Benchmade 940 Osborne AXIS Lock Knife Review
Benchmade 940 Osborne Gears rating
The Benchmade 940 Osborne is an elegant, yet powerful folding knife which sports Benchmade’s patented AXIS lock, S30V Steel, and a blade shape to maximize the cutting surface of the blade.
Where To Buy Benchmade 940 Osborne
Benchmade 940 Osborne First Impressions
From my first view and use of the Benchmade 940, I was impressed. AfteGR admiring this knife online for a couple of years, I finally purchased it a couple of years ago! My first impression of this knife is that it was much more than a tool – a work of art. Elegant, sleek, and razor sharp, the 940 Osborne has the valuable quality of being simultaneously a workhorse and a “show piece.”
Benchmade 940 Osborne Specs
Designer: Warren Osborne
Mechanism: AXIS®
Action: Manual-opening
Blade Length: 3.40″ (8.64cm)
Blade Thickness: 0.115″ (2.92mm)
Open Length: 7.87″ (19.99cm)
Closed Length: 4.47″ (11.35cm)
Handle material (options): G10 or Anodized Aluminum or Carbon Fiber
Benchmade 940 Osborne Field Test Results
My field test of the Benchmade 940 Osborne consisted of carrying this knife for just over a year as my primary EDC folding knife, with the occasional break to carry a different knife. This use ranged from slicing apples, cutting rope and whittling on camping trips. Also, a summer of daily use cutting various materials doing maintenance at a local Scouts BSA camp. These tasks, in addition to the normal wear and tear of being in my pocket for a year, provided an adequate test of what a typical EDC knife might expect to encounter and conquer.
Blade Shape
The Benchmade Osborne is equipped with a unique rendition of the reverse tanto blade shape, perhaps best known for its ability to strengthen the tip of the blade (often the most easily breakable part of the blade). Designed by Warren Osborne, it also has the effect of providing a relatively long blade, the full length of which can used steadily and safely.
Pocket Clip
The factory clip that comes on the Benchmade 940 Osborne is simple and doesn’t attract attention. It is one of my favorite qualities of this knife. It is a sturdy clip that, after a year of almost daily use, shows no sign of bending and only mild scratching. While it may seem like a small thing, being able to rely on your knife not falling out of your pocket when you sit down is very important (especially with a higher-end brand such as Benchmade).
Action
The opening action on the Benchmade 940 Osborne is possibly the most crisp and snappy manual action I’ve ever experienced. Opening this knife with the thumb stud inspires confidence and joy in the wielder as the blade snaps audibly into place with no blade play/wiggle. Even when coated with dust and grime, this knife glides open naturally without hesitation.
AXIS Lock
The AXIS Lock is Benchmade’s unique locking mechanism uses a small, spring-loaded bar to lock the blade into place. If you are interested, you can read about the details and history of the mechanism here. Some of the high points of this mechanism is that it is ambidextrous, strengthens the connection between blade and handle. It allows fast closing of the knife without putting your fingers directly in the path of the blade (as in the typical liner lock).
It also presents a couple of challenges, however. If you do not clean this knife regularly (assuming you actually use it as a tool and not just a toy or showpiece), the AXIS Lock will begin to lock up. The best way to prevent this is to simply clean the knife each day that you use it. Taking the 940 Osborne apart for cleaning is a nonstarter, as it both violates the warranty and poses a significant challenge when putting everything back together correctly. The patent for the AXIS Lock has recently expired, so we’ve begun to see several other companies implementing similar designs, including the SOG Seal XR.
Benchmade 940 Osborne Pros
- Blade Shape designed to maximize cutting length and power
- Sturdy pocket clip
- Solid action and easy opening
- Handle long enough for large hands
- AXIS Lock keeps the user’s fingers out of the path of the blade, and works very smoothly when cleaned regularly.
- Benchmade Warranty provides lifetime repair, polishing, and (most impressively) sharpening services so long as you don’t violate the terms of their warranty.
Benchmade 940 Osborne Cons
- AXIS Lock depends on the knife being cleaned very regularly.
- The blade shape may not be the right fit for all users (though personally I thoroughly enjoy the blade shape).
Final Benchmade 940 Osborne Thoughts
The Benchmade 940 Osborne is a knife which had been my “grail knife.” It has remained one of my favorite knives. I have not been disappointed with the cutting edge, appearance, durability, or overall performance over the more than a year that I’ve used it regularly. I do highly recommend this knife to anyone who does not have a tendency to lose their knives. This knife is too good to let it just sit on a shelf for fear of losing it. The Benchmade 940 Osborne is more than just a name brand piece.
via Gear Report at https://gear-report.com
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