3 small Benchmades - similar, but.. different?

H

herbs&spices

Joined
Aug 5, 2006
Messages
31
Hey guys! It's been a while.

I've really been enjoying my Mini-Grip, and absolutely love the AXIS system, and want to get a backup knife of similar size, with a clip. I'd get another Mini-Grip, but that's no fun!

So I've narrowed it down and found three Benchmades to decide between, and I'm having a heckuva time doing it!!

525 Mini-Presidio - Details
14210 HK29FDPC Drop Point - Details
707 Sequel - Details

They all have 154CM blades, are of almost exactly similar blade sizes, and all have the AXIS locking system, which I'm into. The handle materials are different on each. The blade shapes differ, but not to the point where I'd prefer one over another. The prices are all pretty close, and well within my budget, so let's pretend they all cost the same.. ;)

SO, what's a guy to do? Your expertise and opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Best,
john
 
Of those three id recomend the 707.

The 705, 707 and 710 series are really good knives. If you want one of those three but maybe a little bit nicer versio id recommend the 707 Limited edition with walnut inserts. It also has D2 steel which is better then 154cm.

http://newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=7348
 
I have all three Benchmades and my preferred EDC is the 707. Thie knife just carries so well and you never even know its there until you need it. When I first saw the 707 in a knife shop I thought wow this knife is to small to work for me. WRONG ! This is one nice knife and btw all these bms came very sharp and are easy to sharpen on sharpmaker. MY 2 cents.
RKH
 
14205. Not on your list but it's a g-10 variant of the 14210.

But really, I'm not fond of any of them you list nor the 14205. Metal handles on all you list which I dislike, and some bad design in the HK. line. The Presidio handle is a blister machine in heavy use. A properly designed knife should be comfortable in the pocket and the exposed squared off tang on the folded 142XX line is just a bad design. Pointy, catches on things.

The 707 isn't particularly objectionable. I sold off all my 705s. Not because the handle is thick--which it was and i liked it and which the 707 changes--but that the blade grind was shallower than I've come to like. The 707 doesn't fix that though it made a slight improvement there. The 707 went with aluminum handles with an insert. And I don't like metal handles.

They'll all cut decently and lock up well. BM will take care of you if there's a problem.
 
Thanks for the responses so far, guys.

delkhouri - I've been eyeing up that LE 707 with Walnut inserts form NG for a few days, although I don't really want wood inserts.

RKH - The 707 does look nice.. hmmm...

phatch - The 14205 is too large for where I live and work. I like your point about the 525 being a "blister machine" - I was looking at the grips thinking they look really great, but now I'm looking at it a little differently.

What do you guys think about the 707 SBK compared to the Mini RSK Mk1 SBT?

Thanks!
john
 
I carry a mini RSK a good chunk of the time. Excellent edge geometry. I like the handle better than 707 too, and not just for the metal.

I don't do serrations or coatings so I can't comment there.
 
Actually i would say that of my 710 a few osbournes and some afcks my griptillian 551 is the best. It takes the best beating and has the toughest edc blade. Handle is super comfy, just hard. If your hands are dainty just take some sandpaper to the friction grooves that are all over the handle. The grip has the best grip of most benchmades and may not have the best handle material. But it makes you happy anyway. :thumbup: The rsk is also nice. But if your gonna go with flatground i feel you may as well stick with spyderco. If your gonna choose between the smaller knives like the mini rsk and the 707. Go with the 707 in that case. It got super thick full liners and seems to be a better knife but with less thumb ramp.
 
The Mini Presidio is excellent. Mine has never given me blisters.

I sold my 707 because I found it more difficult to open, and less comfortable in the hand than the Mini RSK.
 
Thanks Steven... why do I have a feeling that I'm going to come out of this with three knives... the 707, the mini RSK MK1, and the 525??

This takes the CPF mantra of "buy 'em both", and makes it "buy all three!".

Well, we'll see...

:) john
 
I have the LE 707 and a 14210. Both are excellent, The 14210 is definitely thicker, and much more suited to prolonged use, as the handle fills and fits my hand better. That said, I dearly love BM's D2, and I would give a slight nod to the 707 in the actual blade dept, especially if you don't want to sharpen a recurve.

David
 
i have all 3, i keep going back to the 707,,i love the blade, and love how it rides in the pocket,,you forget about it,,,,its very very nice
 
Very very nice?? Well then I'll have to get it! :)

Actually, based on the responses here, and with talking to New Graham (what a great bunch of people there), I believe I'm going to get the 707, and then either the Mini RSK Mk1 (S30V) or the Cabella's Mini Grip (D2)... thoughts between those two?

Thanks guys! I've learned a lot these past few days - this is a dangerous forum for your wallet!!

john
 
I have both the Cabelas mini-Grip and the mini-RSK. The only difference I notice is in blade shape. The Cabelas blade has a more useful shape for me than my mini-RSK. I find that the big belly and deep blade on the mini-RSK are less useful as a work / campsite EDC than the thinner blade on the Cabelas, which is the standard mini-Grip blade shape.

I like the D2 and have no trouble keeping it as sharp as I want it to be for the work it does. OTOH, I have no problem with the S30V in the RSK series either, and I've had no chipping issues at all with either size RSK.

The one thing that did bother me about the Cabelas mini-Grip is that the blade was very far off-center when the knife was closed, almost touching the left side scale, in fact. It's back at the factory now being mended. Both of my Ritters came perfect from Aeromedix and have stayed that way over the nearly 2 years that I have had them and used them.
 
In addition to the 707 I own several BM two being ritter grip and mini grip. The wider blade and S30v steel make these great knives. I carry the mini but not the large grip because it is just to big. It seems as I get older I find I can get by on a smaller knife. Another great EDC is th BM530 Axis lock zytel handle very light. Also, the 940 is good, too. My biggest problem is trying to decide what to carry. Oh, I just got a HK BM 14460 Nitrous Blitz and finD this to be one great Edc because it is light sharp and G10handle.
RKH
 
Hey guys,

Just wanted to give an update on what I ended up doing...

I bought (from New Graham) a BM 707 Sequel, and a Small Sebenza with Micarta inlays... and upon receiving them, I decided I'm too much in love with the AXIS system, and couldn't get used to the Chris Reeve, so I returned it!

As for the 707, IMHO, the thumb stud is located too close to the handle, and makes it difficult to open it, when compared to a great little light like the Mini-Grip. But I really like the slightly smaller and thinner form factor of the 707, so I'm keepin' it!

New Graham was great (as always), in understanding about the return... not like you guys didn't already know that! :)

Thanks!
john
 
herbs&spices, your experiences are very similar to mine!

I sold my Small Classic Micarta Sebenza soon after receiving it - because every day I was choosing to carry an Axis lock Benchmade rather than it. Give me a 943 Osborne or 525 Mini Presidio any day.
I will also be selling my Large Classic Micarta. The Limited Edition S30V/CF AFCK was relatively expensive for an Axis lock Benchmade, but it was still £70 less than my Sebenza.

Guess which one I prefer.

I also owned a 707...but found it a little too small and more fiddly to open (yup, thumbstuds too close to the body!) than the Mini Grip variants, so I sold it.
 
Interesting that you guys find the thumb studs on the 707 too close to the handle. What direction are you pushing them in? I find I can slow open or pop flick open my 707 by pushing the thumbstuds parallel to the handle, instead of out more perpendicular.
I had the same type of moment with love for axis, but it has been with a Microtech Mini Socom Elite. I fortunately didn't drop the cash on a Sebenza before realizing my hopeless love for the Axis lock! :D

David
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top