I am really looking for reviews on the BM's axis lock and maybe suggestions on some models. i have never spent so much on a folding knife my most was around 180 for my custom buck 110. i have bought a few Busse fixed blade knives the most was almost 500 so in between there is my price range.
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Benchmade
- Thread starter Ericz
- Start date
brancron
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2011
- Messages
- 3,059
If I were you I'd start with a classic 940. It's one of their absolute best models. Reviews of it are ubiquitous and (from what I've seen) pretty uniformly positive. My preference is the original green aluminum model, but there are a few other models to choose from.
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2009
- Messages
- 44,314
The axis lock is great! Easy one hand use and it is very strong. I have never once had a problem with a Benchmade axis lock. Take a look at the 950 Rift. It's my personal preference as an edc. Easily found for $120-135 on a popular auction site.
I love the Pew-Pew!
275 is a beefy knife . I love the ergos of it and like I said in the other Benchmade thread I've had 3 275s I'm keeping this 3rd one .
The only dings I'll give the 275 is it may bother some folks because it's a thick knife with a deep carry pocket clip so carrying it some might think it's too big .
With Benchmade I've had their autos ,from the hassle if something goes wrong and shipping it across state lines etc. I'd stick with manuals the axis lock is easy to work one handed . The extra money you pay for an auto that you could have problems getting fixed if something happened is just not worth it IMHO.
275 supposedly has the strongest axis lock but the others are no slouch. I've had an 810 for years and I did break the back spacer using it as a pommel but I love a coated m4 blade ,the jimping bothers some but the knife works exclusive model has stainless steel and IIRC the jimping is not as bad on them , I'm going off memory here so don't take that to heart without visiting knife works.
For edc the 940 is hard to beat or a grip for that matter .Benchmade got me started into knives and I've had my share of them . I've never had an issue with any if them .
The 710 is also a great knife with a lot of cutting power . Basically I'd find the model with the steel I liked and the size I wanted and go for it . I've had Benchmades over 10 years now and like I said I've never had a problem with a lock on a Benchmade ever .
The only dings I'll give the 275 is it may bother some folks because it's a thick knife with a deep carry pocket clip so carrying it some might think it's too big .
With Benchmade I've had their autos ,from the hassle if something goes wrong and shipping it across state lines etc. I'd stick with manuals the axis lock is easy to work one handed . The extra money you pay for an auto that you could have problems getting fixed if something happened is just not worth it IMHO.
275 supposedly has the strongest axis lock but the others are no slouch. I've had an 810 for years and I did break the back spacer using it as a pommel but I love a coated m4 blade ,the jimping bothers some but the knife works exclusive model has stainless steel and IIRC the jimping is not as bad on them , I'm going off memory here so don't take that to heart without visiting knife works.
For edc the 940 is hard to beat or a grip for that matter .Benchmade got me started into knives and I've had my share of them . I've never had an issue with any if them .
The 710 is also a great knife with a lot of cutting power . Basically I'd find the model with the steel I liked and the size I wanted and go for it . I've had Benchmades over 10 years now and like I said I've never had a problem with a lock on a Benchmade ever .
Also op a quick story had a first production run nitrous Stryker . I carried that knife everywhere and it had a satin d2 blade well one day I lost the knife . Mind you I live in the south and I lost it in the summertime .
Well a month or 2 goes by and I'm outside and I look down and see my nitrous Stryker on the ground . The d2 is completely rusted and pitting the action sucks I'm bummed the knife is done .
I come in and take brasso and steel wool to the knife but the pitting is awful and the action is just terrible I believe the lock was failing too , it had been out in the weather for a couple months and it was just gummed up etc .
I broke down and called Benchmade told them exactly what happened and wanted to get a price to get the knife fixed since it was my fault .
Benchmade said send it in and they'd call me with a price , they said they could fix everything but weren't sure about price but they were sure they couldn't put the first production run number on a new blade .
I sent it off with my phone number and a request to replace the blade with a coated blade if they could fix the knife and depending on the cost .
Knife was there a few weeks and I'm getting frustrated Benchmade hadn't called me back so I give them a call to check the status of my knife and see how much the repairs were going to cost .
Well I called and they said the knife was in route back to me , I was livid I said on its way back to me ! I said I would pay for repairs and you send it back! Sir , sir the employee said SIR! The knife is repaired we took it down replaced the hardware and the blade it's on its way back to you repaired !
I say on well how much do I owe you for all new hardware and a new blade etc? 10 or 20 bucks he says ,or the price difference of a coated blade vs a satin blade that's all he says .
I get the knife back in brand new condition black blade instead of satin even laser engraved with the first production run number again all that and all I paid was the difference between a coated blade aND a satin.
Well a month or 2 goes by and I'm outside and I look down and see my nitrous Stryker on the ground . The d2 is completely rusted and pitting the action sucks I'm bummed the knife is done .
I come in and take brasso and steel wool to the knife but the pitting is awful and the action is just terrible I believe the lock was failing too , it had been out in the weather for a couple months and it was just gummed up etc .
I broke down and called Benchmade told them exactly what happened and wanted to get a price to get the knife fixed since it was my fault .
Benchmade said send it in and they'd call me with a price , they said they could fix everything but weren't sure about price but they were sure they couldn't put the first production run number on a new blade .
I sent it off with my phone number and a request to replace the blade with a coated blade if they could fix the knife and depending on the cost .
Knife was there a few weeks and I'm getting frustrated Benchmade hadn't called me back so I give them a call to check the status of my knife and see how much the repairs were going to cost .
Well I called and they said the knife was in route back to me , I was livid I said on its way back to me ! I said I would pay for repairs and you send it back! Sir , sir the employee said SIR! The knife is repaired we took it down replaced the hardware and the blade it's on its way back to you repaired !
I say on well how much do I owe you for all new hardware and a new blade etc? 10 or 20 bucks he says ,or the price difference of a coated blade vs a satin blade that's all he says .
I get the knife back in brand new condition black blade instead of satin even laser engraved with the first production run number again all that and all I paid was the difference between a coated blade aND a satin.
- Joined
- Jun 29, 1999
- Messages
- 10,141
The Axis lock is simply brilliant, strong, easy to use, very ingenious engineering. I've got a 710, a couple of Grippies (154CM and D2) and a Mini-Rukus, never had a lock problem with any of them. Hard to go wrong with the Axis lock.
Leftytwogunz
Gold Member
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2013
- Messages
- 2,326
Axis locks are great man. Try a griptillian to get a feel for it. The 940 is also popular.
Best of luck.
Best of luck.
Another thing I live in B.F.E. Alabama , we don't have many knife shops but a lot of our pawn shops and gun stores are Benchmade dealers . If you have a bass pro shop, or Gander mountain something like that they carry Benchmade handle one in person .
The Benchmade website has a dealer locator and you probably have a dealer closer to you than you may know and can handle the knives in person . You will probably pay more in person than online but you can handle the knives then order the one you want .
The Benchmade website has a dealer locator and you probably have a dealer closer to you than you may know and can handle the knives in person . You will probably pay more in person than online but you can handle the knives then order the one you want .
- Joined
- May 25, 2016
- Messages
- 267
The major problem is that they are addicting. I have seven of them. They are very sharp and the axis lock allows one handed opening and closing. My major criticism of my mini-Barrage is that it takes two hands (or a leg) to close it because of the strength of the assist spring. Great factory service with lifetime sharpening for the price of shipping (free if you walk it in.)