Benchmade Blast from the past...My first two Benchmades

[jokrswylde]

As I continue to rediscover the knives I accumulated almost 2 decades ago, I ran across the first two benchmade knives I bought circa 2002-2003, about the time I discovered their red, blue, black, and gold class knives. I have roughly 40 BM knives, and I have many examples from each colored box, but these two are special, cuz they opened the floodgates.

The top knife I think was called the Ambush. Big 4" blade with aluminum scales and I believe an "arc" lock, but I could be wrong.

I really like this Mel Pardue designed offering from Taiwan. Really comfortable in my hand and locks up solid. I find BM AUS 8 steel a perfectly fine steel, even if it isn't a super steel today. The opening is unique, in that once you get open it past a certain point, it almost feels like a vacuum effect opens it up the rest of the way. Not a great way to describe it, but it truly is the only knife I have that feels this way.

The bottom knife is one of my favorite BM's, the TSEK (I can't remember what the acronym means). This was also my first knife that cost over $100 bucks... and my first attempt at buggering up the G-10 with my dremmel

Also, my first of many axis lock knives...

Again, 440c is no super steel, but it has been getting the job done for a long time.

Thanks for taking a look at my trip down memory lane...no idea if either of these knives are still offered, but they have definitely stood the test of time for me!

 

[Hackenslash]

Thanks for sharing! Two nice pieces of Benchmade history.

 

[jjg6319]

My first two were an 830 Ascent and the AFCK. I still have them and need to carry them again for nostalgia.

 

[Silent H]

the TSEK (I can't remember what the acronym means).

TSEK stands for Tactical Safety Equipment Knife.

Neither of those knives is still made, and Benchmade discontinued the red class about a decade ago. They don't have any knives manufactured overseas now.

 

[CuttnStuff]

These were my first two benchmades, late 90's.

 

[Velitrius]

Ahhh the Leopard Cub and the Mini AFCK... two of my favorites.

I need to find me another Mini AFCK.

 

[jaypopsti]

I had a titanium blade cqc 7 but sadly sold it along the way

 

[MyLegsAreOk]

Benchmade: I click
Old Bencmade: I click
I see thread: is good

These are some nice looking knives, however time is not nice to axis, and Aus 8 is yuck. Can you tell me why you retired them, why you don't display them, and if you have any interesting story from way back?

 

[Hal]

Nice cub.
Mine is in pieces.


Near the top of my list for EDC for years.

One of these days when I get around to it, I'll track down the parts I need for it. I just have to find the time.

 

[jokrswylde]

Benchmade: I click
Old Bencmade: I click
I see thread: is good

These are some nice looking knives, however time is not nice to axis, and Aus 8 is yuck. Can you tell me why you retired them, why you don't display them, and if you have any interesting story from way back?

Can you elaborate on time not being nice to the axis? Omega springs going bad? I have never had an issue with mine at all.

The TSEk is not retired, it still gets carried fairly regularly, and no really interesting stories. Like many, I graduated from Frost Cutlery to Benchmade/spyderco/kershaw. After a while I took a dip in the Sebenza and Strider pool, and finally to full customs. I thought a Tom Mayo was my grail so I got one, then a Tighe, then a couple Kirby Lambert's, and a a few more random makers...all exceptional knives.

Funny thing is, after every "grail" I found, I always ended back up at the Sebenza. I still buy things that interest me...got a Combat troodon OTF a a year or so ago, but haven't bought a "regular" knife in years...until recently. Bought another Sebenza and an Inkosi.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[Wolverine666]

Awesome pics. Benchmade had so many great designs early on that I wish were still being produced.

 

[JBC6650]

Benchmade makes plenty of newer good designs, but its fin to chase down older classic models. Also don't believe all the hype/hot air you hear about QC issues. Some people are back holes of back luck (or just dont take care of anything they own) and keep creating issues or getting the small percentage of knives that slip through with some sort of QC issues. I have had one wonky blade grind on a 940, I "fixed" or at least it cuts better now if I ignore the scratches from my hack job. I have had a few other models where they were a hair off center, adjusting the body screws and pivot fixed that for the most part. I also Loctite or re-Loctite the pocket clip and pivot on just about every knife I buy now to keep the adjustment where I want it.

 

[Alberta Ed]

My first Benchmade was a 710 in D2 -- for whatever reason, Benchmade's D2 seems fine grained compared other knives I have in D2 (Dozier K1), and easily takes a very fine edge. Same with my Cabela's Grippie in D2. The second Benchmade I bought is a Mini-Rukus, #160 of 1,000, first production run, and my first knife in S30V. That also take a very fine edge compared to other my knives in S30V. My latest Benchmade is a Puukko 200 in 3V. The Axis lock is a brilliant invention.

 

[CuttnStuff]

For me, those early Benchmade designs captured my attention like no others. I saw them in knife magazines and would buy at gun shows. I think they still have a lot of influence on designs today. After the Benchmades. the next one that I couldn't get out of my mind was the original Sebenza (and also Umfaan). That frame lock (versus the Benchmade liner locks) was genius in my mind. I still prefer them. Spyderco was around, and I bought a few, but at the time they didn't have the same visual appeal to me. The early Benchmades were what I thought cool knives should look like. Maybe that is why I like Shirogorov neons so much - AFCK-ish shape with a frame lock.

 

[MyLegsAreOk]

Can you elaborate on time not being nice to the axis? Omega springs going bad? I have never had an issue with mine at all.

The TSEk is not retired, it still gets carried fairly regularly, and no really interesting stories. Like many, I graduated from Frost Cutlery to Benchmade/spyderco/kershaw. After a while I took a dip in the Sebenza and Strider pool, and finally to full customs. I thought a Tom Mayo was my grail so I got one, then a Tighe, then a couple Kirby Lambert's, and a a few more random makers...all exceptional knives.

Funny thing is, after every "grail" I found, I always ended back up at the Sebenza. I still buy things that interest me...got a Combat troodon OTF a a year or so ago, but haven't bought a "regular" knife in years...until recently. Bought another Sebenza and an Inkosi.

Thanks for the reply!

Yeah my exact thing is with the omega springs. Now my Benchmades are retired and up in a display case so I can't vouch for this, but I have spoken to many a user online that says they've broken enough of them. That could be fibbing on their part and they're just parroting things online as that happens in hobby circles, or that anymore it's a common thing for heavy users of non-Adamas/Contego knives to snap their omegas.

 

[jokrswylde]

Yeah my exact thing is with the omega springs. Now my Benchmades are retired and up in a display case so I can't vouch for this, but I have spoken to many a user online that says they've broken enough of them. That could be fibbing on their part and they're just parroting things online as that happens in hobby circles, or that anymore it's a common thing for heavy users of non-Adamas/Contego knives to snap their omegas.

I remember when the axis lock first came out, several people wondered how durable the omega springs would be.

I can honestly say I have never heard of one, much less both, failing. Even if they do, stick a dowel in there and the knife still functions as intended...

 

[omaha-beenglockin]

I started with Griptilians and quickly moved on to Presidio's----I just couldn't get over the cheap feel of the Grips but they did give me an appreciation of the Axis lock-----this was all around 2006-ish.

I do need to send in my oldest 520----one of the springs failed so it still works but its real squishy. And that was after over a decade of daily use---probably more like 12-13 years----its been down for a year or two now, I've been too busy/lazy to deal with it and I have plenty of other 520's to use.