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Anyone else been completely spoiled by the Axis lock?

G

glocker199

Gold Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
1,213
After carrying Axis knives primarily for the past 2-3 years I just can't seem to care for much else. The superb ergonomics, ambidextrous nature, inherent safety and speed of opening/closing is so much better than anything else I own it's ridiculous.

I've got a few other knives with scale mounted locks (push button autos, SOG Flash, Nak-Lok) that I can deal with if I have to but liner/frame locks just seem so clunky and inelegant in comparison. I carried nothing but frame and liner locks for 15 years and never had a problem with them until I tried and Axis knife.

I recently bought a very nice NIB discontinued Benchmade folder. It's a slim, strong, beautiful knife and I love the blade shape but I just can't seem to like the knife because it's a liner lock.

Once you go Axis you never go back?
 
Hardly. I've only ever owned one BM with an axis lock. Actually, the 581 is my only Benchmade and the only other one I want is a Dejavoo, which has a linerlock. Axis locks are great, don't get me wrong. I just don't find any knives that I like that have them. I'm more partial to framelocks myself. Much simpler.
 
I've actually had the opposite experience - most of the axis lock knives are too bulky for my tastes, every one I've owned has developed unfixable play, and the lock concept, while obviously actually perfectly reliable, makes me a little nervous. I like liner and frame locks for their rigidity, simplicity (no broken springs), and potential for either thin elegance or thick beefiness.

With Benchmade's price hike and ZT's great new and old models, I don't know when I'll own a Benchmade again.
 
Not me. Basic engineering, the more moving parts a device has, the increased likelihood that something can go wrong. It has a nice function, but the design with Omega springs can be delicate as noted by some owners that have discovered breaking springs frustrating. I prefer a liner, mid back, or integral lock. I've also noticed some of my Axis lock knives do have measurable lock rock, the knives appear to not be self adjusting to wear in over time as previously thought, at least not in the examples I own and use.
 
I don't really care for the Axis lock personally. No problems with them, but I haven't had problems with any others except poorly made liner locks. I'll take a good (1) Lockback , (2) frame lock , (3)Liner lock ( 4) Axis lock

I just never bonded with the 40 or 50 Benchmade Axis locks I've had over the years. The first one I had was a first run 710 McHenry & Williams in M2. I liked the steel, didn't care for the blade shape or lock. Would have loved M2 better at higher hardness's, but that's outside the scope of this thread. The 805 is much more my style in full size Benchmades, then the later Contego too. :) I still have quite a few Axis locks but it's just because that's the lock the knife happened to have. It's not something that draws me to Benchmade ( SOG or Cold Steel licensed versions either)
 
Had a bunch of Axis lock BM knives, but currently none.

To be robust they require fairly substantial steel liners and those bring a lot of extra weight and bulk.

I do like Benchmade for discontinuing the 806 and 610. I got to use both hard and then sell them both for a third more than I paid. That was especially cool when I'd rather have a Spyderco Military as my EDC anyway.
 
Well...i agree with glocker199. Been spoiled by the Axis since i got my first Benchmade just over a year ago.
My EDC rotation is mainly 710, 530, 553, PM 2 and a 0801. The PM2 and the 0801 are great knives...got used to the lock on the PM2 really quick, and the 0801 in my opinion is exceptional value and excellent f & f. However, whenever i use them i miss the Axis. Got a few lock backs too, but almost never carry them any more...
 
To be completely honest, I've yet to own an Axis Lock knife. That's not to say I haven't tried any Benchmades, my buddy has lent me his Grip on occassion. I just prefer liner/framelocks.

That being said, the Axis is a solid, reliable lock. More power to you for sticking with it.
 
I can't honestly say I have an exclusive relationship with the Axis Lock, but I do like it a lot. I have a half dozen Griptilians, have not tried other models yet. My mini Ritter Griptilian with Wilkens scales is my favorite. Also have a number of SAKs scattered about, they are just so handy for other tasks.
 
940. Axis- flick open.... Axis - flick closed. Don't even have to look anymore. Poifect. Gonna order me the CF one when they come in...
 
love the axis. almost all of my edc are axis. is BM the only company that makes an axis? is that a proprietary mechanaism?
 
For me it is the preferred system. All others pale by comparison.
One mans opinion. But then again I likes me a knife with weight. If I don't want to feel a knife in my pocket-I don't carry a knife:)
 
I'm pretty much indifferent to them. I don't mind them, but they're not something I look for, either. I can say I've yet to get one that locked up perfectly without blade play, though. I've always had to adjust them to find the sweet spot between smooth action and no blade play.
 
I felt the same way until I broke my first omega spring. As others have said the more intricate the design the more prone it is to failure. I love the free swinging blade and how you can flick the knife closed however, which led me to the PM2. I wish Spyderco made many more designs with the compression lock.
 
Nah, I don't like buying knives where I'd have to send it in every couple of years to get new springs...
 
I have 9 axis knives and none has blade play. I think the "blade play" stems from the fact that many people like to keep their pivots loose enough that the blade falls open when the axis lever is pulled back.
 
Ive had great experience with BM Axis locks on my orange grip and my Adams, I love the one handed operation. Although I'd have to say my preference is with Demko's Tri-Ad lock, its almost a fixed blade. Gotta love EDC'n a Talwar 5.5 with Tri-Ad lock, its a great feeling.
 
I like it for the smoothness of the blade and the ambi and safely factor (right or left handed operation without putting your fingers in the path of the blade) but the blade play that developed after a little while and can't be fixed does bother me, I bought my Sage 3 and IMO it's got much tighter tolerances than the axis lock, zero blade play, just as smooth and the action of the lock its self feels tighter (but not too tight), you can't cant it off axis like you can with the axis bar.
 
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