Please help me Benchmade 710 D2

J

johnrosshayden

Joined
Oct 8, 2008
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25
I have a Benchmade 710 D2 and I am disappointed with the blade of this knife. I own some decent knives (Delica, Rat 3, Case Trapper, and a Mini grip) but the 710 is the worse blade of them all. The funny thing is I bought this knife thinking this would be the knife of knives and I use it the least (The most expensive of them all). You are guys are very knowledgeable could you provide with some feedback of why this is. Am I doing something wrong or sharpening with the wrong stone? (Carbine, diamond) Or should I sell this one and replace it. Thanks again and you guys are great.
 
I'm assuming you are having a sharpening issue.

Are you taking into account when sharpening that the 710 blade has a mild recurve?
 
I'm not into Benchmade in a big way. Good knives, I just got more interested in other companies. I do have an old 710, way before the D2 model. Great blade, no trouble ever sharpening it.

However, D2 isn't the easiest steel to sharpen and being a recurve, the 710 just makes that harder. Also, at one time Benchmade had been criticized for being dull out of the box. The problem was, the edge bevel was too obtuse. If that's the case with yours, you'll need to thin it out.

Since this seems to be a sharpening problem, I'm going to move this thread from the General Knife Discussion to Maintenance. Describe how you have been trying to sharpen it, and what equipment you use, and we can take it from there.
 
Great thanks for moving me where I need to be. Benchmade 710 D2 I have been using a Smith's carbide stroke with almost nothing to show of it. When I do the paper test the paper bends and then slightly cuts. I can take my delica and any other knife and cut paper like butter. How should I be sharpening this thing or should I sell it and get a different knife?
 
Personally, I believe a carbide sharpener is not only the worst tool you could use, it will actually degrade the edge if used wrong.

The easiest way to get started in sharpening is probably the Spyderco Sharpmaker. Ultimately, you will want to understand sharpening well enough to pick up almost any decent diamond, stone, or ceramic sharpener and use that freehand. But don't rush into higher-skillset methods.

The Sharpmaker will maintain a good edge on your knives AND help you learn more about sharpening. It comes with very good instructions, and so many people here use it, you can get more guidance once you get started.

Here's information on sharpening from 2 other viewpoints:
EDC Knives Sharpening FAQ - www.edcknives.com/pdf-files/Sharpen_v2.pdf
Knife Maintenance and Sharpening - http://forums.egullet.com/index.php?showtopic=26036
 
Esav is correct, get yourself a Sharpmaker, excellent system and you can sharpen just about anything on it.

Once you get the hang of it, which won't take long, you'll have a shaving sharp edge on that knife in no time.
 
I also agree with Esav and gajinoz. Ditch the Smith and get a Sharpmaker. I have sharpened recurves and Benchmade's D2 on a Sharpmaker with no problems.

You may have some edge correction to do since you've used the carbide sharpener some, but you can still do that on the Sharpmaker with some time and patience. The D2 710 is BM's flagship knife... on average, they're well made. I suspect yours will come around where you want it with some time on the Sharpmaker.
 
My experience is opposite. I have one 710D2 and two 710 154CM's with two CPM M4's on the way. I EDC (in rotation) with the 710D2 because it is current production. It happens to be one of my sharpest knives and all I did the day I got it was strop it for a hair shaving edge. It whittles paper. But I confess, I was surprised by all this considering what I hear about D2. I'm impressed with the edge on mine of all things.
 
I was involved in a passaround of a BM 710 D2 knife. When I got it the edge was not up to my expectation. I sharpened it (it took some time, but I was not hurrying) on a Sharpmaker (Diamond rods, brown/grey rods, and white rods) with success. I think of myself as a patient man (my wife might tell you a different tale) but I was glad to have the diamond rods for that sharpening session. I am sure it saved me hours of sharpening to reprofile the edge to the sharpmaker angles.

Here is a link to the passaround for you to review.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=535212

Here is a link to the post of when I received the knife.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=535212&page=3

I get knocked a little in this thread for taking my time on the sharpening, but that is all in good fun I hope. :)
 
Buy a Sharpmaker. But in the meantime, send the knife back to BM for a factory sharpening. A BM knife should be razor blade sharp right out of the box. If it isn't, they'll fix it. :thumbup:
 
I use DMT hones and keep my 710 screaming sharp, but D2 takes a fair bit longer to get that ultrafine edge. A coarser edge works better on fibrous material and is easier to achieve.
 
I couldn't get my D2 BM 190 drop point hunter sharp on conventional stones until I moved to an EZ-lap diamond stone. Now it's pretty damn sharp. I guess D2 is just hard as heck.
 
The Sharpmaker worked!!! Thanks guys for the recommendation. The Sharpmaker changed my mind about selling my 710 D2. It is now my favorite knife.
 
johnrosshayden said:
The Sharpmaker worked!!! Thanks guys for the recommendation. The Sharpmaker changed my mind about selling my 710 D2. It is now my favorite knife.
Click to expand...


Next, have a look at the Apex Edgepro, your sharpening adventures have only just begun ..... :)
 
I wish the 710 had something along the lines of a Millie blade. Great knife overall but the saber recurve is an unnecessary complication.
 
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