slowly and you'll be fine...

That S30V is amazingly sharp!
G2
 
Oh man, the Switchback is my absolute favorite!! I have been carrying it ever since I got it a few months back. It's a really nice looking knife and the main blade is sharp as hell. The entire knife is finished very well...love that blue anodizing. I actually have been using that secondary blade more than I thought I would. It's perfect for small, quick cuts. Damn, Benchmade has a real winner here!
 
Thanks for all the replies.

Kevtan: Is S30V really so brittle that it will break when dropped? I dropped a Spyderco Police (VG-10) onto a concrete slab from 7 feet onto the point and it did not break, it just blunted it a bit.

Gary: Thanks for the tip on not snapping the secondary blade, which I have been doing.

That's why I like this site so much. Good information.;)
 
I have been wanting one since I first read about them. I think I am going to have to give in and head over to New Graham. I have been hoping for one to pop up in the EXchange, but I am not sure I want to wait much more :)
 
I'm still trying to figure out why they used S30V on the main blade, but dropped down to 440C for the little blade. ??? :(
 
I like mine. Removed the vestigial thumbstuds and tried to carry it IWB, but the handle is a little too "pointy".

I'm back to my TnT's.

Mike
 
The only thing stopping me from buying one is the idea that the little slipjoint blade spine makes for less than a comfortable handle.

Can anyone comment on this?

Thanks!
 
I think the knife is a great looker from BM, The main blade came very sharp from factory and the small blade was not far behind. Makes agreat looking edc. TheBadGuy you have a e-mail coming.
 
Originally posted by NGK-Webmaster
I think the knife is a great looker from BM, The main blade came very sharp from factory and the small blade was not far behind. Makes agreat looking edc. TheBadGuy you have a e-mail coming.
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Back at ya.



I have heard allot of great things about this design. My question is, I have only really heard one complaint and that was about it being too rounded and that kind of makes you choke up on the blade. Anyone experience that?? Thanks
 
Originally posted by TheBadGuy
... My question is, I have only really heard one complaint and that was about it being too rounded and that kind of makes you choke up on the blade. Anyone experience that?? Thanks
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Well for me, the grip/guard area is too soft a curve and made me grip it too far back, so the knife moved my hand further back than I normally grip it, where as the 941 model has a tighter curve in that area and feels better in the hand...to me that is, others may find it to be ok, so I'd recommend gripping one first.

G2
 
Originally posted by Gary W. Graley
Well for me, the grip/guard area is too soft a curve and made me grip it too far back, so the knife moved my hand further back than I normally grip it, where as the 941 model has a tighter curve in that area and feels better in the hand...to me that is, others may find it to be ok, so I'd recommend gripping one first.

G2
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Thats very similar to what I heard Thanks ;)
 
I have not found myself "choking up" on my grip due to the rounded secondary blade. I have large hands and the overall profile of the knife is slim so I find the knife very grippable while using either blade. I don't know if an individual with smaller hands would have this problem.
 
Kevtan: Is S30V really so brittle that it will break when dropped? I dropped a Spyderco Police (VG-10) onto a concrete slab from 7 feet onto the point and it did not break, it just blunted it a bit.

As stated the tip broke off a piece about 1mm or 1/16, clean break, dropped closed not open, about 2' onto ceramic tiled floor.

The edge will take a wicked keeness that have the hair on my arm jump on sight of it. But sharpening it takes a long time even on diamond stones. Getting rid of the wire edge by stropping also takes a long time. What do you get after all that work? Laser sharpness!! Reminds me of the sharpness of the self grind HSS hacksaw blade grinded to razors edge, only not so brittle.
 
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