axis lock question

r8shell

r8shell

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jan 16, 2010
Messages
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I'm strongly considering getting a mini grip. It will be my first Benchmade knife. I've heard about them for a long time, and I see they get great reviews. I have a possibly dumb question about the axis lock.

From what I've heard, the axis is strong and dependable, and taking into account how I use a knife, I'm not really worried about it failing. What I'm wondering is if anyone has ever accidentally released the lock in use. I ask because I've always been nervous about locks that have a release in the area where my thumb sometimes rests when using the knife. Could be a holdover from handling cheap push button locks. My understanding is that you have to pull back on both sides of the handle, but is it possible to accidentally get it to pull back with your thumb just from one side? Does it take a lot of force to pull the lock?

I will try to find one I can handle, but I thought I'd ask if have any of you ever had a problem with it?
 
Personally I have never accidentally released the lock in use or heard of it happening.

The force required to unlock the blade will vary slightly from model to model or knife to knife but more from normal variance in spring's you will see in any production product.

The AXIS lock is normally very smooth to actuate but it does take a deliberate action to unlock the blade.

I suspect it's possible to accidentally unlock it during use in the sense that anything is possible but I personally think it very unlikely. I've been using AXIS lock BM knives since almost the beginning and the majority of my BM knives have the AXIS lock and I use them with complete confidence.

Best I guess is to do exactly what you mentioned and get your hands on one, preferably the one you plan on buying if possible and see what your comfort level is with it. For me though, I wouldn't worry about it and hope it works for you.

Best of luck!
 
Short answer, no. In order to overcome the tension exerted on the lock bar by the two springs, the mechanism has to be pulled towards the back of the knife to release the blade. You'll have to play with one of these to see how strong that lockup really is. In years of use I have never had a failure of any kind. Yes I have had springs break, but with two of them in play, (one on each side) the odds of having a problem are really small compared to other designs, some of which are very strong, but not in the same caliber.
 
pbcg said:
Personally I have never accidentally released the lock in use or heard of it happening.

The force required to unlock the blade will vary slightly from model to model or knife to knife but more from normal variance in spring's you will see in any production product.

The AXIS lock is normally very smooth to actuate but it does take a deliberate action to unlock the blade.

I suspect it's possible to accidentally unlock it during use in the sense that anything is possible but I personally think it very unlikely. I've been using AXIS lock BM knives since almost the beginning and the majority of my BM knives have the AXIS lock and I use them with complete confidence.

Best I guess is to do exactly what you mentioned and get your hands on one, preferably the one you plan on buying if possible and see what your comfort level is with it. For me though, I wouldn't worry about it and hope it works for you.

Best of luck!
Click to expand...

Exactly - well said!

Joe
 
You can't release it by one side only, you have to move both at once. Don't worry, just get one and try it out! If you do not like it, you can always just sell it here. Another option is to look for a used one on the exchange.
 
Thanks, everyone.

Benchmade was never on my radar until I saw that modified wharncliffe on the Mini Griptillian.
Now my last excuse not to spend money is gone:D
 
r8shell said:
Thanks, everyone.

Benchmade was never on my radar until I saw that modified wharncliffe on the Mini Griptillian.
Now my last excuse not to spend money is gone:D
Click to expand...

Take a look at the Bone Collectors too, if you like that blade style. I think the G10 grips on that line are great and they feel very nice in your hand. I think the BC lineup is underrated. Nice knives.

Joe
 
I've had it happen once. I was trimming an very large old jade plant that was suffering some rot, cutting through a 4" thick branch with a Griptilian. About half way through, the blade was getting very hard to pull out, and as I pulled I felt the knife go "soft" (only way I can describe it). It was still held by the branch. After a second, I realized I had been gripping the handle at the lock bar, and had accidently pulled back on the bar more than on the handle, disengaging the bar.

That actually shows what it takes to release the lock accidently - the blade must be securely held by the material you're cutting, and you have to pull back on both sides of the lock bar at the same time. If you practice keeping your thumb off the lock bar (which I do now!), there's no way you can accidently disengage the lock.
 
If you are worried about accidentally disengaging the axis lock get one of the assisted ones. They have a safety that can be engaged when open or closed to prevent the axis lock from moving backwards.
 
Ernie1980 said:
You can't release it by one side only, you have to move both at once. Don't worry, just get one and try it out! If you do not like it, you can always just sell it here. Another option is to look for a used one on the exchange.
Click to expand...

Not so. I have been doing it since the first 710 was released.
 
I think the only Axis knife I can't easily release one-handed is the 530, which has the lockbar ends more or less flush with the scales.
 
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