Benchmade 710 - The High End Quality Pocket Knife

The Benchmade 710 was designed by custom knife makers Bill McHenry and Jason Williams. It is the end result of their hard work over the course of 4 years. It features the AXIS lock, which was as well designed by Bill and Jason. The lock permits for easy one-handed opening and closing of the blade, and is totally ambidextrous. The lock design is plain to activate with no instructions required on how the knife functions.

Simplicity of the lock is not the principal selling point, its brute strength is. Through testing, the lock withstood a load of over 200 pounds with no damage. In testing, the lock finally failed after applying extra power. The liners just cracked over the locking pin but never the blade closed on the users hand.

The locking device has two Omega shaped springs. This feature adds outstanding functional redundancy. The springs are stressed a bit. Multiple tests reveal they should last indefinitely. In the unlikely incident that one of the springs does fail, another can still operate the knife just fine.

It is hard to say if this is the strongest lock made in folding knives. Benchmade states that it's indeed more rugged than most of the conventional lock-back and liner-locking knives. The blade of the version 710 has a reverse-curve grind for improved cutting capability. It is made out of D2 steel.

On the butt end of the knife, there is a removable stainless steel pocket clip. The butt end location of the clip is required as a result of the locking device. In case the clip were placed on the pivot end, the knife would stick out much very far from your pocket.

The belt clip is reversible and feels natural in hand. My 710 Benchmade holds its edge, and I use it for everything. Like opening packages and envelopes, cutting string, heavy duty plastic box straps, cutting into the occasional snack, cutting paper and cardboard, etc.