About to buy - BM 710D2

Lord help me, perchance I'm getting a cold feet or something... (God willing) I'm about to make my purchase tomorrow, and I'm all awash. I've been looking into 943 should I find the size of 710 overwhelming, and the more I look at it, the more bewildered (I think that word just about sums it up) I am. IMHO, 710 gets a huge nod in blade shape department*, plus an (irrational, perchance) desire to have a blade in proper tool steel. Yet 943 might be more appropriate size-wise, and it alleviates all the concerns I might have with 710 (S30V stainless vs. almost stainess D2, no recurve vs. recurve sharpening wise, although I wouldn't trust myself as of yet to sharpen either of the beauties, more people friendly vs. brute force/size of 710), has a nicer shaped handle.

Friends by the steel, I really do need your help. My intention is to get into the shop, which will luckily and hopefully have in stock 551 Griptilan, 710, 943 and Sebenza (I'll have them lay them in front of me- first and last I do not intend to buy, just to fondle and give me feel for the choices/compromises that I'll have to make, plus it might be my only chance to handle Sebenza)... I may decide on a whim, but am looking for some pointers, just to steer me in the right direction. One more thing that makes this choice harder is that I'll have to dig into my severance pay-check for this purchase- should the Gods of the Dole smile on me, I may be in the position to buy the other one soon... But all the expirience (and unemployment statisics, plus a low demand for mech. engineers) says this may be the only purchase in a veeery long time.

* I don't know of sexy is the right word to use regarding a knife (esp. when law enforcement would most likely see it as a weapon, with intent to cause &c). But I still see a 710 as ultimate blade shape, yet it seems a bit incomplete without Keyman's TLC (like Feldgrau scales)...

Rich357 said:
I like both the BM 710D2 and 943. The 943 is a really nice size and easy for me to sharpen because of the straight edge.
If I need a larger, beefier knife I go with the 710. I prefer the G10 scales on the 710, although shape of the 943's handle is very nice.
The 943 is maybe better around sheeple. The 710 is more the hard use knife of the two. I think the 710 will stay looking good longer,
after hard use, because of the G10 scales. The aluminum handle of the 943 is strong but the anodized coating will scratch relatively
easy. I'd love to see BM use the very tough anodizing SureFire uses on many of their flashlights.

BM 943
BM 710D2


Click to expand...

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Haven't been here in a while, so I'd like to post an update. Shortly after the last post, I got a new job and in december last year decided to pull a trigger on 710... By that time, local (and sole) Benchmade distributor was out of stock on most Benchmade knives, including 710s.

I had to wait almost an entire year for them to resupply (just about 11 months, to be precise), in which time I had to quit my job on account of inhumane working conditions and continuous workplace harrasment... To cut the story short, even though unemployed and with severely depleted funds, and being tempted by siren call of 710-1401 (decided against it, because as it turns out I should expect the total cost of the knife to be around 300$ with postage and taxes)- I bought it! :-D

As it turns out, it 'feels' exactly opposite of what I expected it to be before I bought it. I always thought it would 'feel' small in pocket and big in hand, and comparing it to ZDP Endura I carried, it felt a bit bigger and (obviously) heavier in the pocket, but rather small-ish in the hand. I quite like it- one doesn't feel like he's whipping out a large, brute of a knife, but an elegant and decently sized tool. :-D Fit and finish are as good as it gets, apart from slightest of the assimetry of the edge, only on a last inch of a blade at the tip (but I don't let it bother me, it sort of makes it 'personal'), and came very sharp from the factory (comparable to Endura- which is IMHO more than one should expect from factory sharpening, and is TBH a touch sharper than I should be able to attain with my sharpening skills*).

Now I'm literally broke, but it does put a smile on my face... (talk about crazy :-p ) Thanks everybody for tips and help.

* I can freehand on DoubleStuff to shaving sharp, but those two feel a bit more effortless in shaving, so I haven't (or needed to) touched them up so far.
 
I'm just starting a new job later this afternoon, have been looking for months. Sometimes you have to buy that item to remind yourself it was just the job, or relationship, and not your life. I'd rather be broke with a smile than harried with a frown. Enjoy that knife and hope you find some work that suits you better!
 
Ouch, don't mention his scales... I think it was his forest (OD) green scales on a knife with M390 blade that made my mouth water and made me really fall in love with the knife. ;-) Just a perfect blend- beutiful knife with an appearance of a workhorse (elegant, powerful, but still meant as a working knife).

Anyways, tonight she bit me... :-D Being a 'good' Christian and not letting my right hand know what I was doing with my left- I was fiddling with opening and closing my beaut', when I snapped it close and my other hand got in the way of the blade. Just a slightes of gashes, hardly worth mentioning... except for the fact that she now really is *mine*. :-D I know it's a stupid superstition and (naturally) I avoid drawing my own blood, but if that happens, I know I have a bond with the knife that 'bit' me. ;-)
 
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