Is a 710 right for me?
I have been looking at the 710 lately (looking hard). Especially since there is a M390 version out there. My normal EDC are 940 and other 3" BM's (ritter mini grips, mini grips, 525).
My concerns/questions about the 710 are:
1.) is the blade too long? How does it feel vs. a 940? A little longer or way longer?
2.) The recurve blade. Does anyone have problems sharpening the recurve blade? Is it even that sever of a recurve? Does the recurve improve or hinder cutting?
My concerns/questions about the 710 are:
1.) is the blade too long? How does it feel vs. a 940? A little longer or way longer?
2.) The recurve blade. Does anyone have problems sharpening the recurve blade? Is it even that sever of a recurve? Does the recurve improve or hinder cutting?
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hello geo,
to answer your question, the 710 is RIGHT for everyone. have 4 [different steels] and like them all. they carry nice, lock up like an abrams, great ergos, on and on. you can't go wrong. the recurve is really moderate, unlike some zt's, and never a problem keeping sharp. open up your wallet and you won't be disappointed. best regards. mike0 -
the 710 is quite a lot larger than your normal edcs. I like to carry larger knives than what you listed and I don't like the size of the 710. I wish they made a smaller one.... but bigger than the 705 
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Well Geo,
I have actually had both and for my hands the 940 just wasn't right and reverse Tanto was OK but I preferred a drop point.
The 710 is a great knife and you can actually get factory barrel spacers for them installed by Benchmade, that can make the knife look even better (I think it's the only model that Benchmade does that for and they are silver) if you where to by a standard 710...
I don't know if it's the right knife for you, as you are the only one that decide that but it could be well worth the shot...
There is my 0.02 cents worth ...0 -
I used to carry mostly Ritters, mini's and full size. I'd also occationally pick up my 525 or my 707. But after I got my first 710 in trade; an LE M390 with the rounded spine.
I fell in love. It is a bigger longer knife than the Ritter. So, it does carry a little differently. I really like the holes I have put in mine. I think it makes this larger knife handle like a smaller one. My 710's will all have holes, it's definitely better. The 710 is an awesome design that I never even considered 'til it fell in my lap.
I can't answer your 940 comparison question cause I don't own a 940.....yet.
I find the recurve to be inconsequential.
Get one!0 -
The 710 is a great knife, but it will seem HUGE compared to a 940 - in every way. 0 -
My first Benchmade (heck, my first high quality production knife) was a 710, back in 1999 when they first came out. My second knife was a 812. I quit carrying the 710 except for camping/hunting. I didn't care for the recurve due to sharpening, but from pics I've seen they seem to have lessened the recurve a little?
It wasn't the most comfortable handle shape for me. The Contego's handle, and the H-D Hardtail's handle feel better in my hand than the 710 (and of course the 806/5 handle).0 -
A 710 was my first non red class BM. Definitely one of my favorite models; very sleek and carries very well for 4" blade, but still very solid in use. Definitely feels bigger than a 94x, though. Here's some pics. 
You should get one.0 -
i prefer larger knives so my point of view is clear ...
the 710 is one of the best edcs : thin enought but with a great usefull blade, excellent ergo ... the more you will use it the more you will like it : it is made to be used and carried !0 -
quote:Originally posted by pascal.abi:
it is made to be used and carried !
Says the man who cleans eels with his gold class 710...
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quote:Originally posted by loonybin:quote:Originally posted by pascal.abi:
it is made to be used and carried !
Says the man who cleans eels with his gold class 710...
and who is crying because its goldy knife is now gone
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quote:Originally posted by pascal.abi:quote:Originally posted by loonybin:quote:Originally posted by pascal.abi:
it is made to be used and carried !
Says the man who cleans eels with his gold class 710...
and who is crying because its goldy knife is now gone
Say it ain't so! What happened??
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Geocyclist, you asked two questions, one about the 710'size and the other about its recurve.
The 710 has a nice sized blade, but the 710 carries smaller than its size. Example: It feels smaller in the pocket than a full sized Ritter Grip.
Keyman said, "I find the recurve to be inconsequential." That comment seems spot on. Spoken like it came from a guy who actually uses one.
The bottom line is, until you actually get one and try it, you'll never really know if it's right for you. They're fairly inexpensive, get one and try it. If you hate it and have to sell it, the most you might lose is $35 or so, which is not alot in this game.
I wasn't that drawn to the 710 by looking at pictures of it, but when I bought one, carried it, used it and sharpened it, then it became my favorite of all the Benchmades.
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I make no bones, the 710 is a great knife. It was the first Benchmade I ever saw and with, I think five, still can't get enough. The thing carries very well and yes, the recurve is less, well, curvy on the newer versions. The M390 stock model at KW is a bargain and they run out of them all of the time. That says something after all these years in regular production. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by loonybin:quote:Originally posted by pascal.abi:quote:Originally posted by loonybin:quote:Originally posted by pascal.abi:
it is made to be used and carried !
Says the man who cleans eels with his gold class 710...
and who is crying because its goldy knife is now gone
Say it ain't so! What happened??
quite simple: i'm trying not to spend to much money into my hobby so i'm selling to fund new toys0 -
Geo -- You know I tend toward larger knives (as long as they still fit in my pocket) since I'm trying to buy that 520 off of you!
So, with that bias being clear, I love the 710. I thnk it was fastjan said he wasn't drawn to the 710 at first. Me either. The pictures didn't excite me, so I passed them over for a long time. Finally got one, don't recall how at the moment, and I carry it quite a lot. The recurve is a non-issue for me, whether because it's rather mild or whatever. Over-all, the balance, feel, the ergonomics in my hand, and the fact that both the D2 and the M390 blades hold an edge forever, made me a fan.
You can't go wrong. Buy one, give it a fair shot. If you don't like it, call me...I'll get that ugly duckling safely out of your house where it won't haunt you and frighten the kids!!!0 -
My 710 (cm154, a favorite) balances nicely with my 229 crossdraw on my weak side. Issue becomes how do you hold your pants up. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Geocyclist:
I have been looking at the 710 lately (looking hard). Especially since there is a M390 version out there. My normal EDC are 940 and other 3" BM's (ritter mini grips, mini grips, 525).
My concerns/questions about the 710 are:
1.) is the blade too long? How does it feel vs. a 940? A little longer or way longer?
2.) The recurve blade. Does anyone have problems sharpening the recurve blade? Is it even that sever of a recurve? Does the recurve improve or hinder cutting?
Honest advice, if your already worried about the size dont get it.0 -
The 710 will not "feel" right to you--given what you are used to carring--unless you are looking for a considerably larger knife. 0 -
You already have a 520? and a full size Grip?
These are both much fatter than a 710. I personally was surprised at how well a 710 fits in the front pocket. I think it fits better than either of the other two knives I just mentioned. Simply because it is thinner.0 -
I look at it from a different perspective. Rather than comparing a 710 to a smaller knife I compare it to an 805, which has the same blade length. I'd rather have the longer handle of the 805. And since I handsharpen, the recurve is an issue. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by ryxlyx:
And since I handsharpen, the recurve is an issue.
No worries there, brother. Just do what I do. After a couple months sharpening on a medium oilstone, the recurve straightens out and becomes a regular clip point.0 -
quote:No worries there, brother. Just do what I do. After a couple months sharpening on a medium oilstone, the recurve straightens out and becomes a regular clip point.
Shoot, I could do that in one sitting-- just sharpen it on my 6" bench grinder!0 -
quote:Originally posted by ryxlyx:quote:No worries there, brother. Just do what I do. After a couple months sharpening on a medium oilstone, the recurve straightens out and becomes a regular clip point.
Shoot, I could do that in one sitting-- just sharpen it on my 6" bench grinder!
See? There you go. Problem solved.0 -
And if you use any rod-type sharpener, it's a on-issue.
I bought one of the first 710s right after they were introduced. I've added a bunch since then. It's on my list of the five knives noone should be without, fwiw.
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Dang, J...I'd sure like to hear that list. Actually, you ought to start a thread so we can come up with 87 different lists that don't agree with each other...right?quote:JNewell wrote...the 710 is on my list of the five knives no one should be without.
PS, it's on my list too, along with an 806 and some others.
J, if you want to open a thread, decide if it's gunna be a "Benchmade only" list or an all encompassing list from all manufacturers. If the latter, it probably ought to be in Open Chit Chat in case anybody wants to post up a picture of a non-BKC knife.
I didn't mean to corner you on this. If you don't start the thread, I'll just take it that you didn't want to...but I hope you do.0 -
Wow, thanks guys for all the good feedback. I probably will pick one in the future. One thing that draws me to it is it is so thin. I think the blade length will be OK. I feel like my full grip blade is a little "short" for handle that is "full size". Like someone else said the blade length is well maxed out to the handle length. So I think it won't be too long in pocket. The final thing drawing me to it is Keyman scales.
I don't have a 707, but am on the list for the pending LE coming out. This one will definitely be clipless in pocket knife for me. I think the 710 will be a nice big brother to this one.0 -
I say go for it quickly in m390. With BM not working with that steel now I think they'll get rare. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by fastjan:
Dang, J...I'd sure like to hear that list. Actually, you ought to start a thread so we can come up with 87 different lists that don't agree with each other...right?quote:JNewell wrote...the 710 is on my list of the five knives no one should be without.
PS, it's on my list too, along with an 806 and some others.
J, if you want to open a thread, decide if it's gunna be a "Benchmade only" list or an all encompassing list from all manufacturers. If the latter, it probably ought to be in Open Chit Chat in case anybody wants to post up a picture of a non-BKC knife.
I didn't mean to corner you on this. If you don't start the thread, I'll just take it that you didn't want to...but I hope you do.
IMTotallyHO, every knife person should have:
1. 710
2. Military
3. Sebenza
4 110
5. SnG
IMNSHO, you'd can't even pretend to be a knife affi without at least one Axis in your must-have list, and I still think, after all these years (and I have owned a 710 since they were introduced) that the 710 is arguably the quintessential Axisthough I'm open to the 805/806/950 as well.0 -
To me it comes down to this, the two best production folding knives of all time, so far, are the 710 and the 806. If one or the other of those is right for you boils down to two things: do you live and work in an environment where you are comfortable carrying a 4" blade, and do you have the use for a straight edge.
I carried almost nothing but teh 710 for a few years there, but when the 806 came out, I went back to the AFCK because I would occasionally wish I had that straight part of the edge to cut and scrape with.
I now carry Griptilians, Mini Barrages, and Presidios more because they are smaller and fit into my environment better. At least, those are the knives that people see.
But hey, if you can carry and use a 4" knife, and you don't have access to an 805 or 806, you got to have a 710.0 -
Great post, Po! Here's one of your fantastic 710's that you sold me: 
I was able to post all three pics in less than a minute because I have the new version of Photobucket that you twinkies are afraid to use.(Sorry about that, it was my goal to use the word twinkie in a sentence today.)0
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