Hardcore contest: Ocelot vs. 710

M

mathu

Joined
Jan 14, 2006
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I have narrowed my next purchase to Spydie Ocelot and BM 710D2. Both have excellent finish and similar price and both are completely different ;>

The 710 is IMHO the best looking folder ever and Ocelot is one of the best gentleman knives on the market. The paws are also great (I'm a huge fan of cats).

What would you recommend?
 
I've only seen the Ocelot in pictures, but I've read that those paws are actually cut-outs - lots of places for crud to accumulate. It is probably a good enough knife otherwise but the 710 has the Axis lock and it's a proven design that's been in production for a long time. I'd go with the 710 if it was my choice.
 
The 710 would be the clear choice for me. I haven't played with an ocelot in person, but one thing you should be aware of is that the 710 is big in real life......bigger than its dimensions would suggest.

In any case, axis lock, D2, recurve...those things put it over the top. It's a classic.
 
The Ocelot is smaller than the Stretch IIRC and far smaller than the 710.
 
You are not kidding that they are different. Indeed the difference is night and day. The 710 is a great knife and the D2 blade is a good feature making it hard to find fault with for me. The axis lock does not hurt but the knife is not exactly the most sheeple friendly knife around due to its size. As has already been pointed out it is big. In fact it can be quite intimidating. When I first handled one I was surprised at how big it was. My first thoughts were, "Ok, so if I'm stopped by a police officer with this how do I explain carrying something this huge?"

I would suggest the Ocelot is a better choice for everyday carry. The size is sure right, the cuteness of the paw prints make it somewhat less intimidating to the public and therefore more sheeple friendly even if the paw print cut outs do tend to collect dust, and/or blood and other debris if you use the knife for what it is sold as, which is a hunting folder. If not I'm sure it will work out fine for you. I have replaced scales on two of those knives for folks and one for myself before selling the knife.

Both are good but it depends on your environment where you carry it.

STR
 
In a recent thread on repairs, Benchmade will repair their knives several years past their actual manufacturing date. If the Ocelot is a japanese product, spyderco may not be able to offer repairs and probably not at all after it's production run is completed.
 
Don't you think you'll end up buying both? - you're just getting more and more reasons to do just that. Enjoy! ;) :cool:
 
brownshoe said:
In a recent thread on repairs, Benchmade will repair their knives several years past their actual manufacturing date. If the Ocelot is a japanese product, spyderco may not be able to offer repairs and probably not at all after it's production run is completed.
Click to expand...

which is why there are more knives avaliable in the world than there are grains of sand:p

whats the matter with buying a new knife after yours is broke?
 
OwenM said:
What do you envision using it for most of the time?
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I don't need another knife for an EDC (which does not mean I won't EDC one of them) so I would just treat them as a toys :)
Seriously speaking - if I were looking at the utilitarian side of them I would definitely choose Ocelot but as I said I don't mind that - my knives rarely do anything harder than opening food.

Let's redefine the question:

If you were planning to eventually get both of them in the future what would you buy first?
 
71D2.

Anyone who appreciates great folding knives should have at least one version of the 710.
 
Ok, I get it:)
Since most of my real and imagined uses for a "tactical" folder would be what I consider rough cutting jobs, and I tend to be rough on my gear, without question the 710.
Axis lock knives are fun to play with, too, so that would be my preference for a knife "just to have" as well.
 
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