Axis lock does and don'ts

chiral.grolimderp said:
Um, yeah, have you tried decaf? Maybe ditch the Redbull? They are knives, not toys... To each his own, I guess, but I would recommend that you not get another knife of any kind. You know you can wear out a back-lock spring and slip-joint as well? That said, spring failure should be covered under warranty - did you get it replaced?
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Thank you for the response but there is no need for the cynical questions and telling me not to buy another knife. I'll still answer them for you though. :cool:

I work with my hands & use tools for a living. Needless to say I like to keep my hands busy. Sometimes i'll just be on the couch watching, zoning out and watch TV & i'll play with my knives (I can't be the only person the world that does this), so yes I do consider them toys. Why else would some of use have more than 5 knives? I don't buy knifes for them to just sit there.

I've broken and dulled up many knifes because I work in a field where I use them daily. It's going to happen, knives break. I am sorry I broke a knife with an axis-lock.

No I never got around to getting it replaced... although I am aware that it would most likely be fixed under warranty. :thumbup: :thumbup:

PS, its just a knife.
 
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Benchmade is a really great company, so if you flicked yours until the spring snaps ( it's possible, I do it a lot ) then you could call them and they would tell you, "No, that should not happen." I know it can happen though because I've already gone through two sets of springs on mine. I don't send off to Benchmade though, I just replace the springs myself--as far as I know though, there's no place to buy them so you have to bend some suitable wire into the spring shape yourself.

Long story short I've had mine for a year or two now, and after wearing out a few springs the whole, "Flicking it constantly," thing is really something I try to avoid now. Though sometimes I do still find myself kind of "zoning out" and suddenly realize that I'm doing it.
 
Yo Mama said:
Who cares, use it. You have a lifetime guarentee. It will eventually go back to the factory anyway when you want to custom laser engrave it for 5 dollars. (look on the website, it's cool. )
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It's already engraved. xD "Pray for the dead, fight for the living."
 
KennyB said:
Benchmade is a really great company, so if you flicked yours until the spring snaps ( it's possible, I do it a lot ) then you could call them and they would tell you, "No, that should not happen." I know it can happen though because I've already gone through two sets of springs on mine. I don't send off to Benchmade though, I just replace the springs myself--as far as I know though, there's no place to buy them so you have to bend some suitable wire into the spring shape yourself.

Long story short I've had mine for a year or two now, and after wearing out a few springs the whole, "Flicking it constantly," thing is really something I try to avoid now. Though sometimes I do still find myself kind of "zoning out" and suddenly realize that I'm doing it.
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That's funny they just sent me two sets of springs for my 940 and a pocket clip with new screws, in the mail for free. Benchmade has been a really good company to me. They request there customers in the US send in their knives for maintenance but they will ship the aforementioned items internationally.
 
leafstorm said:
That's funny they just sent me two sets of springs for my 940 and a pocket clip with new screws, in the mail for free. Benchmade has been a really good company to me. They request there customers in the US send in their knives for maintenance but they will ship the aforementioned items internationally.
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For real? My main reason for not getting my griptillian fixed yet was because I didn't want to ship it over the boarder. What do I gotta provide for them to send the springs?
 
DedRok said:
For real? My main reason for not getting my griptillian fixed yet was because I didn't want to ship it over the boarder. What do I gotta provide for them to send the springs?
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Call up their customer service toll free number on their site and talk real nice to the lady on the phone. Everytime ive dealt with them its been a woman and they've always been friendly. Just explain a spring broke or whatever and that you don't want to send your knife over the border because of bad experiences blah blah ;) And they'll take your shipping information and send it to you. Took 3 weeks for me. Shipping was 23$ USPS! And they charged me nothing..

And no I'm not a fanboy, I only have 3! Spydercos are more my speed :cool:
 
DedRok said:
For real? My main reason for not getting my griptillian fixed yet was because I didn't want to ship it over the boarder. What do I gotta provide for them to send the springs?
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Try emailing or calling them. That would be my first suggestion
 
leafstorm said:
Call up their customer service toll free number on their site and talk real nice to the lady on the phone. Everytime ive dealt with them its been a woman and they've always been friendly. Just explain a spring broke or whatever and that you don't want to send your knife over the border because of bad experiences blah blah ;) And they'll take your shipping information and send it to you. Took 3 weeks for me. Shipping was 23$ USPS! And they charged me nothing..

And no I'm not a fanboy, I only have 3! Spydercos are more my speed :cool:
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Thanks a lot... I'll do that for sure. (I would have asked this through PM to not derail this thread, but I couldn't find a way)
 
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In my opinion the best way to open an axis lock folder involves just the thumb stud and zero wrist flick but the blade opens nearly as quickly. Don't push the thumb stud out away from the handle, push it straight up to build a little pressure then give it a good solid snap of your thumb up and away from the handle at about a 45° angle. The blade should come flying out of there like it was assisted open. To close it, a properly adjusted axis lock should nearly fall closed when the lock I'd disengaged with very little to no wrist action needed.
 
DedRok said:
Thank you for the response but there is no need for the cynical questions and telling me not to buy another knife. I'll still answer them for you though. :cool:

I work with my hands & use tools for a living. Needless to say I like to keep my hands busy. Sometimes i'll just be on the couch watching, zoning out and watch TV & i'll play with my knives (I can't be the only person the world that does this), so yes I do consider them toys. Why else would some of use have more than 5 knives? I don't buy knifes for them to just sit there.

I've broken and dulled up many knifes because I work in a field where I use them daily. It's going to happen, knives break. I am sorry I broke a knife with an axis-lock.

No I never got around to getting it replaced... although I am aware that it would most likely be fixed under warranty. :thumbup: :thumbup:

PS, its just a knife.
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You're right on all counts except the "toy" aspect in my mind, but that's a matter of opinion.
My cynicism is based on the image you projected of flipping the knife so many times so quickly that the "spring finally got warm enough to just snap" - to do that, you'd have to be flipping it VERY fast which suggests to me over-caffienation and dangerous behavior, hence the warning against playing with knives. Working with your hands and using tools for a living, it'd be a tragedy damage yourself (hands) playing with a knife like that, any knife, that's all. I heat my home with wood from my own land, but that doesn't mean I mess around with the saw or axe - freak accidents happen. That's all. My comments were well-intended, which I guess wasn't clear enough by my asking if you had it warrantied...

KennyB said:
Benchmade is a really great company, so if you flicked yours until the spring snaps ( it's possible, I do it a lot ) then you could call them and they would tell you, "No, that should not happen." I know it can happen though because I've already gone through two sets of springs on mine. I don't send off to Benchmade though, I just replace the springs myself--as far as I know though, there's no place to buy them so you have to bend some suitable wire into the spring shape yourself.

Long story short I've had mine for a year or two now, and after wearing out a few springs the whole, "Flicking it constantly," thing is really something I try to avoid now. Though sometimes I do still find myself kind of "zoning out" and suddenly realize that I'm doing it.
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That's really interesting that you make your own omega-springs...

And yeah, that "zoning out" idea was what I was worried about with other posts, the more for his own safety and that of others than the integrity of the knife. Clicking a pen is safer and cheaper if it breaks ;) (though in the company of others, it can get you smacked, whereas I doubt anybody'd smack me for flipping a knife around... maybe 'taz' me though :eek:)

VolundoftheForge said:
It's already engraved. xD "Pray for the dead, fight for the living."
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Good words :thumbup:

leafstorm said:
That's funny they just sent me two sets of springs for my 940 and a pocket clip with new screws, in the mail for free. Benchmade has been a really good company to me. They request there customers in the US send in their knives for maintenance but they will ship the aforementioned items internationally.
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I wish they had that policy for us (US), but their warranty expressly forbids openning up the knife to do one's own maintenance... maybe they'll drop that policy eventually?
 
i have destroyed about 6 or 7 omega springs from "swinging it open" use a thumb stud. while where on the subject why do people need to open a folder so damn fast? i can open a knife with a stud as fast as any of my autos so why do people insist on destroying stop pins and springs by flick dploying and swinging the blade out? i mean how fast do you need to cut that box or that piece of rope? i get it in a self defense situation but in almost all cases you will still have time to use a thumb stud or hole...... just my .02
 
GMAHN said:
If you ask the 'should I flick my knife' question on this forum you get a bunch of ppl telling you to open it like its a slip joint.
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Jip, that way it will last just as long if not longer then my grandfathers 50+ year old slipjoint :)

Joking aside, I have seen people flicking the be-donkey out of art folders costing thousands of dollars at a show, the maker looked at the person and asked "what are you doing?" The guy said that's how a knife should be opened. The knife maker just shook his head and took the knife back. Understandable since he was flicking the thing like a windmill and nearly hitting people with his arm action.

There is a proper way to do things and then their are idiot's methods.

Use your tool, "Take care of your knife and it will take care of you". It is your knife, do what you think is fit. It might not be to others peoples likings and don't get upset if they disagree. It happens. But understand, any moving part wears, engine, wheels, buttons, shoes, pully systems. Proper care will prolong life.
 
imbryan715 said:
i have destroyed about 6 or 7 omega springs from "swinging it open" use a thumb stud. while where on the subject why do people need to open a folder so damn fast? i can open a knife with a stud as fast as any of my autos so why do people insist on destroying stop pins and springs by flick dploying and swinging the blade out? i mean how fast do you need to cut that box or that piece of rope? i get it in a self defense situation but in almost all cases you will still have time to use a thumb stud or hole...... just my .02
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I have found that Benchmade specifically seems to design a lot of their knives so that the thumbstud is basically touching the scales when closed (710, 707, 13960 on the ones I have owned). On those designs, I often find it easier to thumb flick the knife open then open it normally. After a bit it became a habit, and now I thumb flick all my Benchmades, even the ones with normal thumbstud placement. I can open them slowly when I think about it, but I am wired for the thumb flick. Just my experience.
 
As the others have said, the AXIS lock is very strong. It should last you the life of the knife. However, I never wrist flick/slam a knife open, even with the AXIS lock.
 
marthinus said:
Joking aside, I have seen people flicking the be-donkey out of art folders costing thousands of dollars at a show, the maker looked at the person and asked "what are you doing?" The guy said that's how a knife should be opened. The knife maker just shook his head and took the knife back. Understandable since he was flicking the thing like a windmill and nearly hitting people with his arm action.

There is a proper way to do things and then their are idiot's methods.
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True.

Anyone who opens a folder with a wrist-snap shows themselves to be without a good understanding of modern folding knife engineering. (I am being nice) Wrist-snapping, on a regular basis, shows that you really don’t know what you’re doing. If you swing your arm you are totally clueless, and should have your knife taken away from you for being completly stupid.

First, of all, every major manufacturer does not condone this practice. It is extremely damaging to knives and accelerates wear, fit and function.

Second, good technique, and a properly adjusted pivot pin, allows for almost any good quality folder to be quickly opened using only thumb or finger action.

Wrist-snappers are usually the same guys that complain about the lack of “perfect blade centering”. They lack the technical know-how to center a knife themselves. No wonder they can’t open a knife the right way. I guess proper knife handling, and ownership, IS rocket science for many people.
 
I've had two Axis knives I picked up circa 2001... not sure on the exact timing. A 705 and a 730S. The 730S is with me constantly any time I'm not flying, meaning most of the eleveen plus years I've owned it.

The knife can be flicked open easily. Keep the pivot tension adjusted and a bit of practice will let you flick the knife open and closed so that the blade doesn't slam into the pin. IIRC the design locks up tighter with a little wear. Practicing flicking the knife open lightly is not abuse. I use mine alot and also like to play with it a bit. Not to practice mall ninja skills but because I really appreciate the quality, design and craftsmanship of the knife. I enjoy looking at it.

The OP might be a bit OCD -- or not. Doesn't matter. Any high quality, folding knife should hold up to this sort of stuff. I am a big fan of Axis knives but if I thought they broke that easily, that would change in a hurry.


Definitely contact Benchmade and get new springs for it.

Regards,

Aaron
 
There is flicking, and then there is FLICKING. The first one allows the blade to "drop" in to lockup without the loud snap that lets everyone around you know you have a knife. The 2nd style is the one that really harms the knife, specifically the stop pin. Worn out stop pin affects lockup. With liner/frame lock knives a hard snap or two when the knife is new often helps to set the lock for the knife and shouldn't harm the stop pin. Continued hard snaps and wrist slings will soon destroy the knife. Once had a next door neighbor that thought the only way to open a knife was to sling it as hard and fast as possible allowing the blade to sound off, really sound off. He would also have loosened up the pivot a bit to get the snap, as the snap seemed to be more important than the lockup! Anyway, a lot has already been said about this subject so I'll just go on to another topic.:)

One thing I've discovered about Axis Locks is that too much oil will gum it up actually hindering the opening action, and cause the blade to have a little up/down movement. I found this out on my 275BK. I also discovered that the black blades always have a bit of the black coating on the Axis lock's ramp. Again, on the 275 this seemed to cause the tiniest amount of play up/down variety. When I removed it by using a dremel tool, coating ONLY, the lockup improved to the point of no up/down movement at all.

As RevDevil said......."common sense" It's always the answer, no matter the question. Enjoy that 710, it is an iconic knife that has helped define Benchmade.:thumbup::)
 
Thanks guys. I have practiced a little and I can get it open when holding it in the downward vertical position without a hard slam into place. The closing is less easy as I tend to let go of the axis too early cause me to fight the tention to close it and causing a slight snap. Just need practice :)
 
[video=youtube;EUbH2fk4fnE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUbH2fk4fnE[/video]

First one, just pushing the thumbstuds and the AXIS pushing the blade out on its own.

Second one, a little bit of help.

Third one, too much.
 
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