- Joined
- Sep 25, 2013
- Messages
- 516
Here is my review on Benchmade Knife company HK AXIS 14715:
This knife is an excellent 3.5"+ tactical / EDC knife. Benchmade Knife Company did outstanding work for 3.5+ inch(3.7") modified drop point blade folder knife. It uses D2 steel like that of BM 710 or Adamas 275 / 375 series. http://www.benchmade.com/products/14715
Top view:
As you notice, there is jimping on spine. Also you will find liner jimping on right above AXIS lock area. Surprisingly, blade thickness are retained like that of Osborne Tanto. I am glad to see .146" blade in D2 retains thickness to near .25" from the tip. It would make very confident thrust cutter. Please note it is barrel spacer configuration. As you can see, unlike Rift 950, lines are cross drilled to save weight.
Here is respective Specs of 950 vs. 14715. Size of the blade is very close to Rift 950.
HK AXIS 14715 (D2)
Blade Length: 3.69"
Blade Thickness: 0.146"
Handle Thickness: 0.510"
Overall length 8.34"
Closed 4.64"
Weight: 4.96oz
Rift 950 (154cm)
Blade Length: 3.67"
Blade Thickness: 0.114"
Handle Thickness: 0.560"
Overall Length: 8.27"
Closed 4.60"
Weight: 4.80oz
Initial impression of H&K AXIS 14715:
It is that handle is Spartan shape, flat and square and not as ergonomic as Rift. G10 is rough enough so that it would not slip and slide. Unfortunately, it is a bit of lint magnet. May be I would use 600~800 mesh grit sand paper to smooth it out. Just like Rift, it comes with standard clip. (It says "HK" instead of Benchmade.) I think I am going to use 810 style deep carry clip. It is placed in middle sized as medium-hard use Everyday Carry or Week End Carry blade. Since I have been using Rift 950 for this role, I would start with that knife to see if it fulfills the need.
Ergonomic of the handle:
Shape:
Unlike many other Benchmade, H&K 14715 has opted to use coffin style handle. Where Rift and Griptilian has rounded contour, HK 14715 has minimum index finger groove and gently curved 3 finger recurve. I found it a bit odd with tail end of the jimping grip on both under side as well as top side. I can see top side helps when one holds this knife in reverse grip, but underside jimping can only feels useful when I grip the handle when I place pinky finger.
915 Triage
Surface:
The surface treatment of G-10 is very tactile. Its honeycomb like surface creates quite a bit of traction and so much to the point that it makes a bit hesitant for me to draw out from my pocket. It is similar to that of Triage 915/916 series, but much more bite. I feel that this extra traction would eventually thread my jeans pocket.
Lanyard hole:
May be it is only me, but I am surprised that it is missing. Most of 3~4 range folders to have this feature (Rift, Griptilian, 710, Presidio, Stryker, Triage, Barrage, 530, etc) Certainly there is a place I can make a 1/8 drill hole, but I would have expected BKC to provide it. I feel lanyard for the knife is just like many other details in life, it is better to have one and not used than needed and not have it.
Length and size:
Comparatively speaking, it dwarfs 940, but it is same category with Rift and Barrage. Yes, it is shorter than Contego , but I dont EDC/WEC 810 either.
BKC standard clip (with HK logo) to 810 style deep carry clip. At least in my preference, I wanted the knife to be less visible and minimally protruding. The result is the following picture. I have also done this with 950 Rift and both knifes are nearly invisible (minus BKC logoed clip, which leaves a little hint to fellow BKC enthusiasts.)
Concern in prolonged pocket carry:
Granted that we all are aware EDC any knife with clip in our jeans pocket will eventually damage the fabric. Unfortunately, the tactile surface of HK 14715 are rough, it grinds the fabric much faster. Rift 950 on the other hand, the handle surface under where clip touches the G-10, it is smooth. I would like it better if HK 14715's handle was like that of Rift except where in red oval to have tactile surface rather than scalloped grooves on Rift.
Ease of thumb stud swing open:
This issue has been bothering me for few days. HK 14715 is definitely heavier to open than Rift 950 or even bigger Contego 810. Although the blade of HK14715 is thicker and wider than 950, but not heavier than 810. I have noticed slight awkward feel I have in opening the knife with HK14715 when I compare with Contego810 side by side. (Yeah, double fisted..
) Here is the radius distance from pivot pin to the thumb stud.
HK AXIS 14715: 0.82"
Rift 950: 0.99"
Contego 810: 0.94"
So, diameter difference between 14715 vs. 950 is 0.36" Given that HK14715 is heavier blade, I think it would be easier if the thumb stud is placed a little bit more toward the tip. of cause your mileage may vary for some of you who enjoy opening Adamas 275.
Overall, this is excellent Tactical EDC. If you love carrying Rift 950, you will love this as well. Also having D2 blade is a plus.
MFL
This knife is an excellent 3.5"+ tactical / EDC knife. Benchmade Knife Company did outstanding work for 3.5+ inch(3.7") modified drop point blade folder knife. It uses D2 steel like that of BM 710 or Adamas 275 / 375 series. http://www.benchmade.com/products/14715
Top view:
As you notice, there is jimping on spine. Also you will find liner jimping on right above AXIS lock area. Surprisingly, blade thickness are retained like that of Osborne Tanto. I am glad to see .146" blade in D2 retains thickness to near .25" from the tip. It would make very confident thrust cutter. Please note it is barrel spacer configuration. As you can see, unlike Rift 950, lines are cross drilled to save weight.
Here is respective Specs of 950 vs. 14715. Size of the blade is very close to Rift 950.
HK AXIS 14715 (D2)
Blade Length: 3.69"
Blade Thickness: 0.146"
Handle Thickness: 0.510"
Overall length 8.34"
Closed 4.64"
Weight: 4.96oz
Rift 950 (154cm)
Blade Length: 3.67"
Blade Thickness: 0.114"
Handle Thickness: 0.560"
Overall Length: 8.27"
Closed 4.60"
Weight: 4.80oz
Initial impression of H&K AXIS 14715:
It is that handle is Spartan shape, flat and square and not as ergonomic as Rift. G10 is rough enough so that it would not slip and slide. Unfortunately, it is a bit of lint magnet. May be I would use 600~800 mesh grit sand paper to smooth it out. Just like Rift, it comes with standard clip. (It says "HK" instead of Benchmade.) I think I am going to use 810 style deep carry clip. It is placed in middle sized as medium-hard use Everyday Carry or Week End Carry blade. Since I have been using Rift 950 for this role, I would start with that knife to see if it fulfills the need.
Ergonomic of the handle:
Shape:
Unlike many other Benchmade, H&K 14715 has opted to use coffin style handle. Where Rift and Griptilian has rounded contour, HK 14715 has minimum index finger groove and gently curved 3 finger recurve. I found it a bit odd with tail end of the jimping grip on both under side as well as top side. I can see top side helps when one holds this knife in reverse grip, but underside jimping can only feels useful when I grip the handle when I place pinky finger.
915 Triage
Surface:
The surface treatment of G-10 is very tactile. Its honeycomb like surface creates quite a bit of traction and so much to the point that it makes a bit hesitant for me to draw out from my pocket. It is similar to that of Triage 915/916 series, but much more bite. I feel that this extra traction would eventually thread my jeans pocket.
Lanyard hole:
May be it is only me, but I am surprised that it is missing. Most of 3~4 range folders to have this feature (Rift, Griptilian, 710, Presidio, Stryker, Triage, Barrage, 530, etc) Certainly there is a place I can make a 1/8 drill hole, but I would have expected BKC to provide it. I feel lanyard for the knife is just like many other details in life, it is better to have one and not used than needed and not have it.
Length and size:
Comparatively speaking, it dwarfs 940, but it is same category with Rift and Barrage. Yes, it is shorter than Contego , but I dont EDC/WEC 810 either.
BKC standard clip (with HK logo) to 810 style deep carry clip. At least in my preference, I wanted the knife to be less visible and minimally protruding. The result is the following picture. I have also done this with 950 Rift and both knifes are nearly invisible (minus BKC logoed clip, which leaves a little hint to fellow BKC enthusiasts.)
Concern in prolonged pocket carry:
Granted that we all are aware EDC any knife with clip in our jeans pocket will eventually damage the fabric. Unfortunately, the tactile surface of HK 14715 are rough, it grinds the fabric much faster. Rift 950 on the other hand, the handle surface under where clip touches the G-10, it is smooth. I would like it better if HK 14715's handle was like that of Rift except where in red oval to have tactile surface rather than scalloped grooves on Rift.
Ease of thumb stud swing open:
This issue has been bothering me for few days. HK 14715 is definitely heavier to open than Rift 950 or even bigger Contego 810. Although the blade of HK14715 is thicker and wider than 950, but not heavier than 810. I have noticed slight awkward feel I have in opening the knife with HK14715 when I compare with Contego810 side by side. (Yeah, double fisted..
) Here is the radius distance from pivot pin to the thumb stud.HK AXIS 14715: 0.82"
Rift 950: 0.99"
Contego 810: 0.94"
So, diameter difference between 14715 vs. 950 is 0.36" Given that HK14715 is heavier blade, I think it would be easier if the thumb stud is placed a little bit more toward the tip. of cause your mileage may vary for some of you who enjoy opening Adamas 275.
Overall, this is excellent Tactical EDC. If you love carrying Rift 950, you will love this as well. Also having D2 blade is a plus.
MFL
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