BM 710: Does the handle have enough grip to prevent a slip up?

[AfterDark]

The 710 doesn't seem to have a finger choil like the 806 afck. I was wondering if the g10 material has enough grip to prevent a slip up if I use the knife to thrust? It seems like the front of the handle curves down to prevent direct contact with the blade if a slip up does occur. The 710 seems like a quality folder but I prefer my knives with a finger choil. What are your opinions on preventing a slip up with the 710? Are there any other knives that are ambidextrous with a finger choil? Will the griptilian provide a more secure grip to prevent a slip up? Thanks. Happy holidays and stay safe.

*If I plan to put this in my pocket, will the lint buildup get in the way of the axis lock and prevent a secure lock up?

 

[proguide]

I find the 710 to be very comfortable in the hand. I have 3 and rotate them in here and there. As far as hand security, you can't beat the AFCK ergos if you are comparing the two. I find the G10 that Benchmade uses to be a little slippery compared to others such as Spyderco. It's still top notch stuff. The axis lock is a good lock. A lot of info can be found here.

 

[elmora2]

If you've got the 806, then chances are, the G10 of the 710 will be about the same. On mine, I find that to be sufficiently grippy. The handle does have a shape that feels like it could lead to slipping in some circumstances, though at the same time, I've always found that the handle is long enough that slipping onto the blade doesn't actually occur. The 710 is a great knife in a great size, great for gloved hands, even, but the lack of a good finger guard can feel kind of worrying at times, even if nothing bad ever ends up happening.

As for the Grip, the answer is yes, it will definitely provide a more secure grip against slipping onto the blade. For my hand, the ergonomics of the Grip are superior to those of the 710, though the 710 has better blade geometry, and just has the feel of a harder use knife.

But if you're looking for an ambidextrous folder with a good guard to prevent slipping onto the blade, look no further than the Rukus. The finger guard on that knife is probably the best I've ever seen, and the knife is twice as much of a tank as the 710 will ever be. As for whether the Mini Rukus or full size is better for you, that's for you to decide. The 615 is a relatively large knife, near the size of the 710. The 710 is huge. Both models have plenty of finger guard, and feel more secure (in my opinion) in the hand than the 710. Probably more so than the Grip, as well, for that matter.

And no, lint will not affect the Axis lock in any kind of negative way. Mine get pretty linty and I've never had issues with lock stability. I do not believe it would be an easy thing to make the Axis lock any less secure. Heck, the system doesn't even get any less smooth with excessive lint in it.

Bottom line: check out the Rukus. Between it, the Grip, and the 710, buy the one that appeals to you the most (from your description, though, I'd lean towards the Rukus).

 

[5pins]

I had a 710 and really liked the knife. The only problem I had with it was it never felt secure in my hand. I now have a Rukus and love the way it feels in my hand. It’s a big knife and you don’t realize it until you handle it and put it in your pocket. I think you should take a look at both the full size and the mini. The gripie is also a great knife and it was what I was carrying before I got the Rukus. The gripie fits the hand like a glove and will not slip easily.

 

[Joshua J.]

Benchmade G-10 is kind of slippery compared with other companies, though the Rukus will still have grip aplenty due to the handle shape.

I would also recommend you take a look at the Spyderco Chinook III. It has the most secure grip of any folder I've ever held, and I suspect you would have a hard time finding a more secure knife in general. The downside is that it's very wide when folded and is hard to reach past when fetching other things out of your pocket.

I would go for the Rukus or the Chinook, either one would probably do the job.