Benchmade 2011 Catalog

[FortyTwoBlades]

The AO mechanism is incredibly easy to remove. You just open up the knife, then remove the coil spring, and reassemble. I'd suggest removing the safety at the same time (the slidey piece and the bendy piece), since you won't need it anymore.

It's like a 5 minute job.

Yup! Though I'd leave the safety in since it doesn't get in the way, and can act like a lock for the lock! If you engage the safety while the knife is open you can't retract the AXIS lock.

 

[Medic1210]

I'm glad it don't look too exciting. I've already got more Benchmade knives than my wife knows about or that I know what to do with, LOL... I do have to say I like the look of the Emissary and 581 Barrage. I will say, I've never seen or used a BM with the Axis Assist, so my preconceived notion may be totally without basis. That being said, I have no idea why in the world BM went that route. The Axis lock knives I own already flick open as fast as my Kershaw Leek with the slightest touch, so I'm not real sure why BM even felt the need. I can't see the speed of my knives getting any quicker. I also like to flip my knives closed by pulling back on the axis lock and flipping my wrist to close the blade. I'm pretty sure with spring tension, this will no longer be possible. I will have to physically push the blade back into the handle like my Leek. Kinda disappointed that BM is sticking the Axis Assist feature many if not all (haven't checked) their new Axis lock knives. Can anybody who's used an Axis Assist tell me if my presumptions are correct?

Edited to add: Looks like I should have read the whole thread first. I can see others feel the same as I do about the Axis Assist, and apparently it seems it's easy to remove. Also, on a side note, for those complaining about a lack of new models... at least BM isn't like another company that sticks with variations of the same design they've had for 21 years... May not have gotten too many new models this year, but we got more new models that the other company has gotten over almost the whole life of his company. Not knocking the knives, just mentioning the lack of new offerings...

 

[Planterz]

Medic, that's pretty much my opinion that I stated earlier. I handled a 580 once. The assist was much nicer than the 670 I had for a week during a Passaround. It has a more positive feeling than pretty much any torsion-bar based assist, like the 670 or any of the Kershaws, since it's sprung for the whole arc, whereas the torsion-bar assisteds ride on inertia for about half the arc.

But again, as nice as the action feels on the AXIS-Assist knives, it seems so pointless. I never liked assisted knives that used thumbstuds rather than a flipper, as it's easy to slice your thumb open if you're not used to the action. And besides, as you, I, and thousands of others have found, the AXIS lock is so extremely easy to flick open with your thumb already; it's like trying to make your gun more powerful by running behind it to give it extra speed. I guess it would be useful if you're old and/or arthritic or have a similar impediment to hand strength or dexterity, but for most of us, it's pointless.

And of course it completely kills the ability to wrist-flick the knife closed, just like the Auto AXIS. That's what I like so much about my 940's. Flick it open, flick it closed. Only need one hand, and you never have to put fingers in the way of the blade, or close it against your leg or something. Along with a D/A OTF auto like an Ultratech or Scarab, it's the safest folding knife you can have.

I'm guessing that Benchmade is using the AXIS-Assist because assisted knives are "in". For years the AXIS lock has been their flagship locking mechanism. Strong, ambidextrous, easy to use, etc. And now that they've figured out how to make it assisted (not just automatic, making it legal in many more places), that's their new gimmick.

I'd like to see the 581 in a non-assisted version, but to be honest, I don't know that I'd buy one even then, regardless of how super the steel is. For me, the 940 is just about perfect, so any new knife will be measured against the 940 and will likely be found wanting in some way or another.

 

[Medic1210]

I'd like to see the 581 in a non-assisted version, but to be honest, I don't know that I'd buy one even then, regardless of how super the steel is. For me, the 940 is just about perfect, so any new knife will be measured against the 940 and will likely be found wanting in some way or another.

I, too, like the 940 series. Bought a 943 and 940 at the same time several years ago (green with purple spacer), but sold the 940 because I liked the clip point blade shape better. Now, it seems like 95% of my BM knives are Osborne design. I'm carrying the Kulgera in place of my 943 now, but also have the Rift and old 921 Switchback, as well as a few other Osbornes. I really like their design, and can't get over how smooth they are. Like the blade travels on bearings. I actually should tighten them up a bit more just so they couldn't be mistaken for gravity knives, because I can just pull the Axis lock back with the knife pointed at the ground, and the blade will swing fully open. All that, yet no blade play. I've never had a knife as smooth as my Osbornes. Well worth the money IMHO. That's why I'll probably get at least one of the newer offerings, even if it is Axis Assist...

 

[darthsoaker]

i think kershaw is blowing them away,they have many new & cool designs and much more reasonable pricing

We should remember, however, that Kershaw manages this pricing through means other companies either aren't capable of or don't desire to use.

The primary reason that Kershaw can offer such low prices is simple economies of scale. Manufacturers like Spyderco (and Benchmade, to a certain extent) do not compete directly with Kershaw anywhere other than on these forums; when was the last time you saw a Benchmade or Spyderco at Walmart or Dicks Sporting Goods? Spyderco is a boutique manufacturer, in comparison to Kershaw. Benchmade, I'd imagine, is somewhere in between but certainly not a competitor in Kershaw's market.

Another reason is the design of most mass produced Kershaws. The vast majority of Kershaw produced in any substantial amount are liner/frame locks as they are easier, and possibly cheaper, to manufacture than many competing locks. (Why do you think that makers first custom folders are liner locks?) Or look at the finish of most of the mass produced Kershaws: beadblast. Beadblasting is cheaper and faster than the finishing competitors use (stonewashing, ect.).

 

[shawn_ray]

The 581 is now available. Who has it and wants to provide us with pictures?

 

[eneyman]

I'd love to get a mini onslaught, that looks like a fun little monster.

 

[shawn_ray]

The AO mechanism is incredibly easy to remove. You just open up the knife, then remove the coil spring, and reassemble. I'd suggest removing the safety at the same time (the slidey piece and the bendy piece), since you won't need it anymore.

It's like a 5 minute job.

How do I remove the coil spring? Do I have to take the whole knife apart or just remove the scales?

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Unlike regular Axis locks, the assisted pieces are designed so that they disassemble in a top-down way that's a lot easier to deal with. Just unscrew the scale, pull it off, undo the pivot, pull the top liner off, then remove the blade, pull the spring out, and reassemble.

 

[shawn_ray]

Problem solved.