Movin' Up To Benchamde

Buzzbait

Buzzbait

Gold Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2001
Messages
6,801
I read in a post a while ago that there was a natural progression to knife purchases. The post basically stated that one starts off purchasing less expensive knives, then moves up to Benchmade, then to Sebs, and finally to customs.

Well I just graduated to Benchmade, am I'm darned impressed. I picked up a 730 Ares this weekend, and I'm tickled as pink as the handle color. Boy is that Axis sweet!!!!

Many thanks go out to all the Benchaholics who have been waering me down over the last couple months.

Now to start saving for that Seb.........
 
Im new to knives and was wondering what is so great about the 710. It seems to be mentioned alot. Any information would be helpful. Thanks.
 
The first knife I spent over $100 on was also a BM730. Worth every cent, as it turned out. Although, today I'm carrying my CRKT M16-04 ($50) and it's quite a knife!

Next year at the Blade Show, it'll be a custom or, maybe, a Sebenza. Have fun.
 
hummer,
the 710 is wel-loved for a couple reasons.
firstly, it's got benchmade's axis lock, which is a lovely little feature.
smile.gif

it's a great size, being just big enough to feel truly substantial.
the blade shape is fanshmabulous.
the handle feels nice.
great materials, especially the new steel options.
hope this helps a little.
smile.gif

aleX.

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"i flip you... i flip you for real..."

"come and get one in the yarbles, if you've got any yarbles."
 
You should skip the Sebenza on your way to customs. For another $100 to $200 you can buy a handmade knife with good ergonomics by the likes of Brian Tighe.

The Sebenza's lock and blade are very well engineered, but its handle is uncomfortable for extended use.

[This message has been edited by Erikfsn (edited 06-18-2001).]
 
I actually would have done the 710, instead of the 730, if I had liked the looks more. I guess I'm just sick of black G-10. I never really liked the looks of black G-10 in the first place. Now 3 black G-10 knives later, I'm very sick of it.

Doesn't anybody like wood and bone anymore? I know they aren't as functional or indestructable as G-10, but they're not that bad! Let's have a little Axis aesthetics here! I can't believe that Benchmade made the 690 without Axis. It might have been the perfect production folder for me.

Now the LCC has my kind of looks! That is one gorgeous knife. Perhaps I'll give the LCC a good look-over at the NYC show this fall. I have no problems with a substantial yet beautiful looking knife.
 
I'm with Erikfsn. . ." knowin'" your fate and following it is hard on the money pot.
Besides it just doesn't make it fun nor interesting if you follow the line. . .

It will shock you the cool customs (or even a nice Benza or two) that you could have had ~ instead of those Benchmades. . . (and that's not made to slam a bunch of Benchmadeholics.)

Take it from those who know !
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Livin' Life ~ Full Throttle
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I totally understand what you’re saying about moving straight to customs. It's just a matter of getting up the courage to spend that much money in one shot!!! I'm also a pretty hard knife user. As it is now, it would kill me to use a real custom the way I do my current knives.

I'll tell you what. Other than the upcoming Talonite EDC from Camillus, I'll refrain as much as possible from buying other knives until the show in November. Other than being addicted to Darrel Ralph’s designs, I’m not feeling too pressed to make more purchases right now. I'll try out lots of knives at the show and see how I feel. Maybe I'll know exactly what I want by then too.

I’m at least feeling pretty good about the Benchmade decision. I don’t have any of that buyers remorse going on. Well…… not that much remorse. I just finished paying off the credit card on a stag handled, BG-42, serrated Buck 110. The price on that ran about the same as the Benchmade, and the knife is about the same size. That’s the only thing that hurts. I’m not a collector at heart, and just bought two knives for the same level of hard use. I just fell in love with the Axis lock and had to have it. I like the steel much better on the Buck, and the aesthetics of the finger grooved stag handle are much more to my liking, but it’s just kind of an inconvenient knife for my everyday use. One hand opening and a pocket clip are a big deal to me for constant carry.
 
You brought up an interesting point about handles/materials. Comfortable, ergonomic handles scaled w/ aesthtically pleasing bone, stag, or wood is the future for production knives of the "tactical" genre. Not many of us are Navy Seals, nor do we like or need tools suited for their line of work. A quality knife, like a great firearm, should be endearing to the civilian owner, and not necessarily indestructable.
 
Try a Spyderco Starmate and Military, then a Microtech LCC D/A, then a MOD CQD DD then the Sebi!
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Wayne.
"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
Tennyson
Ranger motto

A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
http://members.aol.com/knivesuk/
Certified steel snob!
 
I do have a Military. It's an absolute cutting machine!!! It's ugly as all get-up, but a sensational knife nonetheless.
 
Just try and get your hands around as many knives as you can, production, custom or whatnot. You never know what you'll like until you give it a try; there are a lot of just fabulous factory knives out there. You can find out what sizes, bladestyles and materials you like a lot cheaper buying factory knives than custom counterparts. I had never used a knife with Carbon Fiber handle scales, so used a CF handled spyderco extensively before deciding to order Carbon Fiber on a >$400.00 custom knife, for example.

Buy what you like, but look at everything you can so that you don’t miss out.


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James Segura
San Francisco, CA
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Buzzbait:
Doesn't anybody like wood and bone anymore? I know they aren't as functional or indestructable as G-10, but they're not that bad! Let's have a little Axis aesthetics here! I can't believe that Benchmade made the 690 without Axis. It might have been the perfect production folder for me.</font>
Click to expand...

I gotta agree here. While I'm no enemy of black G-10 (actually I really like the stuff), wood and bone are plenty durable for my uses, and those of most I'm sure. I'd give up a little bit of indestructibility for a bit more style. But that's what Frank Recupero is for
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An axis 690 would kick ass!

Oh, and remember that BM is coming out with a CF M2 730 pretty soon!

Funny though, I'd like to see PCKS add G-10 to their handle materials and I'd like to see BM's offered with natural materials (in addition, of course, to what's already offered).


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Jason aka medusaoblongata
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This space for rent.
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Erikfsn:
You should skip the Sebenza on your way to customs. For another $100 to $200 you can buy a handmade knife with good ergonomics by the likes of Brian Tighe.</font>
Click to expand...

Agreed. If you're going to start making this climb, you might as well make every step count. Call a maker like Darrel Ralph and tell him what you want and what you have to spend. Remember that you'll have some time before you take delivery, so if you put your pennies away over that time, you have more to spend than you would have for an instant-gratification production purchase. Then talk to that maker about everything you've ever wanted in a knife, and get ready to lose your fascination with production knives forever.

Also, if you go size-for-size and decoration-for-decoration, a custom knife won't necessarily even be $100-$200 past the Seb.
 
I myself have just graduated from the Microtech class and am moving onto Sebenza's. If you want a good Benchmade, check out the 330. A great, more traditional pocket knife.
Have fun,
Matt
 
Buzzbait,
Don't 'skip' any steps along the way!!! You will miss a lot of good knives if you do.
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'Good' is a relative term. You may not like what I like and you may not like what someone else reports is the 'best'.
But do as the ever wise 'stjames' suggests: Try and handle them all and then buy what YOU like.
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IMHO it makes no sense to tell someone to skip a complete brand on the way to the 'grand pinnacle, the top'............
TO ME this is "ignorance gone to seed". Try them all, or at least all that you can; and then get what you like.
smile.gif

Just my .02 worth.


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***
teacher
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I'm just lost in my quest
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Every time I think I've moved on, a production company that I've already tried brings something cool out. Maybe I'm running laps in a circle rather than climbing a ladder
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Dark Nemesis

Crimson Horizon
Nothing but edge baby...
dark.nemesis@home.com
 
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