If You Had To Choose...BM 710 or 930

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savage_here

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Aug 22, 2009
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If you had to choose specifically between the Benchmade 710 or 930 for EDC, which would it be and why.

I guess I'm leaning a little toward the 930 because of size, but want to hear opinions.

Thanks.
 
The 930 has liners exposed under the handle which can make it uncomfortable. But its beautiful with great steel and texture. The 710 is rugged with a different type of awesome steel, good ergos, but doesn't look nearly as cool and may be a bit big for most edc tasks. Plus recurves are a pain for most to sharpen.
 
I had a 710 in hand today and I think it's just slightly too big. They didn't have a 930, so I couldn't try it.

One thing I noticed on the 710 was that the thumb studs are REALLY close to the handle. I had a hard time opening it. I don't have the hang of the AXIS lock yet, so the gravity option eluded me as well.

For those with the 930, does that little indentation in the scales help with the thumb stud opening?
 
On the 930 the indents on the G-10 do make a difference. I own both models and while I prefer the 710, for every day carry it's a little too big. The studs being a little "close in" just take getting used to...one trick is to run the thumb along the edge of the scales and push off on the stud. Make sense?

The size and shape of the 930 makes for easy pocket carry, and like many of the Osborne designs the blade is a surprise in how big it is compared to the rest of the knife.

I owned a 930 and traded it off due to the liners sticking out of the scales, but with the new one, I've decided it's not too bad. For heavy use I'd go with the 710 anyway.

So, on which one? Get the 930, it's a great knife if you can only get one of these two.
 
Once you buy one, you know you'd be itching to get the other. Get both! There's no way out!
 
I don't like the 710 much. They all have some up and down bladeplay. I tighten the pivot and it still has a hint of play. I have owned 3 of them and they were all the same. I sent one back to Benchmade to fix the bladeplay and it came back the same. I friggin hate up/down play!

My mini rukus and 520 presidio work perfectly and lock up 100% tight
 
I have them both. I like the 710 a lot more. The 930's blade shape is boring to me, and the way the liner deliberately sticks out from the G10 bugs me. They do this little thing on the top side with the exposed liner to give it a "lockback" look. But it's not a lockback, it's an axis lock. It's phony and bogus to me.
 
I only have a few BMs - including a current 710 D2 - with very little flexure and no 'up/down' play. Other smaller knives, a Spydie Native then a Buck 347 Vantage Pro (Both S30V) lately, have edged the Buck 110 from my front pocket EDC to a back pocket 'large' knife carry. The 710 has seemingly displaced the front and back pocket knives. First step - a better edge. It came sharp - just not up to the standard of Buck/Kershaw/Spyderco. Still, the right size, sturdy construction, and great feel have conspired to make this a great user.

Of course, I will have to go and at least look at a 930...

Stainz
 
Got both and both are great. GET BOTH. I would give the nod to the 930 as a gents blade and 710 for a all around good knife for anything.
 
I've had them both and kept the 930. It is smaller, nicer-looking, less threatening-looking, come in S30V, and opens and closes very smoothly.

The 710, however, is a classic for good reason. It is a sturdier and larger knife than the 930. I'd pick it over he Kulgera for camping or other duties where I would be using it a lot and using it hard. The 930 is more of a gentleman's folder than can do some hard work when needed.
 
So, I went with the 930. Got it in today's truck of joy and here are my initial impressions (in no particular order):

It's lighter than I expected.
It's thicker, by just a little, than I expected.
The G10 is much smoother and slicker than I expected.
The blade is perfectly centered and locks up dead solid with no play in any direction.
The opening is silky smooth and very, very nice.
Not sure I'm a fan of the pointy clip, but I'll live with it a while before deciding.
The thumb studs seem easier to get to and operate than the 710's did.
The blade is absolutely dull as hell.
One side of the very point seems to have not been sharpened at all (it's strange looking really).
The only place that the liners protrude above the scales are right at the faux lockback notch and they don't bother me at all.

Anyway, thanks everyone for the opinions and help. Oh, I haven't bought a 710 (yet), but I do have a ZT0350 on the way!
 
Extremely small difference in size. Go with the 710. It's my current EDC and I love it. Its close to perfect.
 
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