Late '90s/Early '00s Benchmades

M

M.Link

Joined
Dec 26, 2014
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Back in the late '90s or early '00s, when I was in middle school (I'm pretty young!), the owner of an exotic pet store I use to always go into had a Benchmade knife. I don't remeber a lot about it, but it had the black blade and scales, was big, and I want to say it had a thumb hole, instead of a stud. I've always collected knives, and use to show him my newest ones, but his BM was always the coolest. Now that I can maybe afford one, if I can find the same one, I'd like to see pictures of your Benchmades from that era! Hopefully I'll figure out which model it was!
 
Sounds like an AFCK.
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The above model is an 800HS, blade in M2 high speed tool steel. Circa 1998, price is now approaching $250 to $300 more or less, esp. if in the original box.
 
Here is my old beater AFCK in M2. This was from the first run where they accidentally mismarked the blade and had to print over it. It resides in my camelback for knife duties when I'm Mountain Biking.


And, although not the knife asked about, here is a 710 from the first run that matches the thread title (Early 00's benchmade). It has aluminum handles instead of G10.


Both of these knives remain super good users and I'm often struck by how good of cutters they are compared to some of the current "overbuilt" knives.
 
Thanks for the great pics. Those are in excellent condition for their age, and the 710 is a prize (so the 800 is too!):thumbup:
 
That was the golden era of Benchmades, in my opinion. The designs they had then were just amazing. From the red line on up. Most of the designs now, while good, just don’t compare.
 
Chalet said:
That was the golden era of Benchmades, in my opinion. The designs they had then were just amazing. From the red line on up. Most of the designs now, while good, just don’t compare.
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To a large degree, I'd tend to agree with you. I have 2 710's, one in ATS-34 and one in M2. I never did take a shine to ATS-34. It just didn't seem to be a very good steel, in any brand. BUT the M2: magnificent. Once they moved to 154CM instead of ATS-34, I don't think I ever got one that wasn't a gem of a knife.

Then again, back then, they also had a higher percentage of liner locks. I just don't really do liner locks. I have a couple, but almost never carry them because I don't trust them. The one advantage nowadays is almost everything they make uses a form of axis lock.
 
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