anyone have bm mini-afck lock fail?

timdennis

timdennis

Joined
Sep 4, 1999
Messages
591
The mini-afck has been one of my favorite edcs. I know liner locks are generally not trusted too much anymore and BM has the axis lock in the full size version. I'm seeing the mini pop up for good prices recently. I've had good luck with mine but have not really stressed it. Anyone have the lock on the mini fail them?
 
As a matter of fact, yes.

Your post caught my eye, as my 812 was the only knife I ever had the lock fail on me.

Not during the course of normal use, though, thankfully. I was reading a thread here on BF and happened to be flicking my mini-AFCK around when I read some reference about the "spin whack test". So, I opened up the knife, flipped it over, and gave the spine a good smack against the edge of my desk. I was astounded to see that the lock failed! I put it away after that, but eventually brought it back into rotation, and never had a problem with it. Must've been a freak thing, I guess. But yeah, I've managed to get one to fail. Whether the spine whack test is a test worth a darn in the real world, I don't know. It just freaked me out that it came unlocked regardless.

Great knife otherwise though. If Benchmade has the cojones to make a mini AXIS model with an uncoated blade, I'll be all over that one. I'd say wait for the AXIS model, then you won't have to worry about it.

Firebat
 
...when my buddy Keith had his knife business. We sent it back to BM for evaluation. They sent back a note that it was 'operator error' :rolleyes:

When Keith passed away I inherited his business. My wife and I sold his 'sales stock' to buy the RMK's that he was collecting, in his memory, as our tribute to our friend.

We sold most of the BM's to a single buyer, a local guy.

A year later we're at the Del Mar gunshow and a knife reselling buddy of mine calls me over..."Hey Shel, come here, I've got something to show you..."

He had bought some knives from a guy earlier that day, and in the box with what appeared to be a mint mini-AFCK was the return invoice from BM with my name on it... :eek:

We laughed, I bought the knife back from him for what he paid, and later tossed it in a trash can on the way out of the show...

It's a strange world, and stranger sh*t has happened...

The problem with the knife? I was holding it 'hammer grip' in my right hand, and with my left pressed down hard on the blade...and it folded up. (I was showing a friend how strong the lock was...lol)

It cut the piss out of me! Now, at 5'10" 245 I can exert a fair amount of force, but I didn't feel that what I was doing was all that drastic.

I think it was a lock failure.
 
I am a big fan of the 812 afck. I own four of this variety.

Every one that I have ever owned and used as an edc failed spine wack tests. Now some you had to hit it harder than others (on the table), and NONE failed the spine wack against my palm. But none-the less they all failed. And They failed at various stages of wear. Some of these folders have been back to BM warranty dept 3 times+ failed upon return. Never could get the large Afck's to fail however, no matter how badly worn the locks are. IMO for a light duty personal carry it is fine, I have been carrying them for almost 5 years. How strong can a tiny little liner-lock be anyway?

JC
 
..If the mini-AFCK linerlock is going to fail anyway, maybe BM should just remove the lock all together.

Wouldn't want to confuse people, so better to just remove that false sense of security eh? ;)
 
Very interesting. I know of about 4 Mini-AFCKs that have been in constant use down here for going on 7 or 8 years now. I have never heard anyone complain about lock failure on a properly adjusted one. I have seen a couple of other BM liner locks (some of the old Crawford Leapord seris) that would fail after they had been 'adjusted', but the Mini AFCKs that I know of have been rock solid. I carried a customized one every day for about 5 years and it is still locks up very tight, and does not show any hint towards failure under any sort of reasonable load.

That said, I do think that I like the axis lock on my new BM555s, so I may have to take a look at the AFCK series axis locks at some point in the future.
 
I am starting to think all liner locks (with out auxilary locks) are somewhat unreliable. Even light tapping on the spine of the blade at other than 90 degree cause the lock to bounce.

Will
 
They are just like any other liner lock in my opinion. My first one would release under light impacts. The 812HS I carry now is one of the most reliable liner locks I've ever owned. I have never been able to make it release no matter how dirty. So there you go....
 
Steve H.,

Dude have you really given that thing a smacking on the spine on a hard table edge or the like? My 812hssr user has a great action and lockup, and doesen't fail easily. But two good wacks and it will fail. I am hitting these things REAL hard guys. The axis' I own dont fail this even the tiny one. Better design in terms of strength, but not the perfect lock IMO. Not dissing you Harvey, just asking how far you have taken your spine wacking.

JC
 
I have hit it pretty hard actually. This knife had the misfortune to be around when I was just getting suspicious about my liner locks. I have set it on the edge of the workbench with the blade hanging over, edge down, and hit it on the spine with a training stick with moderate force a few times. It didn't fold.

But I expect my liner locks to fold, someday, so this lock is reliable enough for its mission. I carry it as a utility pocket knife, which means I carry a stronger folder in another location at the same time.
 
Steve H,

I just retrieved my last NIB afck 812hssr and decided to begin using it finally. I recently traded the one I previously had as a user that failed spine tests, albeit it was harder to make it fail than any other 812 I have tried on. Upwards of 7 if I can remember. Anyway... This one has a sweet action, no play, and whats this? WONT fail spine wack tests. Oh I really gave it a whoopin fellas and it won't budge. But all my other tests prove it is an exception to the rule. Again the 800s and 800hs folders that won't fail. I imagine I am hitting these folders much harder than most, cause the "palm" method was silly to me, I hit as hard as possible on hardwood. At different distances from the tip to boot.

JC
 
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