Benchmade 710 or MT LCC

S

sigsauer

Joined
Sep 26, 2000
Messages
342
I'm looking to get yet another knife. MY reasons are for both self defense and heavy duty work. I've narrowed it down to the two listed. I like the BM for it's length of blade, weight, and slenderness, and axis lock which appears to be faster at opening. I like the MT for it's wide blade, and heavy duty look. These knives would be for daily carry and I'd like to get the one that will take a beating. Side to side bending stength as well as lock up is extremely important to me.
I don't know much about metal composition so I was curious what is better the BM's ATS-34 or MT's 154cm. Thanks
 
Well..I won't buy anything with a liner lock. Liner lock knives are old tech as far as I am concerned. The Axis lock also enhances structural rigidity of knives because the bearing washers on both sides of the blade are both the same large size instead of the one on the lock side having to be quite small to allow the passage of the lock bar on a liner lock. Additionally, the 710 has a full-length spacer which adds to rigidity. The bolsters on the LCC may add to its rigidity, but I don't reall see how. The liners are free to flex at the bolster to scale boundary. I wouldn't expect much difference between the steel and heat treatment.
 
I wanted to add one more thing I noticed that you can get the 710 in M2 steel is this kind of steel worth the extra money and would it suit my purpose.
 
I'm with Steve on the lock issue, the axis easily beats any liner lock for reliability. Beyond that, both seem like great knives, though the LCC is way thicker than is comfortable in my pocket, your mileage may vary. The LCC does have Microtech's incredible fit & finish. But the 710 is extremely well-done nevertheless, more reliable lock, more carryable, easy winner for me.
 
I've got a 710bt. Pretty good knife. Used it aboard ship all this summer. Held up well & cut well. I do like the recurved edge on the 710, but, I don't like to resharpen it. I use a lansky and it wasn't difficult, just needed a little more attention to get it right. ATS-34 and 154CM are pretty much the same from what I have read. I don't own the LCC or any microtech for that matter(though I'd like to). But, I do have a few benchmades, and the 710 will handle what you are looking to do.

Steve
 
Unless you are going to be scuba diving in the tropics, go with the M-2 steel. It is the best steel available in a production knife that I know of, though I haven't tried Kershaw's D-2. It is very tough, and holds an edge exceptionally well. Great stuff.
 
No question about it- the M2 version of the BM 710 has a better locking mechanism and a better blade steel than the MT LCC. And if you put them both down in front of me and told me I could have either one, I'd take the LCC without hesitation
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Why the apparent contradiction, you ask? Well, I guess it's mainly because I've found that both the blade steel and locking mechanism on the LCC are more than adequate for my purposes, AND I really enjoy all the extra cool features found on the LCC such as the great fit and finish, titanium bolsters, carbon fiber scales, fancy aluminum spacers, bronze washers, recessed clip attachment point, and the nice wide SHARP blade with a very efficient cutting geometry. Other than that, it's pretty much a toss-up
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Semper Fi

-Bill
 
Go with the 710hs. I carry mine daily and it's one great knife. I've handled an LCC and, though it is a thick, sturdy, solid knife, it's a bit heavy and too thick for my tastes. ATS34 & 154CM are virtually identical, but M2 is a better steel. If you don't have an Axis lock yet, get the 710hs, you'll thank yourself for doing so.

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Jason aka medusaoblongata
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"I have often laughed at the weaklings who call themselves kind because they have no claws"

- Zarathustra
 
I have an axis that is about a year old. I have never carried it more than a week. Why? I don't know why really. It just doesn't really strike me as that great a knife. Everything posted above is true, it does have solid lock up, it is slim and light, but for a hundered dollars you have to expect that it will at least lock up tight. I guess I just found it a little smaller, lighter and thinner than I thought it would be. The butt of the handle is also small, so the knife doesn't feel like it will stay in my hands. Of course it does stay in my hands, it just feels like it always wants to leave. For you this knife might work, since you want it for utility and defense. I was going to say Sifu, but you can't really use that for utility. I now carry a voyager xl for one purpose and a tiny buck gent (1.5in blade) for regular cutting. If one should break, I will loose both and go back to the axis I guess. If your utility requirements incorperate cutting up citrus fruits on a regular basis, get the ATS model, because carbon steels will oxidize in seconds. My master hunter is now stained ugly because of one rogue orange that I happened to use it on.
 
Well, that's why they make all those different knives, for all these different tastes.
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