Benchmade 300SN Ball Axis Flipper?

[alterview]

Thanks for all the comments. I have been told there will be some variations such as black blades and possibly other color scales offered at a later time.Benchmade did a great job with this knife.THANKS

Thank you Mr Ball! I like the design. I might have to put this one on my list. I would love to see a sprint run in m4 or another higher grade steel.

Keep up the great work.

 

[all 41 + 14 all]

I don't mind the thumbstuds on a flipper because... more often than I like to admit, I have fudged opening a flipper without studs. It's nice to have a stud (or Spydie hole in the Southard's case) to finsh opening the knife without having to whip it or use a 2nd hand. Anybody who hates the thumbstuds can simply remove them with a pair of T6 torx bits anyway (at least they look like Grip style studs in the pic).

The only dealbreaker here for me is the short handle length. A flipper eats up more finger room than an equivalent non-flipper. To me it looks like a 3.5 finger knife (much like that pinky-hating Needs Work). Any chance of a Ball II Axis flipper in the 3.5-3.75" ballpark someday?

 

[SpyderPhreak]

Nobody should be complaining about this knife given the street price of under $110.

Think of this new knife as a mini-Grip with added G10 scales (which everyone has been wanting for how long?) and full steel liners, because that is what it really is. And oh yeah, you happened to get a flipper on it too. (Though I would argue, as I would think any real experienced Axis user would, that a flipper is a bit redundant on an Axis-lock knife, but whatever.) Finally, BM has always done an excellent job on their 154CM! Fine-grained, holds a good edge for a long time, and it is easy to sharpen. This steel is used to make turbine blades for Pete's sake! If you want to see this knife in one of the the steels du jour (Elmax, M390, CPM-M4, etc.), I would expect it to raise the cost by at least $30 on the street. YMMV.

 

[zippin44]

Being left handed, the Southard isn't on my radar at all.

I fondled ZTs and didn't buy one.

I will probably get a 300SN. I'd like to wait until after the first production run is over. I want to use this knife but I wouldn't use a LE or FP knife.

EDITED:

Ok, I couldn't take it. I pre-ordered a partially serrated version.

I'm left handed. Got the Southard ( spyderco fuc_tard as we call it) anyway,I was really surprised how comfortable and light the knife is in my left hand. You should check it out. I may also get this BM too. As for the steel, I think everyone gets all lathered up about having the latest and greatest metal, but most of them don't even use their darn knives! What's the point of that? 154 is great metal and for most people, I see no reason to spend an extra $50 or whatever to get the latest and greatest steel. If you're the 1 out of ten guys who chooses this as your hard use edc, then hopefully they eventually do a sprint run in m4 or such.

 

[ballknives]

I have already talked to benchmade about a larger version.I think it will depend on how well this one is received but I hear this ones off to a great start.I think I will start a large proto just in case.

 

[alterview]

I have already talked to benchmade about a larger version.I think it will depend on how well this one is received but I hear this ones off to a great start.I think I will start a large proto just in case.

Just let me know if you need some one to test out that proto!

 

[cm123193]

Could anyone help me find a specific knife? Its a browning pocket knife with cutouts in the frame and the blade. My father had one and lost it would like to get him a new one as he misses it alot. Thank you for any help. I have started a new thread with the full story..

 

[pbcg]

I have already talked to benchmade about a larger version.I think it will depend on how well this one is received but I hear this ones off to a great start.I think I will start a large proto just in case.

First off congratulations on a fantastic design. I really like the knife esthetically. It also looks very solid and well made. My only reluctance is the size. If it were just slightly larger I'd consider it a must have.

I'd buy one if the blade were at least 3.5" and I'd buy two if it were closer to 4"!

As for the steel I agree that 154CM is a great steel and BM has nailed the heat treat on their 154CM. I think any disparaging of it is ridiculous. I carried a BM Stryker in 154CM in harsh environments and subjected it to hard use and it never let me down so I know its good stuff. Same can be said for my Rift in 154CM.

Again, great job on the knife! and I will be eagerly awaiting a larger version if it's in the cards which I truly hope it is.

 

[Coalman]

I have already talked to benchmade about a larger version.I think it will depend on how well this one is received but I hear this ones off to a great start.I think I will start a large proto just in case.

Great to hear. This knife already has so much going for it. The design is so strong even just simply scaling up the blade and handle length would give folks some more options. There's nothing better than that "Goldilocks" size that I always imagine is such a tough call for manufactures, but so great when its well done.

 

[aquaman67]

Great to hear. This knife already has so much going for it. The design is so strong even just simply scaling up the blade and handle length would give folks some more options. There's nothing better than that "Goldilocks" size that I always imagine is such a tough call for manufactures, but so great when its well done.

Just to give Mr. Ball more feedback, I purchased the 300SSN because if it's size.

I have a full size Grip and several Mini Grips. I was looking hard at the Ritter full size Grip to add to my EDC rotation. For me the Mini Grip is good but a tad small. The full size Grip is just a little too big.

The 300SN, for me, is the perfect "Goldilocks" size...just right!

 

[Nic S.]

Won't open without wrist flick? They need to work on that.

I have had this knife for 3 days and it has been my EDC. I have had no problems at all with the flipper, it opens smooth. I do not have to use a wrist flick at all, it deploys like any other flipper I have. I will say though that the pivot may need some thread lock because it does loosen after a while, but I have been messing with it alot enough that my wife yells at me when she hears it lol.

 

[Glk38]

This knife was one for me that the instant I saw it I ordered one no questions asked. I have 154CM in other Benchmades and it has been fantastic because they know how to treat the steel. I don't know yet if this knife will kick my ZT 0561 out of my pocket but im excited to get it.

 

[stevekolt]

I had #'s 167 and 170 delivered yesterday. Fit and finish are superb! Very sharp from the factory. Size works for me, but if offered in a bigger size I'd have to get that also!

 

[jeepin]

Could anyone help me find a specific knife? Its a browning pocket knife with cutouts in the frame and the blade. My father had one and lost it would like to get him a new one as he misses it alot. Thank you for any help. I have started a new thread with the full story..

What has this got to do with this thread

 

[aquaman67]

Won't open without wrist flick? They need to work on that.

Here's a video posted by another member in another thread that shows you don't need any wrist to work the flipper.


[video=youtube_share;BnWgMQj0oAs]http://youtu.be/BnWgMQj0oAs[/video]

 

[crom]

wow, that looks much nicer in the video than it did in the pics.

 

[Coalman]

Not a slam on other knife companies but I just wanted to say a thanks to Benchmade for making this knife available as soon as it was announced. I ordered mine (#60/1000) from the first vender that posted it and recieved it within the week. Great job, a big +1 for the folks at Benchmade.

 

[EZ Bake]

Absolutely awesome knife. It is beefy feeling (heavy, thick liners and thick blade-stock), but it's specs also make it out to be deceivingly smaller than it is in reality. As soon as I flipped it open, I thought of the Kershaw Rake (only smaller, yet beefier - if that makes sense). I've discovered that while I love Tim Galyean's designs, I now appreciate a lot of Mr. Ball's designs too (had to google some of his other designs and I'm liking what I see and what I have in front of me with this flipper).

I don't know if Benchmade's marketing department missed the measurements on this one or what, but it's easily larger than the mini-Axis Bone Collector or the mini-Barrage, so definitely don't discount this as another mini-grip sized tiny little folder. By my measurements, it's actually 3 5/8" from pivot to tip (with 2 7/8" of cutting edge) so all you 3.5" guys:

1.) You were right on as this is a nice size for a flipping-Axis-folder
and
2.) You should have pulled the trigger as this is very much larger than a 3" folder

Mine is super easy to flip and very smooth all the way around. Love the shape of the handle and the G10 is a perfect blend of peel-ply grippi-ness and contoured hot-spot removal at all the right places for my hands (can't speak for anyone else - I have what I would call medium-sized hands). Mine came pretty darn sharp (which is all the more impressive from Benchmade) and the edge is very symmetrical/even. The stone-washing is spot-on and I have to say that I really like this pocket-clip design.

Here's some crappy-lighting comparison pics:

 

[JSMcustoms]

I've got one of these on preorder, though I have no idea when it'll actually be here. I'm not hopeful for anytime before February or March.

 

[NeverMore1701]

Screw it, I'm drunk and ordered one, we'll see how it is when it gets here!