Benchmade Liner locks

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blackjackdan08

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Aug 22, 2009
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I think we can agree that Benchmade has a good rep. concerning there knives especially there axis lock knives..how is there liner lock knives rep.?
 
blackjackdan08 said:
I think we can agree that Benchmade has a good rep. concerning there knives especially there axis lock knives..how is there liner lock knives rep.?
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Well, one of my favorite weekend knives is an old ATS34 AFCK. It has been
flipped thousands of times in the last 15 years and the liner is still @ half
of available travel. Obviously, no complaints.
 
Over the years I have had a chance to try out many Benchmades including many of there liner lock models (625, 640, 690, 745, 910). I have never had an issue with any of them. They all had a solid lockup and performed just as they were designed too.
 
I have a BM Nitrous Stryker - had it for a few years now - and the liner lock is still going strong.

It has moved over to the 50% mark since purchasing due to use.
 
My 670/672 Apparition pair are liner locks - still quite secure. My 425/426 Gravitators are Ti-framed with scales attached - very substantial - somewhere between liner-locks and true frame-locks. My 630/635/755/760/790 are true Ti frame-locks. All of them are quite secure - probably as much as my AXIS lock models.

Of course - that security is in my hands. I won't spine whack test. I started life withe slippies - I know a folder is best for slicing/cutting - I leave prying to prybars and, if I need to batton - it's lightly - and then with a fb.

Stainz
 
Early 90's Benchmade 401 Panther, still going strong.

Dsc04107.jpg
 
One of my most used and carried knives is the old BM 806-AFCK in AST-34 steel. Got it in 1999 and it was subjected to heavy use while I was on active duty and on a ship. Cutting cords, line, ammo strips, you name it. I retired it from use a few years ago but still take it out and flip it. The liner lock up is as solid and flawless as the day I got it. I also have one of the older BM Stryker's. Heavy use and same result. The liner lock up is solid and dependable.

So, in my humble opinion, the BM lock liner models that I have used are well, if not over engineered and can be relied on.
 
Here's a Benchmade Stryker that was carried as an EDC for about two years, used only as a cutting tool and never abused.

strykerlock.jpg
 
I don't think the liner lock from Benchmade is the issue. It's their crappy ball detent that does not really keep the blade closed on some models that is the issue. You have to tighten the pivot to make it more secure. Many of their liner lock folders can be turned upside down or you can just shake them and the blade will just come open thanks to gravity. That is a poor detent and it's not like the ball detent is some sort of mysterious thing. Benchmade could take this simple piece of the folder and do much better than they have done.
 
Sorry to hear about the complaints on the dejavoo, I absolutely love mine and I have the same weak detent but I like it. Its never opened in my pocket and I feel completely confident in the lock itself. I never really care about how "secure" the blade is because I dont normally jump around then shove my hand in my pocket to get cut.
-Barry-
 
Bimmer1 said:
It's their crappy ball detent that does not really keep the blade closed
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5 of my 6 Benchmades have linerlocks and they all function perfectly.

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I don't have an issue with blade retention on any of mine. I actually think this is a plus though. I have other knives that take a lot more force to open and they are slower to open for this reason. You have to get your hand positioned just right and your thumb positioned just right, and then push just right or they don't open. Try to do this fast in a high stress situation. Mine are easy to open so it is not an issue with them, and I don't live in an area where blade retention is a legal issue.

We sometimes do stupid things with our knives- one day I was tossing one of mine up in the air a foot or so and catching it. On one toss I noticed that the blade opened slightly so I quickly pulled my hand back and let it fall to the carpet. Nothing was injured but it points out that we should always treat our knives with respect and not randomly play with them.
 
I've only had one, a Red Class Benchmade Vex, only had it for about 6 months before I gave it to my father (his first quality knife) and it lock up extremely solid, like ZT 200 solid.
 
MoreToasties said:
I agree.

Great blade, crappy construction.

The liner lock and the ball detent don't exactly inspire confidence.
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This. My bad experience with my old Deja is making me apprehensive about purchasing an 890 Torrent (though I want one badly enough that I might just break down and pick one up).
 
EZ Bake said:
apprehensive about purchasing an 890 Torrent (though I want one badly enough that I might just break down and pick one up).
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I want one too! It has the size and blade shape that I want, and contoured G10 too. (Either that or a 913 Stryker.)
 
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