Axis lock vertical blade play

I think the play is from the fit of the locking bar inside of the oval cutouts in the liners. The locking bar has o be able to slide back and forth inside the oval cutout and pushing the blade back and forth moves the bar inside the cutout a tiny bit.

It's such a small amount of play and only if I try to find it that it does appear. So I don't even worry about it
 
That makes sense and I never thought of that before. In fact, that may explain some thing. When I first got the knife, when I disengaged the lock to close the knife, the axis bar was sometimes a bit rough on the liners. I did not have blade play then. Over the past few days, that has smoothed out a tiny bit. Maybe that rough liner is wearing a bit and introducing the slightest bit of play? The play I have is very slight but definitely noticeable if you wiggle the tip. If you test for play by trying to wiggle the middle of the blade, there is no noticeable play. Very interesting. Overall, I may send it back to Benchmade, depending on how frustrated I get. Maybe if I get stern or very polite something could be arranged with them. Maybe I'll just cycle the blade a thousand times to see if it settles in.
 
I think the ramp on the tang is at an angle, not parallel, to the slots in the liners.

The lock bar should break in and take up the slack as it moves up the tang.

I've polished a few of mine with good results.
 
As a point of reference, I have owned three axis locks, and none have had any vertical play at all. Two 94X models and one mini-grip.

EDIT: Make that 4 actually. I had a 710 as well.
 
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The blade play in my mini barrage is off the charts. Great knife as far as the assisted opening, blade design etc. I'm not one to take apart my knives(except my Sebenza:) , but it seems that you cannot tighten or loosen the pivot on the barrage??? I just use it for work, and beat the hell out of it to see how long it will last:)
 
Unfortunately for me, my obsessive nature demands a solution to a $175 problem. I have such a love/hate relationship with Benchmade. I love them but they let me down frequently. I tested out a Spyderco Manix 2 that was super impressive. I would think that the ball lock would have play but it was rock solid. I have been searching for a 581 Barrage with no play. I handled 4. 3 had play, the fourth was bk coated and msrp. With tax it was $250....too much for me plus I wanted a satin blade. I am rethinking how to spend my money on my next knife. I really love the 275's design, but this whole issue is souring me.
 
If you want a knife to use and that much play bothers you I suggest you get a fixed blade.

There is a reason why you like the Axis ... IMO liner and mono locks suffer in comparison.

It is a byproduct of the Axis design and I've never heard of one failing like I've seen with liners and monos'.
 
Although I have owned Axis lock knives and will probably own more, I just can't warm up to them. I don't like the feel of them when they close and I don't like the open hole directly to the unseen guts of the knife.

Slight vertical play is also inherent in many compression lock knives.
 
Good points. I love a nice fixed blade. Just not as simple to carry in the pocket.

I had some succes tonight. I ran the knife under hot water to clean out the lubes I put on it and to clear any fuzz or lint. The lockup got slightly better. I have seen this a little bit before with my 950. The "dryer" the better with that axis lock. I'll keep messin with it.
 
Brian Sargent said:
If you want a knife to use and that much play bothers you I suggest you get a fixed blade.
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Or better yet, just take that 175$ you spent on that Benchmade and just buy a knife from a company that makes them right in the first place. Hell, you could get yourself 3 decent Kershaws or 2 Spydercos instead and save yourself a world of grief in the process. Plus you'll save on postage since you won't have to send that Benchmade back to Oregon every time a new defect pops up. ;)

I always laugh when people make very reasonable posts about their $150-300 knives having really basic manufacturing defects like blade play, stripped screws, dull blades, poor fit and finish, etc. and someone always feels the need to berate them for bringing up the issue. :rolleyes: There's always someone who has to chime in with something like "Well I like my Benchmade knives fine and blade play doesn't even matter anyway / you can just sharpen the dull blades / you can just replace the broken omega springs / you're expecting too much so stop whining!" :rolleyes:

When someone like the OP spends 175$ on a knife, he has a right to hold it to a higher standard than your average gas station special hunk of junk.

Brian Sargent said:
It is a byproduct of the Axis design and I've never heard of one failing like I've seen with liners and monos'.
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http://youtu.be/Le2xewZ2ueo

Now you have. Never mind when the omega springs snap and leave you with a knife that won't even lock any more... :thumbdn:
 
I'm sold on the Axis lock. I've not had any blade play issues with any of the ones I've had, and I have polished the lock bar on some as mentioned above.

Belly, when you are sitting around watching tv or something, just open and close the knife as you are watching. DO NOT check it every ten or twenty openings. People on a diet that weigh everyday get frustrated when they see no results and quit. Same thing can happen here. The break in wear is not going to happen real quickly, unless you can open and shut the knife a thousand or so times in a night.

As the lock bar is pushed forward, it slides between the top of the oval frame cutout, and the ramp of the blade tang. As it wears the lockup should become tighter as it wedges more firmly in place. Just remember that these are hardened steel parts that probably rank between 48 to 54 on the Rockwell, and I did sorta pull those numbers from my azz, just remembered reading about hardened steel parts falling within this range. Anyway, those hardened parts do take a little time to wear in.

IF both springs were to fail you, the lock can still be pushed forward into the slot and could be held there by putting a little stick in behind it. But unless you are just one unlucky guy, I don't think both springs will go at once, if at all. I've read many posts about omega spring breakage, and it does occur, but it is what you don't read that you should look at, and that is how peoples Axis Locks don't have failing omega springs. For every one breakage you read about 10 that haven't broken, ok, another number out my azz, but it is close if actually not higher.

But all this aside, I hope your Adamas does begin to lock up to your satisfaction, and there is no play in the blade when it does. This is the first BM that I will have three of, one of each variation.
 
I haven't had this trouble with the axis... Mine only have play when the screw loosens; which happens eventually to anything shy of a Reeve knife...

Knives weren't made for spine whacking anyways... Not to mention axis folders aren't exactly heavy use knives, even the Adamas wouldn't hold up in batoning, they just aren't meant for it.

I'd say if you adjust the pivot and still have play, send it in, there's a reason they have lifetime warranties.
 
Dorito Monk said:
Or better yet, just take that 175$ you spent on that Benchmade and just buy a knife from a company that makes them right in the first place. Hell, you could get yourself 3 decent Kershaws or 2 Spydercos instead and save yourself a world of grief in the process. Plus you'll save on postage since you won't have to send that Benchmade back to Oregon every time a new defect pops up. ;)
Click to expand...


Dorito Monk, why don't we stick to reality here? I find it hard to believe any informed member of this forum would truly think the manufacturers you mentioned are putting out production knives that are always 100% perfect. I like Spyderco, BM, and Kershaw so I will refrain from naming examples, but no production company makes a perfect product every time. What is important is that a company can learn from their mistakes and take care of their customers.
 
I completely agree with no batoning with a folder. I doubt any locking system could hold up to repeated use in batoning. Though I've read that if you absolutely had to use a folder for this, the knife should be unlocked to prevent any damage to the lock.
 
Thanks all. This was a very helpful conversation. I really appreciate your comments.
 
Hey, I know this is slightly late, but I have 6-7 benchmade axis locks, and if they ever had a problem locking up I just flick them open a lot like some other people have suggested and it seems to help the lock bar wear in. Personally, I've wrist flicked my axis lock knives open a few times when I first get them and they seem to lock in way better afterwards, not saying you should just sit there and smack it open over and over though.

Also, someone else mentioned running axis locks a bit drier, and that seems to work better in my experience too. If there is way too much oil on the tang and lockbar, it seems like the lock disengages a bit easier, especially if the knife is relatively new. Like you mentioned, make sure there isn't any lint and fuzz stuck to the omega springs, lock bar, or blade tang and if you lube up the knife a little less you'll also have less problems with dirt buildup.

Finally, try using some Benchmade bluelube cleanser. I just got some recently and I swear cleaning most of my knives with the stuff makes all of my axis lock knives lock up tighter and move smoother. Clean out the tang, lock bar, pivot, and omega spring areas and it worked great for me.

In my experience, axis locks seem to get better as you use them over time and as they break in. Hopefully stuff works out for you.
 
Not too late at all. I appreciate your comments and ideas. I'll keep working on it. I too hope that it wears in. The lockup has gotten just a smidge better after a cleaning. It might not be noticeable to the average user. I am a bit sensitive since I have been focusing on it. I'm gonna cycle the knife normally like when sitting around. I have a bad habit of that. All along I was planning on getting 2 knives. I got the 275, but held off on another until this afternoon. I was able to order a Manix 2 in CTS-bd30p. I tested it out while I was out east so I know it is solid. This will be my 1st ball bearing lock but not my first Spyderco. Too bad for Benchmade because I was planning on getting a second one, but because of the play issues, I passed on the 581 and went with the Manix 2.
 
I do not see any problem with people going for knifes and manufacturers they like - they are free to spend their own money whatever way! I personally like BM and prefer AXIS to other locks. That is matter of my personal preference. I have never had any problem with these locks - neither blade play, no broken omega spring. And I am not bothered by blade being too dull - never noticed any problems with that. I have got knives from other manufacturers as well - the more the better! Yes, I am not impressed by some - but even those happen to make a few decent knives time to time.
 
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