Any info on Benchmade 705? why did the 707 "win"?

KYenglish

KYenglish

Joined
Nov 26, 2010
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I've heard f a BM 705 of course, but i guess the 707 had take over by the time I really figured my way into high end custom knives, it has made sense to me that Benchmade, who tend to make a large a small version o a lot of there designs, would have made a smaller 710, but hadn't put much thought into it till I saw a 705 for sale today and got hit by the realization like a slap on the back of the head when i recognized the handle.

I guess they aren't for sale anymore except through the secondary market, but wondered if anyone had an idea of why it fell out of favor for the 707 (now I get the name "sequel" makes sense)

I like the 710, handle ad all, and have always been attracted to the 7078 but it just never wet for it for some reason I like the 705 a lot from pictures ad just wondered if there was a fault or dislike that doesn't show.

Thanks for any info, or time spent reading through my ramble, :)

take care,

KYeglish
 
i wish they still made the 705. i have wanted one for a long time, as i love the 710, but don't really want to pay what people ask for them.
 
Personally, I found the 705 too small to use comfortably. The specimen I picked up had been buffed within a millimeter of its life and was a combo edge as well, so that may explain why the edge was so thick.
 
yablanowitz said:
Personally, I found the 705 too small to use comfortably. The specimen I picked up had been buffed within a millimeter of its life and was a combo edge as well, so that may explain why the edge was so thick.
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Dang, sounds bad, I'll have to check benchmades specs again, is it that much smaller the the 707?

Edit:

707:


Blade Length: 2.95"
Blade Thickness: 0.100"
Handle Thickness: 0.420"
Blade Material: 154CM Stainless Steel
Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC
Blade Style: Modified Clip-Point; Ambidextrous Dual Thumb Stud
Weight: 2.60oz.

Pocket Clip: Black, Reversible, Tip-Up
Lock Mechanism: AXIS
Overall Length: 6.75"
Closed Length: 3.80"

705:

Blade Length: 2.95"
Blade Thickness: 0.100"
Blade Material: 154CM
Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC
Blade Style: Drop-Point
Weight: 2.70oz.

Pocket Clip: Black, Reversible, Tip-Up
Lock Mechanism: AXIS
Overall Length: 6.75"
Closed Length: 3.80"

they look about the same and not to dissimilar from the mini grip, maybe it's because i like mini grips, ummm
 
One of the biggest complaints about the 705 when it first came out was the handle thickness. The 707 was to address this and in doing so they made a couple other changes. The main differences between the two come from the handle thickness and the blade width. The 707 has a much thinner handle (aluminum instead of G10) and a wider blade, both of which were thought to be improvements. This makes the 707 cut better and ride in the pocket better. The one thing that the 707 does not have that the 705 does have is a lanyard hole. All other dimensions, specs and materials of the knives are exactly the same.
 
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The 705 and 707 differ mostly in both thinner scales and thinner liners in the 707, as well as aluminum instead of G10 scales. The ladestock thickness is the same and you can interchange the blades in many cases. The profile is different, however, the 705 being a modified clip point and the 707 being a modififed drop point.
 
Thanks, I think the blade shapes a touch diffident, of course in pictures you can't be sure you're getting a good feel for the knife so I appreciate the info,
 
KYenglish said:
Thanks, I think the blade shapes a touch diffident, of course in pictures you can't be sure you're getting a good feel for the knife so I appreciate the info,
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That's what I said. ;) Different blade profiles, drop point vs. clip point.

I don't know why the 705 disappeared, but I suspect that many people thought it was too chunky/thick for its length. I have two PE 705s and really like them. :thumbup:
 
yablanowitz said:
Personally, I found the 705 too small to use comfortably.
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Me too. It's practically the same length as a Delica, which is smaller than I like too. The only knives that small that I like are ones with finger choils like the Caly 3.

My 705 was the 705-401 with the silver twill G10. One of the sexiest knives I ever owned. But it was just too small for me. I ended up trading it. I'd love to get custom 94X handles made in that G10.
 
To be honest, I never noticed that much difference in blade profile. I have both and even though they say that the 705 is a modified "clip", in actuality, it is more of a drop point. The back is one smooth drop just like the 707. Here are a couple of pictures to compare. The difference in profile, as far as I can see, is the way the swedge is ground and the blade width. Perhaps that is what they mean by modified clip ... the swedge. They are almost identical knives except for what I noted above. In fact, there were a few special 705's made in aluminum with G10 inserts just like a 707 with a narrower blade and lanyard hole.

BM%20705.jpg
BM%20707.jpg
 
I saw one of those special 705s, confused me because as you say the handle is like that of the 707, thanks
 
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Here is an example of what I was talking about. A 705 with aluminum handle and G10 scales, just like the 707. There were a LOT of very nice 705 special editions. Unfortunately, I have very few of them!

BM%20705s.jpg
 
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JNewell, those look almost the same thickness! I take it that the 705 is on the right? My 705/707 are not so close in handle thickness. I wonder how many differences there are in all the releases of these models.
 
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The 705 has evolved over the years. They did the 705 with Aluminum handles, then they did the 706 Gold class knives. Then they discontinued the 705, released the 707.

Specs :

Scales (measured at the clip holes)
705BT : 0.0905"
705-401 : 0.0915"
707 : 0.0945 "

Liners
705BT : 0.0685"
705-401 : 0.0675"
707 : 0.0395"

Blade (measured at pivot)
705BT : 0.0995"
705-401 : 0.980"
707 : 0.0995"

Washers
705BT : 0.0520" (old school nylon washers)
707-401 : 0.0500"
707 : 0.0200"

Overall thickness (measured at clip end of knife, without the clip)
705BT : 0.4610"
705-401 : 0.4775"
707 : 0.3890"

Dang, My photo got used above by JNewell.

A 705 blade will swap directly into a 707 handle with no issues. A 707 blade will hit the backspacer on a 705. If you replace the backspacer with standoffs, it will work fine.
Interesting is that the 705 and 707 liners have the same holes, cut outs, just the 707 was made out of thinner material. Guess they had not reason to reprogram the cnc /laser machines. Just fed it thinner stock

I posted these over on Benchmade.com a while back

707 with 705 blade
DLC_0013.jpg

705 with 707 blade. As far as it will close. Hits the backspacer
DLC_0014.jpg
 
Overall thickness (measured at clip end of knife, without the clip)
705BT : 0.4610"
705-401 : 0.4775"
707 : 0.3890"
Click to expand...

That ^^^ is the point I was trying to make.


Dang, My photo got used above by JNewell.
Click to expand...

Sorry, was courtesy of Google image search - edited!
 
JNewell said:
That ^^^ is the point I was trying to make.




Sorry, was courtesy of Google image search - edited!
Click to expand...
No harm really, was just thinking that pic looked familiar, then went to add the other two from a previous comparison I did, and saw the same photo.
 
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