BENCHMADE 707 SEQUEL KNIFE
BY BRIAN HARTMAN
OWNER REVIEW
September 07, 2009
TESTER INFORMATION
NAME: |
Brian Hartman
|
EMAIL: |
bhart1426ATyahooDOT
com |
AGE: |
41 |
LOCATION: |
Noblesville, Indiana
|
GENDER: |
M |
HEIGHT: |
5' 9" (1.75 m)
|
WEIGHT: |
145 lb (65.80 kg)
|
I have been hiking and camping for over
20 years and enjoy backpacking solo and with my kids in Scouting. I especially
enjoy fall and winter backpacking and camping. My backpack and gear are older
and weigh 40+ lbs (18 kg). This has limited the distances I have been able to
cover while hiking. My goal over the next several years is to replace my
existing clothing and gear with more suitable and lighter weight alternatives.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Manufacturer: Benchmade Knife Company,
Inc Year of Manufacture: 2008 Manufacturer's Website: http://www.benchmade.com/ MSRP: $150
US Listed Weight: 2.6 oz (74 g) Measured Weight: 2.6 oz (74 g) Other
details:
Blade Length: 2.95" (7.50 cm) Blade Thickness: 0.120" (3.05
mm) Blade Material: 154CM Stainless Steel Blade Hardness: 58-60
HRC Blade Style: Modified Clip-Point; Ambidextrous Dual Thumb Stud Handle:
6061-T6 Aluminum with G10 Inlays/double 410 stainless steel liners Clip:
Black, Reversible, Tip-Up Lock Mechanism: AXIS Overall Length: 6.75"
(17.15 cm) Closed Length: 3.80" (9.65 cm) Sheath Material: Sold
Separately Class: Blue Warranty: Limited Lifetime
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The Benchmade 707 Sequel Knife is a
folding knife designed for general purpose use. It comes in two blade
configurations: plain (or smooth) and combo edge. The combo edge adds a
partially serrated edge to the lower half of the blade while it maintains a
plain edge up front. The 707 is also available with Benchmade's BenchKote (BK1)
coating. BenchKote is a poly-ceramic coating that has a matte black, non-glare
finish. This coating provides additional corrosion resistance and durability for
use in wet conditions.
The blade style is described as modified
Clip-Point. In this case, the back (or dull edge) of the knife blade starts
straight from the handle and slopes gently downwards to the knife's point, which
is approximately in the center of the blade's width. At the meeting point of the
edges, the sharpened edge curves upward and meets the back edge of the blade.
The back is "clipped" along the furthest two thirds of the blade to make the tip
thinner and sharper.
The blade is made from 154CM stainless steel at
58-60 Rc. and measures 2.95" (74.93 mm) in length. 154CM is a premium grade
stainless steel which was developed for tough industrial applications. It offers
great corrosion resistance with good toughness and edge quality.
The
machined aluminum handles have black G-10 inlays which Benchmade claims provide
secure grip in most conditions. A removable metal belt clip is attached to the
far end of the handle.
Benchmade's patented locking mechanism is called
AXIS. It consists of a steel bar which rides forward and back in a slot machined
into both steel liners. The bar is positioned over the rear of the blade and
extends to both sides of the knife, spanning the liners. It engages the end
(tang) portion of the knife blade when it is opened. Springs push the locking
bar into the tang, and as a result the tang is solidly locked between the stop
pin and the AXIS bar itself. Because the AXIS bar extends to both sides of the
knife, it offers ambidextrous use.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
My 707
Sequel knife arrived in a plain blue box with Benchmade's logo on it. Also
included in the box were instructions and a silk carrying pouch. Initial
inspection of the knife didn't show any problems. The fit and finish were top
notch. The Axis lock mechanism was smooth, and the blade was sharp and well
polished. There were no noticeable scratches or other blemishes.
Upon
opening the knife, I was immediately impressed by the wide shape and geometry of
the blade. The extra width adds strength to the blade and will come in handy
while performing various camp chores.
FIELD USE
I use this knife daily and have taken
it on many backpacking trips over the past twelve months including trips to
Clifty Falls, IN., Brookville State Park, IN, Brown County State Park and the
Hoosier National Forest. Most of the time I store it in a knife sheath which I
wear on my belt. This has worked out very well for me as the knife is secure
while I'm trekking and easily accessible when I need to use it. I have also
tried using the belt clip but the clip is so tight that it is very difficult to
slide over my belt. An alternative has been to clip the knife to my front pants
pocket, however my pocket is starting to wear thin from the force of the knife
clip rubbing on the fabric.
I am extremely satisfied with the AXIS
locking mechanism. It is sturdy, operates smoothly and allows me to open and
close the knife with one hand. I didn't realize how much I would appreciate this
design feature until having owned this knife. Not only is the ability to open
and close the knife with one hand convenient, it is a big time saver. There are
also many times when I don't have two hands to spare to open my knife, without
setting something down or letting go of it.
I really
like the blade on this knife. I've used it for everything from cutting rope,
cardboard and plastic to preparing tinder for my fire and whittling wood. I've
also used it for food prep including slicing meat, tomatoes and bread to
spreading peanut butter. Despite constant use, the blade is still very sharp.
Although I had many choices for blade steel, I am very happy with 154CM. My
experience has been that it is very durable, holds a great edge and is fairly
easy to sharpen. The blade itself is slightly wider than a standard drop-point
blade which gives it a sturdier feel and this extra width seems to work well for
a lot of my food prep tasks.
The Sequel handle has been very comfortable
for prolonged use. The handle and grip felt secure all the time, even when I had
to exert significant force when making a cut. I have also come to appreciate the
handle ergonomics for prolonged cutting sessions.
SUMMARY
The Benchmade 707 Sequel is a great
knife for backpacking. It is strong, lightweight and capable of handling light
cutting chores with ease. It has very solid feel, due to the aluminum handles
and overall sturdy design. It opens with a very smooth action, locks tightly and
has nice balance. After twelve months of continual use, the blade has stayed
sharp enough to cut tomatoes. It is an expensive knife, but worth the price.
THINGS I LIKE
Thin profile and lightweight design
make it perfect for everyday carry Easy, one-handed opening Solid locking
mechanism Quality blade steel retains sharpness
THINGS I DON'T LIKE
Pricey
SIGNATURE
Brian Hartman bhart1426 AT yahoo DOT
com This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org
Report Writer Version 1.5 Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
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