I'm inclined toward the 710, having recently bought one myself (my first Benchmade).
The pluses are:
1. It's a long blade, a tad under 4" per the mfr. The blade is also strong, being a saber grind with a thick spine. It's heavy duty for a folder IMO.
2. It's size efficient, meaning that the size of the handle is only a tad longer than the blade. Compared to a Spyderco Military or Skirmish or a Rukus, it's much smaller even though the blade is the same size or a 1/4" shorter. It's fairly flat and fits in the pocket easily.
3. D2 steel is a good steel.
4. Axis lock, though that might not distinguish it from the other BMs.
5. The G10 scales, while not tacky, give a better grip than any metal scales (unless they are checkered
). The scales have some channels and are textured. I feel that you could grip it well if the knife were wet.
6. The handle flares out toward the blade, providing the equivalent of a handguard. There is jimping on the front of the handle to provide additional purchase. The way the handle fits in my hand, I can rest the butt of the handle in my palm to provide further protection against slippage if the blade hits something solid while piercing the subject matter.
Minuses
1. Other blades with a full flat grind might be better for slicing, though they would not be as sturdy.
2. You might prefer other steels.
3. Some people don't like recurve blades because they view them as difficult to sharpen. I have a Sharpmaker, and it is reported to be easy to sharpen on that. I haven't had a need to test that out yet.
4. A 4" blade might be too big for what you want.
5. Some people don't like how close the thumbstuds are to the handle, making it hard for them to open the blade. But that can be overcome by the proper technique. I now find it easier than my Spyderco Delica, though that is still a bit stiff since that's really new.
All in all, if you want a large blade, the 710 is the best choice IMO.:thumbup:
