Benchmade Axis lock BM710

[Wingerr]

The Axis lock mechanism used on this knife is terrific; opens one handed ever so quickly and closes the same way, which actually makes it safer, because you don't need your other hand to put it away after you're done with it; plus your fingers never enter the path of the blade when closing it, as with all the other types of locking mechanisms.
For me, it's perfect except it's a bit longer than I really need it to be-
From the descriptions, the 705S would suit me pretty well-
Anyone have one of these?
benchmade 705S
Bigger picture

 

[mets1p]

Wingrr I agree completely about the axis lock on the Benchmade knives. I recently acquired a Mini-Griptillian and absoltely love the way this thing looks and feels in the hand. It opens and closes easily with one hand and locks up tighter than a frogs you know what. I would not hesitate to buy another when the time comes. Good luck with your knife it's a good one.

 

[txwest]

I agree. I have 3 of the BM Axis locks & think for knife opening & closeing, they're the greatest thing since the 1st one hand opener. TX

 

[Normark]

Hey Winger...

Heck ya..
The 710 is quite the bade.. I have two of them and a 730 with an Axis.. They are Great knives...

Trying using the Axis lock as the opening device for the knife..

Depress the lock, and move your hand slightly..The blade should snap open..
Ido it both ways open and closed.. Makes for a very handy way of using the knife when your other hand is busy with something...

Can't go wrong with any of them,,thats for sure...


ttyle

Eric...

 

[Josh]

hi, the knife in the link is very cool, is the handle made from linen micarta? it looks like g-10.(i have never seen sanded g-10).just my.02 and knowing that bench made will not put their name on any thing but quality knives, the axis seems prone to lint and other pocket material could you please let me know if you have any probs. thanks, josh

 

[mikep]

My brother had the 705- nice knife, though the blade seemed 'skinny' for the handle somehow (maybe I'm too used to spyderco wide blades). You may want to handle one before you buy it, the feel can be drastically different on how a smaller knife fits your hand.

 

[Wingerr]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Normark:

Depress the lock, and move your hand slightly..The blade should snap open..
Ido it both ways open and closed.. Makes for a very handy way of using the knife when your other hand is busy with something...
..<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Yep, with the 710, when I release the lock, I can just curl my wrist slightly and let gravity do the rest, and just let it lock up as soon as it hits the stop-. I don't think there's ANY other mechanism that lets you go from closed to open to closed any faster (like 0-100mph-0). It may be easier opening an automatic knife, but try closing it the same way; won't happen.. That's one thing I wonder about too, though; since I think there are special regulations on gravity knives, would this 710 actually be considered one? I don't need that hassle, so I'd like to know if that's the case-

I really like the ergonomics of this knife, but I'd like to see how the 705 feels (which may take some getting used to, as noted, with the smaller size). I don't really have a need for the larger size of the 710, especially these days, but I wouldn't want to sacrifice too much if the 705 is just too small-
I suppose I'll just have to get one to see!

 

[Wingerr]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by josh:
hi, the knife in the link is very cool, is the handle made from linen micarta? it looks like g-10.(i have never seen sanded g-10).just my.02 and knowing that bench made will not put their name on any thing but quality knives, the axis seems prone to lint and other pocket material could you please let me know if you have any probs. thanks, josh<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It's G-10 scales with a stainless steel liner- it has a great feel to it; very nice frictional characteristics and grip.

As far as lint, I keep mine in my pocket all the time and I haven't had any problems with it. I have an Emerson CQC7 spear point that
I used to carry all the time before this one, and that also has great ergonomics, but with the liner lock, you can't open and close it without touching the knife blade and putting your fingers in its path at some point-

I recall that one of the characteristics of the axis lock mechanism was that the lock is actually stronger than the pivot, so if some force were extreme enough to make anything fail, the pivot would go first, which would keep the knife from closing up back onto the user. Since only the locking bar is visible, I can't say for sure, but this could very well be the case-

 

[Gandalf]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by txwest:
I agree. I have 3 of the BM Axis locks & think for knife opening & closeing, they're the greatest thing since the 1st one hand opener. TX<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have the BM 735, and I agree about the extremely fast opening and closing. This is the best folder I've ever owned, in that respect. And the knife is extremely well made, with a very good design blade that holds an edge very well. But the 735 blade is 3 1/2 inches, a bit big for PC carry. Do you know how long the blades are on the 710, and 705? And do the smaller blades open and close as easily as the larger 735 blade does? TIA

 

[txwest]

Gandalf,
I believe the models I have are the 710, 720, & 730. Without checking, that's aprox a 3", 3.5" & 4" blades. Each one opens just as easiley as the next. I think the only problem that could come up on the smaller knives would be the size of the handle. It would be just as easy to open, but maybe not to hold on to. (ever flip the handle out by holding the blade while eating fried chicken???

Very dangerous!!

) TX

 

[Wingerr]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Do you know how long the blades are on the 710, and 705? And do the smaller blades open and close as easily as the larger 735 blade does? TIA

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

705 McHenry & Williams
Blade Length: 2.95"

710 McHenry & Williams
Blade Length: 3.9"

I don't know about the 705, but with the 710, I can basically flip it open without even pressing the release from the inertia of the blade. If I hold the release, I can pretty much just allow the weight of the blade to open it up by rotating it appropriately, because there's very little friction once the lock is disengaged.

Does anyone have the 705? Since I have a second 710S, brand new, NIB; if someone happens to have a NIB 705 or 705S, and would like the 710S, maybe a trade can be done-

 

[Bucky]

I have been carrying a Benchmade 705S every day for about a year and a half now. I am getting a Chris Reeve Sebenza soon, which by many accounts is the best folding knife available. But the Sebenza costs considerably more than the 705. For the money, the BM 705 is the best knife going - bar none.

I actually have a Benchmade 705 Forum Knife which was limited to 100 numbered knives - much like the CPF Edition Arc. The Forum Knife features M2 high speed steel, carbon fiber handles, a BC1 rust-resistant blade coating, a stainless steel pocket clip, and custom backspacers. The knife is beautiful. Mine is so nice I bave been afraid to carry it so far. Here is a picture of the 705 Forum Knife along with some more information. Unfortunately, they are all sold out

.

http://www.benchmade.com/detail.asp?id=2962787179218&item=131

Bucky

 

[Wingerr]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>For the money, the BM 705 is the best knife going - bar none.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Sounds good to me- I think that mini sized version will suit me just fine. But, I think I'll have to pare down my collection first!

 

[Gandalf]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bucky:
I have been carrying a Benchmade 705S every day for about a year and a half now. I am getting a Chris Reeve Sebenza soon, which by many accounts is the best folding knife available. But the Sebenza costs considerably more than the 705. For the money, the BM 705 is the best knife going - bar none.
Bucky<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I just got a plain blade (which I prefer) Benchmade 705 in the mail today, that I bought from eBay.

What a great knife; perfect size for EDC. Not so big as to be intimidating, and not so small as to be hard to use. I have small hands, and it's great fit for me. I didn't know the scales had the 'checkerboard' pattern on them. Interesting looking.

Strange thing about this knife; it was brand new in the box, with factory oil on the ATS-34 blade, and it has "May 2000" etched on the opposite side of the blade from the Benchmade logo. It's quite small, just below where the hollow grind starts on the blade. I didn't notice it at first.

On the end of the box is printed "705-05/00 May Knife/Month" Is this some sort of 'knife of the month' club knife? It doesn't really matter to me; I'm just curious. The box has a price tag of $109.99 on it, but I got it for $85 plus shipping, which seems pretty decent to me ;-)

I have one of Chris Reeves's Sebenza folders. A *very* nice knife. The blade is only a few millimeters smaller than the size of the titanium grip. It also has the most pronounced hollow grind I've ever seen on a knife blade. The blade was obviously hand honed; extremely sharp, most likely on a cardboard wheel with cutting rouge; there are no machine marks, or any other marks, on the edge. I have a wheel like that, and it leaves the ground edge almost mirror polished, from the extremely fine abrasive I use on the wheel. The CR knife had the same sort of edge on it, when I bought it new.

I've never carried my Chris Reeves knife; it was pretty expensive. The one I have has plain, bead blasted titanium grips. I saw a bunch of Sebenza's in a case at a gun show recently (6 or 8 of them) with fancy designs on the sides; grooves colored blue in geometric patterns, and the titanium was polished. They looked really nice. I remember asking the price, but I don't remember what it was, (maybe around $450?) since I certainly can't afford another one!

I'm sure you'll like the Sebenza; I wish I didn't worry about the cost of mine, because it's a beautiful, very well made tool that isn't being used as it was intended.

 

[Unicorn]

I have a 710 and it is a great knife. The 705 is a little small for me, and I'd love it if BM were to make a 3.5 inch version, sort of a 707 if you will. I do have one of the forumn knives they made for us last year, but it just mostly sits in my gun safe.