Benchmade 761 TITANIUM FRAMELOCK

I went ahead and bought one. I had not seen the great pictures posted by bpcg and P_Meticulous, showing its actual size in relationship to both a hand and other knives I have, specifically the 710. I was looking for something smaller and lighter than the 710 for summer EDC, this is neither. I usually wear rip-stop nylon cargoes and the 710 is just too heavy, and so is this one. I have been using a 740 for that but I really don't like that knife. I wanted something with M390 also.

I definitely agree with philwar that the pocket clip is "fugly". It is also the most useless thing that I have ever seen stuck on the side of a knife, well almost useless, it does let you hang it in your pocket, it just doesn't let you take the knife back out again. Yeah, you won't loose it but neither can you use it either!! REALLY a pain in the pocket. I would not have gotten this knife if I had "tried it on" first.

It is a thing of beauty however, and opens so smoothly that if you haven't opened one you don't have a reference point. I have my 710 set up so it just swings freely with a little blade wobble and the 761 is smoother than that. Would not have believed it if I had not felt it. The edge is razor sharp and the knife feels solid and capable in the hand. Grip is good with the satin finished titanium sticking well to the skin without feeling uncomfortable or forced. All in all a good knife. Except for the pocket clip.

If only they had put a more traditional pocket clip on it, even being tip down, this would be a winner. Tip up it would be put of the park!! I may have to let it go unless I can find a good clip for it. Frustrating.
 
dazzleaj said:
I definitely agree with philwar that the pocket clip is "fugly". It is also the most useless thing that I have ever seen stuck on the side of a knife, well almost useless, it does let you hang it in your pocket, it just doesn't let you take the knife back out again. Yeah, you won't loose it but neither can you use it either!! REALLY a pain in the pocket. I would not have gotten this knife if I had "tried it on" first.
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On my days off, I pocket my EDC without clipping it to my pocket. No matter the knife, or size. So the 761’s clip isn’t really an issue for me regardless.. I prefer discretion.

For work, I wear dress slacks 1/2 the time, and 511’s the other half. My dress slacks are pretty thin, and sometimes even with BM’s deep carry clip, I catch the knife moving in positioning, or slipping out half ways.. There isn’t much to grab on to with slacks.. So I definitely appreciate the fact that the 761’s clip is tight and very secure in tension. That’s pretty much the only time I clip it to my FRP.

I feel that saying “you can’t use it" regardless is a bit dramatic.. I can pull mine out easily, even if there is more tension compared to other BM’s. I've tried it with other pants as well.
 
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P_Meticulous; I feel that saying “[I said:
you can’t use it[/I]" regardless is a bit dramatic.. I can pull mine out easily, even if there is more tension compared to other BM’s. I've tried it with other pants as well.
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I tried to post a couple pictures of what I am talking about but it really doesn't matter. In order to get the 761 out of my pocket, I have to pull the bottom of my pocket where the knife sits up over my belt before I can get enough resistance to get the 761 to slide on the fabric and pop over the pocket seam.

I have over 50 knives from most of the off the shelf names and none of them gives me this problem. The next "worst" is a tie between the BM810 Contego and the Spyderco Endura 4, both with very aggressive handles. Both of those let go when the pants are only 1/2 way to my belt. The 761 must be all but pried out of the pocket.

I kinda do classify that as "can't use it".
 
I removed my clip and filed down the underside of it so it slides over heavy-weight fabrics easier.
 
I used a small diamond file and worked it at a slight angle...pointing downward toward the tip.
Hard to gauge how much was removed but it definitely made it slide onto pockets easier without losing much grip.
If you do just a little at a time and test it out along the way you should be successful.
 
I snapped a few more shots of the discreet machining detail, love this knife :)

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4de2ef91-b9c9-4453-ba20-2c827aa558e8_zpsx4vwqbdi.jpg


1aaa8854-a700-4e27-8eb8-a6669cd23f2b_zpsdvlvrule.jpg
 
BluegrassBrian said:
I used a small diamond file and worked it at a slight angle...pointing downward toward the tip.
Hard to gauge how much was removed but it definitely made it slide onto pockets easier without losing much grip.
If you do just a little at a time and test it out along the way you should be successful.
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You have a good solution here I think. I considered modifying the clip but decided not to.

I have offered it to a friend of mine who will love it as it should be loved. I could never forgive the absolutely absurd thinking that went into the design and approval of that clip. The word "stupid" comes to mind. My opinion of course!

I just received a 710 with the blue scales and M390 from KnifeWorks that gives me the steel and a blade shape I prefer. It does not open like the 761, not even close, but I have carried the D2 710 for years and have nothing but good to say about it.

Thanks for the good suggestion.
 
dazzleaj said:
You have a good solution here I think. I considered modifying the clip but decided not to.

I have offered it to a friend of mine who will love it as it should be loved. I could never forgive the absolutely absurd thinking that went into the design and approval of that clip. The word "stupid" comes to mind. My opinion of course!

I just received a 710 with the blue scales and M390 from KnifeWorks that gives me the steel and a blade shape I prefer. It does not open like the 761, not even close, but I have carried the D2 710 for years and have nothing but good to say about it.

Thanks for the good suggestion.
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I agree with you on the clip..for me, they got everything else right so I forgave them for the one indiscretion.
I have other custom knives with stiff Ti clips that don't flex well (or at all) but they're longer than the 761 clip, so they work a bit better.
 
One engineering detail I love about the 761 is the adjustable hex nut supported by a set screw; this allows for adjustment in the lockup as the knife wears in. While I love my Alias for many reasons I really like this knife and one day will own one.
 
As an addendum to my last post.. I think if BM lengthened the existing clip it would alleviate some issues. They could even offer a trade-in policy for the older short ones.
We should write letters/emails, call..
 
Regarding the clip; are the threaded inserts standard width on the 761? If like the 755 MPR that had similar issues, we were treated to a much thinner steel clip which worked much better. If there are no options that would be a negative mark.
 
jkarp_53 said:
One engineering detail I love about the 761 is the adjustable hex nut supported by a set screw; this allows for adjustment in the lockup as the knife wears in.
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They've been using it on the MPR and the LfTi and I love it. Works as advertised!

While I love my Alias for many reasons I really like this knife and one day will own one.
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The Alias is a favorite of mine as well. And the 761 (does it have a name?) will end up in my collection too, I have no doubt.
 
BluegrassBrian said:
As an addendum to my last post.. I think if BM lengthened the existing clip it would alleviate some issues. They could even offer a trade-in policy for the older short ones.
We should write letters/emails, call..
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jkarp_53 said:
Regarding the clip; are the threaded inserts standard width on the 761? If like the 755 MPR that had similar issues, we were treated to a much thinner steel clip which worked much better. If there are no options that would be a negative mark.
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There might be some custom options, check out this link (posts #22-28):

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1251372-Benchmade-761/page2

Something like this possibly:

D720581C-834E-4434-BB9B-9DE7FA2BAD83_zpsqk3axypu.jpg
 
philwar said:
Beautiful. Would be awesome... if it weren't tip-down. ;)
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At this point in time, discussing the positioning of the clip won’t change anything.. It’s purely redundant.. BKC won’t change there design a year in.... They would have done it by now..

The positioning honestly doesn’t bother me that much.. I’m keeping the original :)
 
So it looks like a standard pocket clip will work. I've owned two-screw variants like the Ti deep pocket shown. Thanks for the photos.
 
I feel like an ousider here but the retention is great to me and I think the design suits the folder so I'll say it anyway... I like the clip! :foot:

Tip down doesn't bother me either. I carried a Millie daily for a couple of years and tip up/tip down is all the same to me. I know some guys have strong preferences, though, and that is cool too.
 
The clip doesn't bother me either, I'd much rather have it the way it is than a flimsy clip that doesn't retain and bends easily. It's not the best clip ever designed, but it sure isn't the worst either. I love my 761, all 4 of them:) Brad.
 
P_Meticulous said:
At this point in time, discussing the positioning of the clip won’t change anything.. It’s purely redundant.. BKC won’t change there design a year in.... They would have done it by now..
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Oh I know. That's why I had the MPR modded, and did the 760 myself. If and when I do get the 761, it too will be modded.

The positioning honestly doesn’t bother me that much.. I’m keeping the original :)
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To each his own. :thumbup:
 
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