BM 710 #1 of 1000 authenticity?

M

Myamoto Musashi

Joined
May 21, 2005
Messages
86
Was the 710 the first BM with the AXIS lock? Just wanted to get your opinions on whether this is an authentic number one from the 1st production run of these and if that has merit for collector value? Any one know the year this was made? Thank You.



 
Most first production runs like this (1 of 1000) mean "one out of the first 1000 made" not "First out of the first 1000 made" which is an important distinction. I'm fairly sure it's the former, hope you didn't get too excited about it :cool:
 
maybe slightly more but not much.
 
The first 710's had aluminum handles (BUT don't confuse with the al. handled 710's that were a Moteng exclusive a few years back).

BM puts that on the first thousand pieces. But, it doesn't mean it's the first 710.


--dan
 
yoda is correct, when BM says something like "1 of XXX", that means it's one out of that many, not that it's #1. In fact, I don't think you can get any #1 Benchmades (and maybe not even #2), since BM keeps them for themselves.
 
the early 710 had black ano handles and diff studs to open the blade with, i have an early 710 prototype.

in my experience the numbered BMs arent worth much if any premium over the std model price. maybe if its a low number (ie 1 or 2) or a significant # (ie 007), but in gen'l being a numbered BM (ie first production run) doesnt add much if anything to the value.

the prototypes are worth a little extra to collectors sometimes esp if the vary a lot from the production models (ie my 710)
 
outside of plainly marked "prototype"'s, BM offered Pre-Production runs and 1st Production runs...
Your's is a 1st Production run - these were all marked "1 of 1000" while the Pre-Production runs were actually numbered "x of 1000"...
Also know that the blade steel on each of the different runs may be different: I have at least one pre-production in one model that came out in ATS-34 (IIRC) on the pre-prod. run, but was 154cm on the actual production runs...
And as others have noted, the handle material may also be different between the runs...
 
GarageBoy said:
But on ltd editions, they're marked 29 of 500 etc?
Click to expand...


some BM limited editions (ie IIRC most are std models with wood/etc handles and some also have diff blade steel) are numbered like that and worth a premium but not the 1st pro run and pre-pro std models. they also retail for lots more $$ than a std model so its logical they would be worth more, the knife above is just a 1st pro run std model, its worth just what a std 710 would be imho.

IIRC someone else said this but to be clear the knife above is ONE knife outta 500 not the FIRST knife outta 500.

also will have to look to be 100% but am pretty sure i have a mini AFCK the one w/the oval hole first production run and its marked 088 of 500, FWIW.
(went & looked & i am right, it is marked 088/500 1st pro run)


thru the yrs have accumulated a lot of 1st pro run , pre-pro and prototype BMs, and only paid a SMALL premium for 1, the 710 prototype, paid $125 IIRC, all the others were priced like a std model not numbered, they are kinda cool/interesting though to me anyway lol.
 
..and IIRC the washers are nylatron(?)Also are the G-10 scales a more greenish colour than the now flat black-or is it just the lighting?154CM(?)still very nice. :)
 
Stickbait said:
..and IIRC the washers are nylatron(?)Also are the G-10 scales a more greenish colour than the now flat black-or is it just the lighting?154CM(?)still very nice. :)
Click to expand...

It's just the lighting.
 
A bit off the original topic, but the easiest way to tell the early runs from the more recent runs is the blade steel.

The earlier runs of the 710 had ATS-34, up until BM switched completely over to 154CM.
The VERY early run of the 710 had aluminum handles and ATS-34 steel. Only a few hundred were done like that before they switched over to the G-10 handles. The 710-SPL that was a special order and also had aluminum handles were ALL 154CM.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top