I know it's been done a thousand times before, but, having in front of me the last iterations of both models, i’ll try a brief comparison.
At a first glance
The 710 has a great blade-to-handle ratio and is much more compact than the Millie, which makes it great for edc purposes. However, the Military is well known for the ‘shrinkage factor’: at first you find it huge but after the 1st week of edc-ing it just becomes the right size, shape & weight while all your other folders seem small and inadequate for any job and you keep on wondering how did you get along with them in the first place…
Blade
Although both can be included in the generic ‚drop-point’ cathegory, the resemblance stops here. Millie has a needlepoint tip and a generous belly, while the 710 sports a mild recurve . I‘ll admit that I haven’t really pushed the M4 blade over the limit so far, so I won’t comment on edge abilities.
Handle
Millie wins hands down: anatomic curvatures, multiple grips and the best G10 in business. The retention on the 710 is somehow impacted by the conservative lines of the handle and the slick G10 used (although the Rift proved that Benchmade knows how to ‘bake’ a proper G10). Also, for my use, the thumb ramp & choil on the Millie offer more purchase than the indented liners of the 710. The width of the handle is about the same on both.
Locking system
With the axis lock, the possibility of vertical bladeplay is removed from the very start, while lateral blade play can be corrected with patience, Militec and a Torx 10 driver. The Military has an outstanding liner lock, concave blade ramp to compensate for wear and really feels like a fixed blade when locked. As much as I enjoy the fun-factor of the axis, the liner-lock found on the Military is currently my favorite locking system. It is light, has no moving parts, is easy to clean and performs well even in the most appalling conditions of dirt, mud, dust & abuse.
Opening
Both can be operated ambidextrous, but, while operating a Millie is a no-brainer, opening the 710 can be tricky sometimes, as you have to push the thumbstuds not forward, but slightly lateral, as they are placed very close to the handle. Then, of course, on axis locks you have inertia opening so this is really not an issue.
Clip & carry
I’m right-handed and I like both tip-up & tip-down, so I can easily adapt when using one or another. The 710 is more compact and carries well in the RFP. The Millie is unbelievably light for its size and carries great IWB.
Fit & finish
The looks of the Military would have gained some by using black screws & pivot pin. Benchmade still has some room for improvement on inserting the backspacer, which isn’t quite aligned with the liners. Still, this is a non-issue as you can replace it with standoffs.
I like and use both and I really think no knife collection is complete without both.
At a first glance
The 710 has a great blade-to-handle ratio and is much more compact than the Millie, which makes it great for edc purposes. However, the Military is well known for the ‘shrinkage factor’: at first you find it huge but after the 1st week of edc-ing it just becomes the right size, shape & weight while all your other folders seem small and inadequate for any job and you keep on wondering how did you get along with them in the first place…
Blade
Although both can be included in the generic ‚drop-point’ cathegory, the resemblance stops here. Millie has a needlepoint tip and a generous belly, while the 710 sports a mild recurve . I‘ll admit that I haven’t really pushed the M4 blade over the limit so far, so I won’t comment on edge abilities.
Handle
Millie wins hands down: anatomic curvatures, multiple grips and the best G10 in business. The retention on the 710 is somehow impacted by the conservative lines of the handle and the slick G10 used (although the Rift proved that Benchmade knows how to ‘bake’ a proper G10). Also, for my use, the thumb ramp & choil on the Millie offer more purchase than the indented liners of the 710. The width of the handle is about the same on both.
Locking system
With the axis lock, the possibility of vertical bladeplay is removed from the very start, while lateral blade play can be corrected with patience, Militec and a Torx 10 driver. The Military has an outstanding liner lock, concave blade ramp to compensate for wear and really feels like a fixed blade when locked. As much as I enjoy the fun-factor of the axis, the liner-lock found on the Military is currently my favorite locking system. It is light, has no moving parts, is easy to clean and performs well even in the most appalling conditions of dirt, mud, dust & abuse.
Opening
Both can be operated ambidextrous, but, while operating a Millie is a no-brainer, opening the 710 can be tricky sometimes, as you have to push the thumbstuds not forward, but slightly lateral, as they are placed very close to the handle. Then, of course, on axis locks you have inertia opening so this is really not an issue.
Clip & carry
I’m right-handed and I like both tip-up & tip-down, so I can easily adapt when using one or another. The 710 is more compact and carries well in the RFP. The Millie is unbelievably light for its size and carries great IWB.
Fit & finish
The looks of the Military would have gained some by using black screws & pivot pin. Benchmade still has some room for improvement on inserting the backspacer, which isn’t quite aligned with the liners. Still, this is a non-issue as you can replace it with standoffs.
I like and use both and I really think no knife collection is complete without both.
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