Axis lock question

StrangeDaze

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i know it is rare to break an omega spring and that the axis lock is plenty strong. But i have been wondering what would happen if you were unfortunate enough to have both springs break at the same time? Would the knife stay open or would it close on your fingers?
 
i know it is rare to break an omega spring and that the axis lock is plenty strong. But i have been wondering what would happen if you were unfortunate enough to have both springs break at the same time? Would the knife stay open or would it close on your fingers?

I think it depends on the model. I specifically asked Benchmade about this regarding my Adamas Auto. Since I'm in Afghanistan, the warranty doesn't do me a lot of good if I'm working away from any American bases for postal services. For the Adamas, if both omega springs broke, you could still keep the blade locked open with the secondary safety lock which pins the Axis locking bar in place (open or closed). It would be a PITA, but you could still use the knife and carry it folded without any issues other than having to manipulate the safety every time.

The same would hold true for my Emissary model...

ROCK6
 
Some people have had bad luck with omega springs. It took 10 years with quite a bit of excessive flipping and using the lock from only one side (it's recommended to use both sides at the same time) for a spring on my 940D2CF to break. I understand they've more recently changed the design of the spring (same fit though) to improve their durability.
 
dont know. I'd think it would close? guess youd have ask benchmade?

but you could wedge something in there to keep the bar in place and open and still use the knife unless you lost all your fingers on it closing on you.:)
 
I believe the blade will free fall if both springs are broken at the same time. You can try it by removing both springs.
 
a spring should only break when opening or closing the blade, the spring is at it's lowest load when locked or closed. So in-between the blade traveling is where the spring would be most likely to break. So you'd know before it locks that you have an unsafe blade. The nice thing on the axis lock is an auditory and tactile confirmation it locked also.
 
a spring should only break when opening or closing the blade, the spring is at it's lowest load when locked or closed. So in-between the blade traveling is where the spring would be most likely to break. So you'd know before it locks that you have an unsafe blade. The nice thing on the axis lock is an auditory and tactile confirmation it locked also.
thank you, that is good info.
 
i know it is rare to break an omega spring and that the axis lock is plenty strong. But i have been wondering what would happen if you were unfortunate enough to have both springs break at the same time? Would the knife stay open or would it close on your fingers?

I will need take someone else's word for your scenario, however, I do know the models without a safety can be disengaged by a bang on the back end, as the lock does have inertia and mass enough to overcome those springs.
 
A gentleman that worked at my local Benchmade dealer had both springs to break after 10 years. He said his knife wouldn’t stay closed after this happened. He sent his knife in for repair and fortunately for him, it was a discontinued model. Benchmade contacted him and asked if he would want a new knife as a replacement, and as expected, he agreed to the offer.
 

I've heard they have beefed up the Omega springs, but I can understand that the Adamas (especially the auto version) is hard on springs as it kicks out with force and has a lot of mass. Did yours have the lock and were you able to lock it open or closed? I know Benchmade said it was hypothetically feasible, but didn't say they've done it.

A gentleman that worked at my local Benchmade dealer had both springs to break after 10 years. He said his knife wouldn’t stay closed after this happened. He sent his knife in for repair and fortunately for him, it was a discontinued model. Benchmade contacted him and asked if he would want a new knife as a replacement, and as expected, he agreed to the offer.

That's interesting. I would have thought the omega springs were pretty universal? Or someone in the shop just needed that model for their collection:D

ROCK6
 
I've heard they have beefed up the Omega springs, but I can understand that the Adamas (especially the auto version) is hard on springs as it kicks out with force and has a lot of mass. Did yours have the lock and were you able to lock it open or closed? I know Benchmade said it was hypothetically feasible, but didn't say they've done it.



That's interesting. I would have thought the omega springs were pretty universal? Or someone in the shop just needed that model for their collection:D

ROCK6

Yup, I was thinking the same thing.
 
in the unlikely event that both omega springs fail, there are several temporary fixes that you can use. like someone lease said, you can shove a stick behind the axis bar. you can also use zip ties or para cord to lock the knife open. while not perfect, it’ll give you a fairly stable fixed blade that you can use with confidence
 
I've heard they have beefed up the Omega springs, but I can understand that the Adamas (especially the auto version) is hard on springs as it kicks out with force and has a lot of mass. Did yours have the lock and were you able to lock it open or closed? I know Benchmade said it was hypothetically feasible, but didn't say they've done it.
ROCK6
Mine was manual and I was not gentle about opening/closing it.
 
I am sorry, it is a bit of a confusing question. I am not asking if the springs will break or when or fixes even. I am asking, in a theoretical scenario, if both springs do break at the same time, would the axis lock close on your fingers? Like Yo Mama Yo Mama said, the spring would most likely break before being locked so you would know before applying pressure to it.
 
i know it is rare to break an omega spring and that the axis lock is plenty strong. But i have been wondering what would happen if you were unfortunate enough to have both springs break at the same time? Would the knife stay open or would it close on your fingers?

The springs aren’t going to break while the knife is sitting closed or locked open. They will break as you are moving the axis lock bar back and forward.
 
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