Benchmade HK 14715

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CarterR

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Apr 28, 2014
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So I just got this knife probably close to 2 months ago, been carrying it and using it, playing with it, and while I love this knife, the ergos, d2, g10, all for a good price... In the past week I decided to check how tight the lockup was.
Side to side there was a little bit, nothing major. But up and down there was a clicking noise, not super audible but definitely there. So I hit the spine on the carpeted floor and the lock failed. Played with the pivot screw tightened body screws cleaned pivot area etc, still fails. I know it's not proper use but I always took the axis lock as a very strong lock. Also I didn't hit it with any extreme force.

So do you guys think I just need to send it to Benchmade?
Btw this is my first Benchmade since I sold the rest off a few months ago. Any advice helps, thanks
 
The best thing to do is send it back to BM. I know it's a shame to send a new knife in but then they get to see what went wrong and maybe improve the way they make them. just a thought.
 
Yes send it back, why speculate? While the spine-whack has its issues the lock should not fail. (they do spine whacks on axis locks on some YouTube videos).
I have the same knife I too had a bit of up and down clicking when open, no spine-whack gong on here. I sent it back and they fixed it. As the knife breaks in the axis bar with travel a bit further onto the tang. Sounds like yours is not traveling far enough "out of the box" to fully engage the lock.

Bm's service is great. Use the Life Sharp form and explain the problem. It may also pay to call first. Good luck.
 
Could you post a pic of the position of the axis when the blade is open? I think you should just send it in as well, but I'm curious to see what it looks like.
 
It actually locks up fully on the blade, doesn't seem like there's much room to wear? I'm not sure. Here's a pic let me know what you guys think. I'll send it in sometime soon, and I'm no expert but just looking at it I'm confused as to what could be wrong.
 

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I just tested my beloved mini HK 14716 to see if this was the case, and happily not -- a few spine whacks on the rug on our hardwood floor, which I don't think is unreasonable or abuse by any stretch.

This will be the first non-loving thing I've ever posted in this forum, but I too had the large HK 14715 and it arrived with up and down blade play even with pivot adjustment. It reminded me a little of my Adamas, where there is slight up and down play also that simply would not go away even with very secure lockup. It's the first BM I've ever returned for a refund.

As far as your pic, it seems a trend with some BM models not to leave as much room for wear in the 410/420 liner Axis cutouts as with other models -- this is true on my Mini HK's and some other models. However, I think the prevalence of the Axis bar traveling beyond the point where it solidly engages the blade tang ramp is minute, and thus the need to build in significantly more room for wear is unnecessary.

All this said, I wonder what others' experiences with the large HK Axis 14715 have been? For the OP's to flunk some light to moderate spine whacking would indicate to me that there's something wrong with the knife beyond the up and down play, but I only play a doctor on tv.

Please keep us posted on how this turns out, OP!

Professor.
 
Definitely send it in. A mild tap on the spine should not cause the lock to fail.

Before you send it in though, anyway you can take another pic? With the blade open, This time looking straight down so we can see the AXIS bar and where it is? I'm curious as to where its engaged on the tang.

The only thing I can think of is the bar isn't engaging enough on the tang, thus its not completely locked and slipping. That or one of the parts isn't milled properly, either the lock bar or the notch of the tang, allowing for slippage. Either way its very hard to tell from pic's but you do have me curious. At first I thought maybe both Omerga springs broke and were not holding the bar in place but you'd notice that. I'm just venturing a guess of course.

Like I said definitely send it in though, and let us know what they tell you the problem was. It should say on the work order they send back with the knife butt if it doesn't usually the name of the tech who worked on it is and you can call and ask him / her. I've called and talked to a tech who worked on my knife before and it was very informative to say the least.

I'm sure they'll take good care of you but all the best just the same.
 
Professor said:
All this said, I wonder what others' experiences with the large HK Axis 14715 have been? For the OP's to flunk some light to moderate spine whacking would indicate to me that there's something wrong with the knife beyond the up and down play, but I only play a doctor on tv.

Please keep us posted on how this turns out, OP!

Professor.
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Just bought one and it's tight, centered and pretty much flawless. I had a Adamas that did have the up and down play, it was also not centered closed, I fixed that but the slight up and down movement when locked, never went away.

New 14715..
t9dqns.jpg
 
Thanks, Jill, glad to hear there's a few of these out there problem-free. There's a lot to like with these HK knives: the price point, the blade steel and design, the good ergo's, the stout construction, and the unusual aesthetics. I really like the mini, and may have to give the -15 another turn at bat.
 
pbcg said:
Definitely send it in. A mild tap on the spine should not cause the lock to fail.

Before you send it in though, anyway you can take another pic? With the blade open, This time looking straight down so we can see the AXIS bar and where it is? I'm curious as to where its engaged on the tang.

The only thing I can think of is the bar isn't engaging enough on the tang, thus its not completely locked and slipping. That or one of the parts isn't milled properly, either the lock bar or the notch of the tang, allowing for slippage. Either way its very hard to tell from pic's but you do have me curious. At first I thought maybe both Omerga springs broke and were not holding the bar in place but you'd notice that. I'm just venturing a guess of course.

Like I said definitely send it in though, and let us know what they tell you the problem was. It should say on the work order they send back with the knife butt if it doesn't usually the name of the tech who worked on it is and you can call and ask him / her. I've called and talked to a tech who worked on my knife before and it was very informative to say the least.

I'm sure they'll take good care of you but all the best just the same.
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The axis lock definitely locks up completely on the back of the blade, looking straight down the whole thickness of the axis bar is about perfect with the "tang" of the blade or whatever it is. and yeah I checked that too but both omega springs are fine. I emailed Benchmade so when I get a response I'll send it in.
 
CarterR said:
The axis lock definitely locks up completely on the back of the blade, looking straight down the whole thickness of the axis bar is about perfect with the "tang" of the blade or whatever it is. and yeah I checked that too but both omega springs are fine. I emailed Benchmade so when I get a response I'll send it in.
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I'd forget e-mail, Call 1-800-800-7427.

No need to wait. I've heard some report their e-mail is unreliable, they always answer their phone.

All the best!
 
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Just picked up a tan version and it had great lockup (thanks to this thread, I checked before buying).

Man this is a lot of knife for the money.
 
Alright guys so I'll give a little update about this, I just got a response from Benchmade about my email I sent them. Took about 2 weeks.. I could have called but this is really my first time dealing with more than asking for a pocket clip, I decided to just see how long it took. But on the bright side I asked if they could link me a label to send it to them, and they did, so I'm definitely happy about that. I'll be shipping it out tomorrow. More updates to come...
 
CarterR said:
Alright guys so I'll give a little update about this, I just got a response from Benchmade about my email I sent them. Took about 2 weeks.. I could have called but this is really my first time dealing with more than asking for a pocket clip, I decided to just see how long it took. But on the bright side I asked if they could link me a label to send it to them, and they did, so I'm definitely happy about that. I'll be shipping it out tomorrow. More updates to come...
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And just think, if you had called them, you could be giving us an update today on how they already fixed it and got it back to you...;)
 
loonybin said:
And just think, if you had called them, you could be giving us an update today on how they already fixed it and got it back to you...;)
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True. Their turnaround for a blade swap I did a few months back was under a week and a half. Calling is instant. :thumbup:
 
I know this guys, but like I said I wanted to see how long it'd take. I'm not hating on benchmade.
 
CarterR said:
I know this guys, but like I said I wanted to see how long it'd take. I'm not hating on benchmade.
Click to expand...

The thing is people regularly report it varying. Every time I've sent an e-mail I've gotten a prompt reply, yet for some it takes quite a while. Because it's not consistent you really don't know how long it would take say the next time you might e-mail. Your one time experience isn't indicative of what to expect in the future if you know what I mean.

Best always to call, or e-mail a rep directly once you have their e-mail. Otherwise between filters, junk folders and who knows what else they have set up with their e-mail or how many people they have checking it you just never know.

Just trying to help.
 
My 14715 is rock solid on the lockup, but always has some side-to-side play. This pivot design requires some compromise between blade play and smooth action. I keep procrastinating adding a little blue loc to the pivot screw to keep it at the perfect spot. If this design incorporated something like the ZT KVT bearings, it would be absolutely amazing.
 
Alright guys so another update about the HK, a guy from Benchmade just left me a voicemail saying that they found the liners and Blade defective, so they replaced them free of charge and will be sending it back to me soon. That's awesome customer service. Thank you Benchmade! More updates to come when I receive it back..
 
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