BM 720 Mel Pardue

Praetorian

Praetorian

Joined
Apr 1, 2001
Messages
135
I did some searching and couldn't find much written about the 720,721 series from Benchmade. I just picked up a 720 with the aluminum handles and I think it's a great knife. I already had a 551 Grippie so, I was familiar with the Pardue design but this 720 is much nicer. The one I got has ATS-34 steel drop point. The aluminum handles give the knife a very "hefty" or substantial feel over plastic variations. Although the aluminum is smooth, it still has a very good grip due to the shape. The clip is reversible for tip up or down carry. Of course, the axis lock is buttery smooth. The thumb stud is just a wee bit closer to the handle than I would like, making it slighty harder to gain purchase on than the Griptillian series but it's not as close as a 710. The blade grind is a very nice flat grind with a sturdy angle on the edge. The appearance is excellent. the aluminum gives it a look that you just can't get with any kind of plastic or micarta. It's thinner than the griptillion series so it carries very well in the pocket and the smooth aluminum won't abrade your pants fabric. I haven't had it long enough to tell how well the black finish will hold up on the handle. The ATS-34 blade came scary sharp unlike a 710 I got in ATS-34 a while back. Fit and function are flawless. I don't know why more people haven't checked out a 720, I think it's a winner.
 
Great knife in my estimation. I actually won a 720 from Benchmade, but I wound up selling it because it was partially serrated. I just don't care for serrations much. If a good deal on a 720 plain edge came my way, I might bite. It's a nice design, and you can't beat the Axis lock.
 
Judging from the lack of responses, I'd say my initial thoughts were correct. Not many have tried a 720...
 
I've had a PE 720 for over a year now and carry it from time to time. It is a bit too large for my workplace.I like the knife a great deal. It has a very useful blade, holds an edge well and locks up nice and tight. In addition, the handle fits my hands nicely and is grippy even when wet. I handled a griptilian but didn't like the flimsy feel of the plastic handles. They flexed too much. The 720 is by far a stronger feeling knife.
 
I am a big fan of the BM axis lock knives with the 720 series as my favourite. I have a BM721 which is the same knife as the 720 but with G10 handles (lighter weight). Smooth, secure locking, sharp right out of the box, nicely beveled handle edges. I was really pleased with the quality and is a good buy.

Andrew Limsk
 
I have been carrying one for about a year now.Great knife.Scales hold up well.
 
I had the 720, pl. edge, satin finish, and traded it off. It really was a nice knife, but it just didn't seem to have that mystical quality that made me want to pluck it from my collection and carry it. Different strokes...
 
I've had my eye on the 720 for some time now. Sooner or later I'm going to break down and get one. I'm already partial to aluminum scales, since my 710 has 'em. They make for a slimmer knife and a smoother carry, IMO.
 
Originally posted by shivey
...it just didn't seem to have that mystical quality that made me want to pluck it from my collection and carry it. Different strokes...
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Couldn't have said it any better myself.

I had the 722 but it never appealed much to me. I bought it at a time when I decided I needed a tanto blade and I wanted a strong lock to go with a strong blade geometry. I never liked the ergonomics and it never screamed out to me from my collection so it never saw much carry time.
 
The 720 is a little bulldog of a knife, my wife uses one for household chores and hasn't managed to break it yet. She likes it because the lock works easy.
 
Great knife. Only reason I don't have one is that it just doesn't "feel" right in my hand.
I got one of the original 721s, the Knife of the Month that BM did in 2000, and gave it to a friend Christmas before last. He loves it.
One of my coworkers has a 720 and is very happy with it-he abuses the crap out of that thing, sometimes, too.
Neither of these guys carry other knives, and neither of them is much concerned with maintenance or care. Both knives have been used heavily, and the only complaint either of them has had was a little rust on the flat around the thumbstud (both of them have the older ATS-34 blades, and both had rust in the same place, IIRC).
I gave the friend with the 721 a Sharpmaker this past Christmas, so I don't have to sharpen his knife anymore:p
 
Originally posted by Nathan S
I've had my eye on the 720 for some time now. Sooner or later I'm going to break down and get one. I'm already partial to aluminum scales, since my 710 has 'em. They make for a slimmer knife and a smoother carry, IMO.
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I highly recommend it! It adds a nice heft to the knife without making it slippery. The aluminum also "looks" better.

By the way, may I ask where you got the aluminum scales for your 710? Did benchmade offer an aluminum scaled version? I'll be that is one sweetheart of a knife.
 
BM did a run of the 710 for the distributor Montag last year, Al scales and a 154cm blade. Monster, in a good way :)
 
My 710 is 154cm also but I would LOVE to have some aluminum scales for it!

Does the 720 come in 154cm now also? Mine is ATS34 plain edge.

Since I started this thread, I've been playing with my 720. The more I flick it and handle it the MORE I like it. I don't think I'll be selling or trading this one for a long time.
 
I had a BM 720 "pre-production" blade for a while.

Great fit and finish and flawless action. Blade seemed a touch overhardened but held up well.

It's now on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico...oh well
 
I got my 710 with aluminum scales on sale from 1SKS last year. I don't know if they have any left.
 
For a time, I thought that the BM 720 partially serrated black coated blade was the best overall knife in my collection. Now I know better--there is no such thing as a "best overall knife." However, the 720 does come close. With the benefit of hindsight, I think that I should have bought the 720 with a plain-edged satin finish blade. (If I need to carry something smaller than the 710 today, instead of the 720 it is now the 942)

A BM710AL with 154CM sees alot of time as my EDC. I think Steve Harvey has switched out the 154CM blade with an HS (M2) blade and may have that one sweet folder in his pocket as I type this reply. I have a second pre-pro 710 with the M2 blade but have been too chicken to make the swap. If BM ever decides to make a run on 710HSAL knives (real doable), I'd buy at least two and I don't think they would have a problem selling the rest. A 710HSBC1AL would be heaven.
 
I bought a 720 when they first came out and I like it a lot. It is a very solid knife. But I like my Spyderco Terzuola StarMate a whole lot more a I do my Spyderco Lum Chinese Folder. The StarMate weighs slightly less with a 1/2" longer blade and the Lum has a blade of nearly the same length but of a more useful shape and weighs over an ounce less. I also think that the BenchMade 940 Osborne, with its sculptured looks and slimmer design, is a better choice as an EDC knife of roughly the same blade size.
 
My EDC for the last year & a half has been a 720 SBT.

It has been a great knife, and the coating on the blade, as well as the anodizing on the aluminum scales has held up amazingly well.

I highly recommend this knife. It has taken a beating, and hasn't failed me.
 
Been carrying a BM 720 plain edge most days since they came out. Great knife and just the right size.

Brad
 
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