I have been a little confused regarding the prices that I've seen on the M2 and M4 versions of the 710. When I was looking for an 710-801 (M4 version), I would notice that the M2 and M4 versions were going up at pretty much the same prices.

I got the impression from reading other posts that M4 was a little better than M2. (similar, but maybe a little easier to sharpen, maybe a little bit more wear resistance) This would make me think that the M4 version might be a little more expensive. When I finally got my 710-801, I actually got it for less than many of the M2HS ones are posted for.

I do like the M2 better in some ways. (It doesn't have the blade text and I personally like the black handle a little more than the green one)

Are these differences what are keeping the prices on M2 and M4 710s the same? or is it something else I don't know about?

Thanks

M2 is getting hard to come by. Sooo the prices will be up there. And I think you posted in the wrong place. You should have posted in Knives&Rescue Tools.

Argh.. I actually thought I was in the Knives & Rescue Tools forum when I was posting it. Didn't realize it till after the post.

So, is the price equality mostly due to the rarity?

Personally, from my gut feel, I like the look of the M2HS version better (cleaner with no strange font and little text, prefer black handle over the green) but I really wanted to try the M4 blade steel.

It just felt strange that the older model was pretty much the same price as the newer model & I wasn't sure if there was something I was missing that would make the M2HS ones more desirable. (besides the looks)

i would like to compare ...
maybe could i put my hands on one of those 710hs one day ....

Never understood this "ugly text" stuff. The 710M2 knives were regular production, so there was no need to indicate a limited production. As it now stands, the 710M4 versions are limited production and such should be noted on the knives in some manner.

As to price, the issues are availability and time.

The 710M2 is out of production and the pool of available knives is shrinking.

The 710M4 knives are relatively new and there is some rumour of M4 being a regular production option.

There is also the issue of "asked for price" versus actual selling price. I see a lot of knives with a high "asked for price" that in reality just don't sell for it.

And just to have more fun, throw in the current economic situation and predictions of the future economic situation. These, too, affect selling values.

Enjoy your 710M4, BTW, as the steel is as enjoyable in use as M2 IMO and the 710 is a great design IMO.

Gotta buck the trend here boys! I love the
710-801. It's bad ass. Very pretty. Olive drab and subdued blade. On steel charts anyway M4 is better and this definitely makes a difference in industrial applications it just probably has little impact on every day blade function. It was afterall designed to cut other metals and steels in industry. M4 is powdered steel with smaller carbides than M2 and therefor should in theory be capable of finer edges.Also there are only 300 of the 710-m4 and no more will ever be made so long term it's probably the better knife to have in your collection. I have put my 551 D2 with Bk finish through hell. Including cutting lots of foil, card board and striking fire steels and except for the fire steel marks on the swaged spine, the finish has held up well and there is NO RUST unlike my ATS-34 bead blasted knives from BM that all rused in the first month I got them until I discovered Sentry's tuff cloth. If you dont like the beautiful green scales call custom scale division and order the black carbon scales they are way nicer than the black g10 from BM.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Lost Lebowski,

If the prices of the M2 and M4's are staying about equal, that would be what I would expect as they are worth the same to me. The M2 handle might look a little better, but it is the old G-10 and sort of hard and slick. Many of the M4 variation had crooked or uncenterable blades, so really, there were probably less than 200 flawless ones to start with, imo...so a good straight one is relatively rare out in the market place...just as rare as a NIB M2 710.

I own both and prefer the 710HS by quite a margin.

The 710-801's limited edition scrawl is hideous in my opinion. A simple number behind the thumb studs like the RSK Mk1HS would have been much, much better. The knives also have coated handles rather than solid green, which would have been preferable.
I haven't noticed a big difference in the performance of the steels, so the 710HS still reigns as king of the 710s.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: steven andrews,

Just too bad we couldn't have gotten the originally planned 710M4 in a satin finish and Micarta scales. The LE script is a little large, all we needed was a small logo behind the stud as Steven says.

Hey I love Benchmade but I think they are just stubborn or, well I'll just say it...dumb! M4 steel is plentiful as is M2 there is no shortage! Why not release the 710 in M4 standard? I mean micarta handles and coated M4 without the LE scrawl (which I don't mind by the way. Many of those who "hate" it seem to scramble to stash as many LE's as possible in their safe.) It's a no brainer the knife will sell thousands of units.