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Is the 940-1 worth the big bucks ?
- Thread starter EVERETTJOHN
- Start date
powernoodle
Power Member
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Is any variant of the 940 objectively "worth" $260? Heck no! It cuts stuff just like a $20 knife, though granted you get a little more edge retention over 8Cr13M0V. Honestly, paying that much for 940 is crazy. But when people - me included - get knife lust going on in our heads, our brains fly out the window and they/we are willing to spend insane amounts just to feel good. So lets face reality here. The 940-1 is not even close to objectively being worth the price tag, if you dispassionately look at what the knife actually does - which is cut stuff. But if you get >$260 worth of feeling good out of the purchase, then go for it. I love the 940-1, but would not pay more than maybe $110 shipped for it, because my brain isn't all foggy with knife lust for this one. But I have dropped a lot more than $260 for other knives, so I understand knife lust and brain fog. But as krazy as I am about folders, I still haven't completely lost my senses. And until we start saying no thanks to this kind of craziness, Benchmade is going to keep cranking the prices up and up and up until we do.
Is the 940-1 subjectively worth the cost? That's totally up to you. But does it objectively cut stuff 12x better than a Kershaw Chill? No, not even close.
Is the 940-1 subjectively worth the cost? That's totally up to you. But does it objectively cut stuff 12x better than a Kershaw Chill? No, not even close.
- Joined
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Power noodle, I can't fundamentally disagree with you but while your logic is sound I just don't think it is reverent to any discussion of higher-end material items. Is a Porsche 911 "worth" 10 times a Kia? A Rolex "worth" 100 or 1000 times a Casio? I guess it depends on your point of view. If pure utility is the ultimate value equation then no Benchmade is going to be "worth it".
But fortunately it isn' the only way to assign value. I think the 940-1 is a reasonable price considering the materials and other available knives in the same size and materials. But that is what the market decides... People vote with their wallets and if Benchmade and their retailers can't sell their knives at the current asking prices then you can bet the prices will come down.
But fortunately it isn' the only way to assign value. I think the 940-1 is a reasonable price considering the materials and other available knives in the same size and materials. But that is what the market decides... People vote with their wallets and if Benchmade and their retailers can't sell their knives at the current asking prices then you can bet the prices will come down.
Funny thing is... I have never seen the price come down on a Benchmade model, no matter how unpopular it is. It seems as though they just gather dust until Benchmade determines it isn't ever going to be popular, discontinue it and a NEW model is released to once again gain interest in the Benchmade brand. Eventually, the old stock will sell for the original established price - even if it's years later or who knows, maybe the dealers return them to Benchmade for a credit and they are sold to overseas markets - but that's just wild (but fun) speculation on my part. I believe it has to do with Benchmade's desire to maintain its brand worth at a specific value/price point. Like it is doing now with the new enforcement of its MAP policy.
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For $260? HECK no! Im sure it carries, handles and cuts like a dream although to small for my tastes. For $260 you could get the new ZT 0562 in carbon fiber etc and still have change left over
Your argument is sound, but that really applies to everything beyond a $9 Opinel, and what is an objective reason versus a subjective reason isn't always clear-cut. Is a better steel and better steel performance objective or subjective? I think it's both. Likewise, I think ergos, materials that yield better grip, materials that reduce wear over time, improved carry options, etc. are also both objective and subjective.
I do agree there is a big problem with Benchmade pricing. KAI and Spyderco are producing more and more full production-level knives in supersteels with exotic handles for progressively less money, where as Benchmade is doing the polar opposite.
If KAI produces something like a US made carbon fiber and ELMAX version of the Chill for under $100, it would make justifying the 940-1 and even the standard 940 much more difficult.
I would be interested if it's ok for you shipping it to germany and ouf course if the price is right!
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Could you please PM me the link where I can order (not preorder) a ZT 0562 carbon fiber? It was my understanding that they aren't out yet.
I will take S90V by Benchmade over M390 from ZT. Nothing wrong with ZT but their HT are rarely optimal for any of their steels. Except maybe S30V.
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- Jun 1, 2014
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The 940-1 is my favorite knife, tied with my carbon large sebenza. Mine weighs 2.35oz, its a 3.4" blade that takes up almost zero pocket space, the handles are nicer cosmetically than my sebenza carbon, the clip is not painted but anodized black, S90V blade that has held its edge since ive had (hasnt been too long yet 
). And the blue anodized standoffs are sweet (my favorite color). It is my ideal EDC, i loved it so much i bought two of them.
I know the OP purchased a different benchmade but really consider checking one out in person if you can. Yes, its THAT good. Bravo benchmade on this homerun, and im no benchmade fanboy trust me.
). And the blue anodized standoffs are sweet (my favorite color). It is my ideal EDC, i loved it so much i bought two of them. I know the OP purchased a different benchmade but really consider checking one out in person if you can. Yes, its THAT good. Bravo benchmade on this homerun, and im no benchmade fanboy trust me.
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:thumbup:I have been down that road and have made that mistake many times.At the time I thought the price was steep and regret passing on a knife I really desired.This is a production model, but for how long?I see this model as a kind of testing the waters for BM and welcome the upgrades in the blue class.I have seen some LE's of this caliber, but never a blue class model.I personally feel that this is very close to some of the gold class offerings BM currently offers for over $500.Sure $260 is steep for some of us, but if you can find one at $200 then it's a bargain in my book.
