Spyderco Para Military vs Benchmade 710

L

LongDistance

Joined
May 24, 2004
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319
I'm bored, so I'll do some comparisons between my black plain edge Spyderco Paramilitary and my satin plain edge Benchmade 710. It is be better if I compared the 710 to the full sized military, but I don't have a full sized military so :(

about me: I am not a special forces ninja or an extreme outdoorsman. I'm just a guy who likes knives and uses them for simple tasks such as cutting wrapping paper. If I want to pry something, I use a crowbar.

Blade

The Para Milie is S30V and the 710 is D2. I don't abuse my knives so I can't give any testing on the blade hardness or edge retention. Both can shave hairs but that ain't saying much. Both the para milie and 710's blade shape are utilitarian, so it is a tie.

Lock

The Para Milie has a compression lock and the 710 has an axis lock. Again, I don't abuse my knives so I don't know which lock is tougher. Both locks lock up solid for normal situations. I like the axis lock better than the compression lock because my fingers can be out of the blade's way when closing the knife. Also, the axis lock allows me to flip open and close the 710. It is not to say the compression lock is a bad lock but the axis lock is just cooler to play with. Like the compression lock is probably safer than the axis lock because it is less likely to be accidentally disengaged since the compression lock is only exposed at one side and is partially shielded by the hand. Winner:710

Ease of opening

Hmm... it is gonna be a tie. The para milie's hole is easier to open than the 710's thumbstuds, however, the 710's axis lock allows it to be smoothly opened by gravity and the 710's tension can be easily adjusted. Both knives can be flipped open. But without using the axis lock to open, the para milie is a smoother opener than the 710. tie

Ergonomic

I like the Para Milie's ergonomic better than the 710. The para milie has a finger coil for detailed cutting and acts an extra safety device just in case the lock fails. The 710 has neither. Oh, I'm not left handed so I don't care about left handedness (in that case the 710 will win) Winner: Para milie

G10

The para milie's G10 is the clear winner. 710's G10 is smooth and slick while the para milie's G10 is like sandpaper. Winner: Para milie

Ease of cleaning

Para milie wins this too because there are no space between the handles, so you can just blow lint out. For the 710, you have to scoop the dirt out between the handles. Winner: Para milie

Ease of carrying/discreetness

710 rides lower and feels less intrusive in the pocket than the para milie due to the 710's thinner profile. The 710 is tip up and the para milie is tip down. I prefer tip up, so the winner is the 710

Novelty

Spyderco's "Golden Colorado, USA, Earth" is pretty funny. The spyderco bug looks cuter than the benchmade's butterfly. winner: pare milie

Overall

Both the 710 and para milie are great knives. As I stated earlier, a better comparison would be between the 710 and the full sized military. Since I don't need a big knife for normal EDC, I declare the para military as the winner. However, both the para milie and 710 can learn from each other. The 710 can have a gripper G10 and an open space between the handles to improve the ease of cleaning.The para milie can have a lower riding clip (the axis lock is debatable).
 
LongDistance said:
Ease of opening

Hmm... it is gonna be a tie. The para milie's hole is easier to open than the 710's thumbstuds, however, the 710's axis lock allows it to be smoothly opened by gravity and the 710's tension can be easily adjusted. Both knives can be flipped open. But without using the axis lock to open, the para milie is a smoother opener than the 710. tie
Click to expand...

I disagree. I found my 710 much harder to open, due to the thumbstuds' close proximity to the handle slabs. The Paramilitary, by contrast, is ridiculously simple to open. This is due to the large size of the opening hole and the hole's distance from the handle. It is one of the few knives I have that can be opened one-handed with very thick gloves.
 
Good review and comparison. Many of us are like you, and just use our knives throughout the day as they were intended to be used. It is refreshing to read your straightforward comparison based on your needs and considerations. Well done ! :thumbup:

- regards
 
How are you closing the omp lock that your fingers are in the way? Are you left handed? A right hander closing a comp lock should be able to do it with no fingers in the path of the blade, just disengage the lock with the middle finger.
 
You said that the 710 allows you to open by gravity. So does the para. Just use your index finger on the compression lock and give a little flick. You can also use this method to close the knife. With it open, squeeze the lock with your finger and give a little flick inwards.
 
This review really emphasizes the, "All good, just different." opinion that Sal and Taz say now and again regarding knives.

Things that pushed one ahead of the other in each category were intangibles that vary from person to person. Bugs cuter than Butterflies, Axis locks funner to open...all good stuff.
 
smcfalls13 said:
How are you closing the omp lock that your fingers are in the way? Are you left handed? A right hander closing a comp lock should be able to do it with no fingers in the path of the blade, just disengage the lock with the middle finger.
Click to expand...

I am right handed. I normally disengage the compression lock with my thumb. Reading your post, I tried disengaging the compression lock with my middle finger.

Good news :) : it works, my fingers aren't in the blade's way when closing.

Bad news :( : I have less control of the para milie when using that method because my middle finger is not as coordinated as yours. Disengaging the compression lock with my thumb may expose my fingers did the blade, but it is more secure than the middle finger method. Also, the middle finger method is not as easy as disengaging the axis lock while moving the fingers out of the blade's way for me.
 
LongDistance said:
Both the 710 and para milie are great knives. As I stated earlier, a better comparison would be between the 710 and the full sized military. Since I don't need a big knife for normal EDC, I declare the para military as the winner. However, both the para milie and 710 can learn from each other. The 710 can have a gripper G10 and an open space between the handles to improve the ease of cleaning.The para milie can have a lower riding clip (the axis lock is debatable).
Click to expand...

In spite of the fact that I am a Spyderco fan, I would not agree with you.

First of all, BM 710 is a 'flag knife' of BM. It is a knife with a perfect F&F.

ParaMillie is a knife 'in development', IMO, with a great potential, but presently, a number of complaints about blade play was reported. Also, IMO, F&F is not at the level of 710.

Lil' Temperance is a Spyderco 'flag knife' with F&F equal to 710, really. Lil'T is a perfection.

Sorry.

Franco
 
Clip:

Para: tip down only

710: tip up like God intended. :thumbup:

winner - 710


This is purely subjective, of course, but I won't buy a tip down knife.

cheers
 
The only complaint I had about the Para was the compression lock. Other than that, I thought it was a great knife, a great little companion to the Millie. As for comparing it to the 710, the 710 should really be compared to the Military. Since you don't have one, I will say that my Millie is more ergonomic than my 710. Since my 710, 154CM, is one of my favorites, and my Military is one of my favorites, definitely my favorite linerlock and favorite Spyderco model, I am torn. I'm just glad I don't have to choose between the two ;).
 
I had a Paramilitary briefly, but didn't like the compression lock.

The 710's a keeper for me however , like eojk, I find the thumbstuds are too close to the body of the closed knife.
The 710 needs the the Doug Ritter RSK treatment. A little more hump, with the studs a little further out..S30V drop point.. mmm
 
The only thing the Para has over the BM 710 is a better blade. I prefer almost everything else about the 710. The Axis lock beats the Compression lock by a wide margin. The handle is more ergonomic. It is tip up. It has Ti liners, ect. The Para has a nice full flat ground blade and I think it may be the best blade that Spyderco has ever put on a knife but I am not a fan of the rest of the knife.
 
LongDistance said:
I am right handed. I normally disengage the compression lock with my thumb. Reading your post, I tried disengaging the compression lock with my middle finger.

Good news :) : it works, my fingers aren't in the blade's way when closing.

Bad news :( : I have less control of the para milie when using that method because my middle finger is not as coordinated as yours. Disengaging the compression lock with my thumb may expose my fingers did the blade, but it is more secure than the middle finger method. Also, the middle finger method is not as easy as disengaging the axis lock while moving the fingers out of the blade's way for me.
Click to expand...

Do it your way then, might be safer if you have more control:thumbup:
 
Kgriggs8,

The 710 has steel liners. Both are company favorites of mine and serve as excellent tools.
 
I am going to state that I disagree with your opinion. To me the 710 is one of the best production folders you could ever own. The para is nice but IMO no where near the level of design the 710 has.

where the para won for me was the G-10 and the sharpness of the blade.
 
For me the Para wins hands down. The 710's negatives to me are: has a recurve, no thumb grooves on blade spine, no finger choil, and thin slick handle. Not a huge fan of the saber blade either, seems designed to stab. +'s are, smooth, nice blade handle ratio, tip up(!)and good fit and finish Axis lock is cool too.. Para +'s are : finger choil, flat grind, finger grooves, comfortable handle/grippy, and the Spyderhole rules. And I personally like the compression lock. -'s are blade handle ratio, and tip down.
I will say the 710 looks better, but I'd much rather use the Para.
 
I liked the OP's review, but I think that a Para-Military / 710 comparison is apples to oranges. To me, one (710) is a showhorse that works well, the other (Para) is a workhorse that looks great doin' what it does. And I think that this is what both companies had in mind when they created these designs.
 
Once again, on the compression lock, to flip open and closed, press lock between thumb and fore finger and voila, in and out with ease
 
LongDistance said:
I am right handed. I normally disengage the compression lock with my thumb. Reading your post, I tried disengaging the compression lock with my middle finger.

Good news :) : it works, my fingers aren't in the blade's way when closing.

Bad news :( : I have less control of the para milie when using that method because my middle finger is not as coordinated as yours. Disengaging the compression lock with my thumb may expose my fingers did the blade, but it is more secure than the middle finger method. Also, the middle finger method is not as easy as disengaging the axis lock while moving the fingers out of the blade's way for me.
Click to expand...

Someone else does it my way! I've found that since my index finger is in the hole, I've got a fair amount of control over the blade when I'm closing it. That said, my fingers are still in the way.
 
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