Benchmade 300SN Ball Axis Flipper?

It isn't my favorite design but its not bad. Looks a heck of a lot better than the Southard flipper.

I bet if it didn't have the thumb stud it would look strangely bare. I can see it being designed without one and someone along the way saying something doesn't look right, add a thumb stud. Also, I actually like Benchmades 154CM. And at least they are running it harder, up to 61. And 0.59" thick is thicker than normal but 1/2" is pretty standard for folding knives..09" isn't that much more.

And I'm sure its a standard AXIS lock. There just needs to be a channel in the flipper right under the handle scale when open. I've seen a knife that would need to be similar due to a stop pin. The Kershaw Lahar maybe?

Anyways, I don't think its too bad.
 
I like it. I have had really good luck with BM 154CM. Just seems to work for me. And I don't mind the thickness or weight. Kind of reminds me of a 3 inch XM-18, if not in looks, in function and size. What's wrong with a stout 3 inch flipper?
 
When did everyone become such hypocrites? The handle thickness and steel choice are the same as the beloved Mini Griptilian, and besides the plastic handles, there is nothing but love for that knife. 154CM a poor steel choice? Unless your job is literally to just sit around and cut cardboard all day, I can't imagine how 154CM at 59-61 won't be sufficient.

Emersons get knocked for using 154CM in knives that cost twice as much, and their handles are just as thick. But people still love Emersons, myself included. The Benchmade 755 is 5.5oz and it's even smaller. But this is a $100 knife, not an Emerson, where it should be far more forgivable. I really can't see where all the negativity is coming from besides the ugly handle pattern.
 
NeverMore1701 said:
If only it weren't 154CM :(
Click to expand...

Really? Since when did 154CM become crap steel? If that's the case, I guess my 440C knives are utterly worthless. Guess I better scribble off a quick note and let Ray Ennis know. I wouldn't want him making any more knives out of obsolete steel.
 
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I somewhat love this design. I can't get enough 154CM. Yes it could be a bit thinner as long as the blade isn't less than .125" thick.
I too prefer a liner lock over the axis but the flipper makes up for it especially since I do not dig assisted openers. I like boring plain black G-10 too. The nice thing is for those that don't like the thumb studs...they can be removed.:thumbup:
 
Wow, now 154CM is no longer any good? I think the knife looks a little stubby as well, maybe with a 3.5-3.75" blade I'd be more interested.
 
I actually like the looks of it. Although the scales could be a different color. Still gonna get it!
 
It's not that CM154 is no longer any good.
But, why would I carry CM154 when all of my other knives are either M2, M4 or M390?
That would be a bench warmer in my rotation.
I'm just sayin'.
 
That's not even the ugliest knife Benchmade has released this month :D

I like it! I like the flipper and Axis combo (something new) and I like smaller knives ~3" (think about it - ZT/Spyderco/Kershaw just released larger flippers with premium materials and the only smaller flippers any of them put out was the Cryo - which I love, but I really wanted something a little higher-end in 3"). I like having different steels in the collection (and with very few Benchmades, that means very few 154CM knives - so bring on more).

I even love that it's too thick - smaller knives with thicker handles are easier to hold onto (IMO). Love the deep-carry pocket-clip and love that it's tip-up only (less holes in the scales). I love the layered finger grooves as well - something different than flat peel-ply G10, but not as ugly as some of the hacked-out-of-a-treebranch-from-the-ugly-tree scales Benchmade has put out in the past.

I'll be honest, I sold my 0561 and passed (after handling) on the Southard flipper because they were just too big and I would never carry them.

I'm excited about this one. Is it going to be a regular production knife or sprint-run?

If it's regular production, I'd love to see a sprint run of these in different steels/color-scales.
 
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I had that itch for a flipper just recently and I have bought Kershaw Junkyard Dog II with composite blade: always thought of that knife as a sort of flipper classics. I did not even consider the Southard flipper for its price: talk about Benchmade being expensive!
Anyway, that Junkyard Dog was big! Sure even a few years ago I would have considered it to be perfect size: but lately I got a bit lazy and do not carry big knives around any more.
So that Benchmade probably will be right for me. I just need to keep in mind its real size: it may look a bit too wide, too thick, too bulky in the picture, but in reality it is relatively small knife - you just need something to hold to! I will certainly keep that knife in mind for future consideration!
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
And I'm sure its a standard AXIS lock. There just needs to be a channel in the flipper right under the handle scale when open. I've seen a knife that would need to be similar due to a stop pin...
Click to expand...
The axis-channel would have to be an interesting mill-out...

For me, part of the advantage to AXIS is the spring-action on the lock-bar that forces the blade closed when the tang 'ridge' slides past at ~30 degrees. This allows that superior 'flip-close' benchmade fans love. That same 'ridge' is what forces the lock-bar back as you open the knife (or easily slides past if you disengage the lock-bar manually). From the images, the positioning of the lock-bar in relation to the flipper, I wonder how proud this ridge stands or how strong the omega-springs are so as to maintain the blade closed but also allow for easy release via the flipper without spring-assisted opening...
Liner/frame-lock flippers relay on the ball-detent to hold the blade closed and evince an energetic release as force against the flipper suddenly overcomes the detent - a simpler design with less opposing force than 2 omega-springs present...


But if it still works like an axis-lock, then I like the concept. I agree that the knife is as ugly as most Kershaws. The blade reminds me of the 525 mini-barrage... but with a flipper. *shrug*
 
If I didn't have things ahead on the wants list. I would try it out. It doesn't look bad. And I won't turn my nose up at 154CM.
 
I like the looks of this knife. It just went onto my list of things to buy and/or get for Christmas.
 
Okay, let's see...

The Bad:

Blade too short
CPM154 would have been MUCH better
Brown G10? Really?

The good:

I like the blade shape
Flipper FTW
Axis lock should be a nice bonus

Make this knife a 3.75" blade in cpm154 (or cpm m4) with blue/black G10, and i'll own one for sure
 
BePrepared said:
Okay, let's see...

The Bad:

Blade too short
CPM154 would have been MUCH better
Brown G10? Really?

The good:

I like the blade shape
Flipper FTW
Axis lock should be a nice bonus

Make this knife a 3.75" blade in cpm154 (or cpm m4) with blue/black G10, and i'll own one for sure
Click to expand...

That would be an amazing combo! I don't mind the blade being short though.
 
that combo would jump the price another 100 though. I think Benchmade wanted to make a cheaper flipper for those that can not get the southards and 560's
 
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