Possibly the Best EDC knife on the market? Benchmade 940

Slider817 · May 2, 2011

For most people who own one, the Benchmade 940 and 943 is just one of the most practical pocket knives around. It is feather light at 2.9oz, very slim and trim, it has a 3.4 inch blade, the newer versions have S30V, Razor sharp, super fast opening, solid lockup, great axis lock, fully ambidextrous, very comfortable in the hand.
The knife functions great in all sorts of roles, EDC, Food Prep, and the blade is even big enough to have defensive use.
But for me it really boils down to a study good knife that is light and trim enough for me to always have on me.

Even though I have tons of knives, including many other Benchmades, lots of Spydercos, Chris Reeves, Kershaws, Emersons, CRKTs, CASE knives, Striders, Microtechs, lots of customs, and many many more, by far my most carried and used knives are my 940s.

What is your opinion of the 940? Any competitors out there that may be better?
Post some pics, if you can, it will make the thread more interesting

ibute21 · May 2, 2011

I'm inclined to agree. The 94X line is probably the best knife Benchmade makes. I love my 942 with a S30V blade. It even has shrugged off what some would call heavy duty tasks. It's quite a work horse of a knife, I know I'll never sell mine.

Phrede · May 2, 2011

Your preachin' to the choir my friend...
I have a 930 Kulgera, 940's in green, blue and red, a 941 in blue, a 942 in black, and not to mention three 960's.
I love them all, and they all are hard users.

Phrede

pmek5 · May 2, 2011

+3 - Definite agree on this one. I only own three knives - 943, Small Sebenza 21, and Delica 4 FFG. The 943 is a superb overall design. A well balanced knife, and add the axis lock on top of that - really enjoyable to carry.

thegeek574 · May 2, 2011

Double post

thegeek574 · May 2, 2011

I will say that everyone will have different preferences for their carry knife. Saying that this possibly is the best implies that there is a best, and that is not true. I have plenty of knives that could do the jobs that i call on them to do every day probably better than the one i carry, but the ZT 0200 always finds it's way into my pocket. I love the heft, then handle, the steel, and generally just the beefiness of the knife. That is why it is the one that is in my pocket, every day. I do not have a 940, so i will not pass personal judgment. Just my $.02.

Here is a pic of my baby.

DaveReb · May 2, 2011

Never had a 94X before and probably never will. I'm not a fan of aluminum scales, so that eliminates several BM designs for me. Now if BM saw fit to use G10 as a scale material a reverse tanto 94X would be high on my want list.

Dave

Slider817 · May 2, 2011

thegeek574 said:
I will say that everyone will have different preferences for their carry knife. Saying that this possibly is the best implies that there is a best, and that is not true. I have plenty of knives that could do the jobs that i call on them to do every day probably better than the one i carry, but the ZT 0200 always finds it's way into my pocket. I love the heft, then handle, the steel, and generally just the beefiness of the knife. That is why it is the one that is in my pocket, every day. I do not have a 940, so i will not pass personal judgment. Just my $.02.

Here is a pic of my baby.

I agree, the 940 is not the best knife for everyone in every situation. But, for what it is, and what it is meant for, which is a dependable, ultra-light, easy to carry knife, it beats any knife I have seen. I am always on the lookout for knives that can compete with the 940, the ZT200 is a totally different knife that is made with a different use in mind. Don't get me wrong, I love my ZT200, it's one of my favorite heavy duty knives, but for most people an EDC knife refers to a light weight, compact blade, that is unobtrusive in daily carry, not to say you couldn't carry a broad sword every day, but it isn't really an EDC blade. So, when I say the "Best" I am referring to knives that are similar to it, and offer similar utility, and functionality, were weight and size are very important considerations.

Slider817 · May 2, 2011

Just to show that I am a good sport, my 3 favorite large (For my collection) heavy duty folders
But if I had to have just one of them, the Emerson CQC-13 would be my pick
But I mainly carry them around the house/yard or in the woods, a bit too large for my office

timberweasel · May 2, 2011

I dig my 'Green Goblin' 940. It's good-lookin', excellent to carry, smooth action... in short a superb EDC. :thumbup:

I just wish that Benchmade had put a better factory edge on it. The S30V is taking a long time to hone using my traditional stones; I'm taking my time so I don't pooch the blade (I don't have a sharpening system--maybe I should just give up and get one.) Once my 940 has a satisfactory edge, I'll be carrying it more often.

bada61265 · May 2, 2011

a friend brought his black 940 over the other day. along with his torrent. both blades were much thinner that my spyderco equivalents. and much duller bnib than spyderco`s. thin pointy tips imo, not much belly to them. i couldnt see using one for an edc blade as they appear to be stabbers mostly. maybe the sheeps foot version would be ok. all i gotta say is be shure you order a sharpener with them if you dont have one prior to buying if the 2 benchmades ive seen in person are any example.

lmcq784 · May 2, 2011

I sharpened my 940 and it's a heck of a knife for edc.... of course, I carry different knives all the time, depending on what I'm doing... but for a smallish sheeple-friendly pocket knife, it does a great job, and the Axis lock is fantastic.

Slider817 · May 2, 2011

It's interesting that people are having a hard time getting their 940s sharp, I found that out of box, after a bit of time on the strop, with some black and green compound they took a great edge, but most of my knives needed that out of the box, Spydercos included, so it could be that I have had better luck with the blades than you guys, but mine are sharp. That's all I can speak to, but as with any knife that you plan on using especially with the more modern steels, you have to be proficient and have the equipment to sharpen them.

Tsujigiri · May 2, 2011

The 943 is one of my favorite knives. As you said, excellent for EDC. The one problem with it is that the blade is very short from spine to edge, so it doesn't have the cutting power of taller blades. Of course, taller blades take up more pocket space. If I have to do a lot of cutting, I'll opt for a Spyderco Gayle Bradley. For a knife with similar characteristics but a lower price tag, the Kershaw Composite Blade Leek is great. But for a sleek, easy to carry knife with a great lock, I can't think of anything exactly like the 943.

moonwilson · May 2, 2011

I carried a 940 for several years. I believe that's what I had in my pocket when I got married. They are superb knives. I think the 940 is what transformed me into a bona-fide knife knut. I was bouncing a party one time, and I left my green 940 behind the bar so a guy I was about to pummel couldn't take it out of my pocket and shank me. When I went back to get my knife, somebody had taken it. I spent several years trying to find a knife I liked as much as that 940, and never succeeding. By the time I realized I should just buy another 940, I had already become a knife junkie. And it has been downhill from there.

midnightreport · May 2, 2011

Definitely agree with thegeek574 and Slider817 that there is no such thing as "best"... just "best" for you and your individual uses, circumstances, preferences, etc. :thumbup:

With that in mind, my 943 is one of my absolute favorite daily carry knives. Simple handsome design, no tacticlol garbage. It's ridiculously light and surprisingly trim for a 3.4" blade. Mine came with a ~50 degree inclusive grind from the factory, so I had some difficulty at first getting my preferred crazy-sharp edge on it using my sharpmaker. Once I acquired the diamond rods, I was able to reprofile at 40 degrees and it push-cuts copy paper effortlessly now.

I still have one big gripe: it's really easy to gouge up the aluminum handles while sharpening close to the handle on the sharpmaker. I've remedied this using blue painter's tape on the handles while sharpening, but still...I guess I've been spoiled with all my ricasso-ed Spydercos.

kda89508 · May 2, 2011

The Benchmade 940 is one of my favorite production folders made! Smooth and a nice size blade to handle ratio. This is for the 940 :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
Thanks! Kevin

Slider817 · May 2, 2011

moonwilson said:
I carried a 940 for several years. I believe that's what I had in my pocket when I got married. They are superb knives. I think the 940 is what transformed me into a bona-fide knife knut. I was bouncing a party one time, and I left my green 940 behind the bar so a guy I was about to pummel couldn't take it out of my pocket and shank me. When I went back to get my knife, somebody had taken it. I spent several years trying to find a knife I liked as much as that 940, and never succeeding. By the time I realized I should just buy another 940, I had already become a knife junkie. And it has been downhill from there.

Great story, i have had my 940s for so long and have bought so many knives since, and sometimes I ask myself why? I have so many great knives, why am I getting another knife. But then I snap out of it, and buy it anyway.

Toyz · May 2, 2011

The 942 Osborne with 154CM steel (black blade) first production 927/1000 was my first "real" folding knife. I still have it, although it has been dormant for many years now as the new super folders have taken hold of my pocket. I have to laugh - I think I bought it in 1996 new from a now defunct "Chesapeake Knife and Tool" and I thought that was a big folder. I carried it for years as my only real folding/locking knife.

For the price, I think it is a good deal and I still like the knife.

MTHall720 · May 2, 2011

Slider817 said:
For most people who own one, the Benchmade 940 and 943 is just one of the most practical pocket knives around. It is feather light at 2.9oz, very slim and trim, it has a 3.4 inch blade, the newer versions have S30V, Razor sharp, super fast opening, solid lockup, great axis lock, fully ambidextrous, very comfortable in the hand.
The knife functions great in all sorts of roles, EDC, Food Prep, and the blade is even big enough to have defensive use.
But for me it really boils down to a study good knife that is light and trim enough for me to always have on me.

Even though I have tons of knives, including many other Benchmades, lots of Spydercos, Chris Reeves, Kershaws, Emersons, CRKTs, CASE knives, Striders, Microtechs, lots of customs, and many many more, by far my most carried and used knives are my 940s.

What is your opinion of the 940? Any competitors out there that may be better?
Post some pics, if you can, it will make the thread more interesting

Is the 943 the one in the middle? Does it come in a longer like almost 4 inch length too?