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It’s no exaggeration to say that the 940 Osborne is one of the most important knives in Benchmade’s history. Designed by the late Warren Osborne, a renowned custom knife maker who collaborated with Benchmade for over a decade, the original 940 series featured a sleek reverse tanto blade, a sturdy AXIS lock mechanism, and a comfortable aluminum handle.
The 945-2 Mini Osborne takes its cues from the original full-sized 940-1 and shrinks it down to a more pocket-friendly size. It has a blade length of 2.92”, making it ideal for those who prefer smaller knives or have legal restrictions on blade length. In my experience handling it, though, it still felt like a full-sized knife in hand compared to other “mini” iterations of popular knives, giving me a full-handed grip and the same satisfying action as its big brother. This meant all of the benefits of a more compact and locale-friendly size without any ergonomic drawbacks.
The reverse tanto blade is made from CPM S90V stainless steel, one of the best steels available for edge retention, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance, and its stonewash finish gives it a smooth and refined look. The 945-2 Mini Osborne’s handle is made from carbon fiber, contoured to fit your hand comfortably and securely even in this smaller size. It also features blue anodized barrel spacers that contrast nicely with the black scales and add some flair to the knife.
A double thumb stud opener allows you to deploy the blade quickly and easily with either your right or left hand while the blade is locked in place by the AXIS lock, one of the most reliable and user-friendly locking mechanisms in the industry. The knife also has a reversible pocket clip that lets you carry it tip-up on either side of your pocket.
What we like: Premium materials, high-quality construction, highly versatile, and like most Benchmade knives, entirely ambidextrous to accommodate all users.
What to watch out for: While ultra-premium, S90V is also a very hard steel, so sharpening or grinding won’t be an easy task.
Final verdict: Everything that made the Benchmade 940 Osborne popular is present here, optimized for smaller hands and pockets or those with big hands looking for a smaller knife to carry.
