want to purchase my first bench made, opinions on 710, 940, 943?

The 710 is a brute, one of Benchmade's classics. The D2 recurve is a challenge to sharpen, but it holds it a long time.
 
710 all the way. I would highly suggest getting a barrel-standoff refit...adds a whole new level of class to the knife.
 
The 940 is a very balanced knife and makes an amazing edc blade. You can not go wrong with any of those, but I would recommend the 940 depending on what you will end up using it as, but for edc tasks the 940 is my vote with the 710 as a close second.
 
The 710 with its slight recurve is an excellent cutter and no problem to sharpen. It stands up well to heavy use.
 
The non gold class 710 SUCKS! I saved my money for months to get this thing and it blows! The handle is just to small and weighs nothing versus the huge blade. The blade is indeed all youve heard and cuts superbly once you fight past the fact the handle is just to small (and I have medium sized hands) to keep a secure grip in anymore than one or two grasping methods if that. The gold class 710 has steel bolsters up front adding much needed weight to the knife to counteract how unbalanced the 710 is without any weight to balance out the blade. Sure, the ultra slim handle design surely does dissappear when carrying EDC, hell sometimes so well I cant even tell I have it on me, but the tradeoff between ease of carry at the cost of just genral use is to damn much. Get the 940 the handle is better.
 
I
CelticCross74 said:
The non gold class 710 SUCKS! I saved my money for months to get this thing and it blows! The handle is just to small and weighs nothing versus the huge blade. The blade is indeed all youve heard and cuts superbly once you fight past the fact the handle is just to small (and I have medium sized hands) to keep a secure grip in anymore than one or two grasping methods if that. The gold class 710 has steel bolsters up front adding much needed weight to the knife to counteract how unbalanced the 710 is without any weight to balance out the blade. Sure, the ultra slim handle design surely does dissappear when carrying EDC, hell sometimes so well I cant even tell I have it on me, but the tradeoff between ease of carry at the cost of just genral use is to damn much. Get the 940 the handle is better.
Click to expand...
small handle? The handle is nearly 5 inches long. The balance point is NOT blade forward either. On the hand it balances nearly an inch behind the pivot. The handle is also wider than the 940/943 handle.
 
Narrow stones are definitely easier for sharpening the recurve with edge pro. I used 1/2 inch wide Boride stones. The Lansky is about same width stones I believe.
 
Here is a picture with both knives illustrating how much larger the handle of the 710 is over the 940(/943):

8421400376_0c88807589_c.jpg


They are both great knives to carry and you'll probably end up with both eventually. The 710 definitely feels more robust.

Good luck in making your decision; you can't lose :thumbup:
 
doesnt matter which one you get first, because if you don't like it you just come back here and trade it for the other. That way you try both at no additional cost, cept shipping. Then just keep the one you like more.

I would get the 940 first because it might be a little easier to trade, but don't quote me on that.
 
jazub, what model is that between the Adams and Osborne? I'm really liking it.
 
2ac said:
jazub, what model is that between the Adams and Osborne? I'm really liking it.
Click to expand...

2ac, that is the 730 Ares. KW did a re-release run of it last year. Hopefully, they will do more; it's a sweet folder and a perfect size to carry. Not sure why it was ever discontinued.
 
My vote is for the 710. But then it is a larger knife than the 940 & 943, i have handled both, but instead ended up getting my third 710, just because the dealer had a 710 BKD2 (p.e.).... in my experience, the 940 / 943 always kinda looked larger in pics than in hand.... just preference...
Benchmade makes really great knives, i have been impressed with all that i have purchased and handled...the only thing is that some times the blades are not as sharp as one may expect out of the box....
if you get the opportunity, try handling them and just get the one that looks and feels best for you! can't go wrong....
i am biased as i really like the way the recurve blade looks...and it it cuts really really well too.... using a sharpmaker its easy to keep the blade sharp...
since i got my first 710...my 553 Grip gets almost no pocket time...
Recently got a 530 as well...awesome how slim and light it is...and as its getting colder just gets left in a jacket pocket...

PM2 & 710
AnuZJjG.jpg


PM2 & 530
XDOm4RZ.jpg


GSRYwDY.jpg


710 & 553
cphPu8E.jpg
 
FCM415 said:
All good but get the flagship 710. Everyone should have one. One of my favorite knives overall.
Click to expand...
+1 710 has just about everything you could ask for in a folder... I've used it as an edc going on 5 years now and that D2 steel holds a scalpel edge that lasts a really long time! The recurve isnt too hard to sharpen just get a spyderco sharpmaker or something like that. You can actually sharpen the blade (and recurve) on a piece of frosted glass. I have even sharpened it by steeling it on a henkels steak knife. I took my 710 to the jungles of honduras and put it through all kinds of abuse and 2 weeks later, they blade was still very sharp. Do yourself a favor and get a 710. It rides really easy in the pocket and it is smooth like butter.
 
Derek the Destroyer said:
+1 710 has just about everything you could ask for in a folder... I've used it as an edc going on 5 years now and that D2 steel holds a scalpel edge that lasts a really long time! The recurve isnt too hard to sharpen just get a spyderco sharpmaker or something like that. You can actually sharpen the blade (and recurve) on a piece of frosted glass. I have even sharpened it by steeling it on a henkels steak knife. I took my 710 to the jungles of honduras and put it through all kinds of abuse and 2 weeks later, they blade was still very sharp. Do yourself a favor and get a 710. It rides really easy in the pocket and it is smooth like butter.
Click to expand...

Well said! the re-curve in my opinion is slight enough to not make sharpening too difficult... it is a very well thought out design...

Derek the Destroyer said:
what is a barrel-standoff refit?
Click to expand...

The back spacer can be replaced with barrel-standoffs...looks great and makes it easier to keep clean...seen threads here where people have requested BM to do it when they send in their knives...
Perhaps Keyman or some one who has had it done can post a pic :)
 
I've got all three. They don't suck. The 710 is a LOT more knife than the other two. The 710 should be #1 on the list.
 
I am partial to the the 943's I like the sharp point and the slim profile. The low weight is also a plus. The C/F models weigh 71gm. The Aluminum models 81 gm. The Ti models weigh 91gm.View attachment 387370
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top