Item number: 200503712403

I found this item on ebay today....Did Benchmade ever make a 970 with a titanium blade? The picture looks like a standard 970 and I have put it in "my pictues" and blown it up (zoomed in) to see if I can see ATS-34 on the blade like my other 970s have on them, and I don't see any type steel markings.

Is this real?

Item Description from ebay:

quote:

Benchmade 970ST with a titanium blade.
Only 750 made!
3.25" gray titanium chisel ground tanto blade with serrations
Tungsten carbide is laminated to the cutting edge for edge retention
Titanium is non-corrosive and non magnetic!
Black G-10 composite handles.
Black stainless steel pocket clip is removable.
New with box and papers never carried and never sharpened. This has a factory sharp edge.

Edited to add - I don't want to buy it, I am just curious and figured this would be the place to go to cut through all the internet speculation and misinformation?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: OBJ Viking,

OBJ, IF I remember correctly.. some of these did have a Ti Blade. In addition to being corrosion proof they were non-magnetic also.

I am sure someone will correct or add to this if it is wrong.

Yup BM 970ST it was called. Ti bladed, tanto chisel ground, and serrated. Check Rx's page he has one in there if you need a pic.

+1 on the above.
The Ebay listing shows a genuine knife.

Thanks - I learn something new everyday in life. I wonder why the choice of the "non-metallic" blade in a fighting style knife, unless it was for EOD personnel needing a cutting tool for work and possible defense, or serving double duty for a ground troop probing the ground for clearing/searching mines (which could be done with other longer more efficient objects), or working around something electrical?

Maybe the guys running the MRI machines needed an EDC.

Were the liners and the other internal parts also titanium making it in effect a "nonmetallic" but sturdy knife? I know the pocket clip is metallic from the description.

ETA: How hard would a titanium balde be to sharpen and how good would the edge retention capabilities be?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: OBJ Viking,

When those knives get used, the tungsten carbide lamination on the blade edge becomes more apparent. You can see it on the backside photo the guy posted, but its not terribly obvious.

I saw one several years ago on that site where the person had bought it and tried to EDC it. They smoked the edge and were totally unable to resharpen it. It looked terrible, but still went for ~90 at that time. I think this knife is one to be used sparingly by people who have a need to cut, but specifically require non-magnetic means.

Until the all knowing benchmade master (RX) chimes in I will give you my take on it. They did make a short run of them, it was called the 970ST. The blade itself a chisel ground tanto blade made from titanium with carbide edges making it non magnetic, the handles are g10 and has the old school black stainless clip. I believe the linear is also made from titanium. I actually own one and it is a nice blade, Only 750 were ever made, IMO its kind of a rare bird, thats why I dont carry it much. I have RX to thanks for my 970ST, Thanks RX,

This message has been edited. Last edited by: -Shadow-,

They are decent, i remember when they first came out. They were $180 new from GPKnives back in the 90's

The titanium on these are pretty soft, nothing like the other steels that benchmade currently uses. The blade is titanium as are the liners, but the pivot, thumbstud and clip are stainless steel.

I dont think there is a official production number but most say there were less than 1000 made. All were serrated, no plain edge.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Benchmade Nut,

Not sure where the number 750 came from. I've never seen that number listed. But I could be wrong.

I watched the auction end and it went for over $200.00. I was surprised.