Benchmade AFCK

wow! so much infos about afck. It's the most beautiful looking folder I think. I have the earlier model with the linerlock plain edge and also the limited edition model with a carbonfiber handle. Yes I know I'm a lucky man. it's 40/100. I had a problem with the earlier model in the plastic back spacer. It broke in half. I asked a custommaker in Japan to make exactly the same thing in micarta and he did a perfect job for me. The folder is again sent to him for the carbon fiber handle this time. It should arrive in a few days and I can't wait to see it in carbonfiber scale. I will post it when it arrives. I bought my earlier model for 23,000Yen which is more than 200 US dollars a year ago from a dealer in Osaka brand new. the earlier model had a problem with the screws at the backspacer area which went directly into the G10 scale. G10 is not strong enough when tightening screws which goes directly into G10. the screws will rip the G10 and you loose the screws. one day you look at you handle and the screw are not there. Benchmade later put nuts on the other side of the G10 handle to tighten screws securely. If yours have the same problem, don't worry BM will fix it with warranty.
 
dano said:
The AFCK was based or a partial design by Caracci, after he tried selling the design to Spyderco. Spyderco passed, and he went to Benchmade, where Les re-designed the initial design and released the AFCK.
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I wonder why Spyderco passed? It obviously went on to be a best seller for BM, though probably if it was called Advanced Folding Combat Knife that probably didn't sit too well with Spyderco back then. Great name for a knife designed by a SEAL :)
 
I had a mini-AFCK in ATS-34. I sold it a long time ago. I thought the knife looked great but I didn't like the ergonomics. The finger groove was too far back and didn't easily allow for choking up on the handle. The ball detent was very weak.
Back then I was a die hard Benchmade fan. Now I've moved over to Spyderco's camp.
 
Ok let me try again!
Here is the knife i've redone. Im really inlove with the baby....
Fits me so nicely.... and got some good history behind it! woo-hoo!
BenchmadeAFCK.jpg

BenchmadeAFCK2.jpg

BenchmadeAFCK3.jpg
 
ryosuke said:
[SNIP]
I bought my earlier model for 23,000Yen which is more than 200 US dollars a year ago from a dealer in Osaka brand new.
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Ryokuke, may I ask where the dealer is that you bought your AFCK? I bought one from Volks when they were a large shop near Hanku Umeda, but now that they have moved into the smaller quarters next to JR Osaka station they don't carry nearly as many folders. I bought another in the shop in Shinkyogoku, just in from Kawaramchidori on Sanjo, but they too no longer carry such good quality folders. Thanks.

Stitchawl
 
The name of the store is creek. They were in Osaka when I bought the folder but now they moved to Ikoma city which is located between Kyoto and Osaka. Takes only 30 minutes by train. Get off the train at Ikoma station. The store is on the second floor of the building named "green hill". It's right next to the station. closed every Thursday. telephone number is 0743751800. http://www12.ocn.ne.jp/~creek1/pages/top/top.html Good luck.:thumbup:
 
JasonG said:
Ok let me try again!
Here is the knife i've redone. Im really inlove with the baby....
Fits me so nicely.... and got some good history behind it! woo-hoo!
Click to expand...


Well come on, man! Share some history! :D

(Nice knife BTW!)
 
ryosuke said:
The name of the store is creek. They were in Osaka when I bought the folder but now they moved to Ikoma city which is located between Kyoto and Osaka. Takes only 30 minutes by train. Get off the train at Ikoma station. The store is on the second floor of the building named "green hill". It's right next to the station. closed every Thursday. telephone number is 0743751800. http://www12.ocn.ne.jp/~creek1/pages/top/top.html Good luck.:thumbup:
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Domo, Ryosuke-san! I'm going to head over there next week and see if I can get out without maxing out my credit cards.... What a toy store!!!! Thanks again! :thumbup:

Stitchawl
 
Domo Ryosuke-San, for sharing with us the pictures.
This is good to see old reliable designs like the AFCK living a second life in such a beautiful way.

Also ATS-34 Benchmade's way is a very good steel for an EDC.

cheers
Nemo
 
Daniel L said:
I wonder why Spyderco passed? It obviously went on to be a best seller for BM, though probably if it was called Advanced Folding Combat Knife that probably didn't sit too well with Spyderco back then. Great name for a knife designed by a SEAL :)
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i always thought because the lines were so close to the spydie police, they are very similar in shape.
 
Daniel L said:
From a design point, I remember the article / thread from Chris Caracci (used to post on BF) that it was influenced by the Spyderco Police model, and he also spoke with Ernest Emerson to get his "permission" to use the index finger notch. (Emerson had no issues with it.)
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I also remember that post from Mr. Caracci. If I'm not mistaken, I believe he intended the AFCK to be an improvement on the Spyderco Police model.

Jim
 
I think the AFCK is one of the 'sleekest' knives I've ever owned. It was my EDC before I got the Axis Lock 710, and still sits on my desk waiting to go back into my pocket. It won't. But only because I like the 710 better! I had to drill and tap the AFCK's clip for my preferred carry, and I still love the lines. I'd like to get a hold of the Axis lock version of that design. That might just replace the 710 for me...

Stitchawl
 
My very nice knife purchase was an axis lock D2 AFCK for just over $100. I carried it for a summer, then Benchmade announced that it was discontinuing the AFCK. I sold it for $350 at the peak of the AFCK panic grab (still kinda feel guilty for that price). I used that money to start my knife collection (Benchmade Griptilian, BM710, Benchmade Rant, and Spyderco Manix). For what I got out of it, I still regret selling it. That knife was an awesome knife.
 
I remember as followed:

The AFCK is based on the Police, modified by the idea of Steve Caracci.

Steve Caracci once told, that he knew someone, once working at Spyderco, but at a show he was told that person has lost her job. He felt like he had to look for a different manufacturer.

That sums up, what i have read about the beginning of the AFCK.
 
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