Spyderco Forums

I have a few Benchmades including a 940. The thing that bugs me is a couple of them have uneven and horrible grinds from the factory. The 940 is one of the best EDC knives. It is comfortable and a versatile blade shape. But for a "top tier" knife company, I am not impressed. My least expensive spyderco is my Polestar and while it doesn't compare to my PM2 or Sage 5, the polestar is still better than the fit and finish of my Benchmades. Spyderco fit and finish has always impressed me, and even one has a even smooth grind. It's why my Sage 5 has been my office EDC while the 940 sits in the safe. After seeing the Gayle Bradley 2 in this thread next to a 940, I think I found my next purchase. Spyderco in a similar footprint as a 940. That may make it the perfect edc.

Got out my scale and my 940. The stud is not as bad as I remember now that I play with it, but it is certainly tucked in tight against the scale, but that is part of the design that makes it such a slim knife, so a hole could do no better. And aluminum scales -- pretty rare in the Spyderco lineup. So this comparison makes me realize what a unique knife it is.

On a side note -- I sure wish the Spyderco catalog had an index. I have wished that dozens of times. Just an alphabetical index by knife name.
Yes I know the page number is there in the listing up front, but its semi-random order makes it almost useless.

Here are some weights from my scale:

Benchmade 940 2.87 oz
Sage 2 3.33 oz
PM2 w/ CF 3.69 oz
PM2 w/ G10 3.81

Pretty impressive the weight savings with aluminum scales. Also I was surprised how little weight the CF scales on the PM2 actually save.

Yes, the Gayle Bradley 2. I do get tempted. I ordered an original Gayle Bradley because it was still available and there is such a lore about it. But the GB2 has a lot of appeal and is less of an ugly duckling than the original. I compare the GB2 to the Benchmade Griptillian, which is my absolute favorite benchmade if you get the version with the hole instead of the stud. The fact that the GB2 is so similar to the Griptillian, and now is being compared to the 940 and on top of that you get M4 steel. Hot dog! Why haven't I already bought one?

JDennis wrote:I have a few Benchmades including a 940. The thing that bugs me is a couple of them have uneven and horrible grinds from the factory. .

We need to take care that this doesn't become a Benchmade bashing party and maintain our good manners, but I heartily agree. I think the honest truth is that their knives are sharpened by hand whereas Spyderco uses precision machinery. And it shows. When I put some of my Benchmades on the Sharpmaker and used the sharpie to see where the stones were making contact, it was clear that the angles were not done with precision. My Spydercos seem right on. So the thing to do is to reprofile those bad boys. Other than that I have never had an issue with their knives and I like some of their designs quite well.

Tucson Tom wrote:

JDennis wrote:I have a few Benchmades including a 940. The thing that bugs me is a couple of them have uneven and horrible grinds from the factory. .

We need to take care that this doesn't become a Benchmade bashing party and maintain our good manners, but I heartily agree. I think the honest truth is that their knives are sharpened by hand whereas Spyderco uses precision machinery. And it shows. When I put some of my Benchmades on the Sharpmaker and used the sharpie to see where the stones were making contact, it was clear that the angles were not done with precision. My Spydercos seem right on. So the thing to do is to reprofile those bad boys. Other than that I have never had an issue with their knives and I like some of their designs quite well.

I am not trying to bash Benchmade. I own quite a bit of them and the crooked river is my favorite large folder. Just was mentioning that I am surprised and disappointed while Spyderco has yet to disappoint.

The Taichung made knives are hand sharpened still as far as I know. It's only the new Golden models that are robo-sharpened.

My GB2 was slightly uneven.

My 940-1 was super uneven not just in the sharpened bevel grind where it was somewhat wavy, but the whole primary grind was so asymmetrical that the blade could never center and the tip was deflected 2+ degrees off the axis. Judging by the lines on it, the primary grinds were done by CNC, so that's pretty weird.

anycal wrote:PM2 and Manix 2, no doubt.

While the blades are nearly the same length I think they are very different animals and really aren’t comparable. My Para 2 is my go to cold weather knife but if it’s summer and I’m wearing shorts not much beats the 940/943. I don’t like the 940 reverse tanto blade but the 943 clip blade is pretty sweet.

Both Manix and PM2 are nowhere near the 940's pocket-space-efficient, narrow design.

For me, the Spydie that comes closest is the Centofante 3. Similar handle length and -shape, narrow blade, slighty shorter blade.
[Image taken from Spyderco]

OP didn't provide much information about what the requirements are. The original post mentioned the opening action, and later the fun factor of opening and closing the knife.

I stand by my picks :D

I carry a knife just like i wear a watch,i liked nice objets,does it need to be accurate,not really,does it need to be super sharp,not really.i don't want to fell it on my wrist and don't want to feel it in my pocket.i have a good selection of watch,and a good selection of knife,so i the morning,i grab a watch and a knife acording to my mood and activity.
Live is good. :D

ross8425 wrote:

Doc Dan wrote:I never really cared for the 940 because of the blade style.

I like the 943 blade style way better...but that green is just awesome. So, I choose to not own one since BM doesn't make that combo :D

You can ask benchmade to replace the blade of a standard 940 with the clip blade from a 943. I have this combo now, I’ll try to post a picture later.

this_is_nascar wrote:With all due respect to Spyderco, nothing as ever carried more comfortably in my pocket than a 940.

Have you tried the Caly 3.5? The CF is easy on the pants, nearly disappears in the pocket, and has a great blade to handle ratio. Perhaps not as comfortable in the hand for hard use, but overall one fantastic knife. :spyder:
An btw, it's a much better looking knife. :p

I don't like the feel of metal scales and one of the reasons I don't like aluminum or stainless steel scales, however, I do own a couple anyway. That is why I don't have the aluminum 940 (not to mention I don't like the green colour) but I wouldn't trade my 940 -2 for love nor money. I have never owned a titanium scaled knife and probably never would as I don't want to spend a fortune on a knife that never gets carried.

That being said, I find that the PM 2 with g-10 scales is a nice fit and after opening/closing dozens of times, is breaking in quite nicely and falling closed almost as nice as a 940. The lock is a bit sticky but that will break in soon as well.

PS: it's snowing to beat h#!! right now, so I wouldn't mind being in the southern states for the winter.

:cool: Tomorrow we are hitting the road going south,probably center florida,my next purchase is a lil native,don't get me wrong,i love spydercos but that 940-2s is gonna be hard to beat

Tdog wrote:

this_is_nascar wrote:With all due respect to Spyderco, nothing as ever carried more comfortably in my pocket than a 940.

Have you tried the Caly 3.5? The CF is easy on the pants, nearly disappears in the pocket, and has a great blade to handle ratio. Perhaps not as comfortable in the hand for hard use, but overall one fantastic knife. :spyder:

Caly 3.5.jpg An btw, it's a much better looking knife. :p

I own both of them and they are great knives. I have to agree the Caly3.5 CF is better looking but that Axis lock is so much easier to use. I can imagine a Caly 3.5 with G10 scales and an Axis lock. :)