The Blade HQ Exclusive Benchmade Osborne 940 gets the Blade HQ treatment with a natural G-10 handle and a black finished CPM-M4 blade! This knife is hot, and it's sure to go fast!
Description:
The 940 Osborne has become a classic in the knife industry. Just about every knife enthusiast is familiar with it. A few years back, Blade HQ took a poll—5 Knives Everyone Should Own—about what knives are the best, and the community placed the 940 among the five knives everyone should own. Its tough build, slim profile, and versatile design makes it a perfect tool for every knife aficionado.
Check out our Benchmade 940 Review for an in-depth look and test of this standout knife.
The “original” 940 was the first Benchmade I owned- Black aluminum scales with black spacers, satin blade- stolen from my home years ago. That was Benchmade at the top of its game. In recent years their QC has been questionable (plain sh*tty really). It’s a toss of the coin whether you’ll get a knife that’s worth the price you pay- blade not centered, lock stick that never seems to improve, and a ridiculously dull edge. HOWEVER, this BladeHq exclusive (and the 940-2 I bought in July) is perfect, as its original predecessor. Razor-sharp, spot-on centering, fluid axis lock (stick slowly going away). Aesthetically it’s beautiful. Natural G10 is even better looking in person and the black M4 blade is an awesome contrast. Ergonomics are great like all 940s. It’s just a badass knife. Buy one. Or several.
First of all, this is a fantastic deal on an Osbourne 940. Yes, the scales are not aluminum, but the G-10 handle is sturdy yet light. The Jade colored handle will be either a "love it or hate" thing but I personally like it a lot. My first foray into Benchmade products was the 535BK-4 with the slick aluminum scales but everywhere I look the enthusiasts speak of how fantastic the Osbourne is. Well, I am here to say that I do not regret my decision at all. It you want sturdier, heavier scales then get the aluminum scaled version and pay a few bucks more, but this is a great deal! Out of the box the action isn't as slick as the Bugout that I just got so mine doesn't fall close but it flicks open with a satisfying click. I believe that once this thing breaks in it may become my EDC but it's too soon to call it at this point. I am a fan though!
I have a few Benchmades, so I have a little perspective and experience: This 940 Osbourne is perfect function out of the box. Not crazy about the look/form as much as the Bugout, but the weight distribution and pivot are amazing. If I retract both sides of the axis lock and I flick my wrist, it will flip open without using the stud, silky smooth every time. I can do this with the Bugout, but I have to flick my wrist just right. With this Osbourne I don't have to be fussy to make this work. Good as a gravity knife. This knife is a real winner. Open and in the hand, only my Spyderco Para 2 feels better for grip and hand position - but it's close.
This is my sixth or is it seventh 940. I'd have to check my spreadsheet or storages cases to verify. I think that's proof enough along with what my fellow colleagues have already said. I like the natural G10 which l will be dying my favorite orange. If you don't own a 940 or it's less popular brother and my favorite 943, you owe it to yourself to get one. You won't regret it.
I received my BladeHQ Exclusive Benchmade 940 Osborne today and it is an outstanding looking and functional knife. The natural G10 scales look and feel amazing and the blackout M4 blade came hair shaving sharp. I broke down 1 weeks worth of Amazon boxes and it didn't dull the blade in the slightest. The action is butter smooth and the blade is centered perfectly. I am very happy I got one before they sold out as I was worried due to my experience with the spyderco 2nds sale and what an absolute $hit show that turned out to be. BladeHQ nailed it again. 5/5
The standard 940 is a great knife, and with the exclusive it's even better. It did have quite a bit of lock stick out of the box (but It's smoothing out), and the factory edge isn't the best. The natural G10 scales are nice, and are a bit more translucent than other nat G10 scales. Definitely very cool to be able to watch the axis spring flex as you open and close the knife. I bought mine after the restock, so it may not be around anymore, but if it is, you should definitely buy it.
I have missed out on so many Blade HQ exclusives and have had to resort to overpaying on eBay to get them, but I set an alarm to make sure I got this one! I was so excited to receive it today, the action is buttery smooth and of course, the M4 steel is fantastic. It is lighter than expected, in a very good way, and the fit and finish are as expected. If it ever comes out again do not hesitate to buy it!
Typical Benchmade quality; the scales match the black hardware perfectly. Blade centering is on point. Uneven bevel; show side being wider than clip slide, of course protruding screws on inner scales. Factory edge wasn't that sharp. With all that aside I'm glad BladeHQ made this exclusive possible. It is truly a beauty and the good outweighs the bad. No regrets !
One of my first pocket knives was the original 940 with the green aluminum scales and purple titanium back spacer. I will always adore this design. I had to jump on this BladeHQ exclusive. Real fun getting this knife in M4 and natural G10.
This looks great, just waiting to purchase....
I have coveted the Osborne 940 for years, but a minor disability in my right hand has made me reliant on the flipper method of deployment, and in recent years reluctant to vary my choices too far removed from those knives ( not a big fan of Autos due to legal issues! ) But when this model in M4 steel and Natural G-10 posted, I thought WOW!, maybe...If I practice a lot! It took me a while, but I finally pulled the trigger, and grabbed one! Though I haven't yet Mastered deployment with the thumb studs or Axis-Lock, Fidget-Fidget-Fidget; I'm sure I will get there! The knife is handsome and SHARP beyond description, and I can tell the action is great, too! This will remain a special member of my eclectic 200+ PC collection ( over 40yrs collecting! ), until it passes on to my heirs! There might even be a new original added, now that I'm sure I can deploy it...! Many thanks for re-opening a door for me!
A respected knife in new materials. Scary sharp and a workhorse your likely to carry for many years... maybe your kids will too. Intrigued that the scales can be dyed. May try that next.
It has its flaws. Coating started to peel. Of course this was the first batch. I swapped out the scales for the og green and then to flytanium copper. Now its my favorite knife of all. A Benchmade 940 and CPM-M4, you can't beat it.
My first Benchmade, made me believe the 940 hype. This is an amazing knife. Super thin scales, great action, ridiculously sharp and sturdy blade. And its in m4, what else could u want? I also have the SMKW exclusive subzero Hogue Deka, and i think theyre both similar in many ways. Idk which is better, but this is def a win. If u grab it, u wont regret it. If u do, sell it to me.
I set an alarm to be sure I would not miss this, and I am so glad I did! My dream knife (aside from my holy grail red 960) was a natural G10 940 and I was thrilled when I saw the announcement for it. I love the smoother, satin like feel of it. It has enough texture to not be slick, but it also isn't going to shred a hole through my jeans. The black is a perfect compliment to the G10, the blade is dead centered, and it came razor sharp. Only complaint is the blade bevel is slightly off center, with the show side being a little wider than the clip side. It's very minor, and will be worked out after a couple of light sharpenings, but it'll be a while before this M4 needs it!
I've used, and loved, the Benchmade 940 for years but only recently decided to get a mini version and this BHQ exclusive with the CPM M4 and jade-colored, or ghost scales. I'm not sure if I'll dye the scales but it's super easy if you don't care for the appearance, that's the nice thing about these G10 scales. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with this knife. Buy it - you won't be disappointed!
I have carried this for nearly 2 weeks now and it has replaced my 20cv griptillian as my EDC. M4 is fantastic, the price is absolutely reasonable and the workmanship is above average for benchmade. Considering buying a 2nd to keep in case this one gets lost.
This had better arrive in 2020!
The 940 is already a great piece but I've always found S30V to be too chippy. Living in an area where corrosion/rust isn't a problem, M4 is a perfect steel. The 940 boasts a long enough blade with a belly and functional shape to be great for almost everything, but it isn't tacticool where you'll freak out the people around you. I rit dyed mine with racing red and it came out to be a sort of maroon or ruby red color and I love it. The price is reasonable as well for a 940 in M4, in fact, I think it's quite inexpensive for what you get. I too share a few of the gripes with other people, the G10 is smooth and slippery, it's not gritty like other manufacturers G10 like a PM2. However, giving it a tight grip will aid with it remaining in your grip; the 940 also has a slight choil in the handle so you'll not slip onto the blade. Great knife, even better exclusive.
I was hesitant to order this because I have large hands and it's somewhat slim. I'm glad I did. A knife-like thus for this price is fantastic. Texture on the g10 jade is very good. And well it has the Osborne slicing ability most task are like butter. Only negative is it's not for anything heavy-duty but you know that going in. Very pleased Value for your $$$"
I’ve been craving something in jade G10 and M4 steel. I love the look of all black hardware and a Cerakote or DLC black blade against the natural G10. I’ve always heard that any good collection should have a 940 and frankly I’ve never liked the finish combinations on other variations. The steel and finish combo on this one drew me in and I’m glad it did. The action smoothed out dramatically after the first day of use and now it falls shut, flicks open, and locks up tight with no blade play whatsoever. Carries super light/small and hardly know it’s there. My only complaint is the pocket clip. Give me any Benchmade deep carry with it and I would have been happier.
I purchased this knife last year and I cannot say enough good about it. To have a tried and true knife come in m4 was a dream come true. I have a lot of knives and I find myself using this one more than any other knife I own. The fit and finish was perfect as well!
when are these coming out? So looking forward to this!
What can be said that hasn’t already about the 940 and how it’s a proven and great all-around EDC knife. The extra plus about this particular model is that you get an awesome performance and protected coating M4 metal for the blade and another unique quality to this knife… this is the only version available (to my knowledge) that has all black hardware to complete those fully blacked-out knife customizations (*after dying the scales)… Or just as cheap and easily, dye the natural G10 scales to whatever color you want and you now have a personalized EDC 940 that will serve you well for many years.
Many Benchmade’s on (Grip, mini Grip, North Fork, Grizzly Ridge, Bugout(s), Crooked River and Mini Crooked River… I’d just held off on the 940. This one appealed. I bought it. SO glad I did. The 940 is a classic for a reason, and I’m glad to have finally joined the club. What an amazing knife. And this version is an amazing take on a classic. M4… I’ll say no more. And the black against the natural G10. Absolutely love it. Glad I finally “woke up” and joined the club. Amazing knife. Thank you BHQ for making this variation happen.
Just amazed BladeHQ could sell this for practically the same price as a 940BK, despite having the workhorse M4 steel blade, Jade G10 scales and blacked out hardware and liners! Received mine quickly. Perfectly centered blade. Smooth action that will break-in to perfection. Razor sharp after a quick strop (factory grinds are kind of crude/coarse). I replaced the split arrow clip with a BM regular deep carry, but that's personal preference. Highly recommend this beast for any 940 aficionados!
Looks amazing at a reasonable price for M4 steel. Only problem I had was a little bit of lock stick and pivot being too tight. Nothing a little bit of lube won't fix. Although the lock bar does seem to rub against the liners a little. Kinda to be expected.
This is the best 940 you can get for the price, in my opinion.
My first Osborne. Not sure what all the hub bub is about over the 940. Yes it is very good but doesn’t really excite me much. That is likely to change after a while though. There is nothing bad I can say about it and it will take a place in my rotation. I have been able to sharpen 20cv and M390 with an edge pro but M4 is real tough to sharpen. I wanted to clean up the edge a bit using 8-10-12-15k grit chosera stones. Nothing. I had to drop to 600 grit before I could take any material off the edge. Once I got it only a bit sharper than the factory edge I gave up. Something tells me that it will take a long time of use before it begins to dull. So if you like the 940 and want a knife that you will rarely need to sharpen this one is it.
PROS: This thing looks as good in person as it did in the pictures. The M4 was a great blade steel choice although I would love to see them produce a version in elmax. The natural G10 looks good paired with the all black hardware. The blade was perfectly centered and is so incredibly sharp. M4 stays sharp for a long time in normal use too. It feels more solid in hand than the 940-2 (black G10) version. CON: As usual the G10 is from benchmade is extremely smooth unlike the G10 you find on something like a spyderco paramilitary 2. While I love my benchmade knives I do wish their G10 had a grit similar to that of the spyderco paramilitary 2.
Pros: Looks amazing! Love the contrast of the Natural G-10 scales and the black blade and hardware. Blade centering is dead on. Smooth mechanics and feels very light in a good way. Cons: Factory edge was not as sharp as expected. Also, the finish on the pocket clip looks almost as though it got moisture on it in the drying process and is spotted.
The good: Let's get this out of the way, asthetically speaking, this knife is freaking gorgeous. Love the natural G10, and the black contrast blade. It's sweet. But that's about the only good I have... The bad -Dull blade: This thing came dull from the factory. I would expect that a knife would come sharp. It won't even cut paper... -Sticky axis lock: The lock is sticky. Sometimes it'll deploy smoothly, sometimes it sticks real bad and i need to use both hands to unjam it. The fact that a knife of this price is sticking and having this issue i feel is unacceptable. Overall, it's a slick looking knife, but the execution of the knife is poor. I'm going to reach out to benchmade and see what can be done. If they can't do anything, i'll be returning the knife. Expected more for what i paid.
Blade is loose and even when tightened goes right back within minutes
I bought two of these, one for me and one for her. I like the G10 and M4 combo, but both have a ridiculous amount of blade play. You can shake the knife and hear it, it’s so bad. I think Benchmade is losing a bit of quality these days. None of my older ones are this sloppy.
Well,lets do the good first -one,it's a beautiful peice,two, fit and finish are absolutely top notch,(except for a little lockstick,which is minor,and I'm sure will smooth out),deployment and disengagement are a pure joy,dialed in perfectly. Now for the bad-this is the dullest out of the box benchmade,I've ever received,in fact,I think it's the dullest from any reputable brand I've ever received-it wouldn't even cut paper clean.I spent an hour on the sharpmaker with it,and got SOME improvement,but still yet,it very noticeabley doesnt cut as well as my mediator or 945,whiich can both push cut paper,and compared to my top o the line in edges,my doug ritters,ha ha,forget about it!I'm honestly thinking about returning it,(but it's so pretty,I'll probably keep it)if you don't have a good sharpening system,(like a wicked edge,kme,etc),and plenty of patience,I could not in all honesty recommend this peice to you.The 940 itself is a very popular platform,which comes in multiple steels,but unless you plan on stabbing cinder blocks,or cutting through tin roofs,I think maybe you should stay away from m4,ha ha Update;I changed the degree I usually sharpen at from 20 to 15 degree,and worked on it for another half hour,and FINALLY got it to a pretty decent sharpness-I figure with m4 being what it is,it should be able to handle fifteen degrees alright.I really love this knife now,but am still going to leave the reveiw at three stars,because you darn well shouldn't have to do this out of the box,on a twohundred dollar knife
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