Benchmade and axis-lock action

C

Chapp

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Mar 28, 2018
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I have a few Benchmade and I've noticied some of them have an action I'd qualify as too "light" feeling, while others have a better balance of blade to handle, that allow for a better action.

For exemple, the Bugout seems to have a very smooth action thanks to its geometry, while the regular Griptilian have a less sastisfying action, because the geometry of the blade make the action feels a little too light.

I can't buy them all, so I'd like to know if some Benchmade models have a better actions than others, from your experience. I'd also like to know what Benchmade model has the best feeling to you ?
 
My 940-1, 710-1401, and 560BK-1 are my favorite feeling Benchmade Axis Locks. I’m not big on my Griptilian‘s action either... I think it might just be the weight/balance.
 
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I find all of mine acceptable: Mini-Rukus (probably the smoothest), 710, and a couple of Grippies, CM-154 and D2.
 
I think it all comes down to who tightened the pivot at the factory, as much as blade-to-handle ratio. Not all BM's have the same action, but easily fixed.

The best action I had out of the box is on my discontinued BM722 - butter smooth. The worst was on my (also discontinued) BM705 - but again, easily fixed.
 
I don't have a Griptilian to compare them to in hand, but looking at pictures and comparing them to my 940s and 535, it looks like the Griptilian might have a wider thumbstud opening arc. A wider arc might feel slower, less responsive, even less smooth because your thumb might slow or "pause" at parts of the arc, especially if your hands are getting stiff/arthritic with age. Of course, this is true for any knife, but the peculiarities of the AXIS lock (like the way it "detents") might make this more noticeable than a liner or framelock that has no resistance after breaking past the detent.
 
My griptilian by far has the slowest action. The bugout and 940 have this amazing balance of perfection.
 
I find that when the action seems slow it helps to use sentry solutions tuff glide on it and then its back to smooth and fast. Tuff glide is a dry film lubricant, goes on wet but drys. I have used that for years probably around 2011 or 2012. And it gives me good results, others may have better options as well.
 
The models with heavier blades will have better action, concerning a well working Axis lock, given the washers are cleaned, lubricated and pivot properly adjusted.
Benchmade’s Axis lock is one of the most fidgety locks you can come across, it’s an excellent and very well working, reliable lock.
 
I actually keep my axis locks tighter than most. My Mini Adamas has been torqued so that the thumb studs will push the blade open silently yet buttery smooth and lock up with no side to side.

To drop it shut, I would have to give the blade a bit of a bump or snap. Being that I don't like to close my knives like that, I elect to either use my off hand to press it all the way closed or just fold it against my leg like a Buck 110.

The action isn't creaky or tight. It's just a bit suffer than those who like to fidget would like. I keep my CRK Inkosi almost as tight. I have never been a fan of the drop shut and prefer a rock solid lock up over flicking the knife open and closed 100 times.

I have my OTF knives for that sort of thing. I pack the Mini Adamas because I want a small knife that cuts like a big knife and locks up like a vault.
 
My favorite AXIS action just so happened to come on my first Benchmade, which was also my first nicer knife as an adult, and my only knife for some years before getting into collecting. It was the Snody designed HK 14250. I believe this was made at a time before Benchmade made the curious decision to make the now discontinued HK series the budget line (or else someone didn't get the memo), because it wasn't particularly cheap and the action/quality were top notch. I can hold this one out dead horizontally, and due to the geometry combined with the smoothness it falls open and closed with the AXIS lock alone, with no wrist motion whatsoever necessary. It set a standard that I've yet to find another to live up to (try as I may have by buying most every AXIS lock I could get my hands on at one point a while back), and to this day it is my favorite Benchmade of all time.

That being said, I've been happy with most of the AXIS locks I've owned, and have with some tuning been able to make the majority of them to my liking. To my recollection, I've only had two that I couldn't get to a place where I was happy with them, and that was a Presidio (previous model), and a G10 Griptilian that was a Shot Show special edition from some years back when they didn't otherwise make them from the factory in G10 (oddly enough I've always found my plastic Griptilians rather smooth and snappy).

Of the currently produced models I own, I can't really think of one that stands out above the rest as either way better or way worse.

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Several factors affect the action of the blade.
1. the weight and length of that blade. Heavier blades will "throw" and "drop" with more force
2. The tightness of the pivot
3. the condition of the washers
4.The smoothness of the lock-bar, and it's contact point on the blade.
Get these in order, and your Axis lock knives will be sources of joy for you!
 
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