I bought 2 new benchmades....

G

Gideons

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I will start by saying this... I am mainly a ZT guy. My favourite knife in the world is ZT 0560BW and I also really life the ZT 0566BW. I owned a BM Grip and really liked the knife, but the cheap handles and blade shape bothered me so I sold it. The two new Benchmades 551-1 and 940-2. I was really looking forward to the BM 551-1 because of the upgraded steel, g10 handles and blade shape. I never owned, or held the BM 940 series before so this was a first. Man, when I picked up that BM 940-2 the deploying action was so damn smooth I fell in love with it. It is so light, smooth and strong it is just a great knife. Now, the BM 551-1 which I was looking forward too... fell short in comparison. The knife looks gorgeous, and feels like quality.. but. The action is just not nearly as smooth as the 940-2, the ZT's I own or even the old Grip I sold. Also, if I tightened the blade until there was no wiggle, the blade would be insanely sluggish and couldn't just flick it open. In my humble opinion, the BM 551-1 is such a good looking knife, but the functioning of the knife keep it at a very good knife, not an exceptional knife. Maybe I will post some pics of these beauties. Just thought I would talk about my two most recent purchases. Would love to hear your own experience with these knives, or if you have questions LMK!

-Gideons
 
You summed up exactly what I was just thinking haha. I had a Benchmade 520 for over a year and I loved the knife, but like what you said it would always wiggle unless I tightened the blade to the point of sluggishness, and the BM Grips always just felt cheap with the scales and the blade shape threw me off. Then my friend acquired a ZT 560 and I fell in love with it, how smooth it was, the design, just everything. I just recently traded my 520 for a ZT 560BW and I couldn't be happier. Although I must say the 940-2 looks amazing and beautiful and is definitely on the top of my list to buy next. I was wondering with the different blade shapes and designs, is the deployment of the 940 much different than a Grip?
 
My only ZT is the 0561 and it has a lot of unique features. Benchmade makes good knives- my favorites are the 581 and 913. The 940 is very popular. The Axis knives operate very smoothly and I would guess that they all operate about the same.
 
CalvinHobbes said:
You summed up exactly what I was just thinking haha. I had a Benchmade 520 for over a year and I loved the knife, but like what you said it would always wiggle unless I tightened the blade to the point of sluggishness, and the BM Grips always just felt cheap with the scales and the blade shape threw me off. Then my friend acquired a ZT 560 and I fell in love with it, how smooth it was, the design, just everything. I just recently traded my 520 for a ZT 560BW and I couldn't be happier. Although I must say the 940-2 looks amazing and beautiful and is definitely on the top of my list to buy next. I was wondering with the different blade shapes and designs, is the deployment of the 940 much different than a Grip?
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Do you mean how does the blade deploy? Speed wise? if so, it is very crisp, fast and amazingly smooth. But, if you mean getting your thumb to the thumbstuds and applying pressure. I would so they aren't really that different. Despite the 940-2 being so slim, your thumb/fingers have no issue using the thumbstuds, as they have good traction and are well placed.
 
A lot of Axis knives are super smooth and easily flick open and closed. But every once in a while you come across an individual knife that just isn't as smooth as most. I imagine if you tried a few different grips you would find a nice smooth one.
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
A lot of Axis knives are super smooth and easily flick open and closed. But every once in a while you come across an individual knife that just isn't as smooth as most. I imagine if you tried a few different grips you would find a nice smooth one.
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Benchmade is one of the few production brands that I will only buy in person or second hand. It's such a mixed bag, but if you get a good one, they are incredible knives. My favorite is the 808.
 
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