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Long Term Test from BM710HS owners.

M

musky hunter

Joined
Jan 4, 2003
Messages
195
I was wondering how the blade is holding up after a year or 2 of hard use. How is the coating? is it holding up? How is the fit and finish? Is there anything loose on the handle? Blade play? Axis lock smoothness? I just want to get some feedback from users that actually use their knives not admire them. Thanxs in advance.

:)
 
Its threads like this that make me wonder if BM's are way overrated. Everytime anyone asks for folder advice everyone suggests a BM 710. Then when someone wants info on one like in this thread no one responds, makes me wonder how many people actually use there knives.
 
He's asking for a sort of mini-review, which is not that fun to type up, besides it is Saturday and all, they may be out and about beating up their BM knives while we sit here and talk about how great our knives are.;) :D
Trust me, BM's are NOT over rated.
 
The axis is out maybe 3 years. There are many owners. I just want to know how it served them for 3 years and how is the lock and blade play.
 
ahh, I have had the BM556 for a little over a year now and it's better than ever.
The lock becomes smoother over time as the parts wear-in with each other. I carry it EVERY single day at work, and at home, and have used it for everything for light prying, stripping/cutting wire, punching through thick materials, whatever comes along. The blade is as tight as ever. ZERO blade play vertically, and a small side to side play that I adjusted into the pivot intentionally so it'll swing out with no friction. It can be tight as a drum If I want it that way with a 1/8 turn of the pivot pin. Ive had no spring breakage either even with nearly constant flicking when Im not actually using the thing. The parts of the axis show virtually no wear at all other than a polished look. The axis seems equal or more resistant to failing under twisting loads than any other knife I own, not to mention more reliable with slick stuff on the mechanism, stronger, smoother, easier and just plain more fun to operate than anything I can think of offhand.
As a sidenote, the often-reffered-to-as-cheap Zytel handles show absolutley no damage or scratches even after falling off a loading dock in cold weather, being dropped a bunch of times on concrete floors, junk in pocket crashing into it for over a year, etc. Can't think of many materials that can claim that type of damage/wear resistance.
 
question: is the nortyl-gtx handle of the griptillian "sticky" and squishy like rubber in that it will pick of pocket lint or is it more like the spyderco zytel which is like smooth rigid plastic?
 
I've had my 710HS for about a year now. The M2 has proven to be exceptional, and the black coating has done its job well. I haven't had any rust problems. The only downside is that the blade looks like crap where the black coating has begun to wear off. I haven’t had any problems with the springs whatsoever, although I still can’t seem to get myself to trust the little buggers.

The 710HS is a sensational knife. I prefer the Spyderco Military over the 710, but the difference is perceived quality falls well within personal preference.
 
Pointy, the handle is not sticky at all. It just feels like plain old plastic, like a toy squirt gun. My mini-grip blade and the lock mechanism pick up tons of pocket lint, but the handle picks up nothing.
 
I have had my 710 HSSR since June of 2001. That is just over a year and a half. It is my main EDC. I use it regularly, and have cut everything from tape to cardboard to plastic ties to coffee can lids to squirrel feces. (just kidding on that last one.)

Although it is no longer shaving sharp, it is not nearly dull enough where I feel I need to sharpen it. Someday soon I will be getting a sharpening system, and do this on my own; just haven't gotten around to doing it yet.

The serrations on tool steels are awesome. They have more bite than on SS blades. The Benchmade serrations on my 710 have really deep bevels too. They really serve as a separate cutting system than the plain edge. I have used the serrations to do things from push-cutting plastic tubing to trimming my nails. They have excellent bite and each serration serves as a mini blade.

The coating on the blade has some wear and scratches on it. I like this. I use my knife so the scratches don't bother me. They give the knife character, much like the patina on a well-made and well- used slipjoint pocket knife does.

I have experienced zero problems with the Axis lock.

The pocket clip is as solid and tight as day one. Benchmade's pocket clips are second to none.

The blade has just barely noticeable play side to side. This should be expected with locking pin mechanisms. It is very slight, however. It can be eliminated by tightening the pivot, but the knife is no longer smooth to open. The opening remains very smooth to this day.

I have not had a problem with excessive amounts of lint in the knife. And I carry this knife almost every day. The only cleaning it has received is with compressed air. It wouldn't hurt to put a drop of lubricant in the mechanism one of these days.

I have experienced a little bit of rust on the blade, mostly on the Benchmade butterfly logo- which is merely uncoated M2 stenciling-- and on the serration bevels. A little mineral oil now and then keeps it well protected.

The 710 HSSR has been an outstanding EDC. It is practical without equal, extremely well-made, and cuts like a champ.
 
komondor, Buzzbait, Sticky,

Thanxs for the reviews. I am further facinated with the 710HS. I just hope they would have one in M2 uncoated, VG10, or S30V. I guess it will just show character when the coating comes of the blade. HEHE. I am awaiting the day when Roger @ knifeworks.com has then in stock. It would be the perfect big brother to my Delica, Buck, Native, and Chive.





:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
 
Originally posted by komondor
Although it is no longer shaving sharp, it is not nearly dull enough where I feel I need to sharpen it. Someday soon I will be getting a sharpening system, and do this on my own; just haven't gotten around to doing it yet.
Click to expand...

The longer you wait, letting it get duller, the harder it will be to sharpen the M2 when you finally get around to it. M2 is not an easy steel to sharpen, and works best if you keep it in good shape with routine blade maintenance on a steel and strop, and light sharpening when the former no longer works. It will take extremely long on a ceramic rod system like the spyderco, unless you get the diamond rods. Trust me on this, routine light sharpening to keep it razor sharp will be a whole lot easier than trying to sharpen it once it is too dull to cut satisfactorily.

Mike
 
Medic,

I have no doubt that it will be harder to sharpen considering it is a very hard tool steel.

However, I have taken that into consideration. When it comes time to be re-sharpened, the knife is going back to the factory. That is because the serrations would be difficult to sharpen anyways. I might as well let Benchmade do it for free, plus postage.
 
Komondor,
In my Benchmade catalogue it says that serrations are not included in the sharpening service.

Later,
Alex
 
I had a 710 for almost 2 years before I sold it off. The only reason I sold it was I bought a slightly used 710HS to replace it :D Excellent knife, can't recommend it enough. I've broken 4 omega springs (I'll sit and constantly play with the knife, maybe 200 or so cylces a day), but I never sent it in until both springs were broken, because its lock was just as solid with 1 as with 2. And yes, I tested it ;) I recommend the M2 version, it holds a razor sharp edge longer than the stainless.

Oh, and the coating sucks :barf: But it seems once you get the initial wear on it, it pretty much stays the same. Emersons coating seems to get worn down to bare steel much faster than Benchmades. But don't let the coating turn you off from a knife with top notch build quality, blade shape, ergonomics, steel, and the Axis lock. It's a very small price to pay for all the good things the 710 has to offer.
 
I have had my BM720 for about 1.5 yrs. When I bought it, it was the first time I had ever seen an Axis Lock. It was not my first BM, and when I saw it, I knew I HAD TO HAVE IT. I got it for less than $50, from Gander Mountain (friend of mine worked there). I have carried it every day until about 2 mos. ago, only because I bought a BM switchback. It has never failed to function flawlessly. I played with it on a weekly basis when I wasn't using it, and only oiled it two or three times. It never saw any real severe usage but only regular activities. It is still beautiful, except for a couple minute nicks in the edge, which I have yet to sharpen because my Lansky kit won't cut the 154cm very well. I now have 4 Axis Locks, which are all equally flawless.:)
 
Besides normal knife duties, my 710HS has been on 2 backpacking trips and a couple of camping trips in the past year. It has held up well--no problems with the Axis lock at all--in fact it locks up without a trace of slop or wobble. The BT2 coating shows some "scuffing" marks, but that seems normal for a knife that has seen some fairly heavy-duty use.

Medic1210 said it: Sharpen before it really gets dull.
 
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