Favorite knife discontinued, suggestions?

[il_10]

I've carried a Benchmade 707 Sequel for close to 10 years, and picked up 2 extras when I noticed they were being discontinued next year. Eventually I'll use them up, wear them out, lose them, or trade them away, so I'll need another model to replace my 'standard.'

I have Griptilians, Mini Griptilians, a mini barrage, various SOGs, CRKTs, Kershaws, keep a nice collection of old Case knives and so on, but the 707 is the perfect size and heft me, and I REALLY like the aluminum handles with the inlay (my current carry has wood inlays instead of the carbon).

I'd like to stick with Benchmade, particularly because I trust an axis lock more than any other, but it looks like most of their knives in this price range and size are all coming with plastic scales of one variety or another. So, what would you move on to?

 

[CZ9shooter]

If only considering Benchmades, I really like the 940. A bit longer, but probably skinnier, than a 707. It carries wonderfully on the pocket, and IMO, is perfectly comfortable to use in all but very tough situations.

The standard model is aluminum, but you can get it in G10 (940-2) or carbon fiber (940-1) if you like. All of which are nicely contoured verses the typical plain slab-sided knife.

There is even a 943 model with a stabbier blade if you dont like the 940's blade profile.

The 940 seems to be one of their flagship models as well. I dont think it's going anywhere anytime soon.

 

[cheygriz]

My favorite Benchmade is the 710 D-2.

 

[CZ9shooter]

My favorite Benchmade is the 710 D-2.

I like the 710 too. It is actually very closely related the the OP's 707. But it is HUGE by comparison.

 

[cheygriz]

I like the 710 too. It is actually very closely related the the OP's 707. But it is HUGE by comparison.

No! HUGE is my 610 Rukus!

 

[jmr40]

Three of those should easily last a lifetime. But the 940 is my favorite Benchmade

 

[hso]

Axis locks are no longer exclusive to BM so you may find your options expanded.

 

[Slamfire]

I've carried a Benchmade 707 Sequel for close to 10 years, and picked up 2 extras when I noticed they were being discontinued next year. Eventually I'll use them up, wear them out, lose them, or trade them away, so I'll need another model to replace my 'standard.'

I have Griptilians, Mini Griptilians, a mini barrage, various SOGs, CRKTs, Kershaws, keep a nice collection of old Case knives and so on, but the 707 is the perfect size and heft me, and I REALLY like the aluminum handles with the inlay (my current carry has wood inlays instead of the carbon).

I'd like to stick with Benchmade, particularly because I trust an axis lock more than any other, but it looks like most of their knives in this price range and size are all coming with plastic scales of one variety or another. So, what would you move on to?

I recommend, don't do anything till you lose your two Benchmade 707's. By then, designs will have advanced, new useful features and materials will be on the market, and the 707's will be so 1990. I have a number of the first generation Cold Steel Voyagers, you know the Japanese made ones, ATS34 and plastic belt clips? Plastic belt clips were a bad idea, the things took a bend, and I lost a number when the belt clip lost its tension and the knife fell out. I liked ATS34, liked the light weight of the things, but you know, technology moved on and things are better. I am so clueless about predicting the future. Henry Ford said "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” I am one of those visionaries who would have asked for faster horses. Given that I cannot anticipate future trends, I think it is just better to wait and see what happens in the future. I never saw this coming:



Titanium handles and S35VN? Only the space program could afford titanium in the 1990's. And then, cheap Chinese labor made a knife made from these materials affordable.

Never saw this coming. G10 handles.



Just let the future happen and deal with it when it arrives.

 

[il_10]

Just let the future happen and deal with it when it arrives.

That's probably good advise. It's amazing how affordable decent knives out of China have gotten. Before long I'll have to really question how much of my brand loyalty is because they're 'better', or just pure snobbery. I keep a couple Ganzo axis lock knockoffs in the car as knockaround knives that wouldn't upset me terribly to break or lose, and they're pretty doggone good for the price (the ethics of knife knockoffs notwithstanding)

 

[lemaymiami]

And of course... if you have a discontinued model that you really liked (like my old Ascent, Benchmade) keep an eye on E-Bay and you might even find a brand new one that someone dug out of his safe and put on the market...

 

[Madcap_Magician]

If it's just the plastic-feeling FRN handles that you hate, there is a regular production and several dealer exclusive runs of the Griptilian or Mini-Griptilian with nice G10, micarta, or carbon fiber handles. The regular production Grip/Mini-Grip in gray G10 also comes with a 20CV blade steel upgrade.

Although rumor has it that Benchmade is doing an across-the-board upgrade from 154CM in its base models to S30V. One well-known knife retailer is already selling base-model Griptilians and Mini-Griptilians in S30V.

I like the 710 too. It is actually very closely related the the OP's 707. But it is HUGE by comparison.

Also the 710 itself was discontinued a few years ago.

 

[bikerdoc]

Take a look at the Kersaw Oso sweet

Just a thought