Any reason NOT to get a BM 705?

mr44

mr44

Joined
Dec 16, 1999
Messages
383
Hello all,

It's coming around the time to add another folder to my daily carry rotation, and as always, its a tough decision. The two most recent additions have been a small CRKT/Carson M-16 tanto, and a CRKT Mirage Gray Ghost wharncliffe. Now I'm looking to get something else in around the same blade length. The fact that I can order the BM 705 from a Canadian dealer at a reasonable price is causing me to seriously consider picking one up.

I looks to be a nice piece, and would in fact be my first BM folder, and I'm going to get around to one model or another soon anyway. I would definitely expect an increased level of quality over the CRKTs, but so far I've been *very* impressed by them. My BM Nimravus is nice, but after polishing off the BT2 I noticed fairly serious machining marks on the flat sides of the blade. These definitely would have been unacceptable if the Nim was sold uncoated. I know the coating fills in and covers 'em up but that is not an excuse IMO...

So, who likes/dislikes the 705, or other similar sized BM pieces in general?

[This message has been edited by mr44 (edited 02-02-2000).]
 
The only complaint I can think of with the 705 is that it is thick for it's size due to the axis locking mechanism. I really like mine despite this, but seem to carry my 710 more often as it is about the same thickness and fits in my pocket just as well as the smaller 705. All of the other stuff in the BM threads regarding erratic edge bevels and sharpening apply. The grinds on my Nimravus were beautiful after removing the coating, sorry to hear about yours.
David
 
I personally don't see anything wrong with the 705. In fact I gave one to my girlfriend and I find myself asking her to borrow it (for a few minutes) to play with it. If I wasn't planning on getting a small Sebenza for a under 3" plain edged knife for daily carry, I would definitely buy a 705BT. Keep in mind that the 710 (which I also have) is a hair longer than 4" and may cause legal problems if caught carrying one.
 
Well, there is the matter of the bm720. I held both and liked the 720 better. Food for thought.
Andrew
 
I've been carrying my 705 every day since I got it. It has become my favorite smaller sized knife, surpassing my BM Leopard Cub. I removed the pocket clip and carry it comfortably in my front pocket. It is thick for it's size, but it's not noticeable when I carry it and I like the fuller feel in my hand when I use it.

I've had other Benchmades with uneven edge bevels, but the 705 was perfect. It also seemed to be ground at smaller angle than other Benchmades, since I was able to sharpen it easily with my Spyderco Sharpmaker without having to remove too much metal before raising a burr. The Axis lock is great and puts this knife very high on the gadget factor.
 
mr44,

I don't have a 705 but I do have a mini AFCK. I find the size to be very comfortable and easy to carry around on a regular basis. I'm not sure if the 705 has this same problem but the mini AFCK's clip really gets in the way when you hold the knife. Mine wasn't very sharp out of the box either. Not sure if it was just a fluke or an overall Benchmade problem. The former would be my guess. But I just touched it up on my 204 so no big deal. Other than that I've been really happy with it. Great knife.

BTW, where're you getting this great price from? I noticed LeBaron's hiked the prices on some of their knives and wasn't too happy about it. Been looking for another place lately.

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ET

 
I think the quality of the 705 is excellent. It is the best of the small BMs IMO. The one thing to note is that this is a small knife compared to most tacticals. Although the blade is 2.95" the OAL is under 7". It may feel small but if you are in an under 3" jurisdiction it is great choice.
 
I have a 705. I've had it for about 2 months now. To tell you the truth I don't like it very much. I liked it when I first got it, so initial impressions were good. I guess you can say I grew out of it. I find myself carrying my other knives more than my 705. I think it is too thick, the blade feels small and narrow, and the G10 chipped pretty badly the two times i have dropped the knife. I am also not too fond of the thumbstuds. On the other hand there are plenty of other people who love their 705's. Don't let my post stop you from buying one if you really want it. Just my opinion.

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Johnny
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I also have the M16 small tanto blade and the 705. They each have a place, mainly because I see them as different kinds of knives. The 705 is, to me, more elegant, and while as strong or stronger, doesn't exude the rough/tough image of the M16. I like both of them, but if I could have only one, the 705 would be it. Get one- you will probably love it. If not, you can sell or trade it here for little loss.
smile.gif
 
One reason I disliked the 705 was the stupid "Pre Production Run" blade etching, but perhaps BM has stopped doing that by now.


JK
 
One of my front pocket daily carries.Works well for me.Like the previous posts I agree it is a bit thick.IMHO

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have a"knife"day
 
Thanks for all the info!

I too have some concerns about the thickness after seeing the knife photographed from one certain angle, but then I really do prefer a bit of thickness in a folder. It makes for easier and more positive one-hand opening IMO. The fingers have something to grip on while thumbing the blade out. I don't carry my broken-clipped Voyager or Endura much any more since I find them awkward to open without the extra "thickess" and finger holds added by the clips.

I'll probably end up getting the 705 though. It seems to have the right materials, looks, and all-important gadget factor that I require. (Although... the big-brother 710 is really nice too. There are no official blade length regulations up here, and the price difference is only about the cost of a 24pack of beer!)

PM
 
Reasons not to:

Thick, especially with clip.
Rough studs both for blade opening and the lock bar--also a problem with the clip as the texture on the studs adds a lot of drag and wear during the draw.
tip up carry.
difficult or impossible to disassemble without special tools.
arguably pricey for it's size/materials/variable QC.

Reasons to:

A decent blade shape without recurve for easy maintenance
clip can be removed to improve comfort and carry
very non threatening and discreet. Quiet to operate and looks smaller than it really is.
GREAT lock

Variables:
does the size fit your grip preferences? I think the thumb ramp notches are too far back on the handle and would be better on the blade, except that the blade/handle transition doesn't support that design well either
Fit and finish. besides grind quality, check that the blade doesn't impact the spacer. Mine did.
Heavy for its size. I actually like the heft of this knife, though I wouldn't want that in all of my knives.

In summary, it's a good design with minor flaws, variable production quality, and more of a niche knife than one with broad appeal.

I enjoy mine and it is usually a secondary/backup knife carry for me.
 
The 705 has seen four different overseas nations since I got it back in May '99. It has been dropped, thrown, opened a can while hiking against my better judgement, and has successfully passed domestic airport security thrice when forgotten in a jacket pocket. It's well built, resists long term wear (mechanisms and overall structural integrity-wise; G10 is tough stuff as opposed to aluminum which shows its age and abuse a little more obviously IMHO), has a grind bevel that resists normal-use chipping that sometimes plagues ATS-34 (at least some I've encountered), and is every bit the last ditch effort defensive blade that a neck knife of similar proportions has the potential to be. More than anything else, I admire its sheer utility and ease of carry. The thickness just tells me it may be overbuilt, but it's a mini hoss in its own respect. It goes virtually everywhere I do; I even jumped into a snake infested pond in a Virginia swamp to retrieve it when I dropped it out of a canoe while drunken-fly-fishing. Did I say that out loud? Anyway, it has earned my highest recommendation for a small, pocketable, almost universally legal-to-conceal hellhound of stainless and G10. I like to think of it and it's larger brother as the folding versions of some of Polkowski's fixed blades. Professor.
 
I got my first one (own 3) in May last year and there has only been one day I didn't have it on me. And I felt naked without. I actually like the thickness. It feels more stable in the hand, allows for longer/harder use before your hand gets sore. Some smaller knives sometimes feel like I have a toy in my hand - not so with my 705's.

The roughness of the posts is true, but it hasn't worn out any pockets yet, and it definitely aids opening when you have gloves on.

Mine has suffered quite a bit since I got it, but it still works great. And, after tweaking a bit, it's the smoothest action of any knife I have, including a couple of customs.

My only complaint, is a lack of M2! I did have to look very hard to find something wrong with my 3 - one of them allows a slight (probably less than 1/1000 of an inch) amount of light to pass between the G10 and the steel liner on one side that's about 0.5" long.

One other thing that might be a problem area - the clip covers a small part of the lanyard hold. If you put some paracord through it and then move the cord back and forth through the hole, the clip might eventually wear through the cord, but it would probably take quite a while since the clip has smooth edges.

If it's a good price, I wouldn't hesitate.

Ray

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Knowledge without understanding is knowledge wasted.
Understanding without knowledge is a rare gift - but not an impossibility.
For the impossible is always possible through faith. - Bathroom graffiti, gas station, Grey, TN, Dec, 1988

AKTI Member #A000831
 
G-10 handle scales.

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James Segura
San Francisco, CA
 
Originally posted by JoHnYKwSt:
I have a 705. I've had it for about 2 months now. To tell you the truth I don't like it very much. I liked it when I first got it, so initial impressions were good. I guess you can say I grew out of it. I find myself carrying my other knives more than my 705. I think it is too thick, the blade feels small and narrow
Click to expand...

I agree and share a similar reaction to the above. I problably like it more, though.

It has a lot of handle given its blade. One thing I don't understand is why Benchmade uses such thick "washers / spacers". Is it to ensure that the blade does not rub the liners? This seems like a quality control thing.

I still like the lock and I like the smoothness too. The size is OK with me too though many may find it small. I took the clip off mine and carry it my pocket.



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Roger Blake
 
I've had mine since X-mas and am very happy with it. Size is the key; I can even wear it with a suit. My AFCK is simply too large to carry in my pocket--even Wranglers.
 
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