Benchmade 630 Skirmish

C

Chinikaylo

Joined
Oct 28, 2010
Messages
86
With Christmas around the corner I decided that I want a new folding knife, specifically the Benchmade Skirmish(more specifically the the 630BK-503, the one with black coated blade and black handle scales, with blue anodized dots). To me, this knife is the most beautiful piece of cutlery I know of :D

The first time I saw this knife, I knew I had to get someday. I love everything about it, even its "larger" size. I EDC a ZT 0200 right now and it fits perfectly in my hand(Actually I wouldn't mind if the handle was just a tad longer), so the Skirmish being slightly bigger, I think it would do great.

Here's a couple questions I have about it though:

What do you think of the 630? Why do you like/dislike it?

Besides size, is there any real difference between the 630/635?

Is there anywhere I could find the 630Bk-503 brand new? If not, where is the best place to get a used one?

Why did Benchmade discontinue the Skirmish and when? I thought it was pretty popular, so idk why they would.

Um, I think thats it for now lol, I just want to say thanks in advance for the help, and I hope this could help others interested in the Skirmish too.
 
Ok... I'll see if I can help a little.

1) It's a pretty well liked design, I like it minus the recurve but that can be fixed.
2) Nope
3) You can check local Brick and Mortar stores for an old stock one, but chances are you'll have to keep a keen eye on the exchange here and ebay to find one (especially the model you like most)
4) Why do companies do anything? bottom line? perhaps they wanted to keep production numbers low because it was expensive to make? maybe they thought they could better use the production capacity? who knows.
 
Thanks myowngod, I thought that the only way to get it would probably be through ebay or the exchange. If I could find somewhere that was selling it new however I would buy it in a heartbeat.
 
Chinikaylo said:
What do you think of the 630? Why do you like/dislike it?

Besides size, is there any real difference between the 630/635?

Is there anywhere I could find the 630Bk-503 brand new? If not, where is the best place to get a used one?

Why did Benchmade discontinue the Skirmish and when? I thought it was pretty popular, so idk why they would.
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3. Not that I know of; try auction sites and BST forums.

4. Because they didn't sell enough of them - it wasn't all that popular, especially the 630, which is a big knife.

2. IMO the 630 is a better finished, better made knife. For example, the 635 has nylon washers, compared to the PB washers in the 630. The finish quality on the Ti handles is better on my 630 than my 635, as is the finish on the blade tang ramp where the lockbar engages.

1. There are a couple of knives Benchmade has sold that I think were really better than they were sold as and better than their price would have indicated. The 630 is one of those knives. The quality of materials, the quality of fit and finish, and the quality of the design itself was IMO far better than you would have expected, even paying full MSRP (which IIRC was in the $275 range when it was disco'd). Other companies sell knives of this overall quality for prices in the $400 area. My only caveat on the 630 is that it is one big freakin' knife, practically a pocket-saber. I keep thinking I should sell mine, but I can't bring myself to do it. :thumbup:
 
250 of these were made for a distributor exclusive. They won't be easy to find.
This was a spectacular knife.
 
Benchmade DCs all their truly interesting knives. As someone else said, some of those knives were so well made they couldn't have been profitable- the BM 425 and 426 are two more examples of really fine knives sadly discontinued.
 
Both models were fantastic knives. The 635 was a great size though, the other one was too big. The mini skirmish is bigger than the stats suggest. But the fantastic thing about it is that it had a relatively small handle, and this MASSIVE blade seems to come out from no where.

The only substantial differences between the models, other than size, is the handle designs. Purely aesthetic, as far as I know.

I seriously regret not looking for a mini skirmish when I still could get one. One thing to look out for is the mini sometimes would bang one of the spacers and chip out. The tolerances were very tight. So check out that blade before you buy.

As per how to get one? Open up that pocket book. It's going to get expensive.
 
Objectively, the washers are different. I think it's pretty obvious that a blade the size of the 630 probably really needs PB washers. However, since Benchmade uses PB on smaller, "economy" knives like the mini Grips, I never understood why they used nylon on the 635. It's unlikely to be a functional issue, but PB is usually considered a better, longer-lasting choice.

daoud said:
Benchmade DCs all their truly interesting knives. As someone else said, some of those knives were so well made they couldn't have been profitable- the BM 425 and 426 are two more examples of really fine knives sadly discontinued.
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Agreed.
 
If you're going to carry it, I'd recommend getting the 635 (it's more in line with the size of, e.g. an Endura or Large Sebbie). The 630 is HUGE!

IMG_7357ac.jpg

IMG_7359ac.jpg
 
link2derek said:
If you're going to carry it, I'd recommend getting the 635 (it's more in line with the size of, e.g. an Endura or Large Sebbie). The 630 is HUGE!

IMG_7357ac.jpg

IMG_7359ac.jpg
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Nice pics man, idk if I would want the 635, like i was saying before, I EDC a ZT 0200 and it is perfect size for me, so the 630 shouldnt be much of a difference.
 
They did two things to the 635 that made me sell mine: they made it tip down only and they chamfered the opening hole. I really wanted to like it and I certainly tried, but I couldn't get past those two problems.
 
I agree that the 630 is big - that's my comment about it being a pocket saber. I would feel comfortable explaining most of my folders but the 630 would be a challenge, I think. The 630 is a lot closer to Blackwood's original design, though, which was even bigger.
 
elkins45 said:
They did two things to the 635 that made me sell mine: they made it tip down only and they chamfered the opening hole. I really wanted to like it and I certainly tried, but I couldn't get past those two problems.
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I was pretty dissatisfied with the holes myself, but I found it quite easy to wrist-flick. Alas, they were always secondary on my list and I never got around to buying one. I pour a little whiskey out each day for that 635 I'll never meet.
 
The only place I've seen a new one is GPKnives and they want a ton more for it than when it was produced.
 
jfindon said:
The only place I've seen a new one is GPKnives and they want a ton more for it than when it was produced.
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I actually checked that out again a few days ago and even at those prices both the 630 and the 635 they hard were gone!
 
jfindon said:
The only place I've seen a new one is GPKnives and they want a ton more for it than when it was produced.
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I saw one today at a Knife Show (Novi, MI). It was new, and the dealer was asking $168. I almost bought it, but I already have three of them. When he couldn't find the box, I walked. If he would have said $150, I would have taken it. But he didn't. I'm sure someone will buy it.
 
link2derek said:
I saw one today at a Knife Show (Novi, MI). It was new, and the dealer was asking $168. I almost bought it, but I already have three of them. When he couldn't find the box, I walked. If he would have said $150, I would have taken it. But he didn't. I'm sure someone will buy it.
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You shoulda bought it and turned around and sold it online, u missed out man. What kind of skirmish was it?
 
Chinikaylo said:
You shoulda bought it and turned around and sold it online, u missed out man. What kind of skirmish was it?
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Yeah, I considered that (it was a 635). But the dealer was kind of an ass when he tried to tell me that not having the box shouldn't be a big deal to me. Excuse me? Ever heard the term BNIB, as in Brand New IN BOX!? I already have three of them for myself, so I would've only been buying it to resell or trade, and I would want the box and the cloth pouch. Needless to say, I didn't feel like doing business with him. No sweat of my back.
 
link2derek said:
Yeah, I considered that (it was a 635). But the dealer was kind of an ass when he tried to tell me that not having the box shouldn't be a big deal to me. Excuse me? Ever heard the term BNIB, as in Brand New IN BOX!? I already have three of them for myself, so I would've only been buying it to resell or trade, and I would want the box and the cloth pouch. Needless to say, I didn't feel like doing business with him. No sweat of my back.
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Good points, I still want a 630 tho lol
 
I got my second 630 LN at a local show last month for $140 OTD, so they are still around - be vigilante. It isn't the only good BM Ti framelock with an S30V blade - the new 790 Subrosa is a very nice such example - with an assisted opening, too. Here is the 630 and a few other larger framelocks:

IMG_4526.jpg


In the lower left below you will see the 790 Subrosa. Definitely a smaller knife - than the 630 Skirmish - but a great knife to handle - great hand-fit & balance. It weighs >3.1 oz less than the Skirmish, too - and is available new this year - $240 MSRP.

IMG_4417-1.jpg


Stainz
 
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