The Benchmade 945 Pocketknife: The Full Nick Shabazz Review

Today, we'll take a look at a fine little knife, which is also a bit lost in the shadow of its big brother: the Benchmade 945 Mini-Osborne. Also, note that since the review dropped, they've released a Mini version of the Green Aluminum model: www.bladehq.com/item--Benchma...

[@beebait1464]

They launched the classic a couple months later. Ive had my green 945 for a month or two now. Also can confirm the green billet aluminum scales do not have the screws poke through

[@elliotbell4868]

This was my first benchmade ever. I can't describe how much I absolutely love it! Low profile, light, great blade. 110% recommend it.

[@ekirenrut]

Same. First and only. Had mine 15-ish years. The proprietor of this channel/ENABLER(!) has helped me to appreciate that which lies beyond the 940. Thanks Nick 🤫

[@seanshipley8624]

Get a spyderco kapara. The 940 was my first good knife too, but it’s now towards the bottom of my favorite knives. Kapara in my opinion does everything the 940 does, but way better.

[@BorealEDC]

@@seanshipley8624 I've had a few Spyderco's in my day and generally happy with them except for issue most of them share... They're dimensionnally wide in the pocket and I find that annoying when going for something else in that pocket. How does that one shape up for wideness?

[@seanshipley8624]

@@BorealEDC Kapara is excellent, I however don’t keep anything in my right pocket where the knife is. I don’t like crap in my pockets. I keep my modlite in other pocket and my p10c appendix Carry with spare magazine and RDS and WML. Along with car keys and sometimes AirPods that finishes my edc.

[@johnpaulalbrecht7305]

@@ekirenrut this sold me, 15 years?? I'm sold!!!

[@blank1123]

I got a ‘First Production’ run in aluminium green scales and purple spacers and was pretty happy with it as an EDC. My local knife store gave me a complimentary deep carry clip for it recently and it is now my number 1 EDC blade.

[@Ransomed77]

That's what I'm looking to get. So glad they came out with the green.

[@Phaminator525]

Would you say the grind is slicier than a regular 940?

[@YNTGUNS]

@@Phaminator525 for sure.

[@airadaimagery692]

The original 940 is still somewhere in the top 3 position within my collection of edc knives.

[@philthy8150]

Favorite channel to watch while taking a shit. Such a calming relaxing voice

[@msc_2253]

I picked one up on special from Blade HQ around the time Blade Show was going on. I have several Benchmades, but never had the 940, so I can't personally make a comparison. After carrying the 945 for a while, it really smooths out and I've really enjoyed it. My only complaint is the thumbstud sometimes gets in the way when doing long cuts of cardboard.

[@Cyanoblades]

It's reviews like these that prove Nick is the best knife reviewer.

[@-samurai_warrior-7457]

Thanks for this review bro!

[@iamtoast3397]

Nick: "This is just a little detail but-" Me: "Well this knife is about to be dead to me."

[@cueball981]

@@BayouBandit6 There are a lot other reviewers out there who aren't in the pockets of suppliers, so saying Nick is the only one is a very far stretch. Is Nick honest for the most part? I will agree he is, but he's not the ONLY honest reviewer.

[@cueball981]

@@BayouBandit6 Neeve's Knives, Stassa23, Mike Emler, Wayne's Sharp World, to name a few...

[@CertifiedSunset]

@@BayouBandit6 Metal Complex, he's a Hinderer fanboy but he makes that abundantly clear. Him and Nick streamed recently together.

[@clayrowden3916]

Thanks for the review. Although BM is a bit too pricey as you typically note, I still love the company. I (luckily) timed my 945 shopping perfectly and had the choice of the BK G10 or the tribute original BOM in green aluminum handles and purple backside. I agree with you and opted for the original set up and think it fills the gaps in the scaled down design nicely. It also carries well deep in my pocket sans clip.

[@nathannettik685]

This is not the greatest knife in the world, this but a tribute!

[@myhandlewastakenandIgaveup]

I would say this is a *Tenacious* comment but its a Benchmade rather than am Spyderco!

[@jibb1es]

Green aluminum 945 is superior. Ignore this black/blue G10 version👌

[@buckaroobunnyslippers]

I have one in the classic green aluminum coming my way. I always loved the look of the 940 but found it too long for EDC. Hoping this mini hits the right spot. At least they didn't up the price for the aluminum scales.

[@MightyRude]

Blasphemy!

[@jibb1es]

I got the classic green aluminum. Absolutely love it. Superior in every way to the G10 black/blue. No regrets! I wish Nick reviewed it.

[@buckaroobunnyslippers]

@@jibb1es That's good to hear!

[@jamesrodgers3132]

You know you're in an abusive relationship with Benchmade when you're grateful for them not putting up the price for the aluminium. They're already robbing you blind!

[@buckaroobunnyslippers]

LOL. Robbery might be a stretch. If I wasn't okay with the price, I wouldn't buy it. Lord knows there are a lot of cool things that come across Nick's table that I can't afford!

[@AlohaBlade]

Nice review! You’ve knocked them on those long screws in the past and at this point they just don’t care. Love Osborne designs especially the Contego.

[@musicM0VESme]

Thanks for your review. This is my second Benchmade. Mine is in classic green.

[@jolness1]

I am a simple man, I see a nick shabazz video, I click like before watching.

[@mattconklin4026]

Just received a 9400 & it's absolutely amazing!

[@danofiremano]

I agree with some of these points and I bought mine with some money from returned unused auto parts, mostly for the nostalgic angle you touched on!

[@mattlombardi54]

I went with a mini grip with the modified sheepsfoot. It’s mainly a food prep knife and box opener.

[@squaller9254]

I got one of these from REI yesterday and I’m in love, it just needs a deep clip

[@MG-Alexandrovich]

Got mine today from Rei too, they running 20% off plus 20$ gift card if you are buying benchmade till 22nd. I love this knife and actually enjoy high speed low drag black/blue combo. Also action is really good from factory. The size is right. Would recommend.

[@ergezinger]

I just got the Green Aluminum version, and i love it! I get the ergonomic weirdness of being far away from the blade in hammer/saber grip, but there are solutions to that, like pinch grip, or index finger on the spine of the blade.

[@13noman1]

I do rather like my 940...but expect to move to a less knife friendly area within the year so the smaller 945 works for me! I did get it in green. Right now, the action's stiffer than the 940 but hope it'll smooth out a bit. Appreciate the hint on a drop of lubricant.

[@pauljosephbuggle3722]

I was never that keen on getting a 940 but I got my hands on one recently and I really love it. Somehow, it doesn't seem to come off in this mini version. They should have gone with the traditional design but made it more "small-knifey", slicier and bringing the edge closer to the grip. I wouldn't pay for it. The Hogue Ritter seems a better choice to my mind. I have a couple of Chaparrals and a Bugout so I'm more than covered.

[@bradyblackburn7877]

I just cried a little, looking at that beautiful gem.

[@EvelynDayless]

I kind of wish they'd have made a scaled up 940 that has a 4.5+ blade. I feel like there's plenty of nice mini-knives, but a lightweight for the size and just barely big enough handle to be comfortable longer knife with a good enough action to not need an assist isn't a space that's covered a lot (especially not in BMs lineup).

[@jamesR1990]

I'm pretty sure they do have a mini that's the same color as the original. Unless I've been mislead

[@tidge879]

You're right, but it came out like 6 months later.

[@NickShabazz]

The description of the video agrees!

[@jamesR1990]

@@NickShabazz I see that now. I apologize I meant no disrespect

[@appalachiangunman9589]

The only difference is that it has purple standoffs instead of a back spacer.

[@eric21881]

BM s30v is some of my favorite they always hear treat it well and it’s just a stand out to me

[@mrc2205]

I love the black and blue mini.

[@avasianfpv]

Has anyone tested a deep carry with this? I want to get one but want to make sure it fits.

[@jnewguyin]

What makes the 940 special is the shape and profile when it’s folded and clipped in your pocket. It hugs the side of your pockets and stays out of your way when you slide your hands in your pocket. Shortening the blade and handle does very little to improve pocket-ability

[@appalachiangunman9589]

The first time I opened the 940 I was surprised at how long the blade is. You get a lot of blade for that handle size.

[@Admiralcharlie]

Good god, that green aluminum pops so vividly. I wonder what people thought when it first came out.

[@fredf9562]

Curiously BHQ sold me the mini bugout in black and the 945 in black for $99 and $119, respectively only 2 months ago. I guess they weren’t selling well at the time so I snapped them both up. I agree with your comments. I prefer the mini bugout to the mini 945.

[@superdave3894]

The black and blue looks sick as hell

[@appleztooranges]

Just grabbed one for $105 on knife swap. Couldn’t resist. Love the color

[@silentjay1284]

Agree - classic OG colors and aluminum would have made this a stellar introduction

[@AlohaBlade]

I’d like to see purple aluminum and green anodized line on the back, inverted.

[@airadaimagery692]

I hear they are available now...

[@45proteinconsumer]

i have a 940 and it's honestly the best knife ive ever had

[@mr.nobody7771]

I wish it came with the deep carry clip, or with the same clip on the claymore with the little butterfly on it.

[@liamroarke7991]

I got one of those with the aluminum scales, and hated the texture. Swapped in some Flytanium micarta and a spare Benchmade deep-carry clip and it's my absolute favorite.

[@jasonlotz8246]

When I bought this knife I loved it so much I decided to buy the bigger 940-1.

[@Phaceial]

Reminds me of a Reverse Tanto Valet they slapped the Osbourne name onto to draw attention to a "refresh"

[@randallkelley3599]

Aluminum in green is my fav.

[@Adam_Newman]

Great knife

[@bahjinelson3986]

To me, screws that poke through the liners IS a sign of quality. Thin liners have very little in the thread department to begin with, so thread contact is minimal to begin with. Screws usually taper a bit at the end, so by having the threads come through the liner it ensures as much thread contact as possible, minimizing the risk of stripping the threads; a problem Spyderco knives seem to suffer from. Also, I agree about the distance from the blade to hand. Decreasing that distance would give more usable grip area on top of better control. Seems a simple problem to fix, but they don't. The two tone G10 looks nice though.

[@esoteric5277]

"Seems a simple problem to fix, but they don't." Maybe you're right. Take the fingerguard a bit forward, expose the tang, make the scales look a bit more like those on the Bugout😢 Better yet, increase the size of the ricasso enough to make it a fully functional forward finger choil😖🤔🤗 But tbh, I like it well enough as it is. The protruding screws could've been filed down though😞

[@svn5994]

That is far from a sign of quality. That is a simple problem Benchmade refuses to fix because it costs money.

[@bahjinelson3986]

@@svn5994 Why is it a problem and why does it signify poor quality?

[@edsaban572]

Nick, what would you recommend for around $150 range?

[@SmartFool24]

Still have my first 940 but prefer a mini grip, mini bugout, or the valet now.

[@lethallobato2631]

Can you do a collection video

[@briandunn5861]

If you own a green aluminum mini osborn check out rockscales options. For me that knife with the critter scales and deep carry clip makes for the perfect edc! It does totally change the look and feel of the knife effectively un-osborning the osborn but it is awesome

[@brandonsimons543]

Can we get a review of the new stubby kwaiken?

[@CrunchyJayman]

Don't know what it is about the 940 blade shape but it just speaks to me

[@tonybrewster952]

Did you notice if the screws are to long for the scales like stick out the bottom and almost touch the blade

[@smuglord9903]

can you review the benchmade fact knife?

[@alpine1600s]

A conflict over the price of a Benchmade? 😱

[@CertifiedSunset]

True, but I would say one of the most reasonably priced Benchmades is the Super Freek, A large ergonomic knife in CPM-M4 for just under $200 is pretty good. But you are still paying a slight premium for the name of course.

[@michaelcariello6233]

I love the black

[@clintonlewis1261]

Yeah I would like green scale's, black blade or Stone wash blade

[@LowenKM]

Thx, Nick, always interesting, and _entertaining_ as usual (lol)! Though if I'm gonna spend a few hundreds bucks on a 'folding knife', is it too much to ask for at least a bit of 'style' these days?!

[@fggjr277]

Can u do the crkt m21-02g plzz??

[@appleztooranges]

I prefer the blue and black over the green.

[@johnnyboybadjak9587]

As a knife enthusiast I only need Nick (who is to blame for my enthusiasm) for well thought opinions, DCA from KnifeCenter for general information and Neil from Thunderbird Blades (who deserves a bit more attention) for the visuals.

[@ctrguy9502]

When this was on sale for $120 from BHQ it was a good deal. At full price, not so sure.

[@kerrykitterman9714]

I have 5 940s ,! So naturally I pre order my 945. Love the color Combo. I'm waiting on a first production green. My original 940 green aluminum show some wear through on the green, That's 👌 OK. IT'S COOL. I had never even noticed the long screws, But now it Bugs Me .one of my 940s has the same Problem. Bottom line it's A Novelty for All Benchmade collectors. Full size 940 touches my gun in the bottom of my pocket! 945 Doesn't. Thanks Nick .I wish you would have had this talk with Benchmade Before. Production.!!🙄 .come on Benchmade We. Expect More. BIG BENCHMADE. FAN!! 🙃👍💚

[@johnagen3688]

Love benchmade!

[@mikejurnak4253]

I wanted it to be my EDC for my lifetime. I've had mine for 2 months and broke two omega springs one on each side at different times it's been broken more than I've carried it now it's sitting in the box waiting for the Etsy springs to be delivered 😢

[@jibb8545]

I wonder if you can blade swap the smaller blade into the larger handle.

[@esoteric5277]

Idk, but for starters the blade is thinner so you'd be needing thicker washers or shorter standoffs/thinner backspacer.

[@jibb8545]

@@esoteric5277 oh right good call

[@AP-gn9fd]

"They're doing what they do and they're continuing to do it" - Nick Shabazz

[@JamesJones-yt8df]

Hello NICK, just broke the axis spring in my 945 bk . Were would I pick one up BENCHMADE prob.

[@myhandlewastakenandIgaveup]

Thats the exact reason I don’t buy axis lock knives. I am not handy enough to replace them myself and my axis springs always break within 6 months so I view it as an design weakness.

[@airadaimagery692]

@@myhandlewastakenandIgaveup interesting... I’ve owned mine for 3 years, carry/use it everyday, and still haven’t broken anything.

[@myhandlewastakenandIgaveup]

@@airadaimagery692 I also chalk it up to half user error bc Itend to flip mine open and closed compulsively while watching tv but the design should be able to withstand 100 flips a day given how fidgety they make them.

[@airadaimagery692]

@@myhandlewastakenandIgaveup ah... the fidget factor.... interestingly enough, we were just having this conversation over on Cedric and Ada’s channel just yesterday... But it was comparing the SOG knives with the same type of locking mechanism, and everyone was saying that the springs on those SOGs are 10 times as bad and break much faster than the Benchmade ones... If that is the case, then that is pretty bad!

[@myhandlewastakenandIgaveup]

@@airadaimagery692 I view the axis bar springs as a form of planned obsolence. Benchmade has a better spring design which they used on their titanium integral and spyderco has a better design on the manix (when do people ever mention that knifes spring breaking?) but it is an easy money funnel for the company which won’t hit enough customers to cause furror but will be profitable and lower production costs so why would they use the more expensive design? At current Benchmade prices I simply can’t excuse it myself but to each their own… [yes they replace them for free but how many folks when they are sending them in will also order an deep carry clip or two…I mean they are only $5?!?!…which they didn’t put on the 945 despite it being the perfect size for one.]

[@RJIVHALO]

I got one of the green aluminum ones on sale from blade hq a couple months ago. It’s absolutely perfect with the exception of the god awful edge Benchmade put on it. Completely uneven. Even though I got mine for a crazy low price, regular price is $175. Actually just checked yesterday and it’s 189 now😂. At that price I should have a grind that looks like someone with no experience at all did it.

[@jodee8831]

Hey Nick.. you know what everyone wants to see reviewed?... The Benchmade Bugout 535BK-4 (M390 Aluminum)!!

[@shaggy_e210]

Now the real question is as a first Benchmade, 945 mini Osbourne or the mini bugout?

[@esoteric5277]

Very different beasts. If you have XL hands then the 945 will be a three finger knife for you. The bugout has a taller grind on what I believe to be a similar bladestock which makes it a better slicer. The Bugout comes with a small deep-carry clip which a lot of people love. BTW the clip on my 945 was overly tight which was wholly unexpected because Benchmade clips have always worked well for me, but I'm not exchanging it because I like the ergos as it is. I'm personally not a very big fan of the Bugout because to me it seems a bit too light and thin for it's size, and the action on the ones I've tried just isn't quite as satisfying as that on my other Benchmade knives. But it does have a nice blade and it seems not many people would choose the Mini Presidio II over a Bugout, maybe I'm strange🥴. In spite of the tight pocketclip am a very big fan of the 945. I'd even dare say it's an improved 940 (which is still one of my favorite knives) but again, that's probably just me. I think the proportions on the 945 make it aesthetically (even) more pleasing than the 940. I don't notice it in the pocket while cycling like I do with the 940, and I do like that it is a bit slicier than the 940. I agree that MRSP is a bit steep, but I got mine on sale for just under $120 which I find to be a very fair price. Now I'm eagerly awaiting Black Friday/X-Mas/New Year's sales though, because I definitely still want the 'classic' variant as well🥳 Oy, I'm ranting, forgive me🥴

[@drs-Rigo-Reus]

Hi Nick, getting bored by the clip knives. Whats the nicest slim version without the hideous clipparanoia?

[@slick_slicers]

I love my 940. It’s not my most exotic knife by a long shot, but it gets a lot of use. It’s never felt very big in my hands, so I doubt I’ll be picking one up. If I did, it would be the classic green aluminium version.

[@cueball981]

Just purchased my first 940...the 940-1 carbon fiber version. Though the knife fits my hand okay, I liken the size in my hand to this 945 in Nick's hands...which are super small. Me? I have huge hands...

[@slick_slicers]

@@cueball981 is Nick really Handson off EDC Specialties on Instagram?😭😭😭

[@appalachiangunman9589]

I use mine as a “gentleman’s knife” if I know I’m going to be working it’s the PM2, Para 3, or Manix 2. If I’m going to church it’s more likely to be the 945 or the ZT 0450.

[@jgunther3398]

over 3" length isn't illegal anywhere in the u,s. that i know of. anybody know any different?

[@Drewcooks24]

Chicago

[@graemegourley7616]

I think this one was a miss. Many tiny mistakes make it feel like a big one. You are right about the ergos and the feeling too far from the edge. And that the edge is just too thick. Three strikes I'd say...

[@DieYuppieScum91]

The screws and the blade geometry kill this knife for me at this price point. But, FWIW, they DO offer it in the classic colorway.

[@exoendo]

FINALLY

[@jolness1]

Outside of the legality issues, for me, I can't see why I would buy this over a 940. That is just my personal opinion though, the 940 carries so slim and easy for me that the slightly shorter length doesn't really do much for me. Knife doesn't get more slicey (my only major gripe with the OG 940) but I lose .4" of blade length for very little benefit. I have big hands though so I don't have a problem holding the knife and using the tip with my index finger on the back of it for detail work. I still think this is a cool option though and not a bad choice for those who like smaller knives or must have a smaller knife. Hell, I might grab one to go with my decade old 940 but in the green and purple color way (Why not an identical backspacer style benchmade? WHY!?)

[@matthuck378]

I wanted a 940 for years...But the price kept me away. I'm glad I never bought one...Because the mini RSK came along, and it's pretty much better in every way (other than looks, IMO) as well as cheaper.

[@airadaimagery692]

How are you so sure if you have never owned one?

[@nageeb96]

3 inch max in Michigan

[@pitiedvod]

I would like to see how it sizes against the Valet with the size and also the axis lock is it is easier to pull back than the Valet is.

[@dm3639]

That Osborne review was pretty hairy. Not to worry, folks are now goblin' up the green version. /I'll see myself out.

[@mrnobodyz]

On my phone it looks like they could’ve took slightly less off the handle and more off the blade when downsizing.

[@fireman614c9]

iv been wantin one of these so bad but bills keep me from gettin one

[@nikman1979]

Can you make a poll of how many of us are left handed? I think they are more then 10%

[@NickShabazz]

www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-living-pictures/little-known-facts-about-lefthanders.aspx > Lefties make up about 10 percent of the general population. But researchers have found that in populations with certain mental disorders, that rate goes up. Previous studies have found that people with psychosis had a 20 percent likelihood of being left-handed, though a small study in the journal SAGE found the rate of psychotic lefties may be even higher. Researchers at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas assessed 107 patients at outpatient psychiatric clinics. For those with mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder, the rate of left-handedness was close to average, at 11 percent. But in people with psychosis, such as those with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, the rate of left-handedness was 40 percent, well above average. Researchers theorize brain laterality plays a role.

[@codys5727]

@@NickShabazz there's a tough research driven pill for the op to swallow ahahahaha

[@supremeoverlorddiamontethe4557]

Not really a fan either, got the same knife from blade hq a few months ago for $129 and felt ripped off. Much different than the 940 in hand, traded it for a Spidey Q-Ball less than a week later. He sold it on ebay less than a week after that.

[@jibb1es]

Nick, please review the green aluminum version. This black/blue G10 version just does not compare. The green aluminum 945 IS the same song as the 940!

[@myhandlewastakenandIgaveup]

I feel like Bemchmade went with the non deep carry clip just to force people to buy one from them bc that knife was made for deep carry (and should be natively).

[@esoteric5277]

I disagree. I honestly don't care all that much for deep carry. I might be lazy but I usually just pinch the butt end to pull my knife out of the pocket. Also I prefer my knives not to ride very deep in the pocket. That said, the clip on my 945BK1 is not perfect. It was overly tight. Still a great little knife though👌

[@mattatreagen]

I feel I am spoiled sometimes living in Wisconsin, as we don't believe in knife laws and therefore see little need for mini versions of knives. That being said I also live 25 or so minutes from Illinois and occasionally find myself being drug there and that requires me scouring my collection for the one or two minis I do have to stay legal. Benchmade to me has always been about the secondary market. I have probably a dozen benchmades and the pagan is the only one I've purchased new. They msrp their knives pretty high, but keeping an eye on Facebook sales groups often lands you a lnib for a decent rate.

[@targuscinco]

I haven't used it all that much. Here's my review!😁

[@dude28405]

That’s a great knife I still like that knife a lot. Only thing holding me back is I’m not sure if I’m ready to forgive bench made

[@Gillysaurxx]

Forgive them for what?

[@ay_yal5217]

Standard Benchmade clip that is replaceable with a better one it doesn’t come with.

[@ctk1604]

Watching this before I get the gold class version 🤦🏻‍♂️ lol

[@kawikadee9670]

I have that knife and got it for only $25 bucks.

[@airtadeo8570]

The mini 940 ergonomics feel strange because they did not scale the proportions correctly. The mini is too tall. If they translated the the height proportion correctly; I would be 'all-over' this knife.

[@speckledjim_]

Why oh why haven't they made it look like a little 940?

[@airadaimagery692]

I hear they have....

[@speckledjim_]

@@airadaimagery692 🤔 interesting....

[@SodaPopCurtis808]

Might as well get the 940. Just sayin’…

[@Tgkjj]

i wish theyd make a flipper version of the 940/945

[@JamesJones-yt8df]

I paid 111.00 because someone got superglue on the blade so I don't think it was a good buy , I know 170.00 is what I got but this knife is a thing.

[@DEVGRUnotST6]

I thought I was the only one who's been noticing Benchmade's lack of give-a-shit about their screw lengths. Every single Benchmade I've had (bar the Proper and 530) has had these stupid screws too long. Every single one, I've hand filed them down to the correct length. I've ditched all my Benchmades at this point in the game, and even as a "little detail," I think it's unforgivable. For what they charge, they should use better clips and size their screws correctly.

[@erikjoyner7767]

Will Benchmade give me a free deep carry clip if I reach out?

[@vasacermak1]

It should have been called the 804

[@losdawg6265]

The Benchmade 940 is the greatest pocket knife ever made. I have the PM2, the ZT 0450, and a slew of others. The 940 is truly a perfect knife. It has NO flaws.

[@MrSabram07]

I got a green Delica 4 and boy, what a letdown. Seems to me, like a standard plastic pocketknife. No way is it worth $80 to $100 (blade HQ).

[@alisuperhornet]

I'd go for a Hogue mini RSK over this anyday, given the better steel and even better blade shape. And lets be honest, Hogue Shmogue, it's a mini Ritter Griptilian