Axis lock failing during batoning... anyone else?

peripatew

peripatew

Joined
Jul 31, 2007
Messages
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So, I figured I'd give the Ritter Grip a shot at batoning, since I've been putting all my other knives through the ropes lately. It did fine, but as I tried to baton a section that was about 3" wide (but only .5" away from the edge), the lock failed a few times. It was dried hardwood, that easily sectioned off when using a fixed blade. After this, I was also able to make the lock fail by spine smacking hardly ever 3-4 smack.

I was being really careful, and I wasn't using nearly as much force as I'd use on a fixed blade.

It didn't bend or brake anything, and I'm going to open it up to make sure. But did anyone else had similar experiences with any axis lock knife?

I'm not expecting the lock to be unfailable... I just want to make sure that mine isn't for some reason defective?

L!

Edit: Hold the flack about not using a folder for batoning please!
 
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I have only batoned with 2 folders a Strider SmF and a Lrg. Sebenza. Both passed, but I would really not recommend batoning a folding knife. Very,very hard on a folder.

That being said, I have never had a Axis lock fail for any other reason.
 
I would probably try to baton with a compression lock, but that's about it. I just dont see how one of those could fail, and I've -never- heard of one failing.
 
I'm sorry, but I had to laugh when I saw that you were batoning ANY folder & surprised when it failed.
 
Yikes! I know batoning with a folder isn't recommended, but I just wanted to see what others experiences are.
 
I would imagine that any folder would fail when batoning, but if I HAD to pick a lock I would probably say the framelock on my Rijbak would have the greatest chance of passing. I still don't believe it would, however.
 
not familiar with the lock myself, i generally carry slipjoints, but a tip i have often heard for batonning folders is to make sure that the lock is disengaged (so that the blade is partially closed). this means that you will only be pounding on the blade, greatly reducing the chance for pivot and lock damage. this also makes batoning quite a bit trickier, because you lose alot of leverage, but it will keep your knife working hopefully.
 
Bushman is right!!! Use an axe. A folder is not made for that type of abuse, fixed blades are much mor suitable to baton in a pinch.
 
I use my knives hard. None of them look anything like new in fact that are what a lot of people call "ugly."

However, even to me, baton a folder is abuse. There are good (and cheap) fixed blades for this work. Use the proper tool!
 
If you absolutely had to baton a folder (in an emergency situation) I've had good luck half folding the blade and THEN batoning...
 
Use the right tool. Yea, yea,:jerkit: but if its your only tool, please feel ok to baton away to get that kindling. I have had great success batoning the crap out of my grip. One occasion breaking down three oak logs at 5" diameter starting with the bark and working my way inward.

Had a good kindling making session with an old cold steel night force also.
 
Edit: Hold the flack about not using a folder for batoning please!
Click to expand...

Let's see, you use a knife improperly, come here to 'discuss' it and then add this?

Do want attention or do you want advice?

If you are a student then you need to humble yourself enough to receive the truth. The truth is, this is abusive to the extreme *unless* you are in an emergency situation. The reason the lock failed was because you used the tool improperly.

There was a time in this country when truth took precedence over 'feelings'; sadly those days are gone aparently.

Part of being a responsible 'knifeknut' is having an understanding of what the limitations are of the the tools we use. If we lack that understanding we will either needlessly destroy them or hurt ourselves (or worse someone else) using them.

There is a pebble in this thread grasshopper-see if you can snatch it.
 
Mongrel said:
Let's see, you use a knife improperly, come here to 'discuss' it and then add this?

Do want attention or do you want advice?

If you are a student then you need to humble yourself enough to receive the truth. The truth is, this is abusive to the extreme *unless* you are in an emergency situation. The reason the lock failed was because you used the tool improperly.

There was a time in this country when truth took precedence over 'feelings'; sadly those days are gone aparently.

Part of being a responsible 'knifeknut' is having an understanding of what the limitations are of the the tools we use. If we lack that understanding we will either needlessly destroy them or hurt ourselves (or worse someone else) using them.

There is a pebble in this thread grasshopper-see if you can snatch it.
Click to expand...

The point of my thread was: "yes, I'm abusing my knife a little, but to all those of you who have abused a similar knife in similar ways, what results and experiences can you share and compare to mine?"

Perhaps it didn't come across that way. I edited my original post so I wouldn't have 2 pages of "Folder Abuse Alert!" messages. I well understand the limitations of folders, but I wanted to know how the knife would respond when pushed beyond those limits, so I did. I came here to "discuss" it, because I've found that we often push the limits so that we can better understand our tools.
 
Don't listen to these "fixed blade addicts," I've chopped, batoned, and done just about everything I can with my folders and they came out perfectly fine.

Of course my folders are very heavy duty, for example: Emerson knives, Big Benchmade Knives, ZT knives, CRKT M16-14, etc...

For your axis lock to fail though is kind of disturbing. My regular 551 griptilian has put up with a lot of abuse, and the lock has never failed. It's made to withstand over 1000 pounds of pressure going downwards against the lock, so a little spine whack and batoning shouldn't have dislodged it, especially since it is constantly trying to get tighter and tighter.

It is called a "survival knife," so if it doesn't seem to be holding up to your expectations, call it in or send it back. I hope this helps to actually go with your original question, J.
 
naked said:
The point of my thread was: "yes, I'm abusing my knife a little, but to all those of you who have abused a similar knife in similar ways, what results and experiences can you share and compare to mine?"

Perhaps it didn't come across that way. I edited my original post so I wouldn't have 2 pages of "Folder Abuse Alert!" messages. I well understand the limitations of folders, but I wanted to know how the knife would respond when pushed beyond those limits, so I did. I came here to "discuss" it, because I've found that we often push the limits so that we can better understand our tools.
Click to expand...

I try never to push the limit of my tools. That is how things break and people get injured. A skilled craftsman can get alot of performance out of a tool without breaking it; and it begins by using the right tool, and by relying on wits rather then brute force. This is especially true in a survival situation where a good tool is especially valuable and when you can least afford to needlessly injure yourself.

n2s
 
not2sharp said:
I try never to push the limit of my tools. That is how things break and people get injured. A skilled craftsman can get alot of performance out of a tool without breaking it; and it begins by using the right tool, and by relying on wits rather then brute force. This is especially true in a survival situation where a good tool is especially valuable and when you can least afford to needlessly injure yourself.

n2s
Click to expand...

I agree, other than I'm not in a survival situation. If my Ritter Grip is one knife that I'm going to depend on, or just have with me, I want to know its limits. I'm not going to mutilate 10 of them in order to find those limits, but I don't mind pushing them a tad in a non-survival situation. We learn by experience, and I want to know what my knives are capable of before I'm in a survival situation.
 
batosai117 said:
Don't listen to these "fixed blade addicts," I've chopped, batoned, and done just about everything I can with my folders and they came out perfectly fine.

Of course my folders are very heavy duty, for example: Emerson knives, Big Benchmade Knives, ZT knives, CRKT M16-14, etc...

For your axis lock to fail though is kind of disturbing. My regular 551 griptilian has put up with a lot of abuse, and the lock has never failed. It's made to withstand over 1000 pounds of pressure going downwards against the lock, so a little spine whack and batoning shouldn't have dislodged it, especially since it is constantly trying to get tighter and tighter.

It is called a "survival knife," so if it doesn't seem to be holding up to your expectations, call it in or send it back. I hope this helps to actually go with your original question, J.
Click to expand...

Just curious where you got the extra info on the Grips? Or rather the axis lock being designed to take 1000 pounds?
 
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