This is why I love benchmade...

kingston73

kingston73

Joined
Oct 14, 2013
Messages
1,016
I sent in an old 940 which had seen better days and asked if they could replace the partially serrated blade with one from a 943, the type with a clip point. I was told no, I would need to be a blade from a 940 but I could get a non serrated one. I was ok with that, a little disappointed but that's fine. Well, open the mailbox today and this is waiting for me:


Thanks benchmade! It was pretty quick, only about two weeks, maybe less. Those scales I installed after I got it back, the original green scales are ok but to cold when it's 20 F outside.
 
Rad! BM always comes through!

The 943 really is an underrated knife. I pieced together a 940 handle with a 943 blade and a split-arrow clip for my wife. She adores it, carries it everywhere, and gets compliments every time she uses it.

Come to think of it, I'm not sure why I built it for her and not for me :confused:
 
Benchmade really has the best customer service out there! Last time the pocket clip of my mini grip was bent outward and was hardly able to retain the knife in my pocket. Sent them an email and within a month I received the pocket clip. Here's the catch, they sent it all the way to Taiwan free of charge!

-Kevin
 
I cannot say enough about BM's customer service! Simply the best I have dealt with!
I agree about the 943 blade shape! I think it's one of the sexiest profiles out there!!
Here's what I came up with and I love it!!
Joe
2aef90b1191127a3667bf2eae84c063b.jpg
 
I much prefer the 943 to the 940. There is so much talk about the 940 and I just don't understand it?! It's fugly. The 943 is what you see after you go to the bar and drink a 12 pack and start checking out a 940!

I went to a gun show and the 940-1 had just come out and it was the only knife I tried to find because I'm a steel snob and I wanted to check it out and there aren't very many knives, let alone good ones, to waste time not looking at guns. Well my wonderful wife paid attention and I got one a month or 2 later for my birthday. I love that she did that for me and can't get rid of it! But I can't bring myself to carry it either when I already have too many knives I like that don't get carried.

The problems we have in a 1st world country...
 
palonej said:
I cannot say enough about BM's customer service! Simply the best I have dealt with!
I agree about the 943 blade shape! I think it's one of the sexiest profiles out there!!
Here's what I came up with and I love it!!
Joe
2aef90b1191127a3667bf2eae84c063b.jpg
Click to expand...

Need to knock that burr off of those serrations. :thumbup:
Pretty knife.
Benchmade is a good company. Visited the factory store twice and had a great time doing it. I bought a Lum Tanto at a pawn shop while vacationing in Portland. The next morning I took it by the Factory and had it sharpened while I waited. Had a handy knife the rest of the trip, and a souvenir to boot!
 
BladeCommander said:
Need to knock that burr off of those serrations. :thumbup:
Pretty knife.
Benchmade is a good company. Visited the factory store twice and had a great time doing it. I bought a Lum Tanto at a pawn shop while vacationing in Portland. The next morning I took it by the Factory and had it sharpened while I waited. Had a handy knife the rest of the trip, and a souvenir to boot!
Click to expand...
its even better if you live in Portland. I ordered my custom griptillian then picked it up there and had my others sharpened. glad I need a grippy knife or I would be too tempted. it does not help having leatherman here and now I found murry carter blacksmith. I am surrounded
 
The 943 looks great, but I'd be worried about the delicate tip. I know a lot of folks knock the PM2 and Military for having delicate tips. Is the 943 in the same boat? I'm really Jonesing for a new knife, and after seeing the 943, I am really struggling to keep my wallet from opening and buying the 943 with a plain edge, satin finished blade.

Comments?
 
It doesn't have a fragile tip at all. But to be honest I never tried to pry any boulders with it either!!
If it is used as a knife it will be fine.........but it's not an Adamas either!
The tip on the 943 is beefier that the tip on a Para 2.
Awesome knife and if you like its looks.......get one!! You won't be sorry!
Seen them on the Exchange for around $120.
Joe
 
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palonej said:
It doesn't have a fragile tip at all. But to be honest I never tried to pry any boulders with it either!!
If it is used as a knife it will be fine.........but it's not an Adamas either!
The tip on the 943 is beefier that the tip on a Para 2.
Awesome knife and if you like its looks.......get one!! You won't be sorry!
Seen them on the Exchange for around $120.
Joe
Click to expand...

Thanks Joe. I'm also looking at the Spyderco Sage 5.
 
No prob brother!!
The Sage is nice, I have a couple, but I'd take the 943 over it any day!! Soooooo much sexier and much better feeling in pocket!!
 
palonej said:
No prob brother!!
The Sage is nice, I have a couple, but I'd take the 943 over it any day!! Soooooo much sexier and much better feeling in pocket!!
Click to expand...

I hear you on that. Regarding the fragility of the tip, I've owned my PM2 for a while and have no issues with he tip on that blade. Of course, I don't use it as a prybar or screwdriver. I use it as a cutting tool. Go figure! I like the skim profile of the 943 over the wider shape of the Sage 5. I think there's only 1/2" difference in blade length, so they are awfully close. I like he compression lock, no doubt.

This is a tough decision!! I know the 940 gets lots of love and many guys have had them for years and years, so the platform is a proven design. I'll have to keep thinking about this one!
 
You definitely are aware of the Blade Forums party line right???
Get both!!!!
Sorry, but you knew it was coming right???
[emoji51][emoji51][emoji51]

If your PM2 tip is fine after carrying and using it.......don't fret over the tip on the 943.
Joe
 
BladeCommander said:
Need to knock that burr off of those serrations. :thumbup:
Pretty knife.
Benchmade is a good company. Visited the factory store twice and had a great time doing it. I bought a Lum Tanto at a pawn shop while vacationing in Portland. The next morning I took it by the Factory and had it sharpened while I waited. Had a handy knife the rest of the trip, and a souvenir to boot!
Click to expand...

Not sure that's a burr on Joe's knife. His blade appears to have been Cera-koted after the serrations were cut and then sharpened. Running it over the edge of Sharpmaker stones would leave it looking like that, too.

This is maybe the fourth thread like this I've seen where we come to 943 blades in 940 handles. It's always the same thing with all the exclusives, special runs, etc going to the (fugly to my taste) 940 shape and nothing offered for our poor-sister 943 that so many of us love.

Benchmade CS is indeed excellent when it comes to screws, clips, and small external parts. However, their replies usually fall back to the Company Line (if replies are indeed forthcoming) when it comes to inquiries about things like 943 options, pricing, discontinuations, and future releases. Don't get me wrong--I've got 18 BMKs and love the knives and the company. Quality products made in the good ole USA and backed up by the maker!

Good for you, OP. You got someone at BM to give you the stock answer and then send you what you wanted and were told you couldn't get. How cool is that? :thumbup:

Here's my 943-1 Franken....

lmiztKn.jpg
 
That is bad ass Steve!!!
And you're right bout the edge. Sharpmaker works well on serrations! Got them where they'll push cut phone book paper!!! No burrs thank you!!
 
palonej said:
That is bad ass Steve!!!
And you're right bout the edge. Sharpmaker works well on serrations! Got them where they'll push cut phone book paper!!! No burrs thank you!!
Click to expand...

The Grip on the right is one of my few partially serrateds, Joe, along with a Tenacious and RAT. This one is a sometime work carry, the other two being second-carry work beaters, and the SharpMaker gets its 154CM wicked sharp.

9j2piby.jpg
 
Love the scales on the Grip Steve!
I only have a couple also. Only reason the 943 is combo is it was in stock at the time and I didn't want to wait.
They are great for work knives!
 
In regards to Benchmade making the blade swap for the 943 blade. I had them actually make the opposite swap for my 943. I sent a 943 and they installed the 940 blade. I asked several times prior to sending mine in and was told that they would do the swap because that combination was a knife they had made before. In my situation the black handle 940 blade was made years ago and called the 942. In the OP's situation the green handle 943 blade was called the 941 years ago. They would not have made the swap if it were not a combination they had already made. They wont make you a custom knife. For instance if you sent a 940-1501 in and asked for a 943 blade they wouldn't do it because that is not a combination that has been used and they would essentially be making you a custom knife. I have to agree though Benchmade customer service is excellent! I actually sent in a -1501 due to some lock up issues. And asked them to replace the blade, axis lock and springs, washers, all the screws, and standoffs. They replaced literally everything on the knife except the scales and liners. Literally everything was replaced and they installed a pocket clip of my choice (I had removed the first one) in less than two weeks and didn't charge me a dime. You can't beat that!
 
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