Benchmade Mini Freek a slight vertical play!

[Yono01]

Hi guys.
I Just wondering how many of you have mini freek which has vertical play. Not much play level. Only very slight if i wiggle it (up n down) with a bit of pressure from its tip of the blade in open position. It does not create any concern during the use. But sometimes i can feel it when i put my thumb on the spine.

Is this kind of play is normal with axis lock? I have some assist-axis lock knifes from benchmade as well but they are perfect with no blade play what so ever. This probably due to spring assist? Not sure as well.

Please let me know your opinion guys. Thanks a lot.

 

[choombak]

If it does not affect normal use, I would not worry too much about it. If you think the play is not acceptable, send it in to BM who can fix it for ya. Have fun!

 

[jux t]

It's fairly common. Sometimes the lock will wear in and seat better, but usually not, in my experience.

 

[Yono01]

Revised as below message. Thanks.

 

[Yono01]

If it does not affect normal use, I would not worry too much about it. If you think the play is not acceptable, send it in to BM who can fix it for ya. Have fun!

It's fairly common. Sometimes the lock will wear in and seat better, but usually not, in my experience.

Thanks for your reply guys.
Yes i heard BM has a good reputation of being excellent customer service. The problem is i live in overseas where my country restricts things like knifes (or sharp stuffs) to be able to deliver abroad This is sad for me.

i think JUX T might got some point. I probably will use this knife for a longer time and hoping the axis-bar will sit better on the tank. If i push the axist button toward the blade..the play is gone. So probably one day it wears off a bit and fit better. Hopefully. [/B]

the funny thing is..i have also lots of much cheaper budget knife than this like kubey or civivi..and all of them no vertical blade play. Side to side blade play easy to fix. But vertical blade play is kind of unacceptable for me. Especially on USD200+ price tag.

 

[7east]

Are you opening it too slowly? Sometimes if I open/lock my Griptilian really slowly it will have slight vertical blade play. If I open it normal speed or fling it with my thumb then it is rock solid.

 

[Corton93]

My s90v/cf mini freek locks up completely solid, even opening slowly. But I have a mini grip and a presidio that both have very slight vertical play. The mini grip is probably from wear, but the presidio came like it new. Neither have ever given me any problems though, really don't even notice the play during use..

Edit.. I have a Glow Rhino axis lock bar in my bugout, it actually came ever so slightly larger than the factory lock bar. Not sure if it was a fluke or normal for them, I actually had to sand it very slightly to make it fit. If they all happend to be slightly oversized (which they may not) it may be just enough to take the play out if it.. just a thought.

 

[Yono01]

Are you opening it too slowly? Sometimes if I open/lock my Griptilian really slowly it will have slight vertical blade play. If I open it normal speed or fling it with my thumb then it is rock solid.

Nope. I flick it normally. And ir snap very good. But then still i have just a sligjt blade play..not really bothers me. But i just dont like it. Because all of my knide collection have zero blade play. Especially a vertical blade play.

 

[Yono01]

I have 3 items of benchmade just about to buy. But i just cancelled it from my local dealer because of this matter. And i change my order to WE knifes.

 

[Murdamook]

I have owned a Griptilian, M4 Bugout, and a Mini Adamas. Every single one of them has had vertical play. Likewise, I frequently go into sporting goods stores to look at new models. I don’t think I’ve found an Axis Lock BM in a store that didn’t have vertical play. People say it’s common with BM, I agree. However, I can’t accept the play and neither should you if you don’t want it. My Ritter/Hogue with the Able Lock is rock solid after heavy use. If Hogue can make a good cross bar lock, then why can’t Benchmade?

 

[Yono01]

I have owned a Griptilian, M4 Bugout, and a Mini Adamas. Every single one of them has had vertical play. Likewise, I frequently go into sporting goods stores to look at new models. I don’t think I’ve found an Axis Lock BM in a store that didn’t have vertical play. People say it’s common with BM, I agree. However, I can’t accept the play and neither should you if you don’t want it. My Ritter/Hogue with the Able Lock is rock solid after heavy use. If Hogue can make a good cross bar lock, then why can’t Benchmade?

Your comment similar to what my friend said. He is benchmade fanatics and he has many of BM knifes. He told me with axis lock (even the Auto) sooner or later i will have a slight blade play. Thats common for benchmade as long as the play is not fatal play like really loose and become concern when in use. He can live with that. But i just cant. Sorry BM

 

[HexY3co]

The interface with the axis and the frame cannot be without a small amount of play otherwise the axis would not be able to disengage. It's part of the design. As long as there is no side to side play and the lock seats down the I wouldn't worry about a little play. Put a little light oil on the sliding channels of the axis and it should be fine. I'd only worry if the lock doesn't seat fully and the axis was able to creep back in use. I have the adamas mini with a little play also.

 

[Murdamook]

The interface with the axis and the frame cannot be without a small amount of play otherwise the axis would not be able to disengage. It's part of the design. As long as there is no side to side play and the lock seats down the I wouldn't worry about a little play. Put a little light oil on the sliding channels of the axis and it should be fine. I'd only worry if the lock doesn't seat fully and the axis was able to creep back in use. I have the adamas mini with a little play also.

Sorry but this is bullshit. As stated, my Hogue Able lock knives have zero play. By this logic, every knife period would have to have noticeable blade play.

 

[shane45-1911]

Sorry but this is bullshit. As stated, my Hogue Able lock knives have zero play. By this logic, every knife period would have to have noticeable blade play.

Yup - I just checked mine. Of the half dozen BM axis lock knives I own, not one has vertical play even with significant downward pressure applied (as in, cutting something).

 

[Dergyll]

It's fairly common. Sometimes the lock will wear in and seat better, but usually not, in my experience.

This is it.

My super freek had a noticeable play, I noticed the lock was quite gritty. After cleaning and greasing and a few years of using/fidgeting, the lock is now smooth in&out and has no play.

 

[HexY3co]

Sorry but this is bullshit. As stated, my Hogue Able lock knives have zero play. By this logic, every knife period would have to have noticeable blade play.

There cannot be zero tolerances, the metal surfaces would gall because lubricant would not be able to pass the surface tension between parts it would simply just shed any lube as it moved into place and rub bare metal causing wear.

The able is just a knock off of the axis and that system has a few thousands tolerance in the sliding aperture to allow for movement of the axis, no different in the able. As the parts wear the springs push the lock further in to assist in the lockup but there will always be some play if not really noticeable. For the few that display some play it is not a flaw and affects nothing, like I stated as long as the lock doesn't move toward releasing in use it is not an issue.

After you have flipped your able a few hundred times let us know how it wears, it will go from needing both fingers to release to only one and that's significant play. Even the cold steel triad lock is designed to wear into place while used, it's the nature of moving parts that interface many times.

Take one apart and check to see the play between parts without pressure holding them together, it will enlighten you.

 

[Hackenslash]

I have a bunch of different Benchmade Axis Locks and two Hogue Able locks. It’s my opinion that the perception of the Hogue lock being more stable is simply due to Hogue using stiffer omega springs. Use either one for an extended time and the difference will normalize.

For me, the Benchmade Axis is more user friendly out of the box than the Hogue Able. Eventually they feel similar and demonstrate the same tendency toward slight vertical play inherent in a sliding bar lock.

Significant vertical play is a different issue and might indicate a knife that’s unsafe to use.

 

[Murdamook]

There cannot be zero tolerances, the metal surfaces would gall because lubricant would not be able to pass the surface tension between parts it would simply just shed any lube as it moved into place and rub bare metal causing wear.

The able is just a knock off of the axis and that system has a few thousands tolerance in the sliding aperture to allow for movement of the axis, no different in the able. As the parts wear the springs push the lock further in to assist in the lockup but there will always be some play if not really noticeable. For the few that display some play it is not a flaw and affects nothing, like I stated as long as the lock doesn't move toward releasing in use it is not an issue.

After you have flipped your able a few hundred times let us know how it wears, it will go from needing both fingers to release to only one and that's significant play. Even the cold steel triad lock is designed to wear into place while used, it's the nature of moving parts that interface many times.

Take one apart and check to see the play between parts without pressure holding them together, it will enlighten you.

Again, I disagree. If what you were saying was accurate, then any lock without noticeable play would gall. Galling potential exists whenever two metal surfaces mate. The problem with the Axis lock has nothing to do with the marriage between lockbar and lock face. The problem is in the tolerances within the lockbar mount. I’ve already stated that my Hogue has been used heavy since I got it more than two years ago. It’s been opened and closed thousands of times. There’s absolutely zero perceptible vertical play. On every Benchmade I own there is play. This ranges from new Benchmades to ones I have opened a few hundred times and used heavily.

 

[Murdamook]

I have a bunch of different Benchmade Axis Locks and two Hogue Able locks. It’s my opinion that the perception of the Hogue lock being more stable is simply due to Hogue using stiffer omega springs. Use either one for an extended time and the difference will normalize.

For me, the Benchmade Axis is more user friendly out of the box than the Hogue Able. Eventually they feel similar and demonstrate the same tendency toward slight vertical play inherent in a sliding bar lock.

Significant vertical play is a different issue and might indicate a knife that’s unsafe to use.

Disagree. I’ve beat the hell out of my Hogue and there’s zero perceptible play. Conversely, I have owned and used heavily a Mini Adamas, Grip, Mini Grip, and M4/G10 Bugout, and handled countless others. I’ve held two that had no play: my G10/20CV Mini Grip and the same knife at a B&M.

 

[7east]

Since posting in this thread (post #6) I just picked up another Griptilian. My other Grip is a BM custom from their web site builder thing that I bought in January (before they removed the Grip from the available models). It has G10 scales, a tanto half serrated blade, and is rock solid. The only way I can get vertical movement from the blade is if I pull back the lock, slowly unfold the blade, and slowly release the lock. This isn’t how I (or probably anyone) would actually open this knife, so I’m not counting this against Benchmade in any way.

The Griptilian I just got in the mail today has their plastic handles and the Sheepsfoot/spydie hole blade. This knife actually does have vertical movement even when flipped open properly. I noticed that if I grip the knife really tight after it is open, then there is no movement, but when I hold just the scales and try and move the blade, it moves up and down a little bit. I realized that there is no movement between the knife blade and the lock interface; it is actually the knife and liner unit moving ever so slightly within the plastic grip itself.

Long story short, I now see what other people are talking about, but this knife is perfect in every other way, so it’s a keeper. My G10 version is also perfect other than two of the screws in the grips slightly sticking past the inside of the liners (not interfering with the blade though). Anyway, I’m still a big fan of Benchmade’s designs and think you get a decent value with some of their off the shelf models.