BM 710 vs 520

Geoff in Philly said:
Gary, I know exactly what you mean by "running off"...it's one of my peeves...I still love the 520, but...have you tried the Ritter Grip? If not, you must.
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Not yet, but I am on that passaround for the small Ritter, can't wait! ;)
G2
 
I had a 520. It was the only axis folder that I had. It really appealed to me. The only reason that I got rid of it was because I have a 5000. The automatic version. I prefered the auto just because it doesn't need the thumb studs. The 520 is a very nice/cool folder. It's also a great slicer.
 
Finished up a sheath for it, which is a little bit of a trick with the wide guard area, had to form the opening with the Guard area setting at the opening so it would allow entry of the knife but she pops in and out quite securely!! :)

520celtic.jpg


Dark brown with my fav embossing, celtic of course!
G2
 
Thanks J, works and boy does it retain that folder! ;)

Had a friend call today, wondered why I made it so the clip remains on the knife, well a couple reasons, folks often like to have the best of both worlds and this shows them it can be fitted up to accept the clip. Secondly on the 520, the clip helps when I go to flip the knife open, my fingers rest against the side of the clip, makes it that much more secure.

G2
 
Well, I still EDC my 520 and I still love it. My only regret is that BM didn't include the 5000's secondary lock on the 520. I realize that it would normally be superfilous but since it was already designed why not include it? That would truly be a bomb-proof folder.
 
G2 That is a rockin sheath and lanyard!!

JF, how would the lock add to the 520?
Does it lock open or closed?
Don't have a 5000 :)
Tom
 
It is a sliding thumb actuated safety on the spine. It slides in behind the axis bar locking it open or closed. You won't have that lock accidently close on you and even if both springs break you can still lock it open.
 
I ordered one from NewGraham and I am holding it in my hand now, I will say this, I totally concur with your guys' assessment of this knife. I love how substantial it feels, and how well thought-out the handle design is, I don't know if you guys noticed, but the liners are skeletonized to save weight under the scales. This is my new EDC and I am slowly getting used to the AXIS lock. I was wondering, what is the consensus on the best/easiest/fastest way to open an AXIS folder, flicking it open, via the thumbstud, or wrist motion to swing the blade open?
 
Back to "BM 710 vs 520"...

Both are excellent knives, but I just can't get behind aluminum scales, so the 710 gets my nod. The aluminum just feels too "cold" to me, where the G-10 has a warm feel to it. Also, once the black finish of the 520 scales starts to wear off (or gets scratched), there's not much that can be done to make it "pretty" again, where a little "work" with sandpaper to the G-10 scales of the 710 will make it look "good as new" again.
 
Dann you have a good point on the scratch "stuff'.
I had to go to the top again to refresh my memory what the initial thought was :)
As Biogon said the blades are two different animals.
I just like the size and feel, in hand, of the 520 versus the 710.
Course I'll, eventually, get another 710 as I traded away the new that I had :) I do like the scales on the 710.
Mine may have been pe, I'd go with combo next time.

Topgunpilot, did you ever get a 710 or a 520???

This is a great thread as it brought to the fore a fine blade the 520 and shows the variety of likes/dislikes on a couple of dynamite blades.

Matter of fact it may have been this thread that kindled my desire for the 520. I'm glad I got one :)
Tom
 
I agree, prior to this thread, I had only heard of the 520 in passing, now it is sitting in my pocket. Glockman, I also like the feel of G-10 but does BM make a folder with G-10 and beefy SS liners? Anyway like I mentioned in a previous post, I see what some of you have said about the 520 being a little hard to draw, due to the aggressive treading. I like this knife alot regardless of it's obviously work-oriented construction.
 
There are SOOO many different numbers that BM makes that I have become numb to even trying to understand them, so it's when my friend at Ashokan had his 5000 that I got excited about this knife, but I didn't want the auto version so I had to dig a little to see what a manual version was numbered as and went from there, New Graham Knives did me very well and had the knife to me in as little as two days once the order was placed, I called late in the day but they went the extra effort to make sure it started it's journey to me that night, thanks again guys! ;)

As to the scales, there is that concern, in fact the 5000 auto I got to play with had some scratches here and there but nothing too bad, I figure riding in the sheath will help a lot in that matter, glad I did make it to fit the clip as when I go to Church I can't wear the sheath but slip the knife into my pocket, never know when you'll need a good strong knife, nothing like saying "gee I have one at home" :(

I did get a Skirmish and that dwarfs this knife considerably! :) But won't replace it, the Skirmish is more for show for me and with it's over 4" blade length makes it a little more trouble if you get caught carrying it in about any state except maybe California, where I hear that any length blade on a folder is ok as long as it's not double edged or an automatic.

The sheath carry works well, it is a hard draw out of it's home, let me tell ya! But has a really nice pop when it goes back in, never to fall out with that guard area like it has. It still digs a little bit of leather so it's still working a place in the sheath but that will calm down a bit.

The 520 is hard to beat with the flat grind and high grind line, this knife will push cut like none I've owned with the exception of maybe a Jimmy Fikes Cabin Boy chiseleged knife ;)
G2
 
Devilnut said:
...Glockman, I also like the feel of G-10 but does BM make a folder with G-10 and beefy SS liners?...
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Sure...The 705, 710, 721, 722, 732, 805, 806, 905, 910, and a few other Benchmade folders have G-10 scales with "beefy" dual stainless liners.:D.
 
Thanks man, I realize that these may sound like stupid questions but I am severely limited in my ability to handle Benchmades without actually buying them. I appreciate the input and I'll check those out
 
glockman99 said:
Back to "BM 710 vs 520"...

The aluminum just feels too "cold" to me, where the G-10 has a warm feel to it.
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It gets warmer by your hand than G10. :D :)


glockmann99 said:
Also, once the black finish of the 520 scales starts to wear off (or gets scratched), there's not much that can be done to make it "pretty" again, where a little "work" with sandpaper to the G-10 scales of the 710 will make it look "good as new" again.
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Sure, but i carry a 5000A and a 520 in rotation with a 806 and there is nothing on the scales. Just once, as i used the 5000A as a bottleopener, there was a small scratch.

Otherwise, the all black handle looks much better and in the axis part wears down very nice. Comes personal. :D
 
The 520 is a great knife... but I prefer the 710. The 710 is my 2nd favorite knife of all time (behind the Strider SNG). The 520 is a larger knife than the 710... it fills the hand nicely. But I love the compactness of the 710, it rides unnoticed in the pocket yet has massive cutting power thanks to the nearly 4" long recurved blade.

520:
Beefy
Feels better in the hand

710:
Recurve blade
M2 steel
G10 handles
Compact handle with a large blade
Cutting machine!!
 
The handles on these folders are like nite and day.The 520 is much heavier and has a "bulky"feeling.The 710 is slim and fits in the hand great.As discussed before the blades are very different too.I like both knives but for carrying the 710 wins hands down.I'm not sure who mentioned it(maybe bigon ?)that the blade on the 520 had a long breaking in peroid.Mine was the complete opposite.Bigon that was a great job switching the aluminium scales for the micarata ones.Did it make it lighter and less bulky?Can you also switch the scales back? :)
 
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