Benchmade 710 needs some new friends

P

Paul Kersey

Joined
Jun 3, 2007
Messages
12
Howdy all,

I have been using a Benchmade 710 D2 as my EDC blade for about a year now. I carry it at about 12 o clock, clipped to my belt and tucked inside my pants. Huge fan of the axis lock and the blade has served me well. I am looking to round out my blade setup and am now in the market for the following. I approach these tools from a minimalism/survivalism POV with quality and redundancy in mind.

1. Backup folder
2. Neck knife variant (folder or fixed)
3. Wilderness fixed
4. Backup fixed

Backup folder
Right now I am looking at the Spyderco Salt I, black with plain edge. I am attracted to the rust-free nature of the knife since I carry it where heat and sweat may be present. I am not sure which size would be best, if I understand it correctly the Salt I is like a Delica and the Pacific Salt is an Endura? Is there a quality difference? I have never owned Spyderco before so this confuses me a bit. I plan to keep the new folder on my weak side, perhaps 10:30 or so.

Neck knife variant
A last ditch option and primarily intended for defense/emergency purposes. I just started researching these and thus far took notice of the Boker Plus Subcom. Here I would go partially serrated for any rope/fabric sawing needs. I want to carry it near the small of my back, tucked inside my pants like the other two. I would however like the option of wearing on a neck chain.

Wilderness fixed
This category is a more serious investment. The "if I could only have one knife on me in the wild" slot. I have been fairly set on a Fallkniven, perhaps S1. The A1 seems almost too big and the F1 too similar to the folders. I want this one to have a bit of meat on it, and am going with a shorter blade length on the backup fixed for routine carving needs.

Backup fixed
Thinking about a Frost's traditional mora, the common size 1. I am a bit confused about whether or not this is available as carbon steel from Frost's or only laminated. I could use some advice here on what material is best for this "cheap" grade of knife. I currently carry a Jameson phone man knife for work and the mora style has a lot of similar attributes that are attractive.

I plan to simultaneously EDC the two folders and neck knife, with the fixed blades being pack or sheath carry during camping trips. At some point I will supplement this setup with a better small/medium axe, I have been talking with a good axe guy and he turned me on to the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe.

Thank you for any interest and advice you can offer!
 
Last edited:
Neck knife variant
The entire Subcom line is very good, perfect for utility (I carry the folder) but if you are thinking self-defense, the Subcom Fixed does not have much of a point. The ultimate neck knife has got to be the Emerson La Griffe. It only looks small. :)

Wilderness fixed
"if I could only have one knife on me in the wild" -- we need more information. What is your "wild" like and what would you do there? Hiking, backpacking, camping, and hunting all have different requirements. The first two don't ever "need" a big knife. (That Fallkniven S1 IS a good general choice.)

Backup fixed
As long as you're going to carry the Mora in a pack and not on you all the time, the carbon steel versions should be fine, although their stainless is also strong and sharp. There's an excellent selection at http://www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html not just for purchase but for information about them.

Also
Once you leave the beaten track, you ought to have a Swiss Army Knife or multitool with you. We have a whole forum discussing them: Multi-tools & Multi-purpose Knives.
 
Thank you.

I just did a Google image search of that Emerson and somebody had one rigged up with a Photon light and paracord, that looked interesting.

Wilderness to me is camping, hiking and backpacking in that order. I currently don't hunt but I am a fisherman. The main reason I scaled it up a bit was for defense purposes and as to not be overly size redundant with other blades I may be carrying. I suppose that logic maybe isn't the wisest and perhaps my best quality knife should be the most common size for supreme field usefulness (carving wood, cutting food).

Good call on the SAK and multitool. I do have a simple SAK I got about 10 years ago and have both a LM Wave and a SOG Powerlock. The Powerlock replaced my Wave for work EDC and while the thing is a beast, I love it and wouldn't go back to a smaller one now.
 
Backup folder Benchmade Griptilan 551

Backup wilderness fixed blade Barkriver Bravo-1

Backup fixed Barkriver Fox River
 
Paul Kersey said:
Thank you.

I just did a Google image search of that Emerson and somebody had one rigged up with a Photon light and paracord, that looked interesting.

Wilderness to me is camping, hiking and backpacking in that order. I currently don't hunt but I am a fisherman. The main reason I scaled it up a bit was for defense purposes and as to not be overly size redundant with other blades I may be carrying. I suppose that logic maybe isn't the wisest and perhaps my best quality knife should be the most common size for supreme field usefulness (carving wood, cutting food).

Good call on the SAK and multitool. I do have a simple SAK I got about 10 years ago and have both a LM Wave and a SOG Powerlock. The Powerlock replaced my Wave for work EDC and while the thing is a beast, I love it and wouldn't go back to a smaller one now.
Click to expand...

I really think you may be good with the S1 then. You do enough different things to make it worthwhile and it is not a particularly heavy or clumsy blade.

Moras and other Scandinavian knives are lightweight, and although they are small but they are excellent for anything that doesn't need chopping. You could get a nice one and call it your primary fixed and the S1 your backup fixed but names are just names, and the knives will find their own proper use.

You've got the multitool well covered, I see! :)
 
i like to carry neck knives on my belt. i wouldnt trust a neck knife around my neck, i fear it will fall out of its sheath and cause injury. some of the heavier ones will be uncomfortable around your neck as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top