Man I Missed The Ares Bus......

Kalsu · Dec 28, 2013

Man I don't know where I have been but the 730 slipped right buy me. Now I find out about it they are *poof* gone. Go figure :dejection:.

I just saw the brown handled version and started looking and found the black/green G10. Great looking knives.

So who has a 730 and what do you think about it? Of course pictures are more than welcome.

Skywalker31 · Dec 28, 2013

I really like them... second only to the 710 for me. (funny how two of the oldest axis designs are still my favorites)

Really good feel in hand, very comfortable and secure. And I love the blade shape.

IMO, last year (2012) was really the year for it, though - three models in M390, for the same prices S30V's going for this year. Here's the 730-1202 and 730BK-1203; I think Neuro's got some pics of the Russian 730-1201, too.

Kalsu · Dec 28, 2013

Skywalker31 said:
I really like them... second only to the 710 for me. (funny how two of the oldest axis designs are still my favorites)

Really good feel in hand, very comfortable and secure. And I love the blade shape.

IMO, last year (2012) was really the year for it, though - three models in M390, for the same prices S30V's going for this year. Here's the 730-1202 and 730BK-1203; I think Neuro's got some pics of the Russian 730-1201, too.

I really like the blade shape to. How do they compare size wise to the 940? I think that out of the Benchmade knives that I own the 940 and 710 are my favorites. The Ares is just screaming my name right now. I really really like the green/black G10. I see them on the big auction site, but man they want some serious cash for them. Maybe not though since they aren't being made anymore.

RevDevil · Dec 28, 2013

I too missed them. I had a lead on the brown one, and as soon as I had the money bam, gone. When the black G10 and M390 came out, I had a lot of bills that needed paying (car registration, insurance, student loans, utilities) so that was impossible. What is really great is that these runs don't seem to be announced anywhere. Like this last tan G10 version, it was posted from the beginning as being "sold out". Retailers love doing that it seems, posting an ad for a knife they no longer have.

Icky Thump · Dec 28, 2013

I was late to to Ares thing as well. They come up for sale on the secondary sometimes, for better deals than the bay. The black and satin M390 and an M2HS are high on my list. Timing their availability w/ my available funds seems to be harder than just finding one. Feel lucky enough to have found this S30V hybrid.

Kalsu · Dec 28, 2013

RevDevil said:
I too missed them. I had a lead on the brown one, and as soon as I had the money bam, gone. When the black G10 and M390 came out, I had a lot of bills that needed paying (car registration, insurance, student loans, utilities) so that was impossible. What is really great is that these runs don't seem to be announced anywhere. Like this last tan G10 version, it was posted from the beginning as being "sold out". Retailers love doing that it seems, posting an ad for a knife they no longer have.

The brown one is the version that caught my eye initially. Then while I was looking into it I ran across the green/black model. Can't find either now except on the big auction site. Guess I will just have to keep my eyes open on the secondary market.

jkarp_53 · Dec 28, 2013

The Ares in any flavor, an Elishewitz design, are among the best knives Benchmade ever produced, and next to the 710 should be in everyone's colection. They're out there but not cheap...an interesting side note is Russian collectors are nuts over the Ares and as a result have driven the price up on any we might find. Still, they are that good.

bdmicarta · Dec 28, 2013

Seems like Benchmade discontinues their best knives, wonder why that is.

I like the design of the Ares- the shape of the handle and especially the shape of the blade. Another of my favorites is the 913 Stryker with a similar blade shape, but they are difficult to find too. The Ares has that great blade shape, nice sculpted scales, and axis lock. It has thick liners and that makes it heavier than it looks, but that also makes it feel solid and substantial.

zl1 · Dec 29, 2013

Price was too much for me
But that Ares design is definitely nice to look at
Although I'm not much of a brown fan.
But more pics please!

jkarp_53 · Dec 29, 2013

We knifenuts may love a particular model like the Ares, but what hastened their demise was slow sales.

Belly · Dec 29, 2013

I just picked up the 730-1301 yesterday at a gun store in suburban Philadelphia but paid full retail for it. I have an original 735 in 154 cm but I couldn't pass up this one even at the inflated price. Maybe it'll be worth more in a year or so, if not I'll just use it. Tough to decide to keep it nib or use it. It is a nice knife.

I found another one for sale at a different knife shop nearby and it was less than retail but it had an off center blade so I rejected it.

Helderberg · Dec 29, 2013

For a free site this place sure cost's me a LOT of money. That is a beautiful knife. Thanks for the post and please, post more photo's.
The only good thing for me is they are not readily available.

Frank.

JNewell · Dec 29, 2013

jkarp_53 said:
We knifenuts may love a particular model like the Ares, but what hastened their demise was slow sales.

Funny thing about that, too. I've been an Axis affi since the first 710, and only stumbled onto the Ares when the M390 LE came out (2012?). I really like the blade shape, although the "spur" on the pivot end of the handles is a little inefficient in terms of blade to handle ratio - but no biggie, that's not a complaint.

I would have thought the 730 would have sold much better than it did.

agony · Dec 29, 2013

I've been chasing the Ares since they were first introduced. I fell in love immediately, and my small collection of knives revolves around them. I have 42 of them so far, and am still missing 10 or 11 variants, some of which were one-offs that I'll probably never see.

2012 was a great year for Ares afficianados, with three brilliant offerings in M390. This year's trio is a little lack-luster, especially with the choice in blade steel. Despite this, I have to have them all.

My biggest beef with the Ares that have come out in the past few years since the regular line was discontinued, is that Benchmade no longer sculpts the 'tail' into the rear ends of the scales.

sechip · Dec 30, 2013

Just a fantastic knife, a combination of slimness when carrying and heft to get the job done and smooth as silk... what's not to like about the axis lock and love the blade profile.
I too came late to the game but was fortunate enough to get the M390 version with some custom Keyman scales and liked it so much i found the black and green s30v version and sent that out to Keyman for some more custom scales.

CJZ · Dec 30, 2013

I have the 730-1303 (tan G10/S30V), my local knife shop had two. It's a really nice knife, very smooth and comfortable in the hand/pocket.

scottabrandeberry · Jan 4, 2014

agony said:
I've been chasing the Ares since they were first introduced. I fell in love immediately, and my small collection of knives revolves around them. I have 42 of them so far, and am still missing 10 or 11 variants, some of which were one-offs that I'll probably never see.

2012 was a great year for Ares afficianados, with three brilliant offerings in M390. This year's trio is a little lack-luster, especially with the choice in blade steel. Despite this, I have to have them all.

My biggest beef with the Ares that have come out in the past few years since the regular line was discontinued, is that Benchmade no longer sculpts the 'tail' into the rear ends of the scales.

Sounds like a great collection! I picked up a user part serrated maroon/black 154CM Ares years ago, and had intentions of doing the same as you when I could afford it, but it never happened.