Benchmade AFCK Woes

catmath 1911

catmath 1911

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Nov 18, 2001
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I have a question concerning an 800 M2 AFCK. Yesterday I dropped the knife on a hardwood floor, and cracked the spacer into three pieces (one came out) and also made the blade off centered in the handle when closed (it now rubs the locking side liner when being opened and closed). Is there any way to correct these problems without sending the knife back to Benchmade? If not, would this type of thing be covered under warranty?

Thanks for the help,
catmath 1911
 
Give BM a call. They have excellent customer service from what I've seen when a friend called. He had broken off about 1/4 " from the tip of his 154CM AFCK. He was told to send it back and asked if he was interested in another model. He now owns a Blue Star. It cost a few bucks for shipping but hey, they stood behind their product.
 
I broke the spacer on an AFCK, and superglued it back together. Can't tell it was ever broken unless you look up close.
For the blade, make sure the pivot screw is adequately tight. One thing about AFCK handles-they flex. Grab it by the pivot and the butt with your index fingers, and press with your thumbs in on the side that the blade is rubbing. It should easily go over and touch the opposite liner. Flex it a few times, and see if you can't center the blade. That's worked on several different liner locks for me.

Or you could just send it in:) BM has great customer service.
 
I read once that the delrin used in the spacer reacts poorly with superglue.

Phil
 
To re center the blade, open it up and push the blade in the direction of the liner lock. Start gently at first and check it often. I know that this exactly the opposite of the direction you think you should be pushing, but it works! Always open and push the blade towards the side that is coming into contact with the liner. when I was first told this years ago( I think by NC Blades) I didn't believe it til I tried it, but it works like a charm!
Dave
 
Give Angie a call over at Benchmade, she manages the warranty dept., and is the person to contact. I had to send in a Benchmade Leopard with a worn out linerlock. Please keep in mind the Leopard was out of production for a few years prior to me sending in the knife. Angie was able to replace the liner, one of the screws i had screwed up, and sent it back to me resharpedned! Benchmade stands by their product. I also seem to remember a guy dropping his Benchmade 910 under a city bus a few years ago and sent in the remains of his knife as a joke to Benchmade for warranty. I thought a recieved a new knife in return. I'm sure some of the oldtimers here may remember the story.
 
I had an AFCK with a cracked spacer. BM had me send it back. They replaced the spacer, cleaned, lubed, and sharpened it for nothing. They just can't stand to send a knife back out in less than great condition. I was told the original spacer material tended to crack and that they were replacing them with Delrin. It never cracked again.
 
Hey catmath 1911 - I'll take your AFCK! Even with the broken spacer.

Double Edge was right on about centering the blade. There is a way to stiffen up the knife so blade shift isn't a problem. First, I replaced the original washers with wider diameter washers, 2nd added a couple of screws to the handle at about the midline of the handle. By tightening the scales to the liner, you increase the rigidity of the knife and really improve the action!
 
would this type of thing be covered under warranty?
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BM would probably fix it right up for you.

But, can you really, ethically, ask them to? You dropped it. It's not really BM's fault.

My advice is to send it in to them and ask for an estimate on the repair. Remember, this is nominally about a $85-90 knife. So, if they want $25 to repair it and $5 shipping, you'll have to ask yourself if you'd really rather spurge $60 more and have a whole new knife. That will depend on age and wear.
 
But, can you really, ethically, ask them to? You dropped it. It's not really BM's fault.
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On the other hand, even though I have never owned one, I've always regarded the AFCK as a tough knife...all he did was drop it on the floor and it busted?

I dunno...this coming from a knife newb so maybe I'm overestimating the quality of this knife...:confused::confused:

Warthog
 
The AFCK is actually a very tough knife, within it's design limitations. It sin't in the same catagory as a MaddMaxx or a Strider.

The one described is an 800, which means it probably had the very brittle spacer. BM corrected this in later models as described by others in this thread.
 
But, can you really, ethically, ask them to? You dropped it. It's not really BM's fault.
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All is right within certain limits, at this point it is the height of drop. If someone would drop any knife from 12-th floor onto concrete and break it – this certainly would be his (her) own fault and liability, nothing to do with manufacturers warranty commitment.

However if the knife was dropped (not banged with a force) from normal man height onto normal wooden floor this no way should be considered as abuse and should be covered by warranty. Tactically oriented knife is not a cup of thin porcelain.

The ethics can’t run out of common sense limits.
 
I emailed Angie, she said send it in and it would be fixed. No problem! Talk about customer service!:D

catmath 1911
 
Sounds like a crappy striking weapon! I expected better from benchmade. :( It would be nice if they can use a Ti spacer.
 
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