Benchmade Axis Lock and Spyderco Cage Ball Lock, opinions wanted

[DD1]

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[DD1]

Having owned and used both and reviewing many reports made on both. It is obvious that there are probably more axis knives in circulation, so that will for sure lead to more individual reports. It seems that most of the reports on the axis lock are usually concerning the omega springs and not the actual lock itself. Both are strong locks for a "FOLDING KNIFE" and neither were meant to be abused. Both have served me well and I have never had problems with either. I think alot of the bad cases reported (not all) but some are probably user induced failures. To determine which is stronger is really irrelevant, because each user situation is different. What one lock can sustain the other might fail and vice versa. What really matters is which design meets your individual needs and which knife design is what you desire, and that you are using your knife as it was meant to be used. If you are that concerned with lock strength, get a Tri-ad folder or a fixed blade....geezz

 

[bearcut]

I've owned and used them.
They are both solid systems.

The ball lock is harder to use.

 

[J.Mattson]

I like both locks, I own and use knives with both. I’m not sure however how easy they are to compare, they seem very different in most ways and share mostly superficial similarities.

I have had an omega spring fail but…well the knife had been filled…a lot, on top of that it had been used in tough conditions. Getting it fixed was simply a matter if sending it back to BM for warranty work, a little inconvenient but I’ve worn out two liner lock knives and one frame lock knives in similar fashion, when they finally went there really wasn’t anything they could do to fix it.

To the people who feel that the polymer cage looks/feels cheap remember that its there for a reason and is the reason why the CBBL is self lubricating and relatively low friction.