Benchmade 710 or 710HS?

[mathman]

Alright, last thread for a while. I am going to buy the BM 710, but don't know the pros and cons of 154CM and M2...and yes I have searched .

I do know that 154CM is more corrosion resistant, but what are the pros of M2? Is it tougher? Easier to sharpen? I live in a pretty dry area (inland Southern California), so corrosion resistance isn't as important as it might be to some...

Thanks for the input...this forum is getting friendlier all the time .

 

[Planterz]

The M2 is tougher and will hold an edge longer. I'm not sure if it's easier to sharpen since I haven't had to do anything more than a touch-up on mine.

A lot of the practical difference between the 154CM 710 and the 710HS will come down to performance vs cosmetics. The HS will perform better, but the uncoated 710 will look better. The coating on the HS (and the 710SBK) will get marked up with use and eventually look pretty ugly, but the reason it's there is for corrision protection. All that's left to worry about is the actual edge, and wiping it on your pants anytime you cut something wet is enough to keep it free from rust (and maybe wipe it with oil at the end of the day).

If you're a casual user, the regular 710 is really all you'd need, and you probably wouldn't notice the additional performance of the HS steel. If you use the knife several times a day cutting cardboard, plastic ties, and such, that's where the HS steel will show its benifits.

 

[Lil Timmy]

What Planterz said.

 

[WarRaven]

I pretty much agree aswell.


In my house, my 3 Benchmades are the polished 154cm, and i would not have it any other way, the polish that is,not the material.

I'm old, and still love the gleam of high polish steels, am thinking of getting a model with M2 or D2 next from BM and removing the coating. I am not really steel biased, ok i am, but have narrowed it down to the scope of commonly used and availible materials, so i win-win.

A very small amount of care goes into corrosion concern versus sharpness retaining and other areas, on these like a coated blade. So it in my mind comes down to preference only, unless your stalking humans in the dark with it open, then i guess a coated would be better.

Just something about a clean looking knife to me, scales can be varied, but i prefer the polish version, and my tastes also like only Plain edges aswell.
Presently my group only consists of a 705,707 and a 710, all polished plain edges.

I am aware this goes against the current trends of sales i have been told, and thats cool, i just hope the market dont forget about the polished finish or Satin, whatever you want to call it and the plain edges dont dissappear altogether.

I wonder if i am the only one then to hand polish the blades with turtle wax rubbing compound, then wax every now and then, quite often as it is my meditation time,lol.(Also maintnence, like lube and Sharpen,If needed.)

And thats a big if, after retiring my EDC'd Schrade LB5 and Old timer Finger knife for over 20 years, this summer, and getting pulled into the new knives, these steels hold up well for me. Now i want more and more, i'm freaking fooked. Although, my collection is increasing really suddenly to me, i turn to the BM's to get crap done., and have not needed any serious effort to maintain.

Sorry, i got lost, the 710 plain, polish is the one i would choose, your mileage may vary.

Enjoy whatever you choose, it's afterall just a tool in any form.

Peace

WR

 

[Hateman]

If you're a casual user, the regular 710 is really all you'd need, and you probably wouldn't notice the additional performance of the HS steel. If you use the knife several times a day cutting cardboard, plastic ties, and such, that's where the HS steel will show its benifits.

That's it. I have two 710's in 154CM and M2HS. The 710 I had for a couple of years and had no problem with corrosion or sharpening or general use. The M2 I got simply to try out the M2 steel. IMHO, it is, by a very small margin, harder to sharpen than 154CM. It took about 5 minutes on a Sharpmaker to get the M2 completely shaving sharp. I bought the M2 used and the edge was moderately dulled. M2 does keep an edge longer than 154CM, but as quoted above, casual use will show little differences between the steels. If anything, get the 154CM version; it's cheaper, has a nice steel, and is more readily available than the M2 version. Hope this helps.

 

[Sheldrake]

Partly because it was available and also because I live in a humid region, I got the BM 710 with 154CM. I don't know how it compares to M2, but for every day light use the 154CM holds a sharp edge very well and it is pretty easy to keep sharp by ocassionally using the fine stone on my sharpmaker.

Bob

 

[knifetester]

With the exception of corrosion resistance, I find M2 to be better for me in every respect than 154CM for a folder of this class. It is harder and thus stronger. As tool steel, it is also it is also tougher than high carbon stainless steel, even at the increased hardness level. I can't (actually won't) qote some charpy value, since that is pretty meaningless to me. Instead I can tell you I have used my M2 knives without damage where ATS34 blades were dulled either by edge roll or micro-chipping.

But edge holding is not why I prefer M2. Instead, it is because that extra durability allows me to have a thinner edge at the same level of durability. So I can have my cake and eat it too, so to speak. Joe Talmadge has explained this so many times over the years that all I could do is echo him, seek out his posts and you shall have your answer about how better steel leads to better performance.

Here are some M2 Benchmade pics just for the heck of it:

730 Ares

710HS:

Of course, if you place a premium on corrosion resistance or shiny metal, then the 154CM may be better for you.

As well, consider that much of what is written about steel should be taken with a grain of salt, yeah even what I just wrote. People use knives with "inferior" steels all the time to good effect. The people that use knives the hardest don't even know what steel there knife has, nor would they care.

Even if you use your folder is destined for hard use, 154CM will do just fine. My brother is harder on knives than even OwenM. He has broken every folder I have given him, several Kershaw and Spyderco FRN fodlers for example. For almost two years (give or take) he has been carrying a G10/154CM Axis lock and it has survived. Yeah, the tip has been snapped off a couple times and I have put thicker tips on, and it has been reground a couple times, about it has not suffered gross failure (blade snapping, handle failure, busted lock) as the other have.

Butthat is just my opinion. It is probablly worth what you paid for it. . .

 

[Stickbait]

...to say that if one's 710HS does get all scratched up then I would simply buff off the relatively soft BT coating and get a shiny/satin-like blade(I believe there is an entire thread on "how-to" in BF)My BM in 154CM is a BM800AFCK(okay,ATS-34) so when it came time to get a 710 the M2 was my choice(since i also have heard so much about it).You won't go wrong with either. :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

[knifetester]

Yeah, my 710HS looks pretty gnarly, but it doesn't bother me since it is a working tool. I ahve used that knife hard for like 5 years or so, and it has taken everything I have thrown at it.

 

[Ryan8]

Some people have taken it upon themselves to remove Benchmade's coatings. So if you really like the M2 but not the coating, you could put some elbow grease into it.