Benchmade Omega Springs on Axis Locks

The omega springs are extremely reliable in my opinion. Extreme cold or saltwater might create problems for the springs. However, as STR stated earlier, a matchstick, a twig, or even a piece of paper rolled up tight into a twig shape would make a fine temporary lock for the spring-disabled axis lock. Unless you were in a sensory deprivation tank:)(and if you are, what are you doing with a knife?), I'll bet you could find something to lock it open with until you could get another spring. Works for me.:cool:
 
mathu said:
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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WHA???? Really? This was one of the reasons why I bought my old Spydie Endura 3 over a BM Grip. It's going to be NON-FEASIBLE to send to the US and buying another knife would be a wiser option. Considering how high the $ is pegged here, I can't afford to do so. I wonder if they'd do the same here for us here in the far east?

Considering the Axis lock for what it is, a fairly strong, reliable, and very innovative lock, with the added benfit of being ambidextrous too, it's merits I suppose far outweigh this remote potential problem/liability in its design.
 
Keep in mind that one thing that springs are designed to do is endure a certain number of 'cycles' (How many times they can be compressed/extended) before they fail. Having had to specify various springs for industrial applications, this is one of their qualities I've had to consider most.

Another consideration in spring life is how much shock/vibration a spring is subjected to during operation - More shock, less cycles to be expected before failure.

So, if you find that you need to quickly snap open your Axis-lock knife hundreds of times while watching TV every day, the springs will fail earlier than if you open it gently and only when you really need to use it...
 
Vee3 said:
So, if you find that you need to quickly snap open your Axis-lock knife hundreds of times while watching TV every day, the springs will fail earlier than if you open it gently and only when you really need to use it...
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What? This is my favorite pastime. And annoys the heck out of my wife.
 
I wonder if opening the knife hard, or gently, really makes much difference to the springs. Once the blade is fully open the lock snaps over into the locked position. So if you open it slowly to this point, or quickly, the lock still snaps over with the same speed and force.

Also I'd call it a very strong lock and not "fairly strong" as far as locks on folding knives are concerned.
 
Could these omega springs in Benchmades be replaced by little cylinder shaped rare earth magnets ?

You can find them in all kinds of shapes here; http://www.unitednuclear.com/magnets.htm

Also for use in Microtechs, where they could drive the pinlock and the microbar, also instead of springs that possibly can break or fatigue.

Just a thought,
:)
 
I just got a Benchmade 530SBK from TheBladeShop.com. I love this knife so much. Sadly though, one of the springs in the axis lock broke today. I have only had this knife for a few weeks if even. I'll be sending Benchmade an email or something asking them for maybe a new spring or something.

If anyone on here was thinking about getting a Benchmade knife that uses an axis lock, don't let this discourage you. Mine was one in a million to have broken like it did.
I still love Benchmade and their quality and would recommend them to anyone.

The lock still works with only one spring, but I don't know for how long because now it takes double the stress as it did before. Hopefully Benchmade will be able to help me out here in some way.
I did not do anything to abuse the knife by the way. However, I did open and close it alot, I'm sure alot of people do that though.
 
If I remember correctly there was a thread sometime back that said Benchmade would not sell their omega springs - if you want your knife repaired you have to send it back to the factory.
 
Bottom line on the omegas and the Axis the lock works. It works well most any place on the planet; minus extreme cold. But really, if you are going into the extreme cold I really hope you didn't plan on your folder to save your butt. Take more then one knife and what includes a heavy duty fixed blade.
 
Have heard of people using piano wire, not sure where they got it, to make their own omega's. I think BM really ought to send these things out to the end user as they are not that difficult to repair.
 
Sending them out is just an individual option. Better ask them directly.

Stronger springs make stiffer locks. Someone here who tried this settled back on thiner springs, he made himself.

I too would feel better, if a had a pack extra somewhere, just in case. But after 5 years of owning and using axis lock knives with no problem exept a 520 failed spinewhacks and got replaced, i should trust in that i don´t need them.:D
 
The Omega springs are the main reason I don't have any Axis lock BM's anymore. I've owned a half a dozen axis lock knives and never had a problem. One of the smoothest lockest I've ever owned. My problem is from the research I've done, not first hand experience, is that Benchmade will not send parts out, the knife must be sent in. I just can't see having to pay shipping and waiting a month for a 15 minute job that anyone with some mechanical ability can do. I do understand BM's legal stance on this, but it would seem to me a signed waiver by the knife owner, via email or snail mail would resolve that issue. I may never need to replace an Omega spring, do to breakage, but it would give me peace of mind knowing that if a spring did fail, I could reach for a spare and have it ready to go in just a few minutes.
I own a couple Kershaws and Kershaw sent out enough spare parts for me to rebuild the knife 2 or 3 times, and never charged me for a single part nor shipping. I'm not asking BM for free parts or shipping, just for the option of having spares available.

Just my .02cents
Davereb
 
Benchmade should come up with some cheap product like a keychain or something that has a couple of omega springs in it. Then they could sell us that and we could break it open and take the springs out and there would be no liability issue from their viewpoint.
 
Lurker said:
Benchmade should come up with some cheap product like a keychain or something that has a couple of omega springs in it. Then they could sell us that and we could break it open and take the springs out and there would be no liability issue from their viewpoint.
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That's pretty darn clever. :thumbup:
 
What I've read over on the BM Forum is Omega springs have been sent over to Europe from time to time by request, but they will not ship them out here in the CONUS.

In the event of a spring failing, these days the warranty repair turnaround is much faster, again by reports from forumites.

I love my Axis models, esp. the HK 14205, which is the smoothest knife in my collection by far.

More Snody designs please!!
 
If it helps any, I have used all of my Axis folders in the extreme cold, like -30C, without any problems. I used my Ritter Grip while I was on a winter trip, during -30C weather, out of the frozen ice of the Atlantic Ocean without any problems. Having the Axis lock fail on me because of the cold never crossed my mind. If anything, I was glad to have the Axis because it was easy to use with gloves on, as I find liner and frame locks hard to close while wearing gloves.
 
Had the right side omega spring break on my 940 Osborne. Sent it in and had it fixed. Not long after I got it back, the left side spring broke. Hmm.......

I like the knife, but I don't carry it anymore.

TR Graham
The Glocksmith
 
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