Is the BM710 still the iconic knife it once was?

JNewell said:
In all seriousness, the 710 is like the Military and a few other knives: every serious knife user/collector should at least give it a serious trial. Lots of knives come and go. Knives that are still going strong a dozen years after they were introduced are doing something right for a large number of people. :thumbup:

Edit to echo the vote for M390. I think the dealer who commissioned the LE still has some of the DLC knives for sale (and ships internationally).
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nice JN, who is that? tnx
 
They are not bladeforums dealers so just type in "Benchmade 710 m390" into google
 
Knifeworks had the M390 run.

While I love the AXIS lock and think it is the best engineered knife lock available, I'm not a huge fan of the 710 though I do own one. I like a wider blade so the long narrow recurve blade just doesn't speak to me. And opposite of the OP, I think the AXIS lock on the 710 is the worst that I have encountered. It has a short 'throw' so that it has to be pulled back until it stops to unlock it. It makes the knife more difficult to flip open and closed than a lock with more lock travel. Being able to pull the lock back a long ways has a more springy feel and just feels better to me. Plus the 710 doesn't have circular cut outs like other AXIS lock knives which makes disassembling the knife easier as the lock bar can just be slid out instead of the end caps removed as on the 710. The 14205 and Rift have the best feeling lock to me in case anyone is interested. I also personally think the Rift is the best knife Benchmade has ever made and it is my all time favorite knife of any manufacturer. One has been in my RFP since I got my first one a few years ago when they first came out. I now have 6 of them and EDC a LE M4 model these days. I wish they would come out with a M390 version because I'm also a steel snob these days and would buy 3 of them. I also need to pick up the model that is meant for the water and with a different blade shape.

Anyways, that is just my different opinion of the knife even though it is a very nice and well made knife. Just not my favorite.
 
There was a time when it first came out i thought it was the greatest knife ive ever seen/owned. that was 1999.over the years i got bored with them, sold & rebought them,& ive found other knives in the last 5 years that make the 710 un necessary for me now,i never thought id see the day when i no longer needed a 710...
 
There's obviously a lot of room to disagree about things here, but I'd rate the 710's implementation of the Axis lock as the best of a very large number that I've owned/still own, including several Rifts. The geometry of the ramp and lobe work exceptionally well for me. Retention when closed it good, opening is smooth, lockup is swift and wear-free, unlocking is smooth, easy and fast. I've been using them since 1999 and think the knife was more or less perfect when it left the drafting table. :thumbup:

Check Knifeworks.com for the M390 710 limited edition.

FlaMtnBkr said:
Knifeworks had the M390 run.

While I love the AXIS lock and think it is the best engineered knife lock available, I'm not a huge fan of the 710 though I do own one. I like a wider blade so the long narrow recurve blade just doesn't speak to me. And opposite of the OP, I think the AXIS lock on the 710 is the worst that I have encountered. It has a short 'throw' so that it has to be pulled back until it stops to unlock it. It makes the knife more difficult to flip open and closed than a lock with more lock travel. Being able to pull the lock back a long ways has a more springy feel and just feels better to me. Plus the 710 doesn't have circular cut outs like other AXIS lock knives which makes disassembling the knife easier as the lock bar can just be slid out instead of the end caps removed as on the 710. The 14205 and Rift have the best feeling lock to me in case anyone is interested. I also personally think the Rift is the best knife Benchmade has ever made and it is my all time favorite knife of any manufacturer. One has been in my RFP since I got my first one a few years ago when they first came out. I now have 6 of them and EDC a LE M4 model these days. I wish they would come out with a M390 version because I'm also a steel snob these days and would buy 3 of them. I also need to pick up the model that is meant for the water and with a different blade shape.

Anyways, that is just my different opinion of the knife even though it is a very nice and well made knife. Just not my favorite.
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zyhano said:
dont have one. should I pick one up?
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Absolutely! The big recurve blade is dead sexy, strong and no matter what Vasilli thinks the BM D-2 takes a mirror polish and shaves hair effortlessly and the Axis lock is superb for a medium duty folding knife.

I don't run a perfect mirror polish on mine as it really bites in with a little toothiness left on the finished edge - but that's my personal opinion.

You get a knife that reminds me of my large 21 Sebenza in regard to having a large blade in a shorter handle than most offerings. You have a great 1:1 blade to handle ratio which is similar to the Sebenza.

You can gravity flip by pulling back on the axis lock, or thumb flick it effortlessy and w/o harm to the pivot and locking mechanisms.

These are very fast. My 710 and 940 come out as fast as any switchblade after you get used to handling them.

The only mod I've made on mine was to lightly sand (400 grit paper) the g-10 edge, surrounding the thumbstud for a little extra room in deploying the blade and rounding that edge off makes a heck of a difference. This small taper can't be seen either, so it was a good mod, looking factory stock when completed.

I was thinking about getting stand-offs installed instead of the G-10 insert om the spine but it's lot that big of a deal and I don't know where to buy the gear to switch it over.

I know you like good folders zyhano, so I'm pretty sure you'd like the Benchmade 710. I hope to see your review on it one day. :D
 
A.P.F. said:
"This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as random or as clumsy as a blaster, but an elegant weapon for a more civilized age."
—Obi Wan Kenobi, A New Hope

IMO, the 710 is an elegant knife and if you were lucky enough to score one of the M390 versions, you will find it the 'lightsaber' of the knife world.
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funny, i used this same quote just the other day when someone asked about why i prefer my 710 over other knives i own
 
IMO, the 710 is an elegant knife and if you were lucky enough to score one of the M390 versions, you will find it the 'lightsaber' of the knife world.
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Benchmade's limited edition M390 steel is treated by them which may cause a variance of performance between makers, but M390 is reportedly very similar to Duratech 20CV and IMO, not that big of a deal as compared to their D2 which IMO (again) is treated quite well and is a real performer.

I wouldn't spend the addtl. $$ for the M390 unless I could justify it and I don't think it can be justified except for those who dig using new steels as part of their knife collecting hobby which is cool and part of our knife hobby.

I'd reccomend that for normal use the current production model BM 710 D2 is all the blade steel you'd need in this model. :)
 
cziv said:
Benchmade's limited edition M390 steel is treated by them which may cause a variance of performance between makers, but M390 is reportedly very similar to Duratech 20CV and IMO, not that big of a deal as compared to their D2 which IMO (again) is treated quite well and is a real performer.

I wouldn't spend the addtl. $$ for the M390 unless I could justify it and I don't think it can be justified except for those who dig using new steels as part of their knife collecting hobby which is cool and part of our knife hobby.

I'd reccomend that for normal use the current production model BM 710 D2 is all the blade steel you'd need in this model. :)
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Thanks for the response cziv! I've been checking out some reviews and doing some research. Might pull the trigger on the d2 version, the 710 is on my 'keep in mind list' right now (which is kindof small these days :))


Can anyone tell me what the difference is between the710 in the knifeworks m390 version (coated) and the gold class m390 by benchmade??
 
I used to own one, miss it BIG TIME! It's design is timeless and function perfect IMO. I'll eventually get another one once I get a few other folders I want out of the way.

When I was ready to purchase my first "serious" large folder it came down to making a choice between the 710, Military & Police. It beat the Military because of the superior lock and tip up carry... and beat the police because of the faster deployment.
 
I think it's still a good knife and always will be personally. :)
 
I love my 710, a bit too big for me to carry nowadays, but I used to carry it allot and I still think it's a very relevant knife, and it holds it's own against the newer Benchmade offering. But my only gripe, and it's becoming a real sticking point for me with my knives is that I like when the shape of the handle offers excellent and positive grip, and in that regard the 710 is lacking, but the AFCK is a bit better in that sense.
 
I really like my 710 and use it often. I've had probably about five of them. ATS34, D2 and 154CM. I have a 154CM model right now. The 705 and 707, of which I had a few, were great models too, but I just cannot carry folders that small, with my hamhock hands. The 710 is in the rotation with my Spyderco Manix II. Hell, the 710 is my birthday knife, July 10th!
 
I just placed an order for my first 710 and the now disco'd 930 Kulgera. I've had lots of BM's, but never a 710 for some reason.

My Axis lock supply was getting low :-)
 
When I got my Benchmade 710 years and years ago, it was an amazing knife, and it was one of my first high end knives.
Since then my preferences have changed. I like a flat transition from handle to blade spine, and I don't like re-curves.
In my opinion the 806 is much more deserving of its hardcore following.
 
I still love mine. It's a keeper for sure. The quintessential Benchmade after all these years. A classic.
 
My M4 version is the knife that gets the most pocket time at the moment (until the sebenza arrives I guess).
I think it's impossible to pack a larger blade into such a small handle. The combination of thin form factor, large blade, amazing steel and super smooth fast opening let's me forget that I don't really like recurves and the thumbramp.

Oh, and I hated the coating, so I removed it with some scotch brite. Now it has a beautiful dark grey colour, and you can't see the ugly limited edition very good anymore. :)

As for the D2, I'm not a fan. For me it's too brittle I guess, the edge always gets a little jagged with use. With the M4 on the other hand I can hack down branches and everything and it keeps a usable edge forever.
I'm curious how the M390 version would keep up.

Bottom line, very practical nice knife with a few annoyances (my opinion).
 
Joshua J. said:
When I got my Benchmade 710 years and years ago, it was an amazing knife, and it was one of my first high end knives.
Since then my preferences have changed. I like a flat transition from handle to blade spine, and I don't like re-curves.
In my opinion the 806 is much more deserving of its hardcore following.
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The Benchmade 806's (Spyderco or should I say Byrd) hole doesn't cut it for me with an axis lock - why bother?
 
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