Benchmade vs Kershaw: 5 Crucial Facts for Perfect Survival Knife

Planning to go on a camping excursion or fishing? Don’t forget to take a folding pocket knife with you. Such knives are convenient in our adventurous trips yet safe enough not to cut you via mistake. Regarding this issue, Benchmade vs Kershaw review will come in very handy.

Among so many companies producing pocket knives, Benchmade and Kershaw are the most popular brands among knife lovers. But if you are new to this whole pocket knife thing, how to determine which knife is better?

Without understanding that, it can be tough to choose between Benchmade vs. Kershaw knives. In our opinion, the best way to find out is to make a thorough comparison between the two best, yet similar products of these two companies.

And that is precisely what we are going to do in this writing. So buckle up and sit tight throughout the ride.

Benchmade vs Kershaw Knife: A Comparison Table

Let us look at the comparison chart to understand their contradictions even better.

	Benchmade Knife	Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife
Blade material	CPM-S30V steel	4C28N sandwich steel
Handle material	6061-T6 aluminum	410 stainless steel alloy
Handle-shape	Rectangular	Curved
Safety measure	Axis lock	Tip lock
Closed length	4.47 inches	4 inches
Open length	7.87 inches	7 inches
Weight	2.90 ounces	3 ounces
Price	Above 100 dollars	Below 50 dollars
Where to Buy?	Buy on Amazon	Buy on Amazon

Deciding on the Better One: Benchmade vs Kershaw Knife

While both the Benchmade knife and Kershaw knife are great examples of high-quality knives with similar properties, that does not mean they are entirely alike. Some notable qualities set them apart from one another.

These dissimilarities are the factors that will help us decide which one is better and how. To find out their differences, we first need to understand their merits and demerits thoroughly.

We can only do that when we compare the best examples of Benchmade knives and Kershaw knives with each other. The more similar they are to each other at first glance, the better.

For the research purpose, we have selected a famous Benchmade knife named Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto Knife, and a favorite Kershaw knife called Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife to make a viable comparison between Benchmade vs. Kershaw knife overall.

Benchmade knife: Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto Knife

Benchmade knives are top-rated amongst Americans, and the Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto Knife certainly proves it.

Well, Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto, this all-rounder folding knife is perfect for daily use for various tasks, yet small enough to be easily carried around.

Not only is this pocket knife useful, but also it is stylish. It has a graceful outlook with a touch of military-style.

The butterfly engraving on the Benchmade 940-1 knife’s blade is particularly remarkable in enriching its aesthetics.

Key Features

High-quality CPM-S30V steel made blade

A handle made of 6061-T6 aluminum
Opening system: manual
Closed length: 4.47 inches

Opened size: 7.87 inches

Easy to Carry Around

As we all know, the smaller and lighter something is, the easier it will be carried around. Keeping this saying in mind, the manufacturers have put a lot of effort into designing this functional blade as small and lightweight as possible.

Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto Knife has a 3.40-inch blade of 2.92mm thickness. Its handle is 4.47 inches long and 10.41mm thick.

It means that when the knife is in a closed condition, it is just the handle’s length and thickness you will have to accommodate in your pockets. What do you think? Is it small or not?

But when you need it in action, just open the knife, and you will have a super-sharp 7.87-inch knife ready for action. An entirely usable length if you ask us.

By the way, the Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto Knife is only 2.90 pounds in weight. So no matter which luggage will burden you down, it won’t be this one for sure.

High-Quality Steel Resists Rust.

One of the worst things to befallen your EDC knife is rust. Rust compromises not only the knife’s looks but also its functionality.

Let’s be honest; many times, we have to throw away our favorite blades because they rust over time.

Not to mention folding knives usually don’t get the luxury of enjoying thorough aftercare in the wild while they are in use. Thus, they are more vulnerable to water elements, a primary component responsible for rust in iron.

But if you use the Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto Knife, you can rest assured that your knife will remain rust-free for a long time.

As mentioned before, the steel used to make the blade is CPM-S30V steel, a material well known for its very high carbon percentage level.

According to chemistry, the higher the percentage of carbon in the steel is, the better its rust resistance. The meaning? Long-lasting rust, discoloration, and corrosion-free durable blade! Cool, isn’t it?

Robust Yet Comfortable Handle

What’s the pint of owning a folding pocket knife if the handle is not up to the mark anyway? The only thing it will cause is trouble and a strain at your safety.

While the blade is the most important in ensuring a knife’s functionality, its handle holds nearly equal value for a folding knife. That is why the Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto Knife’s handle is of the utmost quality.

To make the handle sturdy, the manufacturers have used 6061-T6 aluminum to make the handle and smooth satin finishing. As a result, not only is it unlikely to break suddenly without any notice, but also it will ensure that you will have a firm grip over it.

Easy Opening And Closing

There are multiple methods of opening and closing folding knives. Which one will suit you better depends on your preference as well.

But in terms of practicality and safety measures, knives that can be folded into their handles are considered as efficient choices.

The Benchmade-940-1 features an axis mechanism that ensures that your knife will remain safely closed while inside your pocket, yet open smoothly when you need it.

There is no spring involved here to get stuck and jammed or suddenly spring up without any warnings. Easy to operate yet perfectly safe.

Pros

Small and lightweight for easy carrying
Nimble and stylish design

Suitable for multiple uses
Free sharpening service for a lifetime
Lifetime warranty with limitation

Cons

The screw of the axis is tight
Expensive

Kershaw Knife: Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife

Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto Knife is a great small blade of fine qualities. But Kershaw-made pocket knives are also extraordinary. Such an example of Kershaw’s quality is the Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife.

Though, unlike Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto, Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife is of a slightly smaller size. It has a blade length of 3 inches. In a fully exposed condition, the product’s length is 7 inches, adding the 4-inch length of the handle.

Yet, despite being heavier, Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife’s weight is slightly more of the Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto Knife’s. The weight of the Kershaw Leek Pocket Knife is 3 pounds, only 0.10 pounds difference is here.

Key Features

A blade made of 14C28N Sandwich Steel

Metal handle made of 410 stainless steel alloy
Opening system: semi-manual speed safe assistance
Closed length: 4 inches

Opened length: 7 inches

Super Sharp Edge

The principal purpose of pocket knives is to be handy whenever the need arises. But, what if the knife is dull? Urgh! That will be nothing but a burden.

Due to this reason, Kershaw Company has done its best to give us a super sharp knife in the form of Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife. You can use the knife right out of the box without any need for sharpening.

Its initial sharpness can be compared with a razor, sharp enough to cut through thin pages with ease and slightly to fray the cut areas. And the sharp edge lasts for a very long time.

Its recommended sharpening angle is between 18 to 22 degrees, a perfect blend of the angles responsible for the edge’s long-lastingness and sharpness.

No Need to Fear Rust

Once rust is a metal blade’s greatest enemy, especially for a knife like Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife, which is wholly made of metal.

Just imagine such a blade falling victim to rust! It will destroy its looks, sharpness, hygiene, everything!

It’s not like a blade, especially one in for such a rough usage like a pocket knife, can stay free of rust for an indefinite amount of time with so much exposure to elements, but a blade bought new should remain rust-free for a long time.

That is why most famous knife manufacturers place the most significant importance in developing and improving the blade-material formula. Kershaw is the same.

Take the Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife as an example. Its blade is made of 14C28N Sandwich Steel, a material famous for its high-performance worldwide.

The use of such high-quality steel produces a durable blade with an ability of long-lasting rust-resistance and thus stable functionality!

Sturdy, Rust-Free Handle

Again, the handle is essential for any knives, but they are most important for folding knives. Because, for these knives, the handles not only act as a place to hold the blade safely but also as a sheath.

That is why a blend of durability and comfort is a must. Yet, they can’t be too thick lest they compromise the knife’s smaller size. Quite complicated if you ask us.

But Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife has managed to fulfill these criteria perfectly. It has an ultra-thin handle made of 410 stainless steel alloy.

Thus the handle is not only durable but also lightweight and corrosion-free. Not to mention the curved design helps in maintaining a steady, comfortable grip while cutting.

Lock System to Keep The Blade in Place

Imagine by some accidents or technical errors; your pocket gets opened inside your backpack. What if you need to search for it in the dark due to some reason? Oh! Even by imagining the possible accidents, we can’t help but shiver in fright!

And don’t tell us that it is impossible. We admit that it is highly unlikely, but technical errors can happen at any time. And the opening system of the Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife features an assistant opening.

It is a method that disengages the knife when slight pressure is put upon it. What is there to ensure that it won’t get pressurized in a compact area and open up?

That is why the knife is inserted with locking features. There are two of them. The frame lock ensures that the blade will stay steady and open in a fully extended condition while the tip lock makes sure that the knife won’t accidentally spring open in a closed condition.

These locks make the Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife safe to use and carry around. Well, as safe as knives can get, we mean.

Pros

A super sharp blade

Semi-assisted opening ensures a fast opening
Tip-lock system for safety
Easy to carry due to thinness

Affordable price

Cons

The grip-texture less handle unsuitable for wet hands.

Facts to Consider Between Benchmade vs Kershaw Folding Pocket Knife

There are some facts that you need to take into account when you are trying to draw a distinct line between two amazing sets of knives to compare them. We’ve compiled such facts on the basis of real-life experience and chef’s talk. let’s find out more about these issues.

The Blade

Both of the knives have well designed functional blades. Their materials are also top-notch. The Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto Knife is made of CPM-S30V stainless steel while Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife’s blade is of 14C28N Sandwich Steel.

Both plates of steel are of top quality. As a result, they both are durable, corrosion and rust-resistant, and extremely sharp.

Size and Weight

The knives also are not much different in their size and weight. They ARE different, but the difference is very little. The Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto Knife has a full 7.87 inches length with a blade length of 3.40 inches.

On the other hand, Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife is 7 inches in its completely expanded form. Its blade is only 3 inches long.

But interestingly, when it comes to their weight, it is a different story. But again, it is a difference in the minuscule level.

The bigger blade, Benchmade-940-1, weights only 2.90oz, but the smaller Kershaw Knife weights 3oz. Funny, isn’t it?

The Handle

While quality handles are essential for all knives, for pocket knives, the handle quality is indispensable. Why? Because these handles are designed as not only as something to give an excellent grip to its user, but also to act as a sheath for the blade.

It means that the handle protects the blade from elements and the user from being cut simultaneously. Yet, it needs to be as thin as possible to keep the knife slim. Truly amazing!

That is why both Benchmade and Kershaw companies made sure to produce products with exceptional handles. Both Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto Knife and Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife’s handles are made of high-quality metal alloys.

The only difference is that the Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto Knife’s handle is made of aluminum while Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife’s handle is made of steel.

Another difference between these handles is that Benchmade-940-1’s handle is rectangular and features a satin finish. On the contrary, Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife’s handle features a curved shape and lacks suitable grip texture.

Safety Measures

Both Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto Knife and Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife’s blade rest within the sheath cum knife handle. The opening system of the first knife is manual, but of the second knife is semi-assistance.

That is why a Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife is likely to open without any prompting from its user at the slightest pressure. To ensure that there will be no accidental injury, the knife comes with a tip locking mechanism.

But the Benchmade-940-1 is more demanding to open due to being strictly manual and its axis locking mechanism. Thus it features no tip lock.

The Price

No matter how much you love a knife, you can’t buy it if you don’t have enough money. Thus, the price of the product is significant.

Sadly, the Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto Knife is a high-quality knife fetching a very high market price. Thankfully, Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife is of the more affordable type knives.

Benchmade vs Kershaw: Which is Best and Why

Now for the whole article’s central part, determining which one is the best, the Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto Knife or Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife.

From the above sections of this article, you can notice that both knives are nearly perfect. But they also have some characteristics which make a little more perfect than the other, and we believe you have already realized this.

As we have mentioned before, the Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto Knife is more expensive than Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife. Its price is almost more than four times the price of Kershaw.

Thus, as it can be expected, the Benchmade-940-1 Knife is made of top quality materials. It’s not like Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife is made of low-quality materials, no not at all! Yet there is a significant quality difference in the blade and handle materials.

Speaking of the handle, the curved design of the Kershaw Pocket Knife is both beautiful and practical. Yet, it lacks any quality gripping measures.

On the contrary, the regular rectangular shaped Benchmade-940-1 Tanto Knife features an excellent sating finish to ensure a comfortable and firm grip.

As a result, holding Benchmade Tanto Knife is more comfortable than holding Kershaw Pocket Knife with a wet or slippery hand.

Safety factors are another critical issue. As you can see, Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife comes with a tip-lock to ensure that it does not injure you by accident due to its semi-assist mechanism.

While the Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto Knife does not come with such a feature, it does feature an axis lock mechanism and manual opening. These features ensure that you will be able to carry it around safely.

Bottom Line

This article shows that both Benchmade and Kershaw pocket knives are very similar in their properties. But in a comparison between Benchmade vs. Kershaw Knife, there are some areas where Benchmade wins because of its high-quality products.

In a word, both Benchmade-940-1 Reverse Tanto Knife and Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife are fine examples of folding pocket knives, and they both fulfill their tasks exceptionally well. They are incredibly similar, as well.

But maybe Benchmade-940-1 is a knife with a little better quality and performance than Kershaw Leek Folding Pocket Knife. But again, it is expected from its price if you ask us.

In our opinion, considering overall quality, Benchmade knives are better than Kershaw Knives. But its price is nothing to be scoffed at. So make your choice wisely.

If you would like to have a knife with a military outlook and have enough money, it’s fair to buy the Benchmade knife. But if you are down on cash and OK with a regular-looking knife, then the Kershaw knife is undoubtedly a better choice for you.

FAQs About Benchmade vs Kershaw

Before giving closure to this review, there are some issues that need to be solved. These questions are most asked over the internet. We’ve compiled them to help you to choose the appropriate one for you. We hope, this real-life problem-solving FAQ will come in very handy.

Is Kershaw a Good Brand?

Kershaw is a famous knife-brand. It markets knives of excellent quality at a budget-friendly price. Not only the knives are well made, but they are also made of high-quality materials and visually pleasing.