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Benchmade 945 Voted Best New Folder 2020

December 9, 2020

Presented by: Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpeners

The Benchmade 945 Mini Osborne is the KnifeNews Readers’ Choice for Best New Folder 2020! A smaller sequel to a sublime standby that still shows off its senior’s central subtleties, the 945 Mini Osborne took home the big prize against competition that included the Spyderco SwayBack, We Knife Co. SNECX Mini Buster, and the Zero Tolerance 0308.

As the knife world grows, so too do our options. It feels like we say something similar every year, but it’s true: we’re spoiled for choice like we’ve never been before. Sometimes that choice manifests in brand new designs. Sometimes it means line expansions that cater to different needs, different tastes.

It’s safe to assume that when the original Benchmade 940 released 20 years ago, there were already people asking for it to come out in a smaller size. While the knife is by no means hard to carry or cumbersome in its original 3.4 inch-bladed incarnation, some users simply like a smaller knife, or need one for their particular locality – and there’s also the innate knife nerd compulsion to see how a company translates a classic into a different form.

So at long last we got a sub-3-inch Osborne, and it did not disappoint. In its lines, the 945 takes elements of the original aluminum-handled 940, as well as the more recent G-10-handled 940-2. Osborne’s enduring reverse tanto blade shape makes the jump in size class beautifully, retaining much of the utility even with nearly half an inch shaved off the overall length.

The result is an even more EDCable knife, one that’s a breeze to carry, a delight to open (thanks to its snappy thumb stud deployment and Axis Lock), and a joy to use. Benchmade even managed to make the 945 visually distinct from its family members, with a cool black look set off by Benchmade blue G-10 liners. In short, it’s a classic reimagined, that might become a classic itself.

Tune in tomorrow to see which knife won the KnifeNews Readers’ Choice Award for Best Knife Upgrade!

AWARDS SCHEDULE

Monday, November 30th: Best New Tactical Fixed Blade (WINNER: Spyderco Nightstick)

Tuesday, December 1st: Best New EDC Fixed Blade (WINNER: Mora Eldris LightDuty)

Wednesday, December 2nd: Best New Outdoors Fixed Blade (WINNER: Benchmade 202 Leuku)

Thursday, December 3rd: Best New Kitchen/Culinary Knife (WINNER: Spyderco Wakiita Gyuto)

Friday, December 4th: Best New Slipjoint/Non-Locking Knife (WINNER: Fox Knives Nauta)

Monday, December 7th: Best New High-End Knife (MSRP of $300 or more) (WINNER: Chris Reeve Knives Sebenza 31)

Tuesday, December 8th: Best New Value Folder (MSRP of $100 or less) (WINNER: Cold Steel SR1 Lite)

Wednesday, December 9th: Best New Folder (WINNER: Benchmade 945 Mini Osborne)

Thursday, December 10th: Best Knife Upgrade

Friday, December 11th: Best Overall Lineup

Knife in Featured Image: Benchmade 945 Mini Osborne

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