Favorite designer / model?

D

DeadEyeIce

Joined
Sep 9, 2014
Messages
91
So im relatively new to benchmade knives, but love the ones I have. Thus far I have only owned / used a couple Osborne designs, a 960d2 and a 943bk.

So tell me your favorite designer, model, and why. I am considering a 940/ 941, or 531, or maybe?? Tell me what I'm missing out on. Unfortunately there aren't many if any dealers around here that handle benchmade, so I cant just go browse and handle different models.

Im partial to the axis lock, left handed and have loved my Osbornes but willing to branch out.
 
I'm partial to old school Benchmades. When I think of those, Allen Elishewitz comes to mind. With his Ares and Stryker beauties in my collection, they're number one. If there were a second choice it would be Mike Snody for his famous HK branded 14205 and the smaller 14210 models. These have to be held in the hand and used to appreciate why I pick them over Osborne and Pardue as far as designers go. YMMV.
 
I own both a 940 and 531. I like the design of the 531 more, but the 940 is much more stout. I also love how the blade almost appears longer than the handle of the 940, yet it's extremely slim in the pocket. The 531 is a pocket destroyer in my experience. The little thumb studs have put holes in the pockets of many of my pants/jeans, lol.

Soooo, I love them both. I wish the 940 was available in other colors, but aside from that I have no complaints. I tend to carry it most lately. The 531 is my favorite to look at and hold. It is a featherweight and was a slicing demon out of the box. It does have a very thin blade, however, and I find 145cm prone to chipping. I had to cut a bunch of zip-ties yesterday and I destroyed the edge on it, lol. The S30V on the 940 doesn't have that same issue.

Since I was posting this all over anyway.
16993436796_95a1aeacee_z.jpg
 
Warren Osborne is Benchmades most prolific designer I believe. Mel Pardue of course designed Benchmades best selling Griptilians. McHenry and Williams are responsible for not just the 710 but for the Axis lock as well. Elishewitz designs were so-so but successful. Snody designed what are in my opinion the ugliest most un ergonomic knives Benchmade ever made. The more recent Nakamura models have been all great looking and very sophisticated. Shane Sibert is a god when it comes to big folders. Ken Steigerwalts Torrent model is outstanding Im not aware of any other models hes done. Eddie Killian as far as I know is only responsible for the 150-1 Marc Lee "Glory" fixed blade and the model 172 tomahawk. Matthew Lerch from what I know designed the old Subrosa and the new Impel but also designed the outstanding Nitrous Assist System. Bob Lum, designer of the Onslaught, passed away in 2007. Charles Marlowe designed the now discontinued model 53 butterfly knife. Greg Thompson designed those model 176-178 skeletonized daggers. Finally Butch Ball is responsible for Benchmades first mediocre flipper the model 300SN and 300-1. Out of them all I put McHenry and Williams at the top of the list. If it was not for them Benchmade would still be a small company. Warren Osborne and Mel Perdue are tied for 2nd place I just cannot pass on the significance of all of Osbornes fantastic and successful designs nor can I pass on Perdue's Griptilian design which is and has been Benchmades best selling knives for years. In 3rd place and yet rising through the ranks is Shane Sibert, hes only penned a couple of models for Benchmade but they are so good they became benchmark big folders.
 
Tough question as there are so many. I'll try and narrow it down to my all time favorites:

Chris Coracci - AFCK, the finest knife BM ever made!

Niel Blackwood- Rukus & Skirmish

Allen Elishewitz- The Stryker series and most of his designs.

Warren Osborne- 810 Contego (my current favorite in production) & Rift.

Shane Sibert- Vicar & Adamas

Also of mention is Mike Snody, his HK 425 Gravitator & 426 Tactical / Hybrid are awesome knives that were way ahead of their time.

Can't forget Bob Lum, a true genius, I have a special affection for his designs and William Osborne has put out some great designs too.
 
McHenry & Williams - because the 710 is my favorite, & the Axis lock.
Osborne also. Many good designs.
Chis Coracci - Of course must be mentioned for the classic AFCK as "pbcg" mentioned above.
 
So far out of the several benchmades I own the 707 is my favourite. Mchenry&williams did an excellent job designing this little blade so much so that I bought 3 :D I also plan on getting the 710 at some point.
 
I agree with CelticCross74; William and McHenry at the top because of the axis lock. Without a doubt the best knife lock in existance. It may or may not be the absolute strongest, but being a contender for the strongest plus being the easiest and fastest way to operate a folder makes it a winner in my book.

Osborne, Pardue, and Sibert are all right behind for the designs that really put Benchmade in the forefront of the knife world.

Now if you asked me what designer I want to work with Benchmade? Hinderer. Please oh please figure out how to give us snappy axis flippers so I never have to pay attention to ZT again. Oh and Rassenti, integral axis lock please and thank you.
 
So many knives, so much history. From my first, a Pardue 530, to more than 40+ later. No regrets and a lot of excellent examples from our favorite designers. This is a great post!
 
My favorite designer would be Mr. Osborne and his 943 is tops on my list. This knife is the perfect EDC in my opinion and it never leaves my pocket. I also really like my 950-1 Rift and my 581-1102 Barrage.

I would put Mr. Elishewitz next and his 73x Ares series is a real winner and a true Benchmade classic.
 
Last edited:
For me there are two. The McHenry and Williams 710 was my first and now I have two. This knife for the blade design and the axis lock.
Second would be Warren Osborne as I carry his Rift and the Contego and love them both. I have and carry the Grip knives as I think they are value for the quality but the 710 and Rift/Contego are my top knives.
Frank.
 
"McHenry & Williams - because the 710 is my favorite, & the Axis lock."

^

This

+ I like a lot of the Pardue and Osborne designs, just not as much.
 
Well I have a 940, and a 710 inbound. I may at somepoint get a 531, and/or some form of griptillion or mini griptillion.
 
oops typed in what looks like a mess. ahem #1. McHenry and Williams for the axis lock and iconic 710 to put it in. If it were not for the axis lock 710 Benchmade would still be a smaller company trying to make the big time.

Hinderer? With Benchmade? Sorry but Shane Sibert has Benchmades "hard use" knives down very very well. Just got my 757 in the mail and it is a tank! Hinderer can keep his vastly over priced non flipping flippers to himself and just continue to let ZT make them actually flip and somewhat affordable. My local knife shop is run by a guy who has $30,000 in custom Hinderers he always has a different one on him so I get to see and handle many $3,000 Hinderers and the suck! NONE of the flippers flip without a good amount of wrist, all of them are way to thick to EDC, none of the many I have gotten to handle have been "Kershaw sharp". The owner of all these Hinderers says hes switching to custom Striders...lol...

Shane Sibert is a very hot name now. I would personally like to see him pen a couple designs for Ka Bar as most of his designs already incorporate Ka Bar-like design features especially his "Scout" custom fixed blade...still his bread and butter are his own customs and his collabs with Benchmade. I forsee a Monster Pocket Rocket ala Benchmade next. We have already seen the 755 MPR which looks damn near identical to his custom MPR and weve had the 7505 which emulates his standard sized Pocket Rocket very well. I think a 5 inch Sibert BM folder is in our future...
 
I love the looks of the 530/531 series (still need to snag one) & I also love the looks of the 551 grips & the riiter grips. Also got to mention I like the adamas & presidio.
Designers are like others mentioned Sibert, Pardue, & Osborne
 
My favorite Benchmades of all time are the Boguszewski 650 and the Brend 600. Amazing knives and different from anything else on the folder market at that price range. It is a real tragedy that they are no longer being produced.
 
DeadEyeIce said:
What are everyone's opinions on the 941?
Click to expand...

Never hear much about, or see this model. Better yet for me was the 942 (the 940 blade with black handle). I would buy a 942. It's the green handle that I don't care for, but love the blade.
 
The 941 in the black T6 scales and PE satin blade was a great compliment to the larger 710. Don't know how many were made, but yes, a nice knife!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top