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Buzzbait

Buzzbait

Joined
Feb 25, 2001
Messages
6,676
I decided yesterday that I was going to send in my large Sebenza for a little touch up and cleaning. This decision, of course, prompted the age-old question of “What am I going to carry while it’s gone?” Well….. I didn’t have a single large folder that I really wanted to use as an EDC, so I decided to pick up a dreaded “backup EDC”.

I went through a veritable buttload of possible large folders, and a few of them really looked pretty good. Here were the contenders:

1. BM Axis AFCK
2. BM 710 in M2
3. Kershaw Boa
4. Al Mar Sere 2000
5. Spyderco Vesuvius

The Spydie just looks too weird. What can I say? I’m a normal blade shape kind of guy. It’s too bad. That compression lock looks pretty nifty. The Boa has 440V, which I’m not too impressed with. Love that assisted opening though!!!

That narrowed things down to three knives. The AFCK, the 710 and the Sere2000. Talk about a tough choice!!! So I pitted their specs up against each other. The Al Mar was the heaviest in weight of the lot, so I pulled him out of the list.

That left the two Benchmades. I literally stared at pictures of both models for an hour. They each had qualities that I really liked. The AFCK had the opening whole and D2 steel. At the same time, the 710 made better use of handle room, and looked like a knife meant more for cutting stuff, it that makes any sense.

The 710 finally won out, just because of its track record. You all rave about this knife up and down. You actually compare its utility value and strength to my Sebenza, which is very high praise. It should also make for a good backpacking folding.

I admit that I have reservations about Benchmade. I have an Ares that just plain doesn’t cut well. The design of the handle is great, and the Axis lock rocks the house down, but the knife just doesn’t cut well. If anybody wants a slightly used Ares, just ask me about it. I’d be happy to trade it away.

But your endless praise of the M2 710 has pushed me over the edge….. And it’s your butts if this knife doesn’t cut!!!! ;)
 
The 710 is a good one. Though I don't own one, I've handled a few and want one. Know that you can also do a sort of Wave opening with it.
 
Originally posted by Buzzbait
But your endless praise of the M2 710 has pused me over the edge….. And it’s your butts if this knife doesn’t cut!!!! ;)
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I can't imagine you won't be pleased with M2 on the 710. Any reasonable care and it won't rust. Personally, I wouldn't sweat on it without rinsing it off, or use it to clean salt water fish, or around salt water, since I own other good folders in stainless, but it's easy to sharpen and takes and holds an edge just fine.

A 710 in M2 is my workhorse right now. Anything around the house, yard, in the woods... that is the heavy use folder that gets used these days. I sharpen it once a week, pretty quick to get a good shaving 25 degree edge with diamond stones.

I'm less enchanted with the more recent production of ATS-34 and 154CM from Benchmade (hard to sharpen relative to the older ATS-34 from BM, and harder to get a good shaving edge onto), but the M2 is fine. That is kinda strange, as heat treat formula's for ATS-34/154CM are well known and fairly straight forward, while knowledgeable makers indicate that M2 is a really tricky steel to heat treat.
 
I just sent my edc TNT back to tom for a good sharpening and handle blast i have no worries cause my back up is a large Sebenza, i like the Almar sere2000 i have had the 710 it is a nice knife no questions on that but i would probely carry the sere it is built like a tank and has that nice shiny liners very smooth action the blade grinds are nice too !! and plenty sharp !!!!!!!!! GO PATRIOTS !!!!!!!
 
It's too bad you ruled out the SERE because of the weight... For SERE 6 oz feels just right. Both for use AND for carry I must add - because of the thick handle and the way the clip is mounted.

I carry that puppy every day, whether I wear jeans or dress pants.
 
Buzzbait, Not trying to start a flame war or anything else,but why didn't You consider a BM750 Pinnacle? This is the closest knife to Your Sebenza ever made.tom.:confused:
 
Don't worry about me. Flamin' aint' in my language. :)

My real reason for getting a BM was for the Axis Lock. It's something strong, and a pleasant diversion from my usual frame lock state of mind.

I've tried a Pinnacle, and it's a very nice knife, but it's not a Sebenza (IMHO). I knew I'd always be comparing it to the Sebenza, and would never really learn to appreciate the Pinnacle's finer points, so I went for something completely different. The 710 is something I can use and enjoy, and is different enough from the Sebenza that I can judge it on its own merits.

All that and I cut a lot of stuff. I hear that the M2 steel is quite a bit tougher than ATS-34. That's a biggie for me when choosing a large folder. I absolutely hate sharpening my knives. Boring!!! I'd much prefer to sit around and flick my Axis lock than grind steel. ;)
 
I have the SERE and the BM. You couldn't go wrong with either one, the weight of the SERE wouldn't have been a big factor. Both are slick and smooth, the axis lock is great. Both have, hold, and take good edges. I agree about the Spydie, I try to like them but I just can't.
 
Owen - Thanks for the link. I can live with a 700% improvement in cutting efficiency. :D
 
Ughh. I just noticed the number of posts I've made, and needed to change the number. :eek:
 
Buzz, you are one crazy cabin-fever-I-got SOB. You might have snapped out of it choosing the 710 in M2. Awesome knife. Actually one that makes me wonder why I continue to spend the big bucks on customs. You sure aren't gaining that much in performance.

Actually, if you don't like it you are more than welcome to what is left of my butt after the wife discovers what is coming this week ;)
 
Originally posted by Buzzbait
I admit that I have reservations about Benchmade. I have an Ares that just plain doesn’t cut well. The design of the handle is great, and the Axis lock rocks the house down, but the knife just doesn’t cut well. If anybody wants a slightly used Ares, just ask me about it. I’d be happy to trade it away.
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Don't give up on that Ares yet. Benchmade is well known for their great knives, but they're not well known for their great edges. Use the same directions from Joe T's post about sharpening the 710 and sharpen your Ares that way. It won't cut like a 710, but it will cut like a demon. The 730 is a great knife and you'll be much happier with yours once you put a good edge on it.

And it’s your butts if this knife doesn’t cut!!!! ;)
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I'll put my butt on the line for the 710.
 
As far as the 730 goes, I'd love to hear people's comments on it. I reprofiled the edge to 30 degrees, and the knife still cuts horribly. When I say horribly, read me thread here - http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=187789 .

It'll cut paper and shave hair like crazy, but couldn't cut cardboard or leather if its life depended on it. It just seems like lousy blade geometry to me. I sure didn't buy and knife that large and expensive to just shave hair!!! :mad:

The steel seems good enough, and the blade is very strong, but that's all irrelevant if the thing doesn't cut. The 730 has been a giant disappointment. I'm betting that the 710 will be redeem Benchmade though.
 
Originally posted by Buzzbait

The steel seems good enough, and the blade is very strong, but that's all irrelevant if the thing doesn't cut. The 730 has been a giant disappointment. I'm betting that the 710 will be redeem Benchmade though.
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I have a 710 and a 735. The 735 is headed for ebay.

I wish I had a 705 though, the only problem I have with the 710 is that sometimes I wish it were a bit smaller.

Ben
 
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