Sell me on a 940!

M

mantzao

Joined
Jun 16, 2011
Messages
1,523
Hello guys,

Long time not posting!!
Well the years have gone by and, like you, the collection is always changing.
Got mostly everything on the production realm, the CRks, the Hinderers, the Ozs, Koenigs, Les George's, Spydercos, Benchmades...you know what i'm saying.
So now, for whatever reason, when there are plenty of Axis, clutch...locks to get i'm setting my eyes on the oldie Benchmade 940!!
Had the grips, the Ruckus, the Skirmishes, the Ritters, the Bugouts, the works, but never a 940.
So is it still a good knife to buy?
Since Benchmade lost the exclusiviety of the lock, we can see many with the same lock style and even more afordable with, arguably, better materiais.
So, what say you, should i get one?
Any recommendation on a specific configuration?

Thanks
 
Still my favorite knife after everything I’ve bought. The new M390 and Denim Micarta is a real treat! I got the lavaflow fat carbon knife which is my personal favorite but they’re all sold now.
 
Overpriced I agree definitely, I also agree on the Denim Micarta or a short run of a certain kind of 940, if you're going to waste the money. The 940 has always been a top Benchmade like the 710. I've had several versions of each over the decades and they were my least favorite Benchmades. Just buy what you like. If you have to be sold on it by someone else, it's probably not for you.
 
Owned one for a bit. Sold it after not long. Could never get the action quite right. If it opened and closed well, had side to side play. I could tighten out the play, but then open and closed it like a new Sebenza (sloooooowly.) I love Sebenza action, but not on a knife like this. There's too many good actions to leave a couple hundred bucks tied up in something like this. I won't be buying any future Benchmades.
 
I'd go with the classic aluminum 940 if it's your first. It's a slim sleek knife that is super easy to carry but still robust enough to handle work. 3.4 inches of blade in a 2.9 ounce package. The reverse tanto makes for a stout tip too. I think that balance between ease of carry while still be plenty capable is a big part of its enduring appeal. The only downside is it's not the sliciest geometry, but that's the tradeoff of keeping the knife so slim with a blade that isn't too thin.

If you don't like aluminum then the G10 version would be good. BHQ has an M4 and jade G10 exclusive at a decent price.
 
10 years ago id sell you on the 940 but you are gaining nothing for s30v and aluminum at the current asking price when theres so much better for that price or less .....
 
Sometimes, (not often for me at least) the $ value of an acquisition is a non-factor. I personally consider the 940 to be kinda’ like the ‘55 Chevy of pocketknives. So I bit my tongue, paid the price and am comfortable with the result. If you like it and can afford it, then buy it. 😎
 
I never jelled with mine - carbon model. It is a nice knife and we are all different. I tend to like thinner blades especially on folders.

More of a spyderco buyer although I do own 4 benchmades.
 
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Designed by Warren Osborne, the Benchmade 940 is a legendary EDC knife. This slim, lightweight workhorse combines premium CPM-S30V steel with a stylish and durable anodized aluminum handle. The ambidextrous AXIS lock provides reliable, smooth, one-handed operation. It's the perfect balance of form and function for any cutting task.
 
I keep intending to try a regrind on my 940 but never get around to it - the blade is thick bte, but I only really notice that when cutting apples or cheese. I did reshape the handle for comfort, and then the blade to better match the look of the modified handle. It's my most regular EDC. PXL_20251014_221339007.jpg
 
For me what makes the 940 extraordinary is its blade:handle ratio, which packs a useful medium-size blade into a lightweight package that carries well.

What always eventually turns me off when I own one is that the handle is too narrow for my hands. (Not thick; narrow.) For a narrow blade, the reverse tanto also wouldn't be my first choice.

My current favorite Benchmade, to my great surprise, is the Bailout.
 
A 940-1 was my first so called "premium" knife. I have couple and still love them. I don't like the way Benchmade has trended over the years, but I would still have no problem recommending the 940 to someone. It's an awesome knife. The Blade HQ M4 exclusive is probably the best deal now. I think $234 is still pretty fair for it in today's pricing.
 
I'd say it's still a good knife to buy, it really stands out for how minimal it feels in the pocket but how much work it can do as a knife despite that. There are a bunch of other similar options out there now, but the 940 design just hit all the marks perfectly. You might also take a look at the Protech Malibu, arguably a slightly better value for this type of knife.

On a side note, I don't get the uproar about them using their saws to cut up guns that were slated for destruction anyway. It's not like the police would have just released them back on the street if it wasn't for Benchmade; their role didn't really change anything.
 
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