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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Ok, 710 hs is awesome but...
- Thread starter Devilnut
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2003
- Messages
- 438
i personally don't like the handle design of the 710. nice sticker shape blade, but choil isn't "acute" enough to match. i'd take an 806 over a 710 any day. but that is, the day i get over the willies towards the axis lock 
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2000
- Messages
- 6,104
I've owned and used both. I like the 520 a lot, like the blade even better than the 710's which I have always been fond of. The handles killed it for me. They were comfortable, and very secure, but I always knew the knife was on me. Same reason I got rid of my Spyderco Manix-just too bulky for me to pocket carry. I don't like a knife to interfere with reaching in a pocket, or feel like a big lump against my hip. In a belt sheath, it wouldn't have been an issue, but if I wear a knife on my belt, it might as well be a fixed blade...
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2000
- Messages
- 3,140
My best friend Jonathan just turned up with a Benchmade 520 last week at the range. He was lucky enough to have his wife buy it for him
I tend to carry knives like the Benchmade 941Ti-01 or Buck 172 Mayo when in business clothes, but lean toward bigger knives like a Microtech Socom Elite or Amphibian when in casual wear (jeans). I like to carry a big sturdy knife but business protocol dictates that I carry a more modest knife when working, but big sturdy folders are what I like best.
Jonathan has traditionally been a Spyderco fan with a DElica, Benchmade 940 and a small Camillus liner lock with circuit boards for scales as his EDC rotation. All thin framed knives with a 3.5" blade at the maximum, but more like 3" most of the time. The 520 is bigger and sturdier than any knife I've ever seen Jonathan carry. He couldn't stop raving about what a great knife it was.
After playing with it for a few minutes I knew I wanted one. The big thick 3.5 inch 154CM blade is solid and supported by an Axis lock and an Aluminum handle with handfilling and comfortable ergonomics. I could never warm up to a 710 even though it has a great reputation and many loyal followers, but the 520 immediately made more sense to me. It's the right size and proportion for a heavy use folder for me. With an Axis lock and tip up carry it's very much like the 94x series I love so much, just beefier . What I really need is a Limited Edition 520a model with an S30V blade. That would be too cool.
Maybe I'll find one in the Trader's Cove.
John
I tend to carry knives like the Benchmade 941Ti-01 or Buck 172 Mayo when in business clothes, but lean toward bigger knives like a Microtech Socom Elite or Amphibian when in casual wear (jeans). I like to carry a big sturdy knife but business protocol dictates that I carry a more modest knife when working, but big sturdy folders are what I like best.
Jonathan has traditionally been a Spyderco fan with a DElica, Benchmade 940 and a small Camillus liner lock with circuit boards for scales as his EDC rotation. All thin framed knives with a 3.5" blade at the maximum, but more like 3" most of the time. The 520 is bigger and sturdier than any knife I've ever seen Jonathan carry. He couldn't stop raving about what a great knife it was.
After playing with it for a few minutes I knew I wanted one. The big thick 3.5 inch 154CM blade is solid and supported by an Axis lock and an Aluminum handle with handfilling and comfortable ergonomics. I could never warm up to a 710 even though it has a great reputation and many loyal followers, but the 520 immediately made more sense to me. It's the right size and proportion for a heavy use folder for me. With an Axis lock and tip up carry it's very much like the 94x series I love so much, just beefier . What I really need is a Limited Edition 520a model with an S30V blade. That would be too cool.
Maybe I'll find one in the Trader's Cove.
John
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2000
- Messages
- 2,116
Devilnut said:
I personally don't like thick handles like that. I don't like to have a bulky knife in my pocket. Is it as tough as the 710? I don't see why not. I don't carry the 710 because I think it's the toughest AXIS lock BM makes, I carry it because it fits my pocket well, it's tough, and it's very functional for my needs. I think all the BM Axis locks with steel liners are equally tough.
I rotate my 710 as an EDC and for it's blade size it feels comfortable in the hand and the pocket. My Strider SnG feels bigger in the pocket but with a shorter cutting edge. I've also had my 710 for over a year now and with Miltech as the lube it's very smooth opening and closing.
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2004
- Messages
- 1,214
I think that a lot of the apparent bias is because the 710 has been out a lot longer and more folks have them. Personally, I love the 520, it fits my hand like nothing else. Bulk isn't an issue for me, I actually prefer thicker handles if I'm going to be working the knife very hard. I think that the 520 might be a lot more popular if it was available with higher-end steels, but the bulk issue is always going to be hard to get over for folks that want to carry it to the office.
Gordon
Gordon