Benchmade 710 ATS-34 or M2 ?????????????

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Sean D

Joined
Sep 13, 2000
Messages
5
I ready to order myself a plain edge Benchmade model 710, but I can't decide what steel to get it in. It will be used as a gereral purpose pocket knife and will probaly be carried with me as soon as I get hired with the local PD. I live in central FL and it is humid and I will probaly carry it IWB so it will probally be exposed to sweat everyday. That being said I take very good of my tools ( guns ), I wipe down my carry gun every night with a silicon cloth. an someone please help me make up my mind. BTW I don't care about ease of sharpining, my uncle loves working with knives and will do it for me.

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A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. (1791)
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What part of shall not don't you understand ?
 
I live in central FL and it is humid and I will probably carry it IWB so it will probably be exposed to sweat everyday.
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In this situation I could advise to go with ATS-34 blade. This steel is far more corrosion resistant than M-2.
On the other hand M-2 is tougher and less prone to chipping what makes it more desirable for hard use and abuse.

I didn't notice real difference in edge holding or sharpening effort between these two steels. Using my ATS-34 AFCK daily as all around knife for about 1,5 years I didn't get any blade chipping as well.


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Sergiusz Mitin
gunwriter
Lodz, Poland
 
Sergiuz has hit the nail on the head. The tradeoff is between corrosion resistance and toughness and we usually define toughness as the ability of the blade to take abnormal stresses without breaking or chipping. ATS-34, while only somewhat "stainless" is certainly a lot more "stainless" than M2 which wouldn't be classified as stainless at all.

M2 or one of the other tool steels might be the perfect choice for something like a camp knife that's used for chopping, hacking, prying and all sorts of things that test toughness. But since pocket folders aren't normally used that way (and probably shouldn't be used that way) it makes less sense to use a tool steel in them and, like Sergiuz, I would agree that it wouldn't make much sense for you to choose it in your situation.

On the other hand, I'm not a big proponent of ATS-34. If I can't have damascus (my favorite) I normally choose a stainless that's softer than ATS-34. Softer steels are tougher and easier and faster to sharpen and those qualities are more important than edge holding ability to me. Go figure.

Most days I carry one of three pocket folders with 3" blades (I have a few more than that but these 3 are typical everyday working knives.) One is made of 440A (average cutlery stainless,) one is 440C (harder than average cutlery stainless) and the other is ATS-34 (downright hard and brittle.) I tend to carry the 440A model the most, the 440C next and the ATS-34 model the least of the three. Just personal preference.

The term "designer steel" that is sometimes applied to exotic cutlery steels is probably an appropriate term. Steel choice in a knife has more to do with fashion these days, I'm afraid, than necessity. Take care.


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Fred
Knife Outlet
http://www.knifeoutlet.com
 
Follow Benchmade's recommendation to use Sentry Solutions Marine TufCloth on the BT2-coated M2 blade, and corrision won't be an issue. If you aren't deligent about keeping the blade coated, though, I'd definitely go with the ATS-34. I think the decision should be based on how well you will care for the blade. ATS-34 will corrode like crazy if it's not kept clean and protected. So, if you're going to have to maintain the protection anyway, why not go with the better steel?

I live in East Tennessee where summer days are normal 90+ degrees and 90+ humidity. The only thing we don't have is the salt water. I'm glad, though. Just heat and humidity is enough to quickly destroy even ATS-34 if it isn't clean and cared for properly.

Either way you go, I'd recommend the BT2 coating. At least it will protect the non-exposed parts.

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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
 
I have owned the 710 in both steels and feel just a little more partial to the M2 but I can't tell you why other than it seems to take a better edge? It is not in my opinion any harder to sharpen than the ats-34. Either way you have one of my all time favorite knives.
 
Sean D,
I've carried an M-2 710 for the last several months in my left front pocket with no probs.
It's been wet quite a bit, (you know how the weather is here in Ocala), and the teflon has kept rust at bay so far.
I just apply the Tuff Cloth to it every couple of weeks and that works just fine.
The M-2 is, IMO, the better of the 2 steels for this model.
Take Care.

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The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.
Sun Tzu
 
Thanks for all replys. I'm going to order the 710 in M2 this Thur. I found someone on www.glocktalk.com who can order them for $112 + $3 shipping. Is that a good price ?

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A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. (1791)
Click to expand...

What part of shall not don't you understand ?
 
I carried an M-2 Stryker while I was in the Philippines for a month last year, IWB. It was quite hot and humid, I sweated constantly. The edge slowly tarnished over the period of about a week, but no rust, and no need to resharpen.

I would take the M-2 version of any Benchmade knife unless its primary purpose was going to be ocean fishing.
 
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