Benchmade Omega Springs on Axis Locks

M

melt

Joined
Nov 20, 2006
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I've noticed that a lot of people try to point out that the omega springs on a BM axis lock could break, and if both springs broke, then the lock would not function. I own a BM Griptillian and have not had any problems with the knife. It's one of my favorites for EDC. Has anyone personally had an omega spring on a BM break? If so, how did it happen, how old was the knife, and how much abuse had the knife been subjected to?
 
This has happened several times, sometimes more than once to the same person.

It's not really about how hard you're using a knife...really, the amount of pressure against the lock in no way affects the springs at all.

I suspect that environmental conditions, like humidity or marine environments, could affect them though.

However, rest assured that, while the axis lock has its flaws, it has fewer flaws than any other single lock design, and while axis locks have failed, the actual number of failures is so small that it's statistically ignorable.

I've had...five...I think...axis locks and a couple BB locks, and have had great success with all of them.
 
Although I've never had an omega spring break, I do acknowledge the possibility.
But it does not bother me in the least or prevent me from using my knife.
After all, just because something has springs that does not mean that it is more prone to failure...I've never had my Glock 17 fail or my AKS-47, and both use springs.
 
This is quite incredible. I was just logging in to do a search on this very topic. I am a Spyderco guy usually, but I'm becoming a bit more interested in a few recent BM models. I had also heard about the Omega springs potentially breaking (of course any spring can break).

I have wondered if it is possible to buy omega springs to have in a "knife repair kit" that could be used to repair the knife oneself. Can the omega springs be purchased?

:)
 
allenC said:
Although I've never had an omega spring break, I do acknowledge the possibility.
But it does not bother me in the least or prevent me from using my knife.
After all, just because something has springs that does not mean that it is more prone to failure...I've never had my Glock 17 fail or my AKS-47, and both use springs.
Click to expand...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think most (if not all) locking mechanisms use some type of spring. To the extent this is true, all locks can potentially fail due to spring problems.

For that matter, anything can be broken. I often wonder how some of the guys break tough knives...I suspect they are abusing the knife.

Even an anvil can be broken.

:)
 
I would not carry an axis lock on an expedition to one of the poles or for a long climb up Everest because the springs have reportedly been sensitive to extreme cold which can cause those small diameter springs to snap.

The good news is that should both springs break on you even in a survival type sitution you could still wedge something in behind the lock bar with the blade open to prevent it from moving back and use the knife.

In extremely cold temps titanium liner or frame lock folders are your safest bet for standing up to the cold. Ti has a better record of not becoming brittle at those extremes over steel.

STR
 
And of course, remember that with spring redundant designs, you should get some warning before lock failure. It's unlikely that both springs will suddenly snap at the same time, and the lopsided lockbar should provide some protection until you notice it...though I haven't tested this (due to the success of my axis locks, of course).
 
I wonder if anyone has every broken the framelock on a Hinderer where both sides are titanium and the lockbar stabalizer is inplace? Seems to me this config does away with at least one potential problem with framelocks making such a model canidate for "very damn hard to break the lock" category. I never seem to break locks anyways. But since we are talking about lock failure and resistance to such.
 
The spring on my 710 broke after about a year and a half. It still worked the lock didn’t engage as far in. I was a little disappointed in how long it took to fix it, almost seven weeks.

I still think it is one of the best locks out there.
 
Can an Axis Lock knife be taken apart easily and/or w/o voiding the warranty? Does anyone have any schematics that would show how to do this?
 
The omega spring issue that some have experienced was one of the reasons I finally decided on a Spyderco Delica 4 over a Benchmade Griptilian for my first good folder. I do plan to have a Benchmade with Axis-lock some day, but it'll probably be after I've exhausted my list of several other "wants." Whatever it ends-up being, it'll probably never be my EDC, because I prefer tip-down carry, and, somebody correct me if I'm wrong, it doesn't look like the clip can be mounted on the pivot end of an Axis-lock knife.
 
I'm generally not to interested in knife warranties. If I damage a knife I'm generally doing something thats not covered anyway. I acknowledge the fact that things break and or wear out with use so are replacement springs available for say a 710?


Bors
 
EDCeeker said:
Whatever it ends-up being, it'll probably never be my EDC, because I prefer tip-down carry, and, somebody correct me if I'm wrong, it doesn't look like the clip can be mounted on the pivot end of an Axis-lock knife.
Click to expand...

The Benchmade 806D2 allows you to put the clip in 4 positions, so you can mount the clip on the pivot end. However I believe this knife is no longer available, but there maybe other models that let you do this, but I'm not certain.

I haven't had an issue with an omega spring yet. I have been EDC'ing my 710 for almost 7 years now and have been flicking it open and closed on nearly a daily basis. Maybe more use is better for the springs? If the knife sits for a long time and then is flicked open could that be harder on the spring than if it's frequently used?

I think when the springs break it's due to a bad spring in the first place. I wonder if the springs that did break were from a certain lot of knives and there hasn't been problems since?

If the spring did break it would be annoying to have to send the knife off to Benchmade to have it fixed, but it would be worth it.

I just find the AXIS lock so convenient and secure that it's very hard for me to EDC a non-AXIS lock knife.
 
My 710 broke an omega spring about 6 months after I got it. BM fixed it, it took 4-5 weeks. I still think it's a great knife.

On the other hand, if BM ever went out of business, and I could no longer get it fixed for free, I'd be pretty upset.
 
KeithAM said:
On the other hand, if BM ever went out of business, and I could no longer get it fixed for free, I'd be pretty upset.
Click to expand...

That would stink. IF that would ever happen hopefully someone would produce the springs and offer a service to repair AXIS knives.
 
Although I've never done it, others have said you can make your own out of piano wire.
 
In 10 or 11 years of using them, I have never had one break. Using them in environments from -10f to 110 f.. But like most things they can break..
Wouldn't stop me from buying more of them though..
 
I had the omega trigger spring break TWICE on my Beretta 92.

From playing with it dry and pulling the trigger ALL THE WAY THROUGH time after time. They sent me several springs. I sold the gun.

But, the BM 556 I have is working fine and I see no indication of the degree of stress that the Beretta springs work through.
 
Just for the record, any disassembly of a Benchmade knife by an ELU voids the warranty. I don't know if BM would sell you springs to install yourself, but I suspect not. I have made springs for other applications, and I am sure I could make one for that if I had to. I have a few Axis lock knives and I have never had an Omega spring break. Since I don't use them anymore, I doubt they ever will, or that I will notice if they do.
 
yablanowitz said:
I don't know if BM would sell you springs to install yourself, but I suspect not.
Click to expand...
BM will send you omega springs for free if you ask them. Or at least they send them to customers in Europe (where you cannot easily send back your knife to the USA due to shipping cost).
 
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