The Benchmade 940 folder is a great pocket knife!  I have read quite a few reviews for it on Amazon and everyone who has tried this knife has loved it!  One of the only complaints I have seen with this knife is the price, but personally, I think the knife is worth every penny.  Benchmade is a reliable company based out of Oregon, USA.  They started with big plans and have grown to be a very well known company that is primarily known for their high-quality knives.

The Benchmade Name

When those who know knives use the name “Benchmade” in conversation, everyone in the room (assuming they’re knife enthusiasts) will know what that means and will treat the moment as such (okay, that’s a bit dramatic, but you get the idea).  Benchmade has never been seriously criticized for their quality because it is top notch and rarely plays second fiddle to any other brand.

Back in 1979, this iconic knife maker started under the name “Bali-Song”.  You can probably tell by the name that it started making butterfly/balisong knives.  It even underwent more than one name change starting in 1988 as the Pacific Cutlery Corporation.  In 1990, Oregon became the new home, and Oregon City gave birth to a 144,000 square foot factory.  The 150 or more people who work there know that if you own a Benchmade, you’ll never be sorry.

Who is this Knife For?

This knife is for someone who is looking for a knife that is high quality, that will last for a long time.  It is great for helping with everyday jobs and is made to last a long time doing these jobs as long as it is properly cared for and cleaned often.   I think of it as an investment.  You are paying a little more up front but in the end, it pays off.  It’s one of those knives that will never disappoint if you can scratch up the extra dollars to buy it.  It is true that for half that price, you can get a decent knife, but it will most certainly have an inferior softer steel that the S30V that goes into the 940.

That said, the price (closing in on $200) is the sticking point and it’s what prevents this knife from “going viral” in the pockets of knife lovers around the world.

Blade and Sharpness

The blade on this knife is made out of a great choice of steel, S30V.  This is a higher end steel that has many great qualities to prolong the life of the blade. Characteristics of S30V steel include its ability to resist rust, retain a very sharp edge and overall it is just a tough, durable steel that is one of the best steels for common knife blades.   The blade is 3.4 inches in length and it is 0.115 inches in width.  This is a great blade that will stay sharp for a long time.  This knife features a reverse tanto blade.  A reverse tanto blade is where there is a steep angle to the tip of the knife.  The steep angle makes the blade look like it has a drastic drop point.   The blade also has ambidextrous thumb studs for easy left and right-handed opening.

Grip and Handling

This handle is made out of green anodized aluminum handle, lined with stainless steel.   Anodizing is a process used to increase the level of oxide on the surface of the metal.  The increased oxide makes the metal less likely to corrode.    This handle is not excessively formed with finger grooves, etc.  It is a simple shape that makes for a comfortable grip with any hand.  The handle is 3.34 inches long and 0.410 inches thick.  It’s sleek, and has a quality feel.  Because it is an EDC, the handle is biased towards being thin to fit your pocket rather than having the absolute perfectly balanced ergonomic blade which disregards pocket carry convenience.  That would make this knife a hunting knife in a sheath! The pocket clip can be switched to fit on either side.

Lock

The lock mechanism is AXIS. This is how Benchmade describes the AXIS lock system “AXIS® gets its function from a small, hardened steel bar that rides forward and back in a slot machined into both steel liners. The bar extends to both sides of the knife, spans the liners and is positioned over the rear of the blade. It engages a ramped tang portion of the knife blade when it is opened. Two omega style springs, one on each liner, give the locking bar its inertia to engage the knife tang. As a result, the tang is wedged solidly between a sizable stop pin and the AXIS® bar itself.”

How Does the Steel Stack Up?

Any steel in the 50-56 HRC range (which include the most common pocket knife steels) are considered pretty soft and easy to sharpen, but won’t hold their sharp edge for long.  they are the less expensive knives on the market.  Starting around 57 HRC to about 61 HRC are the steels that many of the higher end expensive knives will have.  They are an excellent cross between strength and ease of maintenance.  Anything higher than 61 HRC tends to be a more brittle blade which has virtually no anti-rust capacities and needs to be oiled even if stored, to prevent rust.

Where to Buy!

I always purchase my online tools and knives off Amazon or BladeHQ because they can offer the most competitive prices and they are also very safe and reliable sites.  If you are interested in purchasing this knife or you just want to check the current price,  follow this link to Amazon.  Buy it soon since the prices on Amazon are subject to change – usually for the worse!!

Conclusion

After reviewing this knife I think that it is a great knife that would be a smart purchase for any outdoorsman who needs a knife that will be reliable in any survival or everyday situation.  The Benchmade 940 ranks high in the tested categories making a great candidate for you. Again, Benchmade is a great knife manufacturer that makes very reliable products.

More Reviews

You can get a deeper review from one of the sources of this great knife, BladeHQ right HERE!