REASONS TO BUY
Durable all-metal construction
Extra tough blade
Slim and lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Super expensive
Shallow thumb rest
Blade not designed for prying
Benchmade Osborne Review
This timeless pocket knife is as much a work of art as it is a workhorse tool
The Benchmade 940 Osborne is a timeless pocket knife. While its design and performance are unmatched, its high price tag makes it more of a collector's item.
Credit: Kyle Hameister
By Kyle Hameister ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ August 20, 2026
RELATED: The Best Pocket Knives
Our Verdict
If the pocket knife world had a Mount Rushmore, the Benchmade Osborne would be on it. Designed by the legendary knifemaker Warren Osborne, in collaboration with Benchmade, this beautiful pocket knife has been a best seller – with few changes – since it was first released more than 25 years ago. It strikes a rare, nearly perfect balance of heavy-duty utility with a slim, portable profile. The angulated, all-metal handle is timeless, just as appropriate for the job site as it is in a boardroom. Thin, sleek, and lightweight for a full-sized knife, the Osborne effectively disappears in your pocket. If you can justify the cost, this is a nearly perfect 'everyday carry' (EDC) pocket knife.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Osborne's classic design comes in a number of colorways and material combinations, so enthusiasts can dial in a model to fit their preferences. We tested this knife with a MagnaCut blade and a burnt orange handle (model #940BK-03).
When life throws you a mess of hopelessly tangled knots, it helps to have your trusted Osborne on hand. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Blade Quality
The Osborne is perhaps best known for its distinct blade – the rare 'reverse tanto' shape reinforces the tip and excels at precision cuts thanks to a straighter edge. While this shape is good for certain things, it's worth noting this blade style is not ideal for slicing.
Performance in our material cut tests confirms this – whittling a small branch or shearing through a rope is effortless, but pulling through thicker cardboard, or even paper, requires a controlled angle for an effective slice.
You'll notice that even though the edge is incredibly sharp, the thicker blade on the Osborne often catches at the top edge of the paper. Credit: Kyle Hameister
The Osborne is available with blades in a variety of steel alloys, but we opted to test the upgraded MagnaCut blade. Developed specifically to balance exceptional toughness (anti-chipping), edge retention (keeping a sharp edge), and corrosion resistance – which we confirmed by soaking the blade in salt water for 24 hours – the MagnaCut blade is a true Super Steel.
The MagnaCut steel alloy is part of what commands top dollar with the Osborne. Credit: Kyle Hameister
The downward chisel of the end of the blade is referred to as a 'reverse tanto' shape. It gives more strength to the tip, as well as being visually distinct. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Ease of Use
The Osborne needs to be opened manually, which you can do one-handed (and ambidextrously) by flicking the stud mounted in the blade. The knife opens reliably, with the blade swinging into place with a solid CLICK!
The action is fluid and quick, but the knife's profile is so thin that the stud placement slightly hinders leverage – ideally, it would be placed a little further from the center of mass so you could better catch it with your thumbnail.
Comparing the action of the Benchmade Osborne against the assisted-open Kershaw Leek (silver). Occasionally, you'll have a 'false start', where the knife won't flick open on the first try. Credit: Kyle Hameister
The blade lock design, known as a crossbar lock, is the most reliable design in the industry. It holds the blade lightly under tension while closed – so it won't open accidentally in your pocket – and automatically engages when you snap open the blade. The lock is located in the center of the handle, so no matter if you're disengaging it with one hand or two, closing the Osborne feels safe.
The crossbar-style blade lock is possibly the best lock in the industry. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Carrying Comfort
Benchmade claims the Osborne is “highly regarded as one of the most quintessential EDCs of all time.” We couldn't agree more. EDC (everyday carry) knives tend to be slim, lightweight, and unobtrusive to carry in your pocket, which the Osborne certainly is.
However, it also feels sturdy and secure in your hand, largely due to its all-metal construction. The blade is an impressive 3.33 inches long, which is surprising given how compact the knife feels. This knife is a rare combination – it's perfectly portable, but solid enough to handle some serious muscle.
Just about the only portability improvement we'd like to see on this knife is a deep carry pocket clip. Credit: Kyle Hameister
The pocket clip can be swapped for lefties, and both orientations are tip-up for quick deployment when you pull it out of your pocket. The clip itself, however, is a little too strong for our liking and could cut up a pocket edge over time. Plus, it's not a deep-carry clip, so it'll stick out of the top of your pocket by about 3/4 inch.
The Osborne's slim profile nestles away in a pocket without issue. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Grip
The anodized finish on the aluminum handle makes it durable, but also slightly too smooth. The Osborne will slip in and out of your pocket, but, unfortunately, it's not quite as grippy as we'd want for any heavy-duty work. (And it's even worse when wet.)
If the lacking grip of the all-metal version is a deal breaker for you, consider one of the composite handle variants: 940-1 carbon fiber, 940-2 G-10 fiberglass, or 940-04 denim micarta.
The Osborne's handle is thin, so it won't fill out your grip. Fortunately, the handle is also long – with a grip that extends all the way to your pinky – which is critical for forceful cuts. It has a comfortable curve for your forefinger to sit in, and the thumb rest does have some good grippy ridges. However, the thumb rest is shallow enough that our thumb tended to slip forward whenever we pushed into a cut.
Featuring a longer handle than most thinner knives, you can grip the Osborne with your whole hand, even if the thinner handle doesn't fill out your fist as much as other knives. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Sharpening & Cleaning
The 'plain edge' of the Osborne (as opposed to serrations like on a bread knife) means that it's feasible to sharpen this knife at home. That said, MagnaCut is a hard steel – even though it stays sharper for longer, it takes some effort to sharpen.
The blade shape does no favors either. Most of the blade has a straight cutting edge, unlike the gentle curve common to other pocket knives. It takes more concentration to maintain the right angle as you pull a straight blade across a sharpening stone, and you can expect that it will take 20-30 minutes to sharpen the Osborne.
If you want an option that's a bit easier to sharpen, the Osborne is also offered with an S30V stainless steel blade (green, right). Credit: Kyle Hameister
The blade's stellar corrosion resistance and battle wash finish release grime easily. And even though sharpening may take a bit of effort, the fully open handle washes out with no trouble.
The back of the handle is wide open, which makes it easy to wash out under the faucet. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Should You Buy the Benchmade Osborne?
The beauty, utility, and longevity of the Osborne come from excellent design. If you can stomach the cost, we think the Osborne is equally appropriate as a slim pocketknife for tradesmen as it is a collector's item for knife enthusiasts. The style is rugged but refined, which also makes it appropriate as an everyday carry knife, even in an office setting.
Beautiful as the Osborne is, it's an expensive knife. Credit: Kyle Hameister
What Other Pocket Knives Should You Consider?
Most of the highest-scoring knives in our review sit above the $200 price point. However, we also recognize that the Benchmade Osborne is even a step above that, at a price point that may be entirely unreasonable for many. The Kershaw Bel Air is a reasonable, albeit still quite expensive, alternative that's directly comparable to the Osborne, both in its all-metal construction and blade shape. The Benchmade Bugout CF-Elite has a more traditional, curved blade – it's even lighter than the Osborne or Bel Air, which makes it a great option for backpackers and as an everyday carry knife. The Kershaw Leek is equally slim and stylish, though much more reasonably priced.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Benchmade Osborne versus top competing products:
| Awards |  For the Knife Enthusiast |
|---|---|
| Price | $300 List Check Price at REI |
Overall Score  |
|
| Star Rating | |
| Bottom Line | This timeless pocket knife is as much a work of art as it is a workhorse tool |
| Pros | Durable all-metal construction, extra tough blade, slim and lightweight |
| Cons | Super expensive, shallow thumb rest, blade not designed for prying |
| Rating Categories | Benchmade Osborne |
| Blade Quality (30%) | |
| Ease of Use (20%) | |
| Carrying Comfort (20%) | |
| Grip (20%) | |
| Sharpening & Cleaning (10%) | |
| Specifications | Benchmade Osborne |
| Blade Length (Measured) | 3.3 in |
| Length Closed (Measured) | 4.5 in |
| Length Open (Measured) | 7.8 in |
| Closed Blade Lock? | No |
| Assisted Opening? | No |
| Blade Style | Reverse Tanto, plain edge |
| Blade Material | CPM MagnaCut stainless steel |
| Blade Thickness (Measured) | 2.9 mm |
| Opening Style | Ambidextrous thumb stud |
| Lock Type | Crossbar lock (AXIS) |
| Handle Material | Anodized aluminum |
| Carry Style | Pocket clip, lanyard hole |
| Weight (Measured) | 2.7 oz |
| Closed Thickness w/o Pocket Clip (Measured) | 0.4 in |
| Other Features Or Functions | Lanyard hole, 2 position pocket clip |
—Kyle Hameister
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