Axis or Compression? (BM710 or Spydie paramilitary)

A

ayz

Joined
Jul 5, 2004
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685
Trying to pick one to purchase as an EDC. The Spydie has better blade steel but the BM is a damn tank and has a larger blade.

I'm not very familiar with the compression lock or how it works.

Recommedations?
 
the short answer on the compression lock is that it's a bit like a frame lock (or liner lock, in the case of the Paramilitary), only it's on the spine or outside of the handle, rather than the inside. this, in effect, should result in a lower likelihood of accidental closure.

i have not carried a Para, but i can wholeheartedly recommend the 710. mine is the standard, PE 154CM version, and it kicks a ton of butt. the recurve is great, the blade/handle ratio is superb, and it's comfortable. easy to hold, easy to open & close. it rides relatively low in the pocket, and locks up like Windows PC. you can't beat it in terms of lock, length, and ease of opening/closing. for a tougher steel, grab the 710HS, which uses M2 steel. tough as nails. tougher, actually.

abe m.
 
allyourblood said:
the short answer on the compression lock is that it's a bit like a frame lock (or liner lock, in the case of the Paramilitary), only it's on the spine or outside of the handle, rather than the inside. this, in effect, should result in a lower likelihood of accidental closure.
Click to expand...

Abe, I think you missed the most important distinction between a compression lock and a liner lock. The compression lock catches the lock between a pin and the tang, so that when force is applied against the lock, the lock gets put under compression and stabilized (versus a liner lock, where the lock wants to just slide off the tang). That's enough to make a world of difference in reliability.

ayzianboy, both locks are sound. Unfortunately, not that useful as a tie-breaker!

Joe
 
It's a "six of one - just buy both" type situation.

The compression lock looks like an upside down liner lock, but it wedges itself between a stop pin and the blade tang. Very strong; very reliable; very hard to accidentally disengage; takes a while to learn how to use it.

The axis lock uses to omega springs (wire shaped like the Greek symbol "omega" - so there you go) to wedge a bar between a stop pin and an anvil. Very strong; very reliable; fairly hard to accidentally disengage; most non-knife people can intuitively figure it out; easy to flick closed while keeping our fingers out of the way.

I don't think you'd go wrong with either choice. I'm more partial to the compression lock and handle design of the Paramilitary, but, as a former owner of 710's, they're pure cutting joy.
 
Do you have a way to handle each knife before you buy one? If so, see how they feel in your pocket. You don't want at knife that will be uncomfy in your pocket all day.

I have seen the compression lock briefly. Looked decent, but my initial impressions were it didn't look as solid as the Axis lock. Looked like a flimsy liner wedged in there, rather than the nice stout bar that locks up an Axis lock.
 
I have both, and on balance I prefer the Spyderco Para Military.

They are both very good knives, but the general grip I prefer is the thumb on top of the blade just a fraction forward of the pivot .Unfortunately the BM 710 has a slight horn on the handle at that point which means I have to adjust my grip slightly to make it more comfortable.

Also the Para Military has the Spyder hole which I prefer every time.
 
I have a Salsa which has a compression lock. At first glance it looks like an inverted liner lock. I have confidence that this lock will not fail on me through normal usage. The axis lock seems a lot stronger but I only speak based on photos and explanations of this lock. I have never handled one. Another advantage of the axis is that it is truly ambidextrous.
 
I have both and have taken apart both completely. While I like the compression lock - the parts involved are thinner, weaker, and finished much more roughly. Having taken the AXIS mech out of numersous BM's - they all look like a finished product on thier own. All the compression locks I have played with have rough machining marks on them and are just not inspiring in their appearance. Functionally - I trust both - but would ALWAYS take an AXIS over any other lock when my fingers are involved. The physics behind the lock and the execution just means that IMO it won't fail. Its the only lock style that I have owned that has not failed a spine whack or failed detent (open knife in the pocket syndrome). Liner locks have, frame-locks (thinner ones), and the compression lock on my Yojimbo and Para before tweaking them. Once tweaked they are now fine - but the eccentric stop pin on my Para was causing the balde to engage just on the tip of the left side of the blade, while the Yojimbo has a weird slight angle at the end of the lock bar to make it act as a detent as well. Without that angle it would open in my pocket. With that angle - I get nervous about its strength (would you carry a liner lock that has bent lock bar?

anyway - AXIS it is.
 
also - forgot to add that I have seen (and heard about) many Compression locks that stick when trying to close. Usually that has been because the lockng bar has some lateral twist to it - taking it apart and twisting it the other way slightly will make it MUCH easier to disengage - its sort of like changing the lock bar tension on a liner lock. I had a hot spot on my thumb from trying to open my Yojimbo out of the box. Now its perfect as is my Para.
 
I have both and have actually carried both at the same time. Unlike Sting I've never taken either of them apart. But having used both (and other Axis knives), I do feel that the Axis lock mechanism is better finished and as a result works more smoothly than the compression locks I've handled.

I trust both locks. I don't think either will fail under normal use. Both designs share a common feature: you'd have to defeat a piece of metal that's directly in line (i.e. not at an angle that could slip like a liner or frame lock) with the tang do overcome the lock. Yes the lock bar on the Para isn't beefy, but I don't think the lock bar is going to buckle or otherwise slip in a hard use situation. Also, the compression can be operated much in the same way as the Axis: you can flip the knife open AND closed.

Ergonomicaly, they are radically different knives. I find the ergonomics of the Para superior. You can choke up on the Para handle and do some fine work with the shorter blade. But that's just me. Wade is absolutely right -- handle both.

Aside from the Axis lock design itself, I like Spyderco designs better overall. But I think Benchmade has the edge when it comes down to manufacturing quality.
 
I have a para that I rotate through as an EDC. My only concern is the compression lock does not hold the blade closed very well. It works great on my Lil' Temperence but not on the Para-military. I've been bit by a blade in the past that had come open a little in my pocket so I'm concerned about the latest generation of compression locks.
My BM 710, on the other hand, does everything perfectly.
 
Both locks seem very strong and can easily be open one handed, the Para needed a little work to wear in. The Para has great ergonomics, really fits my hand well but I find it does not carry as comfortable as the 710 and I find the blade a touch short for some of my requirements. If I had to choose only one of the two, it would be the 710, but either will serve you well.
710-para.jpg
 
WadeF said:
Do you have a way to handle each knife before you buy one?
Click to expand...

This is very good advice. For me it was a choice between the Military and the 710. It was a tough decision until handeling both of them at the same time. Then it was easy.
 
Joe Talmadge said:
Abe, I think you missed the most important distinction between a compression lock and a liner lock. The compression lock catches the lock between a pin and the tang, so that when force is applied against the lock, the lock gets put under compression and stabilized (versus a liner lock, where the lock wants to just slide off the tang).
Click to expand...
:footinmou... sorry. always learnin' here!

abe m.
 
I heard that the compression locks seem to be really good for lefties. I'm not sure if this is true, as I have never handled a compression locked knife. The Axis on the other hand I have, and I have nothing bad to say about it. I say Axis.
 
i have had 2 compression lock knives (ATR and a gunting) and BOTH of them would open in your pocket, not a good thing imho. nothing is more disconcerting than reaching to get something in your pocket and cutting the crap outta yourself. i wont be getting a third let me tell ya.

the axis has no problems i am aware of, have had a 710 (3 actually) and its a good one, prefer the 806 myself though.
 
SIFU1A said:
i have had 2 compression lock knives (ATR and a gunting) and BOTH of them would open in your pocket, not a good thing imho. nothing is more disconcerting than reaching to get something in your pocket and cutting the crap outta yourself. i wont be getting a third let me tell ya.
Click to expand...

Ouch! That stinks. I think it should be considered a major flaw if a knife opens up in your pocket like that. I have had some of my liner locks do that, that's why I don't carry them any more. Just playing with my various knives, none of them pull the blade back in when opened as far as the Axis locks. Meaning, I can pull the blade open further on an Axis lock and still have it snap back closed. For me the Axis lock = peace of mind.
 
Like some of the others have said, the Compression-lock does'nt hold the blade closed as well as the Axis-lock.
My Compression-lock Vesuvius opened inside of my pocket once.

I vote for the Axis-lock 710.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
you know that sucks, i was hoping mine was just funky but after talking to several folks who have had similar problems w/the compression lock, i really wonder now........

i really like the ATR also, i usually carry custom knives (ie emerson/crawford/strider/ralph) so its something for a production to get into the lineup, if not for the small 'flaw' the ATR woulda been a winner imho.

very disappointed in them myself,
 
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