Ahhhhhh... Benchmade 710

Slowstarter said:
the D2 steel is hard to sharpen, but 15 minutes a day with the Sharpmaker, you´ll have it razor sharp within a week.
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Yikes!!! :eek: That seems like a of of work. I don't own any D-2, and if that is the case, I will probably avoid it.

This is a beaut of a knife though, definitely on my ever expanding list!
 
It takes a while to get it razor sharp, but once you´re there it´s easy to maintain the edge with just a few touchups every now and then (I hope).
 
Slowstarter said:
The only knife I (really) need is a large Sebenza, but the pricetag for that one is outrageous. Just to expensive.
So, for all knife-newbes: get at 710 even if you think it´s expensive. In the long run you´l save a fortune not buying junk and semi.junk knives!
Cheers, and PIC OF MY 710 HERE!
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You aren't missing a thing, Sebenza's aren't that great. Neither are Umnumzaans, although I still own one of those.

You are correct about not buying junk knives though. There are some really good folders out there in the 710's price range.
The 710 is a classic. Yours looks great.
 
Congrats you picked a great knife! The 710 Was my first AXIS Benchmade, and it still gets carried more than any knife I own.. :thumbup:
 
I love my 710-D2!!! It is a big knife that feels small. Diamonds makes sharpening so easy even with the slight recurve.

Congrats on you knew knife. Enjoy!
 
I love my 710 D2 and

the D2 steel is hard to sharpen, but 15 minutes a day with the Sharpmaker, you´ll have it razor sharp within a week.
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that is an understatement. I reprofiled mine to 30* on the Sharpmaker with diamond rods - which it does laugh at - and it's taken me at least a dozen or more sessions of sharpening and stropping to get it back to shaving sharp at 30*. That D2 is tough stuff.

You know I did one thing that I saw on an obscure YouTube 710 review video that worked out cool.

You could never spot it unless I showed it to you - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUWNaJRi_5Y 4 minutes and 55 seconds in. Well worth a few minutes of your time! :)
 
Any of you 710 owners own a millie and could compare them??
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I have both. Apples and Oranges. The BM710 D2 is much classier imo. Tip-up carry. The Military feels chintzy by comparison. Your mileage may vary. :)
 
I really like mine as well but its given me fits getting it sharp. I like the suggestion of working a bit on it every day for a week -- I get fired up to get it shaving sharp every few months, work it on the sharpmaker then give up again.
 
As much as I like the 710 I'll take the Military first without a second thought
 
i live everything about the 710 except the opening stud, just too smooth, i wish they made the stud like the one on the 950. but anyway i wish the spyd mili could have the axis lock, that would be awsome.
 
Reeek said:
As much as I like the 710 I'll take the Military first without a second thought
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This is my sentiment. I have a 710, and while it's a nice knife, it doesn't see nearly as much pocket time as my Military. The Military's handle is way nicer, and actually fills my hand, while the 710 feels thin and offers much less purchase.
 
The 710 looks and feels great, and with the axis lock its so smooth and fun to use. The Military however has some of the best ergonomics I've ever felt in a knife, and feels a fair bit more robust. IMO both are among the best offerings from their respective companies, and both hold up admirably to put to some fairly hard work
 
I carried a 710 for years at work.

The surprising fact is that I caused a good number of people to start carrying knives.

The sad part is that most were too cheap to carry a quality knife like a Benchmade.

Now that I'm retired I carry a Bird and Trout or a Woodland Special fixed blade from Bark River Knife and Tool and a fully serrated Spyderco Endura.
 
ac1d0v3r1d3 said:
Well you are correct. What am I missing?
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Well at 4:55 he starts talking about taking sand paper and rounding over the G10 to get at the thumb stud easier so I would imagine that is what he was talking about.

However, if you know how to use a thumb stud (or hole for that matter) you don't need to do that.
 
Well at 4:55 he starts talking about taking sand paper and rounding over the G10 to get at the thumb stud easier so I would imagine that is what he was talking about.

However, if you know how to use a thumb stud (or hole for that matter) you don't need to do that.
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Well thanks for your vote of confidence FlaMtnBkr. It's a simple "mod" took me about 4 or 5 minutes to contour that section, It is indiscernible to the eye afterward but it gives a lot more/smoother access to the thumb stud. A no brainer.

The Military however has some of the best ergonomics I've ever felt in a knife, and feels a fair bit more robust.
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Is yours made of SS or something? I have a G-10 handle with S30V blade on my Military. It's lighter, has no SS liners other than the embedded piece that makes the linerlock and it's thinner than the 710. I don't know about the mfg. specs on the blade, but I have them stacked on top of each other and the blade length is the same, plus the "usable" cutting portions show the 710 to have a much longer cutting edge. Ergonomics and comfort? The Military's frame, linerlock side, digs into the index finger - not as nice as a 710's grip.

The Military has a longer handle but with the hand locked in, the excess is unneeded, and if held at the back it feels very awkward.

I don't believe you guys who say you "need the whole handle to fit your grip" on the Military. I have very large hands that won't even fit into XL gloves at the store and the handle is still long for me. Not too long, but locked into the jimping, it' sticking out of the back of my hand a bit.

I wonder how many posters have both knives, between their arms - as I have, while they're typing this stuff out?
 
If your sharpmaker is not taking bites out of d2 steel:
Clean your rods with Bar Keepers Friend (similar to Comet but with an acid to eat at the caked metal in the rods) or,
Use a more aggressive stone. I use 2 methods on d2 and do not have any problems. I use by hand:
DMT coarse, then Spyderco; brown med, and fine white (comes in a set called profile set), and then ultra fine white fat 3" slab hone. I then strop with my hand strop. That takes about 20-30 minutes if I do not flub. This is a re profile job.

2nd way is with Razor Sharp Paper Wheels. This takes max 4 minutes even if you flub. Either tecnique will produce one swath deforestation of arm hair for me. I still do not have my hair whittling boyscout badge, but I am getting closer. I do not have a sharpmaker. I hear great things about it usually, just issues with the harder steel. Bar Keeper's Friend is my friend, and I do not tend bar, nor drink! :-)
 
It's the classic Axis lock. It's a big knife that feels like a small one. The ergonomics are just super. I'm giant Spyderco fan but the 710 suits me more than the Military. It's an equally robust knife with a locking mechanism that I prefer in a smaller overall package. I know everybody loves their Millies but I like the 710 even more.
 
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