AFCK Axis lock

B

blade88

Joined
Jun 12, 2002
Messages
44
Hi guys,

Just wondering what your experience is with the Axis lock.

Is the system quick? Opening and closing?

Very Secure?

Is it fairly difficult to accidently activate the release while handling the knife?


Also, how does it feel when you carry it - In your hand, and in your pocket?

Is the size about right?

Any ideas where I might be able to get a good deal on one?

I am really considering the AFCK 806 as my first good knife and any help would be appreciated.

I'm also looking at:

- Emerson Commander
- Spyderco Endura

Any thoughts, comments, or insults :D would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!
 
The knife opens very easily (and very fast) with a very small amount of pratice and closes very easily one handed also. I've never accidentally tripped the lock while using an axis lock like I have a couple of times with a liner lock. But that's not to say it can't happen. I haven't carried a AFCK but the other Benchmades seem to carry and feel nice in the hand.
 
>Is the system quick? Opening and closing?

Yes. Flickable, actually. IMHO Axis is the nicest
lock I have used (incl. frame, liner, and rolling).

>Very Secure?

No problems to report here, but my uses are
typically light. From an engineering standpoint
my only concern with it is the longevity of the
omega springs, but there are two of them...

>Is it fairly difficult to accidently activate the release while >handling the knife?

Same comment as above, haven't come close to doing
that yet.

>Also, how does it feel when you carry it - In your hand, and in your >pocket?

I have a 770 (about to be for sale since I find I
tend to carry other things a lot more), a 705, and
a 943. All are quite comfortable in both regards.
The little ones fit in a jeans watch pocket. The
943 feels especially great but I haven't quite gotten
over the "it's too pretty to use" syndrome (dumb, I
know).

>Any ideas where I might be able to get a good deal on one?

Others here can probably tell you better than I can.
 
Hi Blade88,

The Axis lock is quite nice. As Kasy mentioned, you can flick the blade open very rapidly. While holding the knife, you can pull the lock mechanism back with your thumb and the blade will swing out with practically no friction.

I read somewhere that if one of the springs breaks, the other one is enough to still keep the lock engaged. So I guess the key there is to inspect the springs periodically.

--gordon
 
IMHO, the AFCK Axis 806 is one of BM's best efforts. It's also now available in D2 steel and the newer models even have bronze bushings and are drilled for tip up/down--right/left carry. It's a fairly large knife, so be aware it is no delicate "Sunday-Gentleman's" knife.

I think you'll find it is very well regarded here.
 
An 806 would be an excellent choice! Mine is my favorite carry knife. The Axis lock is super quick to open and close.A big advantage over the liner lock is that one needs never put a finger between the blade edge and the handle when closing the lock. I suppose it would be possible to disengage the Axis lock while using it, but it is far less likely than with a liner lock or lockback. The Axis mechanism is self adjusting so it will continue to keep it's lockup tight.
As far as ergonomics, that is a very subjective thing. The AFCK general design is considered to be the most ergonimic tactical knife available by many people. You'll have to try it for yourself. If the 806 doesn't feel right, try the 710. It has a similar blade length and Axis lock, but with a slightly different handle feel.
You might try looking for one or the other of these knives in the classified section of these forums. If not, the links page or ad headers will direct you to various vendors who actively support our forums, not the least of which is Spark's very own 1SKS.
David
 
Could you tell us what use you're thinking of putting your Axis AFCK to? Everyday carry knife? Mostly utility, but backup defensive use as a secondary role? Defensive use as the primary role?

I echo the positive comments from above. Here are what I consider the Axis AFCK's strengths:

  • Blade design: forward rake for fantastic slicing and slashing performance, nice sharp point for good piercing. These qualities are useful for both utility and defensive use.
  • Steel: D-2 provides significant toughness advantages of the standard stainless ATS-34 fare (and even over VG-10, BG-42, etc.), and provides better edge holding than most stainlesses except the CPMs
  • Handle: Very subjective, but to me it's both incredibly comfortable and secure. This enhances cutting performance further.
  • Lock: The axis lock, and Benchmade's execution of it, really shines. Although none of these statements is not without controversy, I believe the Axis is not just more reliable than liner locks, etc., but on a completely different level than those. It's also incredibly strong. Like a lockback, it provides spring pressure to keep the blade closed. Easy one-handed operation.
  • Opening mechanism: Blade hole works better than thumb studs or disks, or anything else, except maybe the Wave. Okay, I wish it were a round hole on the AFCK, but the oval hole still retains advantages over the rest.
  • Overall fit-n-finish: Just keeps getting better from Benchmade. The use of the new washers is an example.

Overall, if you want a large 4"-bladed folder, I would not pick any production knife at any price above the Axis AFCK for defensive use, or even utility-defense use. It is the total package.

It has one negative: this is a big knife with a big handle. Carryability is less than with a smaller knife. You're also looking at the endura, which is basically the ultimately carryable 4"-bladed folder, IMO. The endura is the best of the low-cost 4" knives, and at the endura's price point it is not a competitor to the Axis AFCK, more like in a different group.

Joe
 
I have a bunch of axis locks, but the closest I own to the axis version of AFCK is the axis TSEK; same handle and lock but different blade, thumbstuds, and 440C steel.

It is one of the smoothest-opening folders I own, same comfortable handle as original AFCK but more solid-feeling than the liner-lock AFCK version. I never flick it open though I can do it easily; I do flip it closed without effort, due a lot to its large, heavy blade. Lock would be highly difficult to accidentally disengage.

It's a large knife that carries pretty well, but as mentioned in a previous post, is no "gentleman's" knife. The axis version carries tip up, but for me, this handle style seems more suited to carrying tip-down, like the original AFCK.
Jim
 
Guys, thanks for the great elaborate reviews of the Axis lock system and the BM knives.

Joe ,

I should have mentioned earlier, but I'm mainly looking at the AFCK Axis for EDC primary Self-Defense. It sounds like a great knife for that purpose.

How's the 4" blade for this though? Even though it's quite large, do you think it would be pretty easy to handle in a confrontation?

Thanks again.

:cool:
 
Blade 88,

I chose the BM 710HS as a primary carry over the older liner lock AFCK because of the handle size(3.9" vs. 5.375"). The 710 has a 3.9" blade vs. the 4" blade on the AFCK. Now that the axis lock AFCK is out, I will probably buy one also.

The AFCK has a more ergonomic and self-defense oriented handle than the 710. The index finger indentation and general handle shape make the AFCK about one of the best feeling 4" blade production knives made. The Axis lock is quite strong and dependable, IMO. If you can live with the size of the handle for carry purposes, the AFCK is a great choice.

You would probably benefit from holding and putting each of these knives in your pocket at a knife store or knife show before buying.
 
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