For $150, which is a better knife? Benchmade 710 or REKAT Carnivour.

Easyrider, to answer your question; the BM 710HS.
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RICK - Left Handers Unite
 
Don't know if they are legal in yer state, but i'd suggest a BM 42 balisong for less the $110, and a Leatherman Micra. Fun and utility for less money, and you get a new (old realy) twist on tactical preformance. Just my two cents. Back to the bali forum for me...
 
BM 710 with out a doubt. I still have my 710 M2 and I gave away my Carnie to a friend. Carnie is no match to a 710 for quality or simplicity of design.
 
I have an SAK for utility, and If I am going to shell out the cash, give me five times the lock strength and a heavy duty blade.

I won't deny that my main reason for a knife like either of the two is defense, and REKAT markets them that way. IF I were looking for a utility knife, the 710 would have it. BUT I am not, so my vote goes to the Carnivore.
 
Of course, the Axis can be opened extremely fast in a self-defense situation, so it could easily make the 710HS or 730 a better self-defense knife. I can open the 730 faste enough that I can't see the blade in motion; it's just closed, and then it's open. I just want them to offer a 730HS (but no BT2!), and I'll be set for a while.

Easyrider: In case you haven't made up your mind yet, I'll say go for the 730. It is really a beatiful knife, and gets positive comments even from non-knife-people (even a few who were afraid of the 705, go figure!). Plus, the handle swells to fit the hand which, with the texturing of the liners and the separation of the fingers into two groups, makes for an extremely strong grip. I can do full-power stabs with the butt of the knife without losing it, even though the handle gets narrower toward that end (please tape the blade up good if you aren't quite sure of yourself with knives, or you could end up with a bad cut).

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
If megafolders are legal carries in your jurisdiction, then go for the Sifu. It is by all means the biggest, meanest folder available, bar none! As to the 710 vs. Carnivour question, I don't have a 710, but I do have a Carnivour and a 720 and they are equally smooth and solid. The 720 is a bit smaller than a 710 so I can't compare in size. The blades on both seem equally sell heat-treated, an important matter with ATS34. My guess is that REKAT has beaten their QC problems, if my two REKATS are examples.

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
 
I really am looking at using the knife in a utility role. e_utopia, I have been considering the 730, but the maroon handle has been putting me off. Benchmade doesn't offer that knife in M-2 steel yet, do they?
 
Well, let me throw a curve here...

I own a 710 and I've handled a few Carnivores. I've also handled a few Spyderco Starmates. The 710 is an awesome knife, but the handle just doesn't do it for me, too hard to retain with gloves one. It's also not the fastest opening knife with that tiny little thumbstud (I'm not a flicker). Of the REKAT's I've handled they seem to have monstrous handles, totally out of propotion with the blade. Easy to retain, but it seems like a waste of a handle... And the fit and finish weren't as nice as my Benchmade.

Now, the Starmate which is roughly the same $$$ has excellent ergos, a blade hole (easier to open) and is just about the best execution of a liner lock to be found (it uses the Military's "cockpit"). Plus, it uses 440v steel which should be on par with Benchmade's M2 (plus it's stainless).

Of the three I'd pick the Starmate. If you want to stay away from liner-locks, look at the Benchmade 720. The blade isn't as long as the 710 but it's a nice size/shape for general utility and the handle completely rocks.
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Jon

PS - Order it from a online discount knife dealer and you'll have some $$ left over for a sharpener or a neat little Leatherman Micra.
 
M2 is still not available. I'll bet Benchmade would let you trade in a 730 for something of similar value, if you decided you didn't like it, especially since they do not show the correct color on their web page. You would be out postage, but nothing more. It's an aesthetic choice... some like it, some don't. Whatever you do, get an axis lock; they're great, and non-knife people can actually figure out how to work them, if you have to let someone borrow one of your knives, unlike liner locks and the lock Victorinox uses (don't know what to call it).

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
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