710 gold class and Sebenza... hmmm

DarkoMaledictus

DarkoMaledictus

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So just got myself a new 710-101 blade, at the same time I received a nice Strider SMF. Now I heard for a long time all the rave about Sebenzas and Striders, dont get me wrong the Strider is built like a tank and it performs like a tank! Yet the 710 101 is the one that ended up in my hands 98% of the time, it just feels perfect! Kudos for the amazing presentation! Cool factor on that blade is off the wall ;)!

Now what I'm wondering, will the Large Sebenza go the same route? Is it really that much better than a 710 gold class? After playing with the axis lock its hard to go back to liner locks again, struggling if I should get the Sebenza or just gor for a second 710-101 lol... yeah crazy I know ;)! Any other knives with axis locks I should be checking in the gold class?

Btw is the regular 710 as good as the gold class (yeah I know g10 and d2 blade), does it perform as well? Frankly I was amazed at the all around quality this knife had!
 
Everyone raves about the Gold griptillian I'd get that next instead of another 710. It can be had for less than a strider/sebenza.
 
The GC Griptilian is one of the nicest knives I've owned. My Lg Seb is my favorite knife. Honestly, it would be a tough decision which to replace if I lost both.
 
Bill86 said:
Everyone raves about the Gold griptillian I'd get that next instead of another 710. It can be had for less than a strider/sebenza.
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It does look good, but not much into black coated blades, tends to really show wear after a few years. Stone washed would be ideal, but not too many manufacturers do that...

Probably will go with the Sebenza, but I would love to see some kind of mechanism other than a liner lock... yes I know its extremely solid, but frankly axis locks are so much more fun to use :)!
 
what i can say is i have both 710 and sebenza .
the seb is almost never in my pocket, the 710 almost allways ...
 
displacedtexan said:
There are some very nice/cool gold class 940 knives as well...
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Yes thanks, I've seen them, but they are mostly Damascus steel. Mostly for showroom exhibitions. Wouldn't see myself carrying a Damascus blade around :).

Besides, real Damascus steel only exists in museums, what we have is replicas of the lost formula. Don't have much experience with those steels, so not sure really how good they are.
 
pascal.abi said:
what i can say is i have both 710 and sebenza .
the seb is almost never in my pocket, the 710 almost allways ...
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That's what I was thinking after seeing the gold class 710. Hmm I'll probably get a Sebenza and a regular 710 then. Thanks for your input man!
 
I also have a 710 which I use as a beater knife in the yard but my Sebenza spends much more time in my pocket.
 
The Gold Class BMs are definitely a step up from standard BM models. In comparing a Seb to a GC 710, well, they're different knives. If you are thinking of getting another GC BM, I'd probably get a different model, just to have something else.

Personally, the Seb is my go to knife & basically the standard that everything else seems to get compared to. Is it worth the $? I honestly can't answer that, but after countless BM, Bradleys (Including Wilkens/Ritter Grips, etc., I keep going back to the Seb. Well, Seb for my small folder & Umnum for my lg. folder.
 
I do not own any gold class BM knives, but I do own a stock production BM710 and Large Sebenza. I prefer the Large Sebenza over the stock production BM710.

I find the thinner blade and edge geometry to make an overall better slicer than the 710. With that said I do like my 710 a lot and is 1 of 2 Benchmade knives I own.

Overall quality of my BM710 is outstanding. Smooth, slim, "tactical" if need be, and carries well. But to compare a regular production 710 to a Sebenza is wrong. Two different ball parks.
 
I don't think it's wrong to compare any folding knife against another. After all, they are both tools with the same function.

I don't hold the Seb in such high regard as most people seem to do. I find that there are lost of knives that function better as a pocket knife, even if they aren't built with the same attention to detail.
I rate my humble Benchmade 556 Mini Griptilian as a more practical day-to-day cutting tool than my Small Regular Seb.
 
DarkoMaledictus said:
Yes thanks, I've seen them, but they are mostly Damascus steel. Mostly for showroom exhibitions. Wouldn't see myself carrying a Damascus blade around :).

Besides, real Damascus steel only exists in museums, what we have is replicas of the lost formula. Don't have much experience with those steels, so not sure really how good they are.
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I sometimes forget that I'm jaded. A buddy of mine only hunts with old Damascus guns, except one semi modern sxs that he uses in the rain.

Some of those old patterns are AMAZING!
 
IMO the frame lock and simple design is what makes the Sebenza better than the GC Grip. Attention to detail is equal on both. If you like the axis, then you will LOVE the GC Grip. I've had mine for around three weeks and my Sebs been chillin' at home. (The axis IS fun!) I really like NICE knives, and I'm careful to choose. I have ZERO regrets that I bought the Gold Class Griptilian. Honestly, who knows how long it will be around... ANYONE who appreciates the finer knives in life owes it to them selves to check one out... plus they will hold their value if not appreciate extremely well!
 
Overall quality of my BM710 is outstanding. Smooth, slim, "tactical" if need be, and carries well. But to compare a regular production 710 to a Sebenza is wrong. Two different ball parks.
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If the ballpark is "knives" I'd take a 710 any day. I owned a large Seb for a total of a few days and disliked it. I felt that the butt of the 21 dug into my (large) palm and gave me an uncomfortable hot spot. The blade was a tad too small and the handle even smaller "for me."

IMO, the large 21 had great build quality but poor ergos. Also, I think they're over-priced by at least $100+ :thumbdn:

I just posted this in another thread: :D

I was flicking my BM 710 last night and thought "what sexy b****", if a woman was a knife blade, I'd want mine to look like like this."
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If you already have Gold Class 701, why would you buy another? As a beater? That's a lot to spend on a spare IMO. It if were my money, I'd branch out and try something else - a Sebenza if that interests you, or another GC Benchmade if you like that level of quality. I would imaging that in this price range, both brands a have similar levels of precision, and the choice then would be essentially subjective.

Every "spare" I've ever owned I've sold or traded off to get something else I wanted. Remember - There will always be something new and exciting just around the corner; change is the only constant. And that's a good thing.
 
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go for Sebenza , you already have 710, plus regular 710 not even close to gold class , unless you need cheap beater.
 
different way of thinking for me:
before carrying the gold 710,
i first had a regular 710 then wanted to try this so popular sebenza; i carried it a short before to be back naturally to my 710. that's because i so love the producction one that i bought the gold class. and no regret at all : a great edc
 
I just checked out that gold 710. SHAWEEET!:D That is one good looking knife.:thumbup:
 
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