Need feedback on BM 710 modification.

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Planetcat

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Jul 28, 2009
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I just got my BM 710-01 which I will use as an EDC and hunting folder. It's a great knife and came with a solid carbon fiber closed back piece which I removed and put aluminum spacers in its place. This better meets my needs for cleaning game and trout, as it will clean out easier. I noticed that the 710-101 had this open back design whereas the D2 710 and my M390 710 have the closed back. Does anyone see any problem in doing this? I will call BM on Monday to see if I can get the stainless spacers used on the 101 model; however, I noticed that the blade rests on the middle spacer and maybe aluminum is better as it's a softer material against the blade. The spacers are 4 mm which is the thickness of the plastic spacer that came with the knife. It appears to work like it did out of the box, too. Here's some crappy cell phone pics of what I did.

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Did the blade cut into the plastic backspacer? You can tell by looking at it. Was the plastic spacer drilled on centerline or offset? Are you sure the edge hits the new spacers, or is it merely close? Hitting will leave a flat spot. You could file it down to miss if it hits the closed blade.
 
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Yeah, there's a clear cut line on the inside of the original plastic spacer from the blade hitting it. It is perfectly flat piece of carbon fiber, consistent thickness of 4 mm, and is curved to match the shape of the back of the scales/liners. I can see where the blade hits the aluminum spacer I installed - right down the center of the middle spacer. I like to flip my knife open and closed a lot, but will just close it gently by hand if this will pose a problem. Although, it seems like the M390 blade steel is so much harder than the 60601 aluminum, that it won't do anything to the blade under occasional use. I just don't want to mess up what I consider to be an expensive knife that I really like a lot.
 
Yes, aluminum is better than stainless insofar as edge contact is concerned, but not really ideal. Ideal is for the kick to hit and only the kick, when the blade is closed. If it were mine I'd first check the inner geometry, and if possible, file the aluminum spacer until there is no contact being made. Of course, after many sharpenings the blade ought to miss, but that could take years to happen.

If the blade is designed to contact the spacer I would replace the original spacer, or use round Delrin spacers in place of metal ones.
 
My 710D2 came out of the box with a score in the underside of the plastic spacer. Sent it off to Benchmade and had barrel spacers installed and it's been fine since.
 
jkarp_53 said:
My 710D2 came out of the box with a score in the underside of the plastic spacer. Sent it off to Benchmade and had barrel spacers installed and it's been fine since.
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Is that a " you pay" issue or did BM do it for free? I'd love some barrel spacers installed on mine but not at a high price tag.
 
The cheap plastic (not CF as you say) backspacer has been a recurring QC issue on all 710s, except the 710-101, which came with SS barrel spacers.
I know that BM were replacing the plastic spacer with stand-offs for free for customers that requested it, but I am not sure they are still doing that.
 
Wow, thanks for the input everyone. I sent BM an email asking them if I could buy the barrel spacers, but if they offer to install them, that's even better. I'd have no problem sending the knife to them to have them do that. It's also good to know that the blade should not be contacting the back spacer of the knife. I'll relay their response on this matter.
 
Ok, got my 710-01 back in less than a week from sending it to BM. They sent me an email when they received it, fixed the blade hitting the backspacer problem, and installed the barrel spacers like I requested. All free of charge. I'm so happy with their service and the quality job they did. They even touched up the blade a little, and it's even sharper than when I got it. Just in time for my hunting trip this weekend, too. :-)
 
You're set Planetcat! I wish my BM 710 was sporting a flow through design with barrel spacers. I'm jealous. :thumbup:
 
Planetcat said:
Here's some cell phone pics after the mods from BM in Oregon:

Rub it in why don't you? :grumpy: Is this something you can have done or do they have to see that the blade is making contact with the backspacer?

Also what is a 710-01? My knife is called a BM 710. Thanks :)
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The 710-01 is the Gold Class 710 released earlier this year. It has a satin-finished blade in M390 steel, satin SS bolsters and flat CF scales. This is the only picture I have of mine (top one), I am traveling away from home.

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cziv said:
You're set Planetcat! I wish my BM 710 was sporting a flow through design with barrel spacers. I'm jealous. :thumbup:
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AFAIK, if the blade contacts the backspacer, the knife needs adjustment (I am trying to be polite and avoid saying that it's defective...).

There is no rocket science involved in replacing the solid backspacer with barrel spacers/standoffs. The ones in the video below came from KnifeKits.com, but they're readily available.

Video Link
 
I don´t have a 710, but none of my BMs have contacted the backspacer, they are held on distance by the axis bar.
 
Thanks for the link, but I'm not into drilling stuff and/or not having finished screws on one side of the handle. I like mine as is but it was a passing thought. :)
 
You know what you should do. If somebody can confirm this mod will work. Request parts from kershaw for the kershaw blur. The spacers on that knife (which i own) are ribbed in the middle so that knife blade will have plenty of clearance.
 
LorenzoL said:
The 710-01 is the Gold Class 710 released earlier this year. It has a satin-finished blade in M390 steel, satin SS bolsters and flat CF scales. This is the only picture I have of mine (top one), I am traveling away from home.

IMGP3780.jpg
Click to expand...

Hey Lorenzo, actually the 710-01 is a blue class which is a Knifeworks exclusive. Standard 710 scales with the M390 steel. Your 710 gold class is actually 710-101. Mine was had for about $180 and it's limited production of 250.

Cziv, I've heard that BM is very agreeable to making these minor mods to their knives for customers even without a repair order. They replaced all the washers and springs on mine to make the blade close properly and then put in the barrel spacers. They are very nice on the phone, so it never hurts trying.

I actually made my own barrel spacers before I sent it to BM. They are a snap to install and don't require disassembling the entire knife (which I would not have done). No drilling or screw replacement required. Just unscrew and pull out the two back screws, disconnect plastic backspacer, install the barrels, push the two screws back through and tighten.
 
cziv said:
Thanks for the link, but I'm not into drilling stuff and/or not having finished screws on one side of the handle. I like mine as is but it was a passing thought. :)
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Those are the issue fasteners. No drilling stuff on the 710, IIRC. The spacers for the 705 required drilling, but otherwise used the issue hardware.
 
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