Benchmade Axis Lock and Spyderco Cage Ball Lock, opinions wanted

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Nikkogi

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Jan 19, 2009
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I own a Manix 2 and several Benchmade knives. Watching knife vids, you hear time and time again that the cage ball lock is the stronger locking mechanism. I feel that this is a misconception. I think because of the design of the plastic lock release you have poor leverage and because it's harder to operate it appears "stronger"! I have been using the Manix 2 and a Ritter Grip extensively and I can't say with a certainty which lock is stronger. However, I can say that the axis lock is a more elegant and easy to use locking mechanism.

Please chime in with your opinion of these two excellent locking mechanisms.

Thanks
 
The spring on the CBBL is stronger and thicker than any omega springs I've seen on an Axis lock. This could attribute to the stronger lock on the CBBL.
 
I have never owned or used a CBBL folder, although I fondled a few at the Spyderco Factory Outlet last summer. Offering an opinion on it would be premature.

I do think the Axis lock is the best thing Benchmade has going for it as a maker of folding knives. It is the main reason I bought a Benchmade, and it is a very nice and very strong lock, also easy to operate.
 
My only experience with the CBBL is the Manix 2. It's enough to make me decide never to buy such a knife again.
The Axis lock is a great lock, I love it.
 
My only experience with the Axis lock is on the 520 Presidio. It's enough to make me decide never to buy such a knife again.
The CBBL is a great lock, I love it.
 
Bill1170 said:
I have never owned or used a CBBL folder, I do think the Axis lock is the best thing Benchmade has going for it as a maker of folding knives. It is the main reason I bought a Benchmade, and it is a very nice and very strong lock, also easy to operate.
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+1 on this. The Axis lock is great. The ball lock seems good on paper, but it's not nearly as well executed.
 
I would still love to see if a CBBL's spring is functional if there is sand in it like those axis lock tests on youtube. Will have to buy one some day and see.

Either way. They are both good locks that work well. I still feel the older BBL was great, but people struggled to close it.
 
From my experience, the Axis lock is superior to the CBBL because the Axis lock is easier to use. Also, a forum member documented and videotaped a baton and spine whack test that the Axis locked passed but the CBBL failed. I believe Spyderco acknowledged a problem and intends to change the CBBL design.
 
Nikkogi said:
you hear time and time again that the cage ball lock is the stronger locking mechanism. I feel that this is a misconception.
Click to expand...

Ok, go on...

Nikkogi said:
I have been using the Manix 2 and a Ritter Grip extensively and I can't say with a certainty which lock is stronger.
Click to expand...

What :confused:

Well, I'll believe it when I hear of a CBBL failing. We've all heard of ankerson's tests, where he deliberately broke the knife, but I haven't heard of any other CBBLs breaking. Axis locks, on the other hand, seem to have the highest frequency of failure. That's not due to the lock itself but rather the weak "Omega Spring" system. The "Omega Springs" are more likely to break than coil springs, and unfortunately, it has reduced the reliability of the Axis Lock.
 
LOL, it sounds like an oxymoron in my post huh? I meant that because of the difficulty to disengage the lock easily (with one finger even) one would think the cage ball is stronger. I can't say which is actually stronger.
 
THG said:
Ok, go on...



What :confused:

Well, I'll believe it when I hear of a CBBL failing. We've all heard of ankerson's tests, where he deliberately broke the knife, but I haven't heard of any other CBBLs breaking. Axis locks, on the other hand, seem to have the highest frequency of failure. That's not due to the lock itself but rather the weak "Omega Spring" system. The "Omega Springs" are more likely to break than coil springs, and unfortunately, it has reduced the reliability of the Axis Lock.
Click to expand...
The reason why you see more breakages in axis lock knives is because of the number of axis lock knives in production and on the market. All the Benchmade and even some of the Harley Davidson offerings. The cage ball lock is on the Manix 2 and the Polywog (maybe one more) and how many people own a Polywog? Not many right? There are so many axis lock folders that a lot of people use everyday versus one Spyderco Manix 2 that a relatively small amount of people carry everyday. You do the math lol. Not to mention the fact that the cageball uses plastic which is strong enough for a great lockup but how will it last with a decade of everyday usage? Just my two cents
 
I've never used a CBBL and I don't own a Benchmade axis folder, but I did handle the Grip and Mini-Grip at REI for a couple minutes, and I wasn't impressed by the usability of the axis lock. It may be strong, but it wasn't smooth to operate, and I couldn't slide it with just one finger, I had to pinch it on both sides with my thumb and forefinger. It doesn't really answer the OP's question, but just my thoughts on the axis.
 
THG said:
Well, I'll believe it when I hear of a CBBL failing. We've all heard of ankerson's tests, where he deliberately broke the knife, but I haven't heard of any other CBBLs breaking. Axis locks, on the other hand, seem to have the highest frequency of failure. That's not due to the lock itself but rather the weak "Omega Spring" system. The "Omega Springs" are more likely to break than coil springs, and unfortunately, it has reduced the reliability of the Axis Lock.
Click to expand...

That has been my experience in a nutshell. In the relatively short time I used my Presidio, both omega springs broke, one after the other. DIdn't have any issues with the strength or operation of the lock, but it was singularly unreliable.

When the first one broke, I sent it back to Benchmade to have it repaired. Great that they took care of it, but Oregon is a pretty long way from me.

Around two weeks after getting it back, the other omega spring snapped, too. :grumpy: I got fed up with sending to the other side of the continent to have it fixed, so I sold it.

The CBBL on my Manix-2, on the other hand, is like the friggin' energizer bunny - no matter what I do to it or how much crud it gets gummed up with, it still works just fine.
 
I've been using Axis locks since they came out in 1999. I still have and use a 1999 ATS-34 710 and it has a LOT of cycles on it. I've never had a malfunction or breakage with any Axis knife.

The CBL is also a great lock. I have more Manix 2 knives than I ever meant to have...I like the knife and the lock.

In 99.999% of real world use, there is no practical distinction in strength or reliability. There's a lot more that goes into a knife that works for me, or you, or the other guy, than just the lock. There is more choice out there than any of us know what to do with. Enjoy...cut...be safe. ;)
 
Never had an axis lock failure before. Most failures I've heard about are with the omega springs, and a lot of those are because the knife is wet and the rest of the knife is cleaned but since the omega springs are on the inside, they're open to rust to set in.

I prefer it over CBBL for the reason that it is extremely easy to actuate with one hand, or one finger for that matter.
 
THG said:
Ok, go on...



What :confused:

Well, I'll believe it when I hear of a CBBL failing. We've all heard of ankerson's tests, where he deliberately broke the knife, but I haven't heard of any other CBBLs breaking. Axis locks, on the other hand, seem to have the highest frequency of failure. That's not due to the lock itself but rather the weak "Omega Spring" system. The "Omega Springs" are more likely to break than coil springs, and unfortunately, it has reduced the reliability of the Axis Lock.
Click to expand...

Well, THG, I am inclined to agree with you. I have numerous Axis lock knives, which are dependable as sin, but when you compare the feel and mechanics of the CBBL, I think it is no contest. I would pick the CBBL every time.
 
Muaddib1116 said:
I've never used a CBBL and I don't own a Benchmade axis folder, but I did handle the Grip and Mini-Grip at REI for a couple minutes, and I wasn't impressed by the usability of the axis lock. It may be strong, but it wasn't smooth to operate, and I couldn't slide it with just one finger, I had to pinch it on both sides with my thumb and forefinger. It doesn't really answer the OP's question, but just my thoughts on the axis.
Click to expand...

Either you handled a couple of lemons or have really weak hands. Any and all Axis locks I've ever handled (quite a few) have all been smooth and easy to operate with one finger/thumb. The CBBL is a bit stiffer but still very user friendly with minimal practice/use. JMHO.
 
It's actually hard to compare the strength between these 2 locks unless someone is willing to sacrifice 2 knives. My friend abuses his benchmade Mel Pardue lightweight axis and it has never failed once. He abuses it to such extent that the blade is chipped, handles are shaky, screws lost, but the lock is still strong.
As for the CBBL, i saw a video of it failing after spine whacks. Technically, it is similar to the axis lock so i decided to order a Manix2 to see why can't the CBBL take spine whacks. Then my Manix2 arrived and i started whacking it non stop from all directions and it havent failed.
So i can only say that both are very strong =D
 
KnifeKnut66 said:
Either you handled a couple of lemons or have really weak hands. Any and all Axis locks I've ever handled (quite a few) have all been smooth and easy to operate with one finger/thumb. The CBBL is a bit stiffer but still very user friendly with minimal practice/use. JMHO.
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Haha, well I might have weak hands, but the lock troubles I experienced were because the if I tried to slide the bolt from only one side, it would bind up, maybe there was some slight cocking that caused the bind up. I might try to find a second sample to try out.
 
I just got the sprint Manix 2 and bought my buddy the Kulgera 930 for his bday.
The axis is the smoothest operating knife I have every felt...right out of the box. The Manix may need to be broken in but for now it is stiff to unlock compared to the Kulgera. Also the plastic cover does not scream quality or cool...it seems "cheap" to me.
 
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