hunt for benchmade 710

SpartanSaint

SpartanSaint

Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Messages
970
Alright I Just decided I want a bigger folder. Love benchmade so to the 710 I go. My question is, what steels was the 710 offered in, which of those would you recommend, and where can I find one?
 
ATS-34
154CM
M2
D2
CPM-M4*
M390*

*limited number dealer specials
There may have been Gold Class LEs that I'm not mentioning.

They are all good. 154CM, ATS-34 and M2 were production but were discontinued several years ago, and the CPM-M4 was a limited special from a few years ago, so you will have to look for pre-owned knives if you want one of those. D2 is current and you can get it from any Benchmade dealer. There are still some of the M390 version available at Knifeworks in the black DLC coated version.

I have all of these other than the D2. They are all good. Stay away from M2 or M4 if you need stainless.
 
Type in Benchmade 710 on Google or ebay. . .problem solved.

I just bought one on this site's classified section too after a quick search.
 
ATS-34, 154CM, M2, D2, M4, and M390. ATS-34 was the original, a stainless steel. Later was 154CM (stainless) and M2 (high speed, non stainless). Current production is D2 (semi-stainless), with special versions available in M4 (high speed, non stainless) and M390 (stainless "super" steel).

It's probably best to go with one in D2 or 154CM for your first one. 154CM is no longer in production, but finding one shouldn't be too hard. Probably the easiest to sharpen of all of them, and good rust resistance. D2 is good too, and unless you're swimming with it or you sweat gallons a day, the "semi-stainless" nature of the steel isn't anything to worry about, it just needs a bit more attention/upkeep. Neither will break the bank.

Now that M4 is available, an M2 one might not be too hard to find for a good price. Don't know for sure. M2 steel ones jumped in price on the secondary market when they were discontinued.

The M4 model has the most wear resistant steel, but as such will be a bitch to sharpen if you're inexperienced and/or don't have the right equipment.

The 710 with M390 is a "Gold Class" with steel bolsters and carbon fiber handles. Very nice, and very expensive.

I'd recommend one in 154CM or D2, depending on if you'd prefer a blade that requires a bit less attention but has slightly less wear resistance (154CM), or one that will hold an edge better, but is more difficult to sharpen and requires a bit more upkeep (D2).
 
In addition to the gold class M390, there is a less expensive dealer special I mentioned. My impression is that the limited number of M4 710s didn't really hurt the price of the M2 710s. Actually, they seem to be holding up very well in the pre-owned market and there are some people on the Benchmade forum who prefer the M2 version to the M4.

I agree the D2 or 154CM is probably the best place to start.
 
I already have two examples of benchmade's D2, and I'd like to try something new. Wasn't sure what all they came in, I figured I'd google and ebay once I figured out which one I wanted.... but thanks for that comment. Thank you guys, any more input? I'd love to find one in m4
 
SpartanSaint said:
I already have two examples of benchmade's D2, and I'd like to try something new. Wasn't sure what all they came in, I figured I'd google and ebay once I figured out which one I wanted.... but thanks for that comment. Thank you guys, any more input? I'd love to find one in m4
Click to expand...

The M4 limited editions turn up for sale pretty regularly. If that's what you want, just keep looking on the BST forums and auction sites. Note that this one has green "painted" G10 scales, not the usual black. Some of them were not very well sprayed. :(
 
That's fine by me, easily remedied. I'll keep an eye out for one. I've been wanting a knife in m4 for a while now, but I don't see many folders I like in it
 
The basic 710's were produced in ATS34, 154CM and currently D2. I've had them in 154CM and D2, and currently have one in 154CM. D2 is a great steel, and I have many knives in D2, I just preferred to have one in 154CM. You can still get them in either steel. I had a 705 in ATS34, it was a great knife. Unless you have to have the hot steels, any of the three steels mentioned above would be a good choice.
 
I'll probably just get D2 seeing the m4's I have seen are rather spendy. I just don't wanna do that as that'll make my entire collection of knives benchmade d2
 
Do yourself a favor and grab one of the M390 versions while you can. The steel is outstanding.
 
M390 seems to be performing very well. Not sure I understand the logic of DLC on a stainless blade but other manufacturers do the same. Must be for the tactical black crowd. ;) Since you have a lot of D2, might be worth considering. M2 and M4 are both going to be spendy, though there was an M2 NIB for sale for $150 this week.
 
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