BM 710 - Questions

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Franco G

Joined
Dec 29, 2000
Messages
399
Few weeks ago I played with some knives in a knife shop in Vienna. One of them was BM 710. I found it to be an amazing knife. Especially, I like the blade form which is recurved like an old turkish yatagans. Although almost all of my folders are Spydercos, this one is quite worthwile to have (skipping the reasons, it is very well documented).
However, I would like to have answers to some questions:

1. if you close your knife slowly, do fingers get in touch directly with edge or with ricasso. I prefer to have at least a small ricasso - in a case of lock failure it protects your fingers - except, maybe, by a very strong stabbing. Unfortunately, I didn't check that in Vienna, although I played with it!

2. how do you clean dirty stuff inside an axis lock? Could one use a toothpick? I use SAK's toothpick to clean all my folders including the Spyderco Lil' Temperance (in S30V) which is my present EDC.

3. concerning the reported omega spring breaking: how do you know that one spring is broken?

4. any other help to a broken spring besides sending a knife to BM? It is very unpleasant to do that from Europe.

5. I read somewhere that if both springs break the blade stays locked. True?

Sorry for asking 'negative' questions - once again I admit the 710 is an excellent knife with premium lock. I want to know 'everything' about a knife I plan to get - that's just me.

Franco
 
The spring will rattle if broken. If 2 springs break, the lock bar may not come unlocked, but the lock bar will move around
 
In answer to your questions
#1. no your fingers are not near the edge
#2. I use canned air or just blow in it to clear any dirt.
#3. Broken spring will rattle
#4. Not that I know of
#5. Can't see why but you could hold the axis-lock in the lock position with your thumb.
 
Add to #2, keep on the look out for a small stiff brush (like the ones to clean out hair traimers) to help get the grimy stuff out, a tooth pick is good for the handles. The air will only blow away dust.
 
I have carried a BM710 almost every single day for the past 4 years. It gets lint inside with pocket carry, but it never caused a problem. I usually just blow it out. Now and then I rinse it out under hot water and then re-lube it with some Tuf-Glide or Militec-1. I have had ZERO issues with this knife. I never had a spring break and I flick it open and closed on a daily basis. Either I'm lucky, or it's a great knife.
 
Ive had one for a couple years now, I actually own three (really liked it). None of them have been a problem with the springs, those are usually isolated.

To clean you can use a Q-tip and, or compressed air for electronics.

No it will not stay locked

To add to this, some like to reprofile the blade, as they do not like the high bevel, but I have never found it necessary (it works weel the way it is).

Its a great carry knife for hiking and camping related activities, Its a big knife so you have to decide if you dont mind carrying it around. Usually its a hiking knife for me, but i do sometimes carry it as an edc.

All around it is well worth the money.

The one I have is in 154cm, which I personally prefer. I usually just strop the blade to touch up the edge after using it.

I hope this helps you some.
 
Franco G said:
1. if you close your knife slowly, do fingers get in touch directly with edge or with ricasso. I prefer to have at least a small ricasso - in a case of lock failure it protects your fingers - except, maybe, by a very strong stabbing. Unfortunately, I didn't check that in Vienna, although I played with it!
Click to expand...

That´s the key: You don´t have to let the blade stop at your Finger!! Closing without having flesh in the bladespath!! I often have cut myself with my old Puma, doing the same as you do. Never did i cut myself with an axis!

Franco G said:
2. how do you clean dirty stuff inside an axis lock? Could one use a toothpick? I use SAK's toothpick to clean all my folders including the Spyderco Lil' Temperance (in S30V) which is my present EDC.
Click to expand...

Never had much of a dirt in that. Compared to my former folders i was surpriced how little dust comes inside. It is enough, if you wip out the dust between the scales as often as you do on other folders. If you dare to void warranty, do this and talk about it : Take the scales apart and everything lies open.

Franco G said:
3. concerning the reported omega spring breaking: how do you know that one spring is broken?
Click to expand...

Don´t mix reports with roumors. There might have been some broken springs in the early axis times. But try to find one now. If it happens to you, you should keep that particular knife as an very exotic, unique piece, maybe Benchmade will pay you for having it back. :D Some people say it will make some noise.

Franco G said:
4. any other help to a broken spring besides sending a knife to BM? It is very unpleasant to do that from Europe.
Click to expand...

Ask Benchmade for new springs and they will send it to you, because Angie is doing her best to accomodate the out of country customers. No kidding, that´s what she told me, as i had trouble to get it over. So she gave me all i needed for free and not return of the knife. She is a great lady and i hope she stays for long at BM.

Franco G said:
5. I read somewhere that if both springs break the blade stays locked. True?
Click to expand...
The springs hold the bar, which locks the blade closed or open. How should it stay closed?

Franco[/QUOTE]

I gave my old Puma a moderate spine whack and ruined the lock bar. I gave more than that to various axis and nothing happened.

A tip: Before you buy the knife, ask the clerk, to give it a good spine whack.

As hard as you were trying to hammer down a small nail. Give it repeated.

There are two possibilities: It holds up, so it will do forever.

It fails, so the axis has a basic malfunction. It will always do so.

That is the next good thing about axis: It is right or it is not. No guessing.

Have fun with that great knife.

BTW hope it is the 710HS in M2 steel? Take this.
 
WadeF said:
I have carried a BM710 almost every single day for the past 4 years. It gets lint inside with pocket carry, but it never caused a problem. I usually just blow it out. Now and then I rinse it out under hot water and then re-lube it with some Tuf-Glide or Militec-1. I have had ZERO issues with this knife. I never had a spring break and I flick it open and closed on a daily basis. Either I'm lucky, or it's a great knife.
Click to expand...

Three years for me. I'll also occasionally use a q-tip, along with air.

I keep thinking about trying the dish washer...
 
Forgot to mention I have the HSSR. If I did it again I would just get the HS as I prefer a plain edge. The serrations do come in handy now and then however. I have had no problems with the M2 steel as far as rust or sharpening. I reprofiled my 710 to 15 degrees per side and then keep a 20 degree per side edge on it with the Spyderco Sharpmaker. A few swipes on the ultra-fine white stones keeps it hair poppin' sharp. I also mirror polished the 15 degree back bevel to help prevent rust.
 
Thanks a lot guys!

Blop,

That´s the key: You don´t have to let the blade stop at your Finger!! Closing without having flesh in the bladespath!!
Click to expand...

I am not talking about closing the knife - that I do exactly as you suggested! I am talking about lock failure. Suppose your knife gets stick in some stuff - you push it up - your lock (although very unlikely for Axis lock) fails - blade closes - now, if a blade does not touch directly your point finger you might escape a bad cut. By very strong stabbing this may work poorly.

Franco
 
I think I see what you're asking, no, there's no large ricasso area like on almost all spyderco folders that will help prevent injury in the event the lock fails.
 
The lock isn't gonna fail since it's something stuck in it's path. It'll fail when the tang breaks or the lock bar gets ripped out. When both springs break,the bar should still stay in the tang
 
That's only if there's a closing pressure on the spine that forces the lock and blade together, since the axis bar is probably free to move at that point it's not something that can be relied on to keep your fingers safe when the springs are broken.
 
Heh, it's not something I'd ever bother worrying about, but it was one of those "what if" questions. Besides, there are ways other than spring breakage that would cause the lock to fail, but every one I can think of involves poor maintenance.
 
I love my 710. I also had one of the rare ones that both springs broke!

I had bought the knife when they first came out,what happened was the springs rubbed against the inside of the handle.I sent it in and got my old blade back but a new handle.

First off I never heard any sort of "rattle" some claim.Lock seemed normal untill both were broke.

Once this happened the the lock bar slid around loose and the knife was to dangerous to use imho.

I trust my "new" 710 fully.In fact I sent the knife back for a new blade,since my old one was beat.They do this for $35 and they gave me the new handle anyways so its like a nib 710 for $35.

This is the knife I carry on the job,and would not carry one I don't trust.The old ones had the problem.
 
Franco G said:
Thanks a lot guys!

Blop,



I am not talking about closing the knife - that I do exactly as you suggested! I am talking about lock failure. Suppose your knife gets stick in some stuff - you push it up - your lock (although very unlikely for Axis lock) fails - blade closes - now, if a blade does not touch directly your point finger you might escape a bad cut. By very strong stabbing this may work poorly.

Franco
Click to expand...

@Franco G,

i see. That´s why i say: Give it a good spinwhack! It will not fail if it passes. I might, if it passes not. Any possibility asked will lead, compared to possibilities of other locks, to a fixed blade. For my view, the axis is the best. It realy is the only lock i have seen, that comes with a kind of standard high quality. Here you can say it is a serial production. You can exchange blades with nearly no difference..... Any liner lock is more "unique" compared to this level of priduction.

Wasn´t there a test by hammering the axis knife with no failure?

Take it and give it a spinewhack as mentioned. And don´t be nervous about the smoothness. It is stronger as it feels, or you can say some others, feeeling stronger to open, are weaker in usage. :D
 
Lone Hunter,

concerning
I also had one of the rare ones that both springs broke!
Click to expand...

did you suffer an injury after both springs broke? That is precisely my IF question - how do I know that ONE spring is broken.
Obviously, sometimes there is no rattle or asymmetry in locking, as Lone Hunter reported.

Franco
 
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