Benchmade 810 Contego Blade Play

[jkarp_53]

Vertical blade play is something Benchmade has to fix if the choice to send it in is decided. I don't own ANY with this issue; one or two came that way but were fixed to my satisfaction. Blade slop should not be considered 'within spec'.

 

[JNewell]

My 710s (2 of 4), Adamas, Contego, and 1 minigrip have some lock rock. I remember reading some posts years ago about self adjusting properties of the Axis lock, but I never saw how this worked. It sounds like a good idea, but personally I cannot see how it would be possible.

There's a slight incline to the axis engagement surface on the blade. As the Axis bar slides forward, it wedges everything in place. I've heard, but not seen myself, that if the liners get dinged up they can interfere with the axis bar sliding all the way forward to lock everything up.

The angle on the liners and/or tang ramp usually adjust for any wear. I've got dozens now, and have had dozens more pass through my hands, and never seen this.

 

[RevDevil]

Vertical blade play is something Benchmade has to fix if the choice to send it in is decided. I don't own ANY with this issue; one or two came that way but were fixed to my satisfaction. Blade slop should not be considered 'within spec'.

I suppose I could box them up and send them in with details on each one. I might send one in ands see how it goes. The Adamas is the absolute worst of the bunch. I thought maybe the Axis lock was supposed to not touch the far end of the channel (towards the tip) when the blade is locked open.

The angle on the liners and/or tang ramp usually adjust for any wear. I've got dozens now, and have had dozens more pass through my hands, and never seen this.

The axis barbell goes all the way over, no room for wear over time, if that is infact how it was designed to wear in. The Nitrous Strykers I own are some of the most solid liner lock knives I've ever owned. No flex, no sticking, solid lock up and absolutely no slipping.

 

[jkarp_53]

I suppose I could box them up and send them in with details on each one. I might send one in ands see how it goes. The Adamas is the absolute worst of the bunch. I thought maybe the Axis lock was supposed to not touch the far end of the channel (towards the tip) when the blade is locked open.

The axis barbell goes all the way over, no room for wear over time, if that is infact how it was designed to wear in. The Nitrous Strykers I own are some of the most solid liner lock knives I've ever owned. No flex, no sticking, solid lock up and absolutely no slipping.

Send the Adamas in, let 'em fix that flaw. I agree with the first part regarding the Axis wear, and also have the 907/912/913 Nitrous models which are great designs.

 

[AxisFan]

You're correct, it shouldn't touch the far end of the channel, that would mean all possible adjustment is used up (or wasn't there in the first place). My earlier statement might have been more clear if I'd said something like all the way forward to lockup, rather than just all the way forward in the slot. The way those components are hardened, I suspect wear would not be much of a factor - either manufacturing tolerances from the start, or damage in use. Either way, something the factory needs to fix.

I suppose I could box them up and send them in with details on each one. I might send one in ands see how it goes. The Adamas is the absolute worst of the bunch. I thought maybe the Axis lock was supposed to not touch the far end of the channel (towards the tip) when the blade is locked open.

The axis barbell goes all the way over, no room for wear over time, if that is infact how it was designed to wear in. The Nitrous Strykers I own are some of the most solid liner lock knives I've ever owned. No flex, no sticking, solid lock up and absolutely no slipping.

 

[JNewell]

Liner cutout angles for the Axis bar, and blade tang ramp angles, do vary from model to model, obviously. Vertical lock rock would bug me a lot. It's similar to the Paramilitary and other compression locks, which Spyderco says are in-spec even with some vertical play. Both designs can be very safe that way, but it would drive me crazy.

 

[Wolf1524]

Now I realized that the blade play I was talking about is refered here as a lock-rock. Up and down blade play with a click.