Requesting BM 940/942 review

fbi428 · Feb 17, 2005

I'm thinking about buying a BM 942 or 940 (Whats the difference?) for around-the-house uses, and outdoor/survival uses like whittling, carving, camping, fishing, etc. (I also really really like the look). I don't mean hardcore survival or anything, but I want to make sure it can handle light to medium tasks in those categories, and last a long time. Thanks.

PS: If this knife is not appropriate, what would be some other BM (preferrably tactical) folders with blade length around 3 1/4" that would be good for these things? (Thanks but I know about the Ritter Grip, I am considering that too)

Drew

Julian Elliot · Feb 17, 2005

The 940 has a green aluminum handle and the 942 is black. Same deal with the 941/943, except that these are clip point blades.

The 940 was my EDC for a long time until just this week when I got a Spyderco Kopa. The 940s are very high quality production folders and pretty popular here at BFC. Most people probably think of them as more of a gentleman's knife than an outdoors knife, but they can handle any of the light/medium-duty tasks you describe and because they are well-made, they will last for a long time in that kind of duty. At this point, the 940s probably don't look too special if you just look at the specs - there are lots of Axis folders to choose from, some people like aluminum handles - others don't, 154CM is an excellent steel, but S30V is what's hot right now. What sells the 940s is the way they look - especially the green ones. And if you like the way they look and don't mind paying a bit more than average, then they are great knives.

Starfish · Feb 17, 2005

I too used to carry the 940 before I started gravitating to smaller blade lengths. It was a great knife, capable of a lot of jobs as Julian Elliot noted above. Here's a link to a review that you might find useful.

Good luck with your decision. You really can't go wrong with a Benchmade

Matthew

VampyreWolf · Feb 17, 2005

been rotating the 921s since march last year... not bad for it's size. Handles a wide variety of chores, and fun to sit around flicking open and closed. the small slipjoint works for things like trimming string, cleaning nails and opening bags.

Josh Feltman · Feb 17, 2005

942 has been my EDC since 2001. Still going strong. I'd highly recommend it.

fbi428 · Feb 17, 2005

ok cool thanks a lot

sounds like it'll get the job done...

Any more posts for this ill still read.

Also, what kind of sharpening tool (company) should I use? I'm looking for something around 20 bucks maybe. Just something to keep the blade sharp and won't wear away at it too much.

Thanks again.

Drew

allyourblood · Feb 17, 2005

fbi428 said:
ok cool thanks a lot

sounds like it'll get the job done...

Any more posts for this ill still read.

Also, what kind of sharpening tool (company) should I use? I'm looking for something around 20 bucks maybe. Just something to keep the blade sharp and won't wear away at it too much.

Thanks again.

Drew

i hate to mention something over someone's given budget, but in this case, i'll make an exception. spend about 45-50 bucks and get a Spyderco Sharpmaker. it has got to be, hands down, the most effective sharpener for the money, not counting freehand stones. you can bring any knife to a razor's edge on the SM, and the stones last a long, long, long time. mine is over a year old, and the triangle stones look the same as when i bought it.

abe m.

OwenM · Feb 17, 2005

I love the 940. Had two of the blue ones when they first came out, and still have a 940Ti. I really prefer the Ti handles, and S30V blade....and lookee here

fbi428 · Feb 17, 2005

Abe- Thanks for that Sharpmaker, I am really checking that out, seems to be very good.

Owen- That link, thats waiting to be recieved by all dealers, right, not just that one? I wasn't able to find that version anywhere else online. And so that payment is 156 bucks just to preorder the knife? Thats......out there, although that thing is really amazing. I gotta keep my ears open for that one.

Thanks, keep posting ill keep reading.

Drew

Gryffin · Feb 17, 2005

I'm not a fan of the 940/942 blade grind, but I loooove the 941/943. It's like a smaller version of the McHenry & Williams 710, but not as tiny as the 705. The aluminum scales make for a slimmer knife than the 705, too. It feels very, very nice in the hand.

OwenM · Feb 17, 2005

fbi428 said:
Owen- That link, thats waiting to be recieved by all dealers, right, not just that one? I wasn't able to find that version anywhere else online. And so that payment is 156 bucks just to preorder the knife? Thats......out there, although that thing is really amazing. I gotta keep my ears open for that one.

I'm sure other dealers will get them, but it's a limited run. Grand Prairie seems to get stuff quickly, and have stuff up for preorder before other dealers. I got a Spyderco Paramilitary from them when noone else seemed to have them yet. I think it was about $6 more than some of the better priced dealers. I have a BM635 on preorder from them for $130. It may be a few dollars less from other dealers when they become readily available, but that's the price you pay for instant(or faster) gratification.
Figure a 940/2 is going to run ~$120, and $36 more to get one of the first of a limited edition doesn't seem too bad. A local gunshop that has prices about the same as most internet dealers had the original 940Ti for $134, but they were all gone in no time. I got one that an employee had on layaway for himself, after some wheeling and dealing, but I actually have $170 in the knife.
Guess it's all about whether it's something you want, and just how much you want it

Overlord · Feb 17, 2005

Gryffin said:
I'm not a fan of the 940/942 blade grind, but I loooove the 941/943. It's like a smaller version of the McHenry & Williams 710, but not as tiny as the 705. The aluminum scales make for a slimmer knife than the 705, too. It feels very, very nice in the hand.

But, I thought the blade grind (edge?) is the same, just the spine and belly were different?

Overlord in Colorado

Gryffin · Feb 17, 2005

No, the blade shapes are very different.

The 940/920 have a similar shape as the Griptilians: a sweeping saber grind, with an abruptly clipped-off tip. I think the literature refers to it as a "reverse tanto", whatever the heck that means. See here:

The 941/943 have a more conventional "pointy" point, with a long graceful clip and deep top swedge. See here:

While I prefer the clip point, from the standpoint of aesthetics, I have to admit that the "reverse tanto" is a very practical design. Horses for courses.

Donald · Feb 17, 2005

Since by chance I happen to have the 940Ti clipped to my pocket at the moment, I guess I'll chime in. I like it. The tip shape, makes the tip relatively robust. I like the S-30V steel. My only folder with an axis lock, so I like having that. (I actually had the 940 in blue first and it worked fine also, with a 154CM blade.)

When doing some hard cutting I noticed the handle a good bit. The Ti model has an open back which makes it easy to clean, but like I said I noticed it. The scales are not all that thick. If you find the size blade on a Rucksack sized knife useful, this is about the same length...by a quick comparison to an Atlas SAK in my drawer.

It is a fairly long knife, so if you carry a lot in your pocket, the end may hit stuff when you sit down. On the other hand, you get more blade to work with.

I generally do not use a blade on a ferrocerium rod, but used the edge to scrape a hot-spark at a party to light an alcohol burner...long before they found a lighter and got back with it.

I did not notice any effect on the S-30V steel. Sharpened a lot of marshmallow sticks at a Girl Scout camp with it. What can I say, someone had to do it!

I think I had a lot more fun than the person who used a pencil sharpener.

There were a couple wild reviews on the Benchmade forum, that expired a long time ago. If I recall, opening some paint cans and cutting sod. I figured if it survied that guy, it should hold up to my modest use.

fbi428 · Feb 17, 2005

The more I see and read about the Ti, the more I want one.

I'm more interested in the s30v blade than the titanium handle, but ill take both. I know that the regular 940 or 942 can handle my moderate needs, but I'd still rather pay the extra for a s30v blade if its available.

I know they (940ti) were limited edition and are gone now, but are there any plans of making new ones, besides that real limited edition one that Owen linked?

Thanks.

Drew

Nathan S · Feb 18, 2005

Drew, my responses to your email messages bounced.

Here's what I said:

The 940 is a fine knife, but I'm not sure it's best suited for
the outdoorsy kinds of tasks you mention. For that kind of stuff, I prefer
a blade with more belly. My favorite camping/hiking folder is a large Sebenza.
However, I also give high marks to the Benchmade 710, which I consider
to be one of the best buys in production knives. You just want to be careful
not to gunk up the axis lock, which is kind of a pain to clean.

freddy1 · Feb 18, 2005

i am using a 940 as EDC, i just love it !
blade is 154CM, easy to sharpen with a normal water stone.
it's a fairly long knife a writen before, makes it nice for eating with !
honestly, i found his green aluminum handle a bit too " military green" but otherwise, it's perfect !
I especialy like the "reverse tanto" blade, found it really "in harmony" with the handle.

fbi428 · Feb 18, 2005

Nathan - Thanks for taking the time to find me and respond, appreciate it. Yea I was actually looking at the 710 before, but despite 710's really good reviews and now your recommendation of it being a better-suited knife, I really like the look of the 940/2 better.

Thanks Freddy, I am getting a lot of people, in other forums as well, saying that the 940/2 has been their edc for years, and still runs strong.

Thanks guys.

Overlord · Feb 18, 2005

I guess what I was trying to say is that the edge profile, that is, the shape of the edge is the same, I know the rest of the blade is different.
Overlord in Colorado

Gryffin said:
No, the blade shapes are very different.

The 940/920 have a similar shape as the Griptilians: a sweeping saber grind, with an abruptly clipped-off tip. I think the literature refers to it as a "reverse tanto", whatever the heck that means. See here:

The 941/943 have a more conventional "pointy" point, with a long graceful clip and deep top swedge. See here:

While I prefer the clip point, from the standpoint of aesthetics, I have to admit that the "reverse tanto" is a very practical design. Horses for courses.

ras · Feb 18, 2005

OwenM said:
I love the 940. Had two of the blue ones when they first came out, and still have a 940Ti. I really prefer the Ti handles, and S30V blade....and lookee here

Thanks for the point to GP Knive's 940Ti-01. I like to EDC a 940 and this one looks very nice. I also have the original 940Ti, a very nice knife.