Anyone else been completely spoiled by the Axis lock?

[flipe8]

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.

Not for me. I tension so they can't easily be flicked open unless you use wrist action. I like my knives to open with about the same tension you get from a Sebenza.

 

[bdmicarta]

Not me.
I have axis locks, frame locks, liner locks, compression locks, even ball bearing locks, and I like all of them. In the case of axis locks or ball bearing locks, I know that I can't carry them tip-down so that makes them slower to deploy for me. I was carrying my Manix 2 today and I can thumb-flick the blade out very fast, but it is one of my slowest knives to draw and deploy because I have to carry it tip-up. I still like it and carry it, and I'll carry it the rest of the week, but there is some tradeoff involved.

As for the locks themselves, the axis or BB lock is fastest and easiest for me to close. I don't have any problem operating a liner lock or frame lock but they require more deliberate movements and are slower for me to operate.

If I could carry an axis lock or ball bearing lock tip-down then it would be perfect.

 

[ginaz]

i love the axis lock. had many of them from the 710 on. some, such as my 520 and forum 950, have been outstanding and others less so. when it's right it's my favorite but it's not always right on every model. i'd like to see more frame locks out of BM actually. but i do have to say of the great number of BM's i've had and the amount of use i've given them in a wide variety of conditions i've never had an axis lock fail me. not once. not even remotely. there may be a bit of side to side play in my 710 and my 806 may open a bit sluggishly but no problems ever with a spring failure or axis failure.

 

[jmclfrsh]

When I started collecting knives they were all Benchmade, and I haven't had one fail yet, nor do I have any with axis rock-lock. But I have so many knives for one person that I never really hammer on any one item for an extended period of time.

I do love the way you can open and close an axis so easily with one hand, and as I put clips on both sides of a knife quite often (so I can switch front pockets at will, I generally always carry two knives even in the cube farm) it really has proven to be the easiest to open/close with a quick vertical-hold, index finger pull of lock bar and quarter-turn rotation of the wrist. Nothing else even comes close.

And I tune mine so that motion results in the blade dropping onto the stop, with no bounce, 99.9% of the time. Which is fun to do and one of the reasons I like to carry those particular knives the days I do carry them.

My 710s, 940-121 and Contego are the easiest to deploy AND close with one hand of my folder collection, which includes frame locks, liner locks, compression locks and back locks from CRK, ZT, BM, Spyderco, Emerson and CRKT.

Second is the PM2 with the compression lock. Same hand motion as above but with left thumb compressing the lock bar in left hand carry, index finger compression in right hand carry. And it closes just like the axis knives do, with practice, but just a little more thought into it than the axis locks take, which is nothing.

But ruin me for all others? No way. There is so much cool engineering going on out there that other designs should be acquired if possible and enjoyed for what they are.

My ZT 0566 is a PITA to open and close compared to an axis, but that little bugger is so well-built that if I need a tough-duty knife for a job, barring a fixed blade, that would be the one I grab. Not any of my BMs or even my Emersons.

 

[Moxy]

About 1/4th of my collection is Benchmade. I absolutely love Axis. My number one most desired aspect of a folding knife is ease of use. My 940 comes out and goes away faster and easier than any other knife I've ever owned. Sometimes they do have a tiny amount of side to side, especially if you want them lightning fast. But since my knives rarely see hard use tasks it's not a big deal for me. I love Ti framelocks but it's rare when a production company gets it right, at least to my picky standards.

Not me. Basic engineering, the more moving parts a device has, the increased likelihood that something can go wrong.

True that! All my hourglasses keep breaking down. :grumpy:

 

[cbxer55]

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.

I'm right there with you bub. Have two axis lock knives, they've been collecting dust for numerous years. Lefty and righty Ruckus. Gathering dust. Carrying Spyderco Military's with liner locks every day.

I don't like axis lock knives. Period.

 

[RamZar]

It's just another locking mechanism with a set of advantages and disadvantages and not an end all be all. I think if anything Benchmade's overdependency on the Axis lock limits them innovation-wise.

 

[fishface5]

Since getting used to the speed of opening and especially closing with an axis lock, everything else feels slow and clunky. Love that axis lock!

 

[Revival29]

I would say I like it but im not spoiled over it.

 

[skyhorse]

I managed to get a mini grip and a 940 before they went to their price fixing policy.I like them but at the current retail price,just too many better options out there imho.

 

[skyhorse]

It's just another locking mechanism with a set of advantages and disadvantages and not an end all be all. I think if anything Benchmade's overdependency on the Axis lock limits them innovation-wise.

Yes it seems Benchmades idea of a new design, is an axis lock with different scales. Same pig with different lipstick.
I liked the para2 enough to buy two of them and plan on getting the new FFG Manix2.

 

[SouthEast]

I like it, but I like Framelocks/linerlocks/backlocks more. For me, axis are 'too smooth'!

 

[GaryC]

Had one over ten years, love the opening & closing with one hand. The only downside if one spring brakes it'll still work but you have to send it to BM for repair, BM has an excellent service. Same as Spyderco. Gary

 

[GaryC]

Right now Im carrying a BM ritter grip & UKPK SP. Gary

 

[GaryC]

The axis is great in my opinion. also the UKPK. GC

 

[RamZar]

Yes it seems Benchmades idea of a new design, is an axis lock with different scales. Same pig with different lipstick.

Benchmade has gone a little overboard with the Axis lock this year since it's the 15th anniversary of the creation of that lock by Bill McHenry and Jason Williams in 1999 for the 710. So, we're seeing models that have never been with the Axis lock. I don't know of another company that's so attached to a locking mechanism. Then again, Emerson is attached to the wave and Spyderco to the hole. C'est la vie!

 

[GaryC]

The axis is an excellent design & Spyderco with the hole is also. Gary

 

[GaryC]

Over ten years with the axis , is great.GC

 

[A.P.F.]

The lock that I trust the most is a Tri-Ad and next is an Axis lock. I have never been disappointed with either.

 

[Wolf1524]

I must say I like it a lot but I want zero blade play and my 810 Contego has some slight blade play and after trying to fix that I am now in need of buying loctite because the pivot screw on it started to self adjust. I was thinking about buying Zero Tolerance knife, maybe 560 but I really dislike flippers, then there is Strider but I can not find it in my country and I kinda dislike their apparel, they are too bulky for me.