Benchmade 710 - ordered D2, got 154CM. Return?

S

Sobriquet

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Jul 27, 2008
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I posted a thread a little bit ago about replacing the Spyderco Endura that I've carried for the last 6 years or so. Following the advice of that thread, I ordered a Benchmade 710.

The website I ordered from (Knifeworks) advertised the knife as having the newer D2 steel. I know that's not a true "stainless" steel and can be harder to sharpen, but I was willing to maintain it.

Should I call and request a replacement? Should I be happy I got 154CM, or should I want the D2 I ordered? Thanks for helping a newbie.

[EDIT:] Adding one more wrinkle to this equation. I just noticed the box is marked "710D2 Axis Lock," but the knife blade says 154CM. Should I be concerned they don't match?
 
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Sobriquet said:
I posted a thread a little bit ago about replacing the Spyderco Endura that I've carried for the last 6 years or so. Following the advice of that thread, I ordered a Benchmade 710.

The website I ordered from (Knifeworks) advertised the knife as having the newer D2 steel. I know that's not a true "stainless" steel and can be harder to sharpen, but I was willing to maintain it.

Should I call and request a replacement? Should I be happy I got 154CM, or should I want the D2 I ordered? Thanks for helping a newbie.
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Is there a difference in the price? I like both steels. If you already have 154CM and don't have D2 yet, that could be a reason to exchange it. I think everyone should have a D2 knife around if they like knives.

I don't really have any issue with sharpening my D2 knife but I have never lost the edge yet either. It comes right back to shaving sharpness with frequent steeling.
 
I don't have a D2 knife. This is a real EDC knife primarily for self-defense. It's going to get used, but I'm not going to neglect or abuse it.

My primary concern is getting it razor sharp and keeping it that way.
 
They are both premium steels. Without a lot of experience with both, you won't know which you like better. And in any event, the difference will be small. Keep your 154CM and get to know it. Next time, buy D2 and see if you like one over the other.

Congratulations on the 710. It's a living classic.
 
I would return it. I would want D2 if I ordered it as such; I don't consider 154CM an upgrade to D2 at all.
 
http://www.crucibleservice.com/datash/dsS30Vv4b.pdf

take a look at the relative toughness and edge retention and impact toughness of 154cm vs d2 and take into account that 154cm is a true stainless and therefore more resistant corrosion. I think they are both great steels, but if I got the 154cm I would keep it. If I got the d2 I would keep it too, I just dont think its worth the hassle.
 
What's bothering me is.. if 154CM wasn't inferior to D2, why did Benchmade make the switch? I'm not sure I understand the difference between "toughness" and "wear resistance."
 
Sobriquet said:
What's bothering me is.. if 154CM wasn't inferior to D2, why did Benchmade make the switch? I'm not sure I understand the difference between "toughness" and "wear resistance."
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i think toughness reffers to impact resistance, while wear reffers to edge holding
 
Adding one more wrinkle to this equation. I just noticed the box is marked "710D2 Axis Lock," but the knife blade says 154CM. Should I be concerned they don't match?

Someone here linked to the dealer I used, so I assumed it was reputable. Was that a mistake?
 
Don't even bother. 710 would be a great knife even if the blade was made out of wood. Besides D2 sometimes rusts.
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See
 
I'd return it. Benchmade makes a lot of great knives with 154CM. Their D2 options are more limited, and the 710D2 is a great knife. I have no problem keeping mine razor sharp. Return this one, and im sure you can find another BM with 154CM that you like.
 
I prefer Benchmade's 154CM to their D2. I have the 154CM 710 and it's one of the best knives I own. Edge holding and corrosion resistance are excellent. I EDC'd and used my 710 for well over a year without ever sharpening it at all, and it's still plenty sharp.

Benchmade's D2 rusts very easily in my experience, I'm not a fan.
 
I called Knifeworks and a helpful (if amateurish) woman said I could send her back the one I got and she'll send me a D2 model. She said Benchmade sent them about a dozen knives in 154CM that should have been D2. I thought they stopped making the 154CM Benchmade 710 some time ago? If so, why/how did Benchmade send them that blade?

OK, how am I supposed to make a decision here? Is there a clear winner if I'm not worried about rust?
 
There's no clear winner. I would choose 154CM over D2. Keep the one you have.
 
I called Benchmade customer service real quick. They confirmed there was a manufacturing error and some knives were made with 154CM steel rather than D2 steel.

Will D2 keep an edge longer than 154CM? If not, I'll just keep this knife and be done with it now that I'm satisfied the knife is OK. If there isn't a performance improvement of D2 over 154CM, why did Benchmade make the switch?
 
Sobriquet said:
I called Benchmade customer service real quick. They confirmed there was a manufacturing error and some knives were made with 154CM steel rather than D2 steel.

Will D2 keep an edge longer than 154CM? If not, I'll just keep this knife and be done with it now that I'm satisfied the knife is OK. If there isn't a performance improvement of D2 over 154CM, why did Benchmade make the switch?
Click to expand...

D2 will keep an edge significantly longer than 154CM (although 154CM's edge holding is very good to begin with). The rust shouldn't be a problem if you take care of the knife.

Like I said, I consider D2 a "super steel," while I consider 154CM a "very good steel."
 
The only reason why I don't prefer D2 over 154CM was because it chipped on me and it was a PITA getting the chip out on a recurve and getting it back up to a decent level of sharpness. To tell you the truth I didn't notice a huge difference in edge holding between the two as much as you would on an S90V blade.
 
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