Benchmade McHenry & Williams 710.... comments.

C

Charlie S

Joined
Oct 24, 2010
Messages
9
Hello,

I recently purchased a Benchmade 710 McHenry&Williams, and thought I'd make a comment or two as I feel Benchmade has really gone down hill since my last purchase.

The 710 is for me the pinnacle in EDC design. It has every feature I want: the lock, lanyard loop big enough for paracord, steel type, size, handle material, everything. Perfect. It is hard for me to find production knives I enjoy the feel, style, and design of. As a custom knife maker I always want to tweak whatever I buy.

Problems. The fit and finish of the 710 is crap. I read one or two reviews that mentioned this, but I really didn't understand how bad it was. It bugs me to the point that I almost sent the knife back after opening it. I have owned a number of Benchmade knives before, and never one with such awful finish. There are gaps between the liner and handle scales, the transition between the two is not smooth. In the lanyard hole there are stringy bits of G10 sticking out, etc. The whole thing lacks... polish... finish. It looks, and feels rough. This is a production knife, and I understand one can not expect custom results from a production company... but this still is not a dirt cheap knife. The fit and finish of a CRKT M16 is honestly superior, despite being a third of the price.

Included are a few pics. It will take several hours of sanding and polishing to finish the knife, and it will destroy my warranty.

Cheers!

p.s. Apparently I cannot post pics... I guess I don't have the permissions. Damn.
 
Sounds like you got a lemon. Every 710 I've handled had acceptable fit and finish, acceptable in this case being as good as any production knife could be.

And you can post pics if you have them uploaded on another site.
without the spaces. Use http://tinypic.com/ to upload them. I think they give you the forum board code already once you upload.
 
I understand your frustration. Lately I have been disappointed in Benchmade. I would send it back.
 
I have one of the older versions with the barrel spacers and the fit and finish is excellant. Send it in to Benchmade and ask them to swap it out or fix it. I have been dealing with their CS for a long time and I've always received top notch treatment. Your 710 should be no exception.
 
Interesting... I may contact benchmade in that case. I was assuming this example was simply indicative of benchmade's current level of fit and finish. I noticed similiar complaints in other reviews. Thanks for letting me know, this is the only 710 I've handled!
 
I realize this is my first post...but my gut tells me this may be a case of alot of to-do about nothing. I understand that a 710 is not a cheap knife, but sheesh, the things you are talking about are not really that big a deal. Jmho.
 
Yes... I understand that. It is minor, but also annoying. In my opinion one of the reasons you pay $150 as opposed to $60 is fit and finish. A poor finish results in blisters and just doesn't look very nice aesthetically. I understand this is still a relatively inexpensive production knife, but in my experience knives at a similar price range have been finished a bit more nicely.
 
I would be upset if my 710 had come like that. F&F on the M390 model I picked up is fairly good, certainly better than what you received. I would definitely contact either the supplier that shipped it or Benchmade and have it made right. The only thing I can point to on mine is that the backspacer is almost imperceptibly uneven, which doesn't bother me. Send it back and get your money's worth.
 
brg said:
I realize this is my first post...but my gut tells me this may be a case of alot of to-do about nothing. I understand that a 710 is not a cheap knife, but sheesh, the things you are talking about are not really that big a deal. Jmho.
Click to expand...

Demeaning someone's concerns regarding their own knife is no way to start making friends here. I would be concerned as well if it were my knife.
 
Last edited:
i have had a lot of roblems with benchmade. i bought my first benchmade in april of 2011 and it has ben sent in 4 times now. i also have an auto that i can not find a dealer to send it in for me. i just bought a h20 grip and if i have 1 issue i will write them off for good. i thought they deserved 1 more try and i needed a good beeter knife for under 100 bucks. im very optomistic but i cant see me likeing that knife a hell of alot just because i dont trust the lock at all. hell i dont have a single benchmade that i can carry right now and i own 3.
 
I have had similar disappointments with benchmade's fit and finish when compared to some of their equally priced/equipped competitors.
 
brg said:
I realize this is my first post...but my gut tells me this may be a case of alot of to-do about nothing. I understand that a 710 is not a cheap knife, but sheesh, the things you are talking about are not really that big a deal. Jmho.
Click to expand...

so are you saying you would buy a brand new car with heavily scratched paint on it and an interior thats all cut up? you paid for a perfect product and you should get it
 
I think benchmade has gone down hill to. The ones I have bought the last few years the blades are always off center. Just bought the 275 and the blade is centered on it but the tan g-10 looks painted to me. Bought a 556 for my son blade off center.bought a tan 551 it was painted. Just seems cheap and seems like they are cutting corners more and more. I have been buying spyderco and zt plus kershaws lately and they all seem top notch. Spyderco will atleast use real tan or brown g-10. I use to love benchmade but seems like im loosing the love more and more. 2012 line up just seems like fancyed up old models to me. Might get the 810.
 
The last new Benchmade I bought was a Warn 583-1 and it was perfect right outta the box. I may have to start looking at them again to see why there is so much dissappointment.
 
I have a BM 710 D2 and it has lived up to the NutnFancy hype. Great F&F, lightning fast deployment, super ergos, great steel, not a flaw in mine. "It's an awesome production folder dudes!"

k159605_nutnfancy.jpg
 
I recently got the 275, i love it. f & f is great, centered blade, great lockup,blade grind, everything.came shaving sharp,too.
 
I have a 710 D2 from a couple of years ago, and a new 710 M390. Both are excellent in the f&f department. Just received a large Onslaught yesterday. I've been asking the dealers I order from to check for a centered blade, and even grind lines in the upper half of the blade (swage line?). KW and GPK have been great in handling my request. The Onslaught is perfect. In the past I've had to send in a couple of Benchmades for warranty blade replacement due to bad grind lines.
 
Last edited:
stormbird said:
I have a 710 D2 from a couple of years ago, and a new 710 M390. Both are excellent in the f&f department. Just received a large Onslaught yesterday. I always ask the dealers I order from to check for a centered blade, and even grind lines in the upper half of the blade (swage line?). The Onslaught is perfect. In the past I've had to send in a couple of Benchmades for warranty blade replacement due to bad grind lines.
Click to expand...

Blades off centered and uneven grind lines send me through the roof! :eek: :mad:

Most members aren't so picky but it just bugs me to were I start hating the knife. I've taken to what you do for a couple of yrs. now I call and email and put in the comments box "Check for flaws 'blade centering, even grind and anything else you can spot."

I bought from the same website for several years and gave them just enough business where the boss would check it and toss a note in with my order (printed my order and initialed the comments box).

It doesn't hurt to ask. :)
 
brg said:
I realize this is my first post...but my gut tells me this may be a case of alot of to-do about nothing. I understand that a 710 is not a cheap knife, but sheesh, the things you are talking about are not really that big a deal. Jmho.
Click to expand...

Hello brg, and welcome to Bladeforums. I understand what you are saying about it not making a difference in actual use of the knife, but when you pay $150 for it you do expect, and should get, a knife that is as perfect as it can be.

On another note, and already mentioned, the new 275 Adamas folders seem to have addressed the issues that a lot of people have complained about. I bought 4 of these, 2 for my son, and still have two more to go. The four I got were absolutely perfect in all respects. The comments I've read on this knife also indicate that these knives have a higher level of finish than some of the knives before them. Hope this carries over to the new 2012 knives, especially the 810 Contego, and 62 Bali, that should soon be released.

For what it's worth, I believe I would contact the dealer, if you have just received the knife within a couple of days, and see if it can be exchanged. If not then contact BM.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top