Benchmade Axis Lock question

P

PV29

Joined
Feb 13, 2007
Messages
171
Just got a BM 707. Great knife. Big enough to be useful but not too big to scare the sheeple or worry the LEO's.

This is the first axis lock I've ever owned. The action upon opening is very smooth ... perhaps TOO smooth. When the blade locks up, it is with a barely audible "click", and the lock bar easily slides towards the handle and then to the blade while following the cutouts on the tang. Not much movement at all. Now, I've not had any problems with lock failure or blade play, but I notice that the cutouts on the blade tang are more "aggressive" for when the blade closes than when it locks open. I guess that a knife that is tip-up only should have some tension in the closed position. But I would've thought you would want equally aggressive cutouts for the locked open position. :confused:

Maybe I'm used to my Al-Mar Hawk, which opens with a solid "snap" from the lock back. But I'm not as confident about this axis lock ... yet. And I love the knife and want to EDC it.

Question: Is this normal for an axis lock, or did I get a defectively ground blade tang?
 
I've got a BM707 and when I got it the pivot was loose. So loose that you could flip the knife open. Like yours, the lock was not audable. I tightened the pivot a little and haven't had any problems.

a reallt great knife.
 
Work the blade opening slowly and witness the beauty of the Axis mechanism. Its a great lock and I personnally have at least 20of various models.
 
the axis lock will get more secure with a bit of ware jsut sit and open and close it a bucnh of times it will get farther engaged after a while
 
Hey, thanks for the feedback folks!!! Very appreciated.

Sounds like I should just shutup and enjoy this beautiful knife! :foot:

Last noobie question please: Why is it that the lock engages better with repeated use?
 
According to Benchmade as the lock wears it actually becomes stronger as it wears in. I have several axis locks and trust them completely. I believe the axis lock is the smoothest and strongest lock on the market.
RKH
 
Not only would it engage better with wear, it will also unlock better and as the phosphor bronze washers wear in, the blade opening will be even smoother. Just make sure that the pivot tension does not get too loose with time.
 
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