Pls help me choose; Benchmade 485 Valet, 698 Foray, or 940-2 Osborne?

A friend of mine has the 940 and he was kind enough to let me play with it for a day.

All I can say is that this knife looks deceptively small even with its 3.5" blade because of how slim and narrow the blade is. I don't see any reason why it would attract unnecessary attention unless its owner was brandishing it in public like an idiot.
 
IMG_20161028_031146.jpg


The fit & finish and tolerances on the 485 are top notch; the best I've seen and felt on a BM knife. Everything is put together perfectly like a fine stone. The simple design on the handles work well being 3D in an ergonomic shape. The edges sort of curl out where it's cut out. The blade is thicker than what is typically found on this size stock, and it stays thick almost to the tip. I think it was supposed to be one of the high end BMs and it feels that way to me. A high end version of the 530/531, as they are all similar in size and feel. All are more gentlemen folders, or pure cutters, so they are designed light and small package. It opens like a smaller BM having the like smaller components.

The 940 is a completely different kind of knife being a more standard general use knife. It's deceptively small but it's a big beefy knife in a smartly designed package. It doesn't feel small even closed.

Foray is nice. It's almost identical in feel to the Valet, but it's dressed up much nicer. It has its own character.

I didn't like the 485 too much when I first got it. As I switch up knives, over time it really gained favor eventually now being one of my favorites even over the 530 which has been a long time top 5 for me. Just a really beautiful, simple and really capable knife.
 
I am now a happy owner of a 484 Nakamura plain edge! Thanks for all input, somehow I think this won't be my last BM..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top