Benchmade 755 vs 710

Egoslin11 · May 24, 2014

I am looking for a hard use outdoors knife. I have narrowed it down to these two but am open to other benchmade models. I like the m390 of the 755 but I like the axis lock and longer blade of the 710 and reversible pocket clip because I'm left handed. Going to use to cut some wood, bring fishing and hunting and just general fishing and backpacking knife.

Cypress · May 24, 2014

The 755 has always been a conundrum to me. Great steel, but not exactly a slicer geometry. I also feel wonky buying a non-Axis Benchmade. I will eventually lose the battle and own one, but other knives come first.

I wouldn't use any of my 710's to process wood, but they would make a wonderful fishing knife. If you're patient and diligent, M390 710's come up on the exchange at least 1-2 times a month.

You may also want to look into the 94x series, especially since the 940-1 in S90V came out. A lot of people are offloading regular 940's in S30V at a huge discount, and it's pretty easy to find NIB examples on the exchange for less than $150. I know firsthand that the 943 blade shape is great for processing fish.

If M390 is your taste, the 484 is an amazing knife in a small package.

Ulf Krogstad · May 24, 2014

If your open to other's don't believe you can beat the Adamas 275 for a hard use outdoors folding knife. Cut down this 8 in thick living pine with it and it's still perfect. Edge is still great,coating wasn't taken off any,lock is perfect. Can't beat it. Also like the 810 Contego alot but the Adamas has it beat it in the hard use department. For slicing the Contego beats all my other knives.

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Wolverine666 · May 24, 2014

IMO the 755 is a stubby overpriced piece. The steel is great and the frame lock is solid. But I have found it pretty useless with such a short fat blade. Heavy knife too.

I love the 710. Beautiful and wonderfully functional. Too bad it is still plagued by the notorious BM pricing sitch.

Der W. · May 24, 2014

Egoslin11 said:
I am looking for a hard use outdoors knife. I have narrowed it down to these two but am open to other benchmade models. I like the m390 of the 755 but I like the axis lock and longer blade of the 710 and reversible pocket clip because I'm left handed. Going to use to cut some wood, bring fishing and hunting and just general fishing and backpacking knife.

as a left hadner myself, it can only say: have fun with your 710!

Egoslin11 · May 24, 2014

There's a lot to pick from haha I love benchmades and it doesn't hurt that get 60% off from my job. I have a 940 already and just find it too nice to use hard I might try the 943 I just want a beater knife

pnsxyr · May 24, 2014

I don't find the 755 to have the size needed for larger tasks, and I too think it's a really poor cutter. For your usage however, you may want a somewhat beefier blade than the 710. Some of the Benchmade Black Class knives may have many of the features you seek...

Have you considered the 810 Contego? It has the size of the 710, the blade robustness of the 755, the blade shape is a good performer for almost all tasks, is AXIS and ambi, plus it is in CPM-M4 steel which is a very tough steel with great edge retention. It is also available in M390, but your usage may make one steel a better choice than the others. I agree the 275 Adamas is also worth checking out, and possibly the 950 Rift, 520 Presidio, and maybe a ZT0560.

Sunyata · May 25, 2014

rexromic · May 25, 2014

They are both great knives.

Helderberg · May 25, 2014

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As much as I like my 710's for hard work I would go with the Adamas or the Contego. Both are heave duty folders and have great steel.
Just my .02 but I would grab one of these over my 710 if the SHTF scenario.
Frank.

James Longstreet · May 25, 2014

Hello,

the 755 is not that small as it may appear from pictures. But I believe for fishing you would definitely need a knife with a longer blade.

As you are particularely mentioning "hard" outdoor tasks I would say the recommended Contego and Adamas are most likely the best choice within the current BM program. If I am not wrong, the axis lock of the Adamas has a larger bolt within the axis lock than the Contego.

Depending upon how "hard" the intended hard outdoor usage will be, you may want to go for a fixed blade, like the fixed Contego or the Nimravus, accompanied by a nice folder like the 940. Every folder has its "natural limitations" in respect to hard outdoor usage.

Best,

rexromic · May 25, 2014

Very nice looking 755,are those orange Cuscadi scales?

MobileFireLord · May 25, 2014

Have you look at 810-1401? It has the length and toughness of 810 with M390 blade.

Lost Cosmonaut · May 25, 2014

The 755 MPR is a killer little brick of a knife. It's a small knife that is big hand friendly, which I am thankful for!

James Longstreet · May 26, 2014

@ rexromic,

yep. Cuscadi scales "rescue orange"

MatthewSB · May 26, 2014

Egoslin11 said:
I am looking for a hard use outdoors knife. I have narrowed it down to these two but am open to other benchmade models. I like the m390 of the 755 but I like the axis lock and longer blade of the 710 and reversible pocket clip because I'm left handed. Going to use to cut some wood, bring fishing and hunting and just general fishing and backpacking knife.

I would never take an axis lock folder into the middle of nowhere. It's "weakest link" is a pair of springs, made from tiny wire like guitar strings, for the axis lock. If one of them breaks, and they do, the other side quickly follows.

I'd go with the frame lock, and save the Axis knives for short trips closer to home where a knife is less important.

As to the clip location - I am right handed, and often wear a folder on my left hand side. It's really not hard since I got used to opening the knife with my off hand.

Ulf Krogstad · May 26, 2014

MatthewSB said:
I would never take an axis lock folder into the middle of nowhere. It's "weakest link" is a pair of springs, made from tiny wire like guitar strings, for the axis lock. If one of them breaks, and they do, the other side quickly follows.

I'd go with the frame lock, and save the Axis knives for short trips closer to home where a knife is less important.

As to the clip location - I am right handed, and often wear a folder on my left hand side. It's really not hard since I got used to opening the knife with my off hand.

If a spring did break though you could just jam a piece of wood or a nail or something in the back of the axis lock to it keep to from moving backwards and it would be quite sturdy. I think the chance of a spring failing in the first place is slim to none but could happen i guess. I get my Benchmades wet and put them to test alot and no failures of any kind. I think if anybody was going deep in the woods just carrying a folder instead of fixed blade would be a fool anyways. I would have both. I'm with you on the frame locks too though. DPX HEST is one i would trust to hold up to just about anything also. Frame locks are very powerful and sturdy. Zero blade play. But still would take my Adamas over it though.

pnsxyr · May 27, 2014

MatthewSB said:
I would never take an axis lock folder into the middle of nowhere. It's "weakest link" is a pair of springs, made from tiny wire like guitar strings, for the axis lock. If one of them breaks, and they do, the other side quickly follows.

I'd go with the frame lock, and save the Axis knives for short trips closer to home where a knife is less important.

As to the clip location - I am right handed, and often wear a folder on my left hand side. It's really not hard since I got used to opening the knife with my off hand.

Many mention this as the weakest point and that these springs do sometimes break, and I would agree. However, discussion of the possibility of AXIS omega spring failures seem to be many fold more than reports on actual failure of these springs. Of the tons and tons of Benchmades I sold over the years, the frequency of hearing about omega springs failures was very low, and AXIS in general provided great reliability to virtually all owners. Much like the USP, general reliability and longevity was just exceptional, and while sometimes issues did arise, the frequency was pretty rare.

As there is redundancy of two springs, in some ways I think having a very obvious 'warning' from a single spring failure before a catastrophic failure as an advantage, which most locks do not provide. I agree a lone spring would not last very long, but it is something that can be quickly identified and easy repaired with the most basic of tools and the part, and it is not hard to still lock the knife open even if both springs failed. Even just the paracord from a lanyard could accomplish this. While perhaps a little crude, the knife would still then be a functional 'makeshift' fixed blade and would not be rendered completely useless.

I agree the frame lock is a great performer for usage and hella great for handling the dirties of environments and super hard usage, but I think AXIS is a great choice for remote usage as well (as far as folders go at least given at some point a fixed blade is a nice user to have too). I also think that a heavier weight grease on the omega springs and in that cutout on the handle in which they will make friction contact against can reduce some of the wear over time. I have a few older ATS-34/AXIS knives that I would guess I have probably opened and closed 20,000+ times still using all original parts.