So I think I'm ready to order the 710

jfindon

jfindon

Joined
Dec 12, 2006
Messages
967
I'm been kicking this around for weeks and decided that the Benchmade 710 is the knife for me. I was planning on getting the coated version at GPKnives for $115 shipping included. Hopefully they won't put it on sale shortly after I order it, that seems to be par for me.

This will mark the first good knife I have ever purchased as right now all I have is a Gerber Paraframe. I plan on getting the Spyderco Sharpmaker and teaching myself how to sharpen on my Gerber so I don't ruin my 710, but odds are my 710 won't need sharpening for a good long time because it won't be used hard. I'm mainly getting it for something to mess around with and carry with me in case of emergencies, so if the D2 steel holds its edge well under harder usage I can only imagine it'll keep its factory edge even longer with me, giving myself plenty of time to get good at sharpening before I attempt it.

Just felt like posting this because I've been doing nothing but college work for the whole week and decided I need something to look forward to in the next week because it's been rough lately.
 
grats bro, I have been actually thinking about the 710 as well. Hope it works out for the both of us=)
 
Here's a lesson I learned after I got mine:

When I got mine about a month ago, I was pleased how quickly I could open and close the blade while pulling back on the button and flicking my wrist. A few days ago I wan't paying attention and the tip of my baby finger got in the way while I was closing it (the quick way) and I got an nasty cut. I think maybe I'll open it quickly but close it slowly using both hands from now on. Funny looking back I was just as concerned about getting blood on the new knife as I was the condition of my finger.
 
Recursion said:
Take a look at this video I saved a while ago from the spyderco forums. Its interesting to say the least.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7553470131749739284
Click to expand...

Interesting video... that would be a defective knife and needs
to go back to BM. I think this is the same guy who
found a Manix that failed the test also. This guy has
some bad luck getting defective knives.

I have a 710 and a Mini-Grip and have spine wacked them
harder then what the guy in the video was doing and they
passed with flying colors.

The 710 is my favorite big folder. You won't regret it.
Solid as a rock, great ergos, awesome steel, good blade shape.

If you are getting it coated because you think it might rust, trust
me it won't unless you leave it outside in the rain for a day.
It has around 1-2% less Chromium then a stainless knife.
 
As much as I love the AXIS lock on BMs, I am not that crazy about the 710. For the same price or even a little less, you can get a Spyderco Military which I think is a better knife in all repects.

The key advantage the Military has over the 710 is the blade. It is flat ground and has proven to be a great all around user. The Military is a classic and continues to sell very well even today.

Just a thought. I have owned both and there is no contest. I do like and respect BM knives so I am not a Spyderco only guy. In fact, I have yet to find a more perfect work knife than the BM 921 Switchback. That Axis lock has a lot going for it. You won't go wrong with the 710 but you might not like it as much as the Military.
 
once you get that 710,you'll probably never touch that paraframe again.......
 
Interesting about the spine whacks. I just tested all my Benchmades and 4 failed the spine whack test.

The Mini-Rukus
HK 14200.
707 Sequel
Apparition - not an Axis

Guess I need to send them to Benchmade for some adjustment.

Eric.
 
Recursion said:
Take a look at this video I saved a while ago from the spyderco forums. Its interesting to say the least.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7553470131749739284
Click to expand...

Hmmmm. Let's have a liitle dose of perspective here. In fact, the 710 it has been hailed as a "modern classic" and contributed greatly to what Benchmade is now.

Honestly, that video proves only that there will ALWAYS be SOME defective units or models that will come out of a certain product line. Why? It's a universal and intrinsic rule for anything with inherent, working parts. Blame physics.

I see from your join date (Feb. 2007), your post count that you're a fairly new member, plus you mentioned the fact that that you got this from some other forum of another manufacturer. If you do a Search about this particular knife, you will see an overwhelming amount of favorable things about this particular knife (by knowledgable and experienced knifeknuts) compared to it's failings, correctly perceived or otherwise.

Let each knife stand on its merits, both in terms of use and design.
 
I have an older 710 in ats-34 and a new one in d2 and they are both excellent knives I get new knives and carry the for awhile but I keep going back to the 710.
 
just checked my grip, no probs with the lock. Also had 2 806s, an Ares, and a 770 which all had locks that passed the spine whack.
 
goldie said:
once you get that 710,you'll probably never touch that paraframe again.......
Click to expand...

Probably not, unless I want to use it for something that I think might damage the knife in any way. The Paraframe will become my guinea pig.
 
Recursion said:
Take a look at this video I saved a while ago from the spyderco forums. Its interesting to say the least.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7553470131749739284
Click to expand...

I admit my clear bias towards Spyderco products and still say this is a dubious video. It is not indicative of what to expect from Benchmade and their AXIS locks. With some searching, you will find many threads singing the prasises of the 710.

The 710 is a fanatastic knife. It's one of three Benchmade models I'm hanging onto. By design, it's one of the best working knives you can own. The only think I don't like about it is that the thumbstuds sit flush with the handle when closed. This can make them at times a bit hard to open, especially with gloves. This is mitigated by the smoothness of the AXIS mechanism somewhat. One upside to the thumbstud placement, is that the blade fits quite far into the handle, creating a slim profile for a fairly large folder. This is a feature that's impossible with most Spydercos.:foot:

:edit for spelling:
 
I have 3 710's.......A D2 combo edge and two M2 plain edge. The D2 and one of the M2's are EDC knives, while the other M2 sits safely in it's box.
I have nearly two dozen BM knives, most with the Axis lock, and I have never had an issue or failure with any of them.
You can't go wrong with the 710. It was my first "real" knife also, and it was the start of my sickness.:D
 
I have seen videos showing the Spyderco Military failing but I will still buy and have bought liner lock folders (Emersons are my drug of choice :) ). What I am saying is that even a Reeves or a Strider can be defective. I have a 710 and although I don't EDC it, I love it just the same. I got mine in 154cm....great knife!!! Oh, check out the Spyderco video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcV6_W3i_Gg

Enjoy your new knife!!!
 
Thanks, I love it. Just still worried about the blade touching if I flip it closed because I found a very faint line on the spacer between the liners, but I have no way of knowing if it's from the blade or not. I stuck a small piece of paper in and shut the blade and there was no resistance so I know it doesn't touch when closed, maybe it just bumped it when i flipped it shut because I suck at shutting that way. I got opening it down though.
 
eswartz said:
Interesting about the spine whacks. I just tested all my Benchmades and 4 failed the spine whack test.

The Mini-Rukus
HK 14200.
707 Sequel
Apparition - not an Axis

Guess I need to send them to Benchmade for some adjustment.

Eric.
Click to expand...

Which axis didn´t fail?

I sometimes thought, BM has changed the ramp of their axis to avoid the "sticking axis" problem. Maybe one solvation has lead into the next problem.

I beleieve, BM would be really interested in getting to know more about your test and to see the knifes.

Contact them. Luckily they don´t kill the bringer of bad news.:)
 
I may send them in when I get around to it, but as a do-it-yourselfer, I'm always loathe to send in something when I can try to fix it myself (knowing the warranty is compromised at that point).

Here is a list of the ones I have:

Benchmade 552 Doug Ritter RSK Mk1 - worked.

Benchmade 707D2-600 Sequel LE - failed, cleaned tang and it got better, but still fails about the 4th or 5th whack. I could grind the tang.

Benchmade 921 Switchback - worked

Benchmade 530 - worked

Benchmade 670 Apparition - non axis, failed but I worked on the liner lock a little and it seems to be better now, but will still fail.

Benchmade 960SLV Osborne - worked fine

Benchmade 610 Rukus - worked fine

HK 14200 - failed initially, but cleaned the axis tang area and seems to work now. I could not get the blade out of this one to grind.

Benchmade 615 Mini Rukus - failed, but I ground the tang and lockup is great now, at the expense of future wear. The grind on the tang, initially, looked a little off, there was not a straight cutoff at the end of the tang to hold the axis pin.

Benchmade 555 440C - works fine, probably an older 555 with the 440C steel.
 
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