My first Benchmade

TheSkinwalkeR

TheSkinwalkeR

Joined
Jul 7, 2002
Messages
426
Yesterday I purchased a Benchmade 710 McHenry & Williams axis lock folder. My first impresions of it are very good. I was determined to get a BM ever since I came across the frequent praising of the brand in these forums. I wanted to make sure it was an axis lock because aafter carrying a SOG Arc-lock for some time I swore I'd never go back to liner or lockback. There are some key differences about the way the Axis and the Arc-Lock work that I am now noticing although they are very similar. There are points I like of both and I think they are both increadibly ergonomic.

I got the 710BT model from a local shop I like to support and they usually have good prices. I bought it for about $150, not the lowest I have found on the net, but not the highest and no waiting for delivery :D I got the 154cm blade steel version with the plain edge. They only had the M2 version in combo edge and I do live by the beach where corrosion resistane could be a factor, though I prob would have got the PE M2 version if they had it. I dont think I will be dissapointed with the 154cm, I have heard it is a fine cutlery steel. I checked out a bunch of BM axis locks while I was selecting one, but this one seemed the most solid. I also likes the G10 handles and elegant recurve to the blade. The thumb notches are perfect, not to harsh, like a massage on my thumb. The thick steel liners also struck a good chord with me.

The action was a little stiff when I got it but I lubricated it with some trumpet valve oil (I play the trumpet occasionally and valve oil works pretty well). It is breaking in nicely but I did order some of that Militec-1 slime to put on it. It will be my EDC for a while and I hope to get that good feeling others seem to have with this knifemaker. So far so good.
 
Congrats...I went to Plaza Cutlery today at South Coast Plaza and was about to buy the same knife, but they didn't have the one with the M2 blade, and the 770s they had only had the 'first production XX/1000) markings on them :(

If you don't mind, where did you shop?
 
Thats the place...
I saw that double bladed Osborn as well (Preproduction)....just didnt have as solid feel or I woulda got it. I like the people there and the deals ain't so bad. I think my 710 was 154.95....still not too bad considering I had just gotten back from Santa Maria where thier mall wasnt selling BMs for under 200...total ripoffs. I would have liked the M2 but I also think 154cm steel is worthwhile.
 
I'll be going to school in the fall at UCI, which is about 10 minutes away from the South Coast Plaza. I expect to be in the cutlery quite often.:D

I was in there a few days ago and noticed that the knife selection was better than the cutlery I go to now and that their prices are cheaper too.
 
I have been totally impressed with thier selection. And its a real drag when you go into a mall-store and the clerk has no idea what you are talking about when you ask him what kindov steel the blade is. The people at Plaza know thier stuff and are always nice to help. They even helped me examine and compare my factory second SOG X-42 field knife to the new one they had in the store. They always let me handle whatever I want and are not adverse to getting stuff like the high-end Paul Chen items down just to oogle at them with me. Maybe We will cross paths, I am there at least once a week it seems.
 
Sarcoblaster, congrats on your recent high school graduation.

Skinwalker, man, the folks there sure are nice but I got spooked as heck the last time I was there. A customer was fondling a knife and somehow it FLEW out of his hands and landed by my feet, right where I was standing a few seconds ago. :eek:

I have no idea what happened but it was scary as heck! Hehehe

Yes, they sure are nice folks and are more than willing to help...too bad they didn't have any of the knives I wanted in stock but I did buy me my carbon fiber zippo :)

usp45csoe.jpg
 
Skunkabilly...

You appear to be a fan of reliability and efficency. Great pic too!
 
Originally posted by Skunkabilly

Skinwalker, man, the folks there sure are nice but I got spooked as heck the last time I was there. A customer was fondling a knife and somehow it FLEW out of his hands and landed by my feet, right where I was standing a few seconds ago. :eek:

I have no idea what happened but it was scary as heck! Hehehe
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Y'know similar things have almost happened a couple of times I was there. I remember looking at a SEAL 2000 knife and a guy I was talking to wanted to check it out. Guess he wasnt used to kydex sheaths cause when it first doesnt give he gave it a huge yank. The way it looked I was already thinking I would be cleaning this guys arterial blood off my shirt all night, but miraculously he missed himself with the self-aimed swipe he pulled it out with. And then another day this guy was playin with thier legal auto (2" blade) and the thing had such an unexpected kick it nearly went flying across the store. I was also handling the SOG Flashs yesterday and the salesman gave pretty somber warning that it would rocket off into space if you didnt have a good grip on it. I laughed maniacly when I opened it because it felt like it wanted to do just that. My only explanation for this is extra blood-thirsty knives.
 
And they ask me why I carry a first aid kit. Shop dangerously ;)

Thanks for the compliments on the gear...you only have to buy the best once :) Can't wait for the Surefire A2 to come out.
 
WOW all you guys are from southern california too!!!! maybe we can get together sometime i live near LA but drop by southcoast sometimes you guys can drop me a msg on AIM if you like my screen name is imported8317
 
Edited by moderator to eliminate an attempt to circumvent classified advertising policies.
Dave
 
I'm stuck here in bloody hot Phoenix for a couple days but I live in Simi Valley (just north of L.A.). I'm about half way between Plaza Cutlery and Nordic knives (in Solvang, up by Santa Maria). Those are two of my very favorite stores in the whole world. Great selection and knowledgable staff at both shops. Nordic has a better selection of customs, although Plaza does get Mayos and John W Smiths! Any locals should also check out Recon 1 in Tarzana (San Fernando valley). They have some customs and the best collection of production knives I've found so far.

Perhaps we can arrange a lunch sometime for a bunch of the SoCal knife knuts? I know a bunch of the folks from the flyertalk.com forums do that sort of thing (they'll even fly somewhere to all get together!). It would be fun to meet some other forumites.

By the way, Plaza is sponsering a custom maker only show in mid october in Newport Beach. I recently went to a similar show sponsered by Nordic and it was amazing. The room was chock full of cool knives, but more impressive was the collection of legendary makers there in the flesh. I'm sure the Plaza show will be similar.

jmx
 
yah the guys at plaza cutlery are great, and they have a good selection of stuff, never heard of this recon 1 place but i'll check it out since tarzana is not THAT far away. And yah plaza cutlery is having their annual custom knife show i think at waterfront hilton at huntington beach this year, i'll probably go with my friend. and blade show west in irvine is next month i'll probably be there too
 
Gotta love Benchmade Knives. I have a 910 Stryker that just won't quit no matter how bad I beat it. Never had a lock failure and I've hit it with a hammer in an attempt to get it to fail. They get my vote for the best linerlock made.
 
Skunkabilly: Thanks for the congrats on my graduation!:) Nice pic, BTW.

TheSkinwalkeR: When I walked into the store (it couldn't have been more than a few feet), the guy behind the counter asked me right away if I wanted to see anything, just let him know. Now THAT'S service! He was already helping another customer with a Kershaw Boa by explaining the SpeedSafe mechanism in detail and all that. I was impressed by his knowledge of knives!

Since I'll be dorming at UCI in a little over a month, I'll send you guys an IM or e-mail whenever I'm going to be at Plaza Cutlery and maybe we could just hang out and drool over knives or something.:D It's always cool to meet people from forums in person.
 
I think its a great idea to try and meet. Maybe it is the business I am in, but it is hard to talk steel without feeling severly out of place.
 
How about we meet up at South Coast for some Mickey D's or something and go to Plaza afterwards? ;)

Sarco, you'll probably move in Sept 14th or so. What is your major and your dorm arrangements?
 
Originally posted by Skunkabilly
How about we meet up at South Coast for some Mickey D's or something and go to Plaza afterwards? ;)

Sarco, you'll probably move in Sept 14th or so. What is your major and your dorm arrangements?
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I'm totally for Mickey D's and knives once I get down there.:cool:

As for my major and dorm arrangement, I'm undeclared right now and will be rooming with one of my good friends from high school (hopefully). Since UCI has a pretty good pre-med program, I might just do that because I want to be a doctor (or do something in the medical field).
 
Originally posted by SarcoBlaster
I'm totally for Mickey D's and knives once I get down there.:cool:
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Sure Sarc, no e-mail, no PM... sure ya do :D

ANyway, I'm still trying to decide between the 710 and 770 for my first BM. The 710 was a tad big for my tiny little hands, even if I can shoot a Beretta OK!
 
Originally posted by Skunkabilly
Sure Sarc, no e-mail, no PM... sure ya do :D
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Hrm? You can't see my e-mail address or IM handle in my profile?:confused:

Edit: Oops, my mistake. I just edited my options and now you should be able to see my IM handle and e-mail address in my profile.
 
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