Ball bearing lock??

B

Bryce Haley

Joined
Mar 24, 2020
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Hey guys so Im interested in the Manix. I was wondering how the ball bearing lock compares to Benchmade’s axis lock. Is it better? Worse?
 
That depends on how you define the terms. It is harder to operate with one hand due to the much stronger coil springs vs. the Omega springs of axis lock. It also has more closing bias for the same reason. The Axis relies on liners to receive the load from the lock bar where the ball lock can be made without liners since stresses are transmitted directly into the lock housing.
 
As a die hard Benchmade Axis Lock fanboy, I will say functionally, as in the way they operate, they’re pretty much the same. They operate on the same principle: Block the tang, and the blade can’t rotate. Pull the blocking mechanism back until it clears the tang, and it can.

That said, the ball bearing locks I have used are noticeably stiffer to disengage than any Axis Lock I own, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The ball bearing locks use a single strong coil spring, which applies direct linear pressure to force the ball bearing against the tang, whereas Axis Locks use the two omega springs on either side of the Axis bar to force the bar against the tang. While I’ve never had an Omega spring break in any Benchmade I’ve ever owned, I guess if one did, I suppose that spring pressure on the Axis bar would be weaker and unevenly distributed to the side of the bar where the spring is still intact, which “might” make lockup less reliable.

Ultimately, I find the Axis Locks on my Benchmades are easier to engage/disengage, which makes them more fun to play with, BUT I love my Manix 2 XL quite a lot, and while the disengagement of the lock is a little more stout, I think that translates to the lockup being just a bit more secure.
 
If you like to fidget with axis locks, I doubt you’d find the ball bearing lock as much fun. I don’t dislike the lock; but as others have mentioned, it is considerably stiffer.

I personally like the ball bearing lock better, as I think it is a more interesting mechanism. That’s me just being a bit of a nerd, more than anything else.
 
I find Benchmades omega sprung Axis locks a pleasure to use. Good lockup and smooth action during deployment and blade retraction.

That being said, I prefer the Ball Bearing Lock because it's stiffer and gives more "feedback" during open/close cycles. The Axis equipped knives can be gravity opened much easier then the BBLs , Which translates into opening more readily if dropped too. Of course this is just another opinion and YMMV !
 
To me, the ball bearing lock FEELS higher quality. It doesn’t mean it is, it just feels that way to me. I like that it’s stiffer and I also prefer the way it sounds when opening and closing. I believe the single coil spring is far more reliable than the two omega springs in the axis lock as well.
 
There is not much to compare imo. Similar principles, much different design. I love my Manix 2, but after using my Benchmades it feels completely different! I think the ball bearing lock feels much stouter, but the axis wins in the fidget department. I have no worries of either of them failing in use though.

Try and manix and see how you like it. I love em!
 
Bryce Haley said:
Hey guys so Im interested in the Manix. I was wondering how the ball bearing lock compares to Benchmade’s axis lock. Is it better? Worse?
Click to expand...


Functionally, they're very similar for the user. The Caged Ball Bearing Lock has more spring tension behind it than the Axis lock, so I think that the Axis gets the nod. But that's not the end of the story. You need to consider the knife that surrounds the lock. Both companies make good products, and Benchmade makes a variety of knives around the Axis Lock. I have a couple here in my desk drawer. However, the Manix 2 is still my favorite knife to carry. It fits my hand nicely, I prefer the Spydie Hole over a thumb stud, and Spyderco offers up the knife in any number of exotic steels.
 
Once my Manix was properly lubricated and broken in, it became extremely fidget friendly. It's BB lock is stiffer than an Axis lock and with hours of fidgeting, it might punish your fingers a little.

I dont deduct points from the Manix for that because a lot of knives will fatigue a person's hand with hours of continous fidgeting. After all they aren't fidget spinners.

When my hand is dead, worn out completely from fidgeting all day, and can barely operate any knife, I can still make an Axis lock sing.

The Axis lock is by far one of the easiest mechanisms to continuously operate without hand fatigue.

With all of that said, generally my preference between an Axis lock on a Benchmade and the Manix with it's BB lock would be the Manix. It's very satisfying to play with and even more satisfying to use.
 
I like the Axis lock just fine, but the Manix 2 XL, with its BBL, is my very first choice in a hard-use folder. I used and frankly abused one in Afghanistan on my last deployment, including cutting military-grade copper cables off equipment before selling it to local nationals.

Here's a pic of my replacement Manix 2 XL after I gave my first one to a deployed civilian with no knife.
 
I like the ball bearing lock in my P'kal. Just as easy to open and close as an axis. There seems to be more complaints about axis spring problems then ball locks.
 
I have Tusk with a ball lock on the Marlinspike side/end. When I try to move the ball with just my thumb, either the ball is rotating, or my thumb is sliding on the smooth ball. So I use my thumb and forefinger to pull the ball back.View attachment 1316912
 
Centermass said:
While I’ve never had an Omega spring break in any Benchmade I’ve ever owned, I guess if one did, I suppose that spring pressure on the Axis bar would be weaker and unevenly distributed to the side of the bar where the spring is still intact, which “might” make lockup less reliable.
Click to expand...
I've had an Omega spring in my Benchmade Kulgera break after a few years of use. The spring tension is a lot weaker, but it will hold the blade. Unfortunately, I think it also places more pressure on the remaining spring. The other Omega spring broke within a week. The only reason I didn't send it back to Benchmade after the first spring broke was because I wanted to see how it would function with only a single spring.

Benchmade did repair the knife in a week or so.
 
I love it and ended up buying two tusks. Next up is a Manix to try out that configuration of the bbl.
 
Bryce Haley said:
Hey guys so Im interested in the Manix. I was wondering how the ball bearing lock compares to Benchmade’s axis lock. Is it better? Worse?
Click to expand...
I have about 25 Benchmades and a lot of experience with the axis lock.
Problems: 1st, the omega springs break, but only if they rub on the handle insides. If it doesn’t rub in your knife, the springs will never break. After using a Benchmade a while, you take it apart and look for wear on the springs. That will tell you if they will ever break. G10 handle models tend to be the worst. They can be fixed by hogging out a little with a Dremel where they rub on the springs.
2nd, the light springs allow the knife to unlock if you strike the butt of the knife. The axis bar inertia does this. Usually not a problem, but this disqualifies axis lock knives from self defense applications in my opinion. Also don’t try to use a glass breaker on an open axis lock knife. You’ll get cut.
3rd, about half of all Benchmade axis lock knives will always grind and never smooth out when opening and closing. That’s because the axis bar is either not hardened at all or hardened improperly. Look up “galling” on Wikipedia. Then look at the tang of a Benchmade axis lock knife with a loupe for a real wold example.
4th, axis lock knives are weak against spine whacks because the axis bar exerts pressure on the liners over a tiny area, deforming the liners. Some BM models use 0.0625 liners, most 0.050”. Look for the thicker liners if you’re worried about lock strength.
The ball bearing lock is stronger, smoother and more reliable. Yes, the spring pressure is higher. That’s the cost of proper function and design. It’s a matter of preference, but I find it a small price to pay for a strong smooth reliable lock. Btw, putting a tiny drop of oil on the BBL spring reduces friction between spring and guide which can contribute substantially to lock stiffness.
Apologies for the dissertation.
Whichever choice you make, good luck and enjoy.
 
Mark Spark said:
Problems: 1st, the omega springs break, but only if they rub on the handle insides. If it doesn’t rub in your knife, the springs will never break. After using a Benchmade a while, you take it apart and look for wear on the springs. That will tell you if they will ever break. G10 handle models tend to be the worst. They can be fixed by hogging out a little with a Dremel where they rub on the springs.
Click to expand...

They come with steel liners so what has the G10 to do with it?
 
353 said:
They come with steel liners so what has the G10 to do with it?
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Take one apart. The omega springs reside outside the liners and inside the scales. If they touch the scales, they wear slightly each time they are flexed and will eventually break.
 
Oh, I see.

Changed my omega springs on my small Grip after one of them broke. I can recomend changing them out for memory wire. They'll never break on you.

Original unbroke spring at the bottom, my two home made at the top. All the tools you need in the picture.

PAp3toNl.jpg
 
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