Axis locks-What are the chances of it accidently closing?

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AfterDark

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Apr 9, 2007
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I am in the market for my first BM knife for utility and SD if needed. After reading a lot on the axis lock, I was wondering what are the chances of your thumb or other finger brushing against the lock on the handle during use? What grips should I utilize to avoid brushing my thumb against the lock? Has anyone accidently disengaged it during hard use? Will slicing or hard thrusts make it more prone to accidently disengage? I know Mercop has found the lock to be unreliable as a SD folder. The creator of the afck knife also believes the lock is unreliable as a SD folder. What are your thoughts on the lock accidently being disengaged? What if there is lint and dust from my pocket between the lock?

*I am deciding between a 710, griptilian, or an EKI 13 or 8. I am more familiar with EKI knives than with BM.
 
I've not had the AXIS lock accidently disengage. I've also not used one in a knife fight. I would think if you used a grip where your thumb is on top of the handle, above the AXIS lock, the lock would be unlikely to be moved by something if you thrust the knife hard into someone or something.

If you like Emerson knives you might want to get one of their frame lock models.
 
I've not owned an Emerson liner lock knife.

When it comes to the idea of an accidental lock disengagement, I worry a little more about the liner lock than an AXIS lock.
 
I do not see it disengaging ever really, I have carried one extensively...I can see it not engaging if it was dirty.
 
If a folder with an AXIS type lock was thrust hard into something and the knife sunk in past the AXIS lock, there might be enough pressure on the lock buttons to move them back a little. Maybe. But, I've not tried it.
 
One of the reasons I really like a lot of the Spyderco models is because of the "finger choils" or "kicks" that are pretty much in all of their models. That's extra security in the case that the lock fails, and every lock CAN fail.
 
imaginefj said:
I do not see it disengaging ever really, I have carried one extensively...I can see it not engaging if it was dirty.
Click to expand...

My concern about disengagement of a liner lock is not so much from from stress on the blade, but more by my hand accidently catching on the liner moving it in a way that the lock disengages.
 
I can't see it happening very easily. For your fingers or thumb to hit it, you'd have to be drawing your hand back away from the blade. This won't happen with a thrusting motion. Granted, my last knife fight was with my cousin in the backyard when i was nine -- and we had plastic swords which meant welts, not wounds -- but I still can't foresee it being an issue.
 
With the liner lock I was more concerned about a side to side movement of my hand disengaging the lock.

I'm sure some liner locks are more secure than others and if Emerson liner locks were a problem we would
hear a lot more about it.
 
if ya are concerned ya might accidently dis engage it just grind down the button so it is even with the scales, ya will still be able to open it with your finger tip and it wont accidently disengage, problem solved.
 
Rich357 said:
If a folder with an AXIS type lock was thrust hard into something and the knife sunk in past the AXIS lock, //
Click to expand...
highly unlikely the knife would ever be thrusted that far, that would mean the scales are in there as well.

maybe in a bowl of jellow but that wouldnt move the pins.
 
My only AXIS is a BM Rukus. I can't see it happenning. I'd be interested to hear how Mercop reached the conclusion that it was unreliable. I can see the reverse happenning - not being able to close the AXIS folder while in the middle of using it :D
 
I can't see an axis lock ever disengaging...I have had several linerlock do this to me but my 610, 615 or 710...never, not even a close call. incidentally almost every time I have had a liner lock disengage I have been stabbing something. To suggest a liner lock is more reliable for SD is ridiculous IMHO
 
Hi,

I own the BM 943. Last night I passed it on to my mother to cut about 12 lbs of pork to smaller pieces. Axis-lock failure... That's the last thing I worried about. I don't own any other BMs but the one I have is quite well made. The locking mechanism is very reliable, no matter how you handle/grip/pull/press, etc. the knife.

Best wishes,
Edalb
 
I have three axis lock knives, one for work, one for civilian carry, and one for outdoors. Never had a failure (I use the outdoor and my work knife many times throughout the day, not so much my civilian carry). Granted, I've never killed a dude with one either. F
maikutis
 
I have a number of AXIS Benchmades and haven't had failure problems with any of them. I've compared other mechanisms, nothing even comes close.
 
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