The Benchmade 940 Osborne is one of the most popular folders in the company’s lineup. It’s been around for over 25 years and is still going strong. In that time, they’ve come out with numerous iterations of the knife, such as various handle materials as well as blade finishes.
The Classic Benchmade 940 Osborne Gets a New Look
Recently, Benchmade announced five new colorways for the 940 Osborne. All feature anodized aluminum handles. The new colors are Black, Crater Blue, Phoenix Red, Burnt Copper, and Green.
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I’ll admit that I was a little late to the game with this particular folding knife. I didn’t get my first 940 Osborne until last year. No reason for the delay, other than there are so many knives out there and only so many hours in the day. Not to mention only so many dollars in the wallet. But it didn’t take long for me to understand why this knife has been consistently popular for over two decades.
940 Osborne Specs
The first thing that caught my eye initially was the blade profile. It’s a reverse tanto, a design I fell in love with when I reviewed the Redhawk from Tactile Knife Co. last year. What I like about this blade shape is that it allows for a very strong point, with a lot of steel behind it. At the same time, it doesn’t feel like a sharpened pry bar.
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The blade runs 3.4 inches. Currently, Benchmade is using MagnaCut for the 940 Osborne. The one I got a bit over a year ago is M390. Closed, the knife is 4.47 inches long, and open, it has an overall length of 7.87 inches. The blade is fairly slim, topping out at about 0.8125 inches from edge to spine at the widest point.
The weight of the knife varies slightly depending on the handle material. Mine is equipped with very cool denim micarta handle scales with dark copper PVD accents. My postal scale says it’s 2.4 ounces.
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Speaking of the dark copper accents, the pocket clip is reversible via three small screws.
From Open to Close
The 940 Osborne is equipped with a small thumb stud, with one located on each side of the blade. Opening the knife is as simple as swinging your thumb upward. The action is smooth enough that, with a little practice, you can start the blade with your thumb and then flick your wrist to snap the blade into position. It’s not as fast as a flipper or assisted-open knife, but it’s close.
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Benchmade uses its AXIS lock on the knife. This is a lock design that debuted in 1999, designed by Bill McHenry and Jason Williams. Once the blade is fully open, the lock engages. To close it, you pull back on the release and fold the blade down. This need not be a two-handed process, either. If you pull back the release and give the knife a good flick, it’ll fall closed.
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The All Important Ergos
I’ve bought a lot of knives over the last 40 years or so that looked nifty, but were less than great when actually put to use. That’s not the case at all with the 940 Osborne. Its functionality and ergonomics are as great as its looks.
There is a slight curve along the back of the knife. This allows for a great deal of control over the blade, particularly the blade tip. The handle is comfortable, and the pocket clip doesn’t dig into my palm, which is always appreciated.
All in all, the 940 Osborne feels instinctive, like it’s just an extension of your hand.
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Who Needs It?
The 940 Osborne is well-suited for anyone looking for a high-quality, durable, and reliable folder for EDC. It’s available in a range of handle materials and colors, including the recently announced new colorways. This is the type of folding knife that gets used for years, then passed down to the next generation.