940-2001 First Impressions
So I have to admit that I do like the look of the 940-2001. Yes, I know it doesn't have the infamous "940 V" in the handle but I think BMC may have been going for a "Clean Plain" look when it came to this 20 year anniversary offering of a legacy design. The red thumb stud and barrel spacers give it a nice touch of offset when it comes to the color of the knife. I do wonder why they decided to go with red though. Red limits the aforementioned components to be made from aluminum. My preference would have been to do a complete titanium assembly including screws, stud and spacers in a different color. The standard blue from the 940-1 or green from the 940-2 might be considered humdrum and probably just OK to most. Gold, purple or even orange are doable. I got to thinking that since the rest of the hardware was done in a high polish satin with no color why not color match the thumb stud and spacers? The mini deep carry clip is nice and I'll have to see how well it works with this knife. It's basically the same as the 535-1901's clip. Its a unique knife in it's own way and I think it will grow on me.
Looking at the quality, it's excellent and I think things may have changed again with a manufacturing process or two. The first thing that I noticed was the laser etching on the blade. I think two separate etchings are now used. It appears that at some point one does all the standard etching and another does only the limited edition number. While the limited edition number is sharp and crisp all the other laser markings look like the laser was set to a slightly different width and depth. This is really only noticeable when tipping the knife and getting the right lighting angle. The blade's edge appears to have been completed on the standard belt sander and is reasonably a course grind. Still the S90V will shave the hair off my arm pretty well. I may get my dealer to put a mirror edge on it as I know S90V can be made surgical sharp and will retain that edge for quite a long time. Operation wise it came adjusted perfectly, at least for me. It opens super smoothly using the thumb stud, Flicks open effortlessly with the Axis bar and drops with a nice pendulum swing when the Axis bar is retracted while holding the knife horizontally. There is no side to side or up and down play at all. This particular 940-2001 could have used a bit better centering from the factory as it leans toward the presentation side scale noticeably. I'm sure that I'll be able to get it dead center with a little work. Its a bit heavier than any of my other 940s probably due to the lack of any lightening milling on the inside of the titanium scales and the new flat style design. I found an interesting and noticeable hole drilled and tapped on the inside of each of the titanium scales just behind the jimping of liners. It appears to be about a 16th of an inch deep with the same size and threading as the clip screw holes. I can only surmise its used for something during the machining process.
Its definitely different 940 and I think I'll like it more and more as I carry it.
-
Thanks for your thoughts on this ...............
2 -
1 -
Thanks Tim for the review.
As one who has more 94Xs than most the design isn’t just disappointing, I think it’s insulting to Warren Osborne’s artistic design. The 940-2001’s handles look like a cheap Chinese knock off.
The red standoffs & thumb stud are a very poor choice when celebrating a 20th anniversary. Benchmade blue would have been most appropriate or a purple as a tribute to the Ti spacer on the first 940 or green to celebrate the handle color of the original.
I will not buy one as it is one of the worst 940’s produced.
Shame on Benchmade!
3 -
Anytime Bill.
I mostly concur with your assessments. It's also why I mentioned my view on color options Benchmade could have used. I had the same thoughts when it came to using purple instead. It would have been a nice subtle tribute to the original's purple back spacer. And would have allowed the use of stronger titanium thumb studs and barrel spacers.
I'll add that the look and feel of it are nowhere near that of the cheap Chinese knock offs. I have to say its well built to the overall spec of Warren Osborne’s artistic design, but it was changed significantly. For the better or worse is in the eye of the beholder. I'll note also that the half ounce difference in weight is pretty obvious when I compare it with the original 940.
I figure Its only fair that I carry it a bit to see if it will stay in the collection or be a catch and release. I feel I have to be objective and at least give it a chance.
1 -
Tim,
If you like that wonderful. In fact I figured Mac ( who likes Ti handles) would really like it.
I’ve seen Warren’s original custom “940” in Ti these 940-2001 don’t belong on the same table
2 -
[@mention:589599268366227375]
May I suggest a custom shop Mini Crooked River in S90V with blue accents (buy with wood scales) for $270, leaving you lots of leftover $ (in comparison to the 940-2001) to put towards a set of custom bolsterless scales...
2 -
martymcfly posted:
[@mention:589599268366227375]
May I suggest a custom shop Mini Crooked River in S90V with blue accents (buy with wood scales) for $270, leaving you lots of leftover $ (in comparison to the 940-2001) to put towards a set of custom bolsterless scales...
/|\ Mac, for me the preferred option is a 940-1, thankfully I’ve a few
3 -
I gotta go with Bill on this one. Doesn't seem like much forethought went into this one. I'm sure it's a great knife and from what I've heard people are liking them so I guess it's been a productive release.
1 -
Gush, You guys' talk really discourage me getting one.
PS, This is really "not talking" to you guys.
1 -
Really like mine. I need to go verify but pretty sure the red color is the same as the going gear version.
First BM I have bought in a long time.
2 -
I think you're right HalfLife. I just checked my 940-1701 and my 940DLC-1802 and the thumb stud on the 940- 2001 appears to be the same color red as the 940-1701's thumb stud and barrel spacers and the thumb stud on the 940DLC-1802.
Glad you like yours. I leaning toward keeping this one myself as it's growing on me.
And the damn things which are now showing as sold out on Benchmade's website are going for over twice the retail price now on the second hand market.
1 -
I picked one up at a local dealer that still had one. Most online dealers are sold out. Maybe there are more to be released - if not that 2000 went fast. I like mine and plan on keeping and using it unless the price keeps going up.
BD
1 -
BigDaddy from what I've seen and what is on the Benchmade website the 940-2001 was a Limited Edition limited to 2000 pieces. They went super fast and I doubt more will be released.
That said, will Benchmade...
Be releasing newer 940 variants based on this design?
Will they be adding the 940 to the "Customize" lineup so that we can create ow own custom designs?
Only time will tell!
1 -
The 940 is my all time favorite BM, and my 940-1501 is my favorite 940. One of these days I will get around to adding a 940-1 to my collection. I agree with Bill, this new 940 leaves me cold.
Wonder why they didn't do something like the 940-1801? That is a gorgeous 940 and still had the original Osborne handle design.
1 -
Where can we see pics of Osborne's original custom designs in Ti??
1 -
I just received #1542 and man, I am very happy! I did however notice the back spacer by the clip on the opposite end is missing the bolt. Is anyone else noticing this as well?
0 -
Ask Benchmade to send you one.
1 -
No mine has a screw in that spot.
BD
On Thu, Feb 20, 2020 at 9:44 PM The Benchmade Community <
alerts@crowdstack.com> wrote:1 -
I sent Benchmade an inquiry. No biggie. The knife is absolutely awesome. I'm a big fan of tradition, but i really dig the smooth scales. After all, it's a 20 year old design, you'd expect so see some changes in that time.
0 -
18451 your better bet would be to call them at 1-833-557-2526 and request that they send you out a replacement screw set. Ryan and others post here and can check the picture you posted if needed.
Hope this helps!
0 -
can anyone shed some light on why the 940-2001 is going for over $600 on the secondary market and the 940bk-2003 can be had for almost what it originally sold for (just got mine brand new from an original owner for $425). I would think the first 940 with DLC coating would be somewhat more of a collection piece than this one. Both were limited runs of 2,000 pieces correct?
0 -
[@mention:646324604467407966] posted:
can anyone shed some light on why the 940-2001 is going for over $600 on the secondary market and the 940bk-2003 can be had for almost what it originally sold for (just got mine brand new from an original owner for $425). I would think the first 940 with DLC coating would be somewhat more of a collection piece than this one. Both were limited runs of 2,000 pieces correct?
Both were 2000 pieces. I've also wondered about this. A light user -2003 popped up on BF recently for $300. It's starting to feel like the blackout DLC look has lost its charm. Also the -2001 I owned had the best action of any 940 I've ever owned. I had three -2003's and they were all are pretty funky out of the box. I'm not shure about the price difference now but I believe the -2003 just didn't feel different enough or like much of an upgrade from the -2001. 940 fans were also pretty disappointed there wasn't a gold class on this anniversary year.
2 -
I like the stonewash blade better than the dlc coated to be honest, just not too thrilled about the red standoffs and thumb studs. To me red seems pretty overdone lately, now if they made it in the 940 purple as a tribute that may have been cool. Regardless, I was thrilled to snag a new 940bk-2003 at basically the same price it originally sold for. No complaints there, I'm not buying it to flip it, I want to enjoy it.
1 -
Also I think if they would have made a titanium scale in the traditional 940 green with purple standoffs (like the 945) and a stone wash m390 blade that would have been killer
2 -
or even a floating back spacer in purple similar to the lionsteel myto would have been awesome, but I digress.
1 -
Yeah, I definitely think you're onto something. It wasn't a mic drop. There's also so many aftermarket titanium scale options now.
3 -
/|\ Blasphemy I know, but the aftermarket Ti scales look a whole lot better than the flat slab scales of the of the 940-2001.
The 940-2001 reminds me of Russian military equipment- ugly but does the job
2
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
27 comments