710 Barrel Spacer mod?

Thanks to the contributors of this thread and especially to Keyman, my two 710's are styling with barrel spacers. The instructions by Keyman were perfect!
 
My new 710 came out of the box hitting the backspacer (ARE YOU LISTENING, BENCHMADE?).



I took the backspacer out and sanded it down so the blade wouldn't contact the dang thing, then had a hunch...

Turns out, the Spyderco Gayle Bradley uses .165 barrels. Three of them. Now, I'm not a patient man, so I went to work with my Dremel, cutting the carriage-type barrel notch off of the spacer, then sanding it flat. Be warned though... Keyman is right; If you don't have the dexterity of an ocular surgeon, don't even try. You will probably ruin your spacers.

Even after plundering another knife, I'm not sure I like the mod. It looks cool and all, but I feel like the knife may have lost some of its structural rigidity. For now, my modified plastic backspacer will be going back in.

 
I'd keep the spacers. I have those exact ones in my 710-1 and they look better. What's interesting is they (you know who) tend to make the knives in batches, and some setting was off, so the edge hit the underside on every one. This is simply another QC issue.
 
I was wondering if the GB's back spacers would fit but I did such a poor job with trying to cut / sand off the "barrel notch" on some other spacers that I decided to go with the plain ones previously mentioned here. I actually like it quite a bit as it matches the blade stop up front.
My two 710's are smoother than ever by the way, since I cleaned the washers of grit and re-lubed.
 
Cypress said:
My new 710 came out of the box hitting the backspacer (ARE YOU LISTENING, BENCHMADE?).



I took the backspacer out and sanded it down so the blade wouldn't contact the dang thing, then had a hunch...
Click to expand...

Personally I like either asking BM to have spacer mod or have 3-rd party spacer. Since the mod needs dexterous work, has anyone went on grinding out the spacer until it no longer hits?

MFL
 
Been doing that for years... :( Add that to the list of reasons why the new pricing policy could only be loved by a proctologist who wanted to keep practicing after his 'scope was busted.

Cypress said:
My new 710 came out of the box hitting the backspacer (ARE YOU LISTENING, BENCHMADE?).



I took the backspacer out and sanded it down so the blade wouldn't contact the dang thing, then had a hunch...

Turns out, the Spyderco Gayle Bradley uses .165 barrels. Three of them. Now, I'm not a patient man, so I went to work with my Dremel, cutting the carriage-type barrel notch off of the spacer, then sanding it flat. Be warned though... Keyman is right; If you don't have the dexterity of an ocular surgeon, don't even try. You will probably ruin your spacers.

Even after plundering another knife, I'm not sure I like the mod. It looks cool and all, but I feel like the knife may have lost some of its structural rigidity. For now, my modified plastic backspacer will be going back in.

Click to expand...
 
MobileFireLord said:
Personally I like either asking BM to have spacer mod or have 3-rd party spacer. Since the mod needs dexterous work, has anyone went on grinding out the spacer until it no longer hits?

MFL
Click to expand...

My 710 now has the sanded-down plastic backspacer, and I prefer it to the standoffs. It makes the handle a bit stiffer, and more comfortable to use.
 
No the 746 isn't as wide as the 710.

I ordered extra when I put them in my 710 and they fit my 745 though!!

Can't say I notice any loss in handle stiffness in either one.
 
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