Benchmade Axis Locks

3

308 Sniper

Joined
May 6, 2005
Messages
19
Hi,
I finally got my benchmade rukus and boy is it big and awesome. I have a quick question for those of you that own benchmades with axis locks. I have a Cold Steel Recon 1 folder that after wrist flicking open, just playing with it, I managed to snap the crossbolt that the back of the blade hits when you open it. I'm now gunshy about doing this to my high dollar benchmade. I don't want to break that crossbolt that the knife blade hits when you flick it open. I know benchmade should be a much better knife than the cold steels, but that's why I'm asking the experts.
Thanks in advance for the help.
 
I wouldn't worry about it. If anything gives way in an Axis---its the spring behind the bolt and BM will fix it.

Have been EDCing an Axis lock in one form or another for over 2 years now without one problem.


Just ordered another Mini-Grip (Tanto)---I know you guys hate tanto's---but I've never had one and the price was right---$47 and change from Midway.
 
What is edcing? I assume it is wrist flicking it open? I'm not worried so much about the axis lock, but the screw, cross bolt, whatever it is that the back of the blade hits hard every time you wrist flick it. I broke it on my cold steel recon folder and don't want to do the same to the BM even though they will fix it.
 
EDC stands for every day carry. I have beet flicking my bms open and never had a problem, but I usually use the studs because i tighten the pivot to avoid gravity knife classification.
 
EDC

Every
Day
Carry

I've got about 15 axis locks now, and have yet to have a problem from flicking them open and closed.
 
A good number of my Benchmades are Axis lock, and I've never had a problem with either the ones I own or those I've traded or sold. Once the Axis lock knives knives are adjusted properly they're about as good as anything out there, IMO.

As well, kudos to the Benchmade repair department. They know and seem to practice great customer service. (And will tune and sharpen your BM knife for, generally, a nominal $5 charge for return shipping.)

One thing, though. Right now I think the waiting period for things mailed in is about 6 weeks or so...

But then again, there's another good reason to have more than one!
 
As long as you aren't flicking the knife obscenely hard, I don't think there should be a problem. How hard did you flick the Cold Steel knife?

Flicking any knife obscenely hard will not be good for it. My friend ruined the lock on my Al Mar SERE 2k with a hard flick. Keep in mind that there is metal to metal impact when flicking a knife open.
 
Dittos. It depends on how hard and fast the blade is moving. I try not to flick my BM 710 D2 really hard and fast, at least as a regular thing. Now and then but not too often.
 
Rich357 said:
Dittos. It depends on how hard and fast the blade is moving. I try not to flick my BM 710 D2 really hard and fast, at least as a regular thing. Now and then but not too often.
Click to expand...

Dittos. And I never flick it around people who I don't know and think will get nervous. Flicking open a 710 can be pretty intimidating.
 
He is talking about the stop pin. On a cold steel the stop pin is actually a frame screw and they are week. A coworker of mine broke one as well. I had him get a BM Skirmish. Problem solved.
 
Stop pin----Exactly it,
I broke the frame screw/stop pin. That's what I"m referring to. I don't want to do the same on the BM. I don't flick that hard, but that is the way I open my knives. Most of mine will open that way and it's the fastest way of opening it. I'm not very hard on my knives and never used to open them that way until I read an article in the Shotgun News where Fortier reviewed the Recon1 and said something about flicking it open very fast, etc... It not only sparked my interest in the recon, but also flicking them open. I fixed the recon with a small allen head screw that happened to be the same length but slightly thicker. Now, I don't think I can break it again, but I also don't trust it 100% as I don't know if it is locked 100% when open due to the added thickness of the screw. It locks, but I wouldn't go chopping at something with my fingers in the way. For letters and boxes it's just fine. Guess I need to put it to the test (with my fingers out of the way). Just don't want to break my new BM. I also don't think that I should have to baby a $180 Benchmade either. I understand the whole metal on metal thing, but you would hope that they would make that stop pin really hardened steel knowing that the owner may use the knife in that manner.
 
I have many Benchmades with the Axis system. My Rukus is definately the 'slowest' to open. Whadda ya expect with a 4.25 inch blade!

First, maybe we need to clarify what you mean by 'flicking'. If you mean holding the lock bar in the open position and then whipping the knife so that the centrifical force causes the blade to swing open, then, no, I don't recommend it. The thumstud is there for a reason. If you mean using the thumbstud to overcome the spring/lock bar and a slight 'flicking' motion, then go for it!

I really don't understand why people "flick' open an Axis without using the thumbstud. It isn't really any faster, and is harder on the stop pin. I doubt you would ever break a Benchmade pin anyway, but why not learn how to use it the way Benchmade designed it? The Rukus has a BIG heavy blade. I like to let the springs and detent do their part to slow it down before it whacks the stop pin.

Using the thumbstud on any of my 'Smaller' Axis locks, I can open them as fast as an auto, [in any position], and close the thing muchfaster than an auto.

The Rukus is still much faster to open than a Balisong even though it 'takes it's time'.

Opening something as big as a Rukus is a lot less scary to sheeple if you do it in a professional manner. [Same thing for Bali's].

Anyway, practice!

Axis locks are addictive and in no time at all, you will be able to open that knife in a flash.:)
 
You should not have any problem at all with the stop pin giving out on you. I flick all of my axis knives and have never had a problem. And if you ever have a problem BM with fix it for free.
 
The beauty of the Axis lock, especially with the big-bladed Rukus, is you don;t have to flick them hard to open them by inertia. In fact, just a light flick of the thumb on the thumbstud will open the knife as fast as any auto opener.

I consider my Rukus the toughest folder I own. I wouldn;t expect for you to have a problem with it breaking anytime soon, if at all.
 
Î have never heard about problems with wrist flicking axis lock knives neither have i heard, that Benchmade themselves are worrying about it.

If i have missed something, let me know.

All stop pins, i have seen on axis knives are that way, you would rather destroy the knife as a whole than just that pin.

Some models have pins, just sticking in the sacles, some models have them additionally screwed.

BTW, i like the repair departement too, but i am glad not to have too much contact to them.
 
I've had a black combo-edge mini-grip for awhile now; lovin' the thing!
I try and keep it tightened so I can thumb it open without the need for a flick - and that doesn't make it as loose as you'd think.
 
I keep my pivot fairly tight on my Rukus 610BK so I don't worry too much about anything breaking as my blade just sorta falls into lockup without a hard slam. The only thing I could see happening from slamming it day in day out is that you might flat spot the stop pin and allow some vertical blade play to develop, but breaking the stop pin? I don't think so!
 
They do have Auto Axis versions, which use the same size stop pin and that hasn't been a problem
 
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