BM 635 Mini-Skirmish...WOW!!!

J

Jackal

Joined
Oct 5, 1998
Messages
1,830
Hey guys, I've been out of the knife scene for several years now, (severe GLOCK bug) but I check in on the knife forums every 3 - 4 months just to see if, (1) there's anything I'VE GOT TO HAVE, and, (2) if Benchmade has ever "given in" and made me my dream knife...a 3.5" bladed Skirmish. Well, sure enough, last week I checked and saw a thread about a "635". I just knew what it had to be as I tabbed up another window to check Benchmade's website. Yesterday I PayPal'd Grand Prarie Knives and today I have my new toy!!! Instant favorite. The aside from the fairly dull factory edge, this has got to be one of the finest production knives I've owned to date, second only to a Sebenza as far as fit & finish. (+1 to the 635 for size and fresh design.) I knew I'd love it just by seeing the ONE pic of it on the web, (I've never handled a 630.) but it's sooo much nicer in person. I'll have to say that Benchmade has done a good thing moving some models overseas leaving focus on the more "premium" models here on our soil. Way to go BM...what a welcome home. ;)

Only thing I could see being improved on would be some anodization in the "swirls" or possibly some anodized "holes" toward the rear of the handle matching the blade, similar to the 630. Also, a slightly "beefier" TITANIUM clip would be more comforting. This would be a prime candidate for an inlay in the middle of the design or some deep blue anodized jeweled inner scales. :p
 
Haven't heard from you in a long time, amigo! Glad you found something to drag you back in. (one of us, one of us...)
 
Hey man!!! I was hoping to hear from some ol pals. I'm afraid I've been "living" over on GlockTalk. FYI, I've managed to hang on to my BodyCote "DLC" 730CFHS for several years now. LOL!!!
 
'Bout time you showed back up!! :D :D :cool: I thought Glocks were something you played with inbetween knives!! :eek: ;) ;)
 
Hahaha...well, I've been "in between knives" for quite some time now. ;) Missouri finally got concealed carry restored. What else have I missed? Just found out about V.G. Sad stuff...I can't even imagine. What's DDR up to? DC Munroe back at it again? I see Elishewitz is making pens now...must...have...sexy...pen. LOL! Since he's not making rings any longer, I had to settle for a burgandy box Ti. ring. Yup...got married finally to my g.f. of 10 years. Damn this 635 is nice. So slim it's disappears in the pocket.

...and where does that big ol blade hide when you close it? Magic.
 
Long time no see :D
I still remember the days of that gorgeous Ralph Apogee you had among many others. I still have mine now grown to 3 with a addition of a Illusion D/A recently.
That Benchmade 635 is a great size if you don't like the larger 630(which I do, and own one), and a great bang for the buck in quality, and workmanship.
Good score Jackyl, and glad to see you back once again :)

Larry
 
Hey man, which Apogee were you referring? I had one I got off KnifeArt when they were first introduced which I sent back for gold nuggeting and over the course of time all the little design changes he eventually started using on all the Apogees. Then there was the one of a kind Apogee that I "ran DDR through the ringer on" and wish I'd have NEVER of let go. :( You know, I only have one pic of that knife and it's in "negative" so I don't even get to enjoy those awesome colors. Truth is I've let waaaaay too many nice folders go. The sexiest unique Sebenza I've ever seen, the now impossible to get "Cracked Titanium" Munroe Chimera featured on BladeGallery, my #8 DDR / Simonich EDC, an early Elishewitz Striker custom, several SpeedTech Synergys...one with an Elishewitz blade, my "Cordoroy" customized BM 850, (Where is ol Cordoroy anyway? Do you know KodiakPA?) rare / customized Microtechs, lots of plain Sebenzas, and many...many more. Oh well, it was fun and after all those AWESOME folders, I now have the 635 and my BodyCote'd "DLC" BM 730CFHS. These are my two most favorite production knives of them all. If only CRK would offer a "medium" Sebenza I'd be out another $400. I wish'd I still had a few of those customs now that I realize what I had. I can't see spending $600 plus on a folder anymore now that I have the firearm addiction. Maybe if after I build my AR and see what GLOCK does about their carbine this fall. ;) Good to hear from you all.
 
My wife bought one just last week...couldn't believe it...she comes in the knife shop to drag me out, and instead whips out a credit card, buys herself a 635 and leaves me walking out empty handed. what kinda crap izzat??!!!

Anyways, she's let me paw her 635 a little (mainly so I'd sharpen the rather dull factory edge for her) and it is one heckuva nice knife. about the most appealing framelock I've seen since I've had my large Sebenza actually, very, very nicely done. She's hoping to carry it on various outdoor ventures this summer, and I think that's awesome. I believe that knife will take real good care of her when she's out playing in the woods.

Definitely does need anodizing around the swirls, but people would gripe about that too, same way they griped about the anodized dots on the 630. Oh well, I guess it's one of those minor things that does help cut the cost of production anyways.

altogether though, I agree...the 635 is awesome! :D
 
I have to add my two cents because I have been very impressed with 635. Like you, I no longer am willing to shell out really big bucks on folders so a knife like the 635 is a real blessing since it has the features of $300+ folders for 1/3 the price.
 
anthony cheeseboro said:
I have to add my two cents because I have been very impressed with 635. Like you, I no longer am willing to shell out really big bucks on folders so a knife like the 635 is a real blessing since it has the features of $300+ folders for 1/3 the price.
Click to expand...

Exactly. If anything, I think I may sometime in the future get a second 635 to have all fancied up. For an EDC though, it's perfect as is. I LOVE the blade profile.
 
I just got mine in the mail! Took my lunch break to go home and get it out of the mailbox. It's great! Best Ti framelock for the money, no doubt! I like the 630 when I handled it, but it was too big and I wasn't a fan of the greenish color. This 635 is the perfect size! I love it! The blade is perfectly centered when closed, and the factory edge on mine isn't dull at all... :D

EDIT* Just noticed... no PB washers??? I thought that was Benchmade standard! My only other complaint is that the lockbar seems to get pushed in more when I grip the knife. So, I still like it a lot, but I can understand why a Sebenza costs twice as much.

The hole is kinda slippery too...It looks nice because it's beveled, but for example a Spyderco would not be beveled, but would have a ridge that digs into you thumb for grip.
 
Jackyl-
It was the first Apogee you got I believe. I remember you sent it back in to have the nugget work done on it. But all those knives you mentioned were beauties :cool: Glad I kept my Apogee's, and just recently sent them back to Ralph, and had him refurbish them, and then back in the safe they went :)
As far as the 635 I am sure there will be many people pimpin' those out before long, and making them looking even more awesome than they already are.

Larry
 
I wondered about the PB washers myself...my 730 doesn't have em either. My locking bar doesn't budge once locked.
 
Hmmm interesting..... doesn't its big brother, the 630, have the PB washers???

I tried the locks on my Kershaw Storm, Random Leek, new SpyKer ("flimsy" liner lock mind you...) and they're all sturdier than the 635. I don't think it's going to come unlocked or anything, the blade has no play when locked, its just a tad annoying that can be skooched in a bit after opening...
 
My lock will move a bit after it is engaged also. I wish the opening hole were bigger, but I guess that BM didn't want to look too Spyderco-like in the blade profile of the 635.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top