BM 551BK-1301 Griptilian 2013 Shot Show Spec. dissapointed in AXIS lock recived today

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chambelona59

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May 4, 2012
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Benchmade 551BK-1301 Griptilian 2013 Shot Show Special
Superb service and lightening fast shipping from KnifeWorks, received the knife today.

Unfortunately it seems the one I received appears to have a defective Axis lock.
The Axis lock will not move or work in the closed position, will only slide/move when blade is open.
When I open the blade by by hand, both the studs on the Axis lock have quite a bit of side to side VERY loose wobble compared to my B.M. 550 or my B.M. Ritter Mini grip both of those have nice tight Axis locks and work flawlessly.

Seems to me to be sadly an obvious Benchmade quality control issue.
Just sent an email to K.W. I'm sure they will make things right.
Just disappointing @$150.00
 
Are you sure it's a quality issue? My griptilian's axis lock does not move when the knife is being held closed either, but that's just because the tang is against it. Also, when I first got my grip the lock was very sticky when the knife was flicked open with force, or the tang was riding against it. I kept playing with it and it loosened up just fine.
As far as the studs go, you can get a T6 torx driver and tighten it. The studs are screws just like everything else, and come lose. Mine did not have any loctite on them when I took them off, so maybe that's why yours came loose.

Edit: sorry,just realized you meant the axis lock studs, not thumb studs on blade. The side to side on those is weird. Mine wobble slightly, but I wouldn't describe it as very loose. I have no other axis locks to compare it to either.

I haven't seen a single bad comment on KWs service, so you're set. I got my grip there and service was flawless. Have you ever tried calling them? They picked up befeore the first ring was over and it sounded as if they were answering from home. I complimented them and they were as giddy as can be. Great people over there.
 
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My Young Apprentice said:
Are you sure it's a quality issue? My griptilian's axis lock does not move when the knife is being held closed either, but that's just because the tang is against it. Also, when I first got my grip the lock was very sticky when the knife was flicked open with force, or the tang was riding against it. I kept playing with it and it loosened up just fine.
As far as the studs go, you can get a T6 torx driver and tighten it. The studs are screws just like everything else, and come lose. Mine did not have any loctite on them when I took them off, so maybe that's why yours came loose.
Click to expand...

I have three other BM's all three have Axis locks that never had this issue, even when new.
The Axis lock on the Griptilian 2013 Shot Show Special knife received today "will not slide back/will not budge" unless.. I use the thumbstuds to open the blade, once in the open position and only in the open position will the Axis lock then be able to be slid back and forth in its track/cutout.

Re:
As far as the studs go, you can get a T6 torx driver and tighten it.
Click to expand...
Only the thumbstuds attached to the blade can be adjusted.... the thumbstuds of the Axis lock itself which I am saying that cannot be moved/pulled back... cannot be adjusted by any torx driver/s.
The degree of "left/right-horizontal forward to back" loose wobble (not vertically up and down) of the Axis bar itself is by far much more than my BM 710, BM Ritter mini or my BM 550SBKHGS.... to my eye and two fingers, seems much more than should be.

Hey, sometimes a "Lemon" gets through quality control... it happens, I'm sure the dealer I purchased through or alternatively Benchmade will make this right.
It's just disappointing to receive a new item and right out of the box it does not function as it should a.k.a. malfunctions.
 
Heh, I was faster :p I edited my post.

That axis lock not moving issue is odd, and disappointing. I love playing with the blade and its different ways of opening.
 
Give Benchmade a call - if there's something wrong with the lock, I am sure Benchmade will fix it.
 
If you want to keep it, send it to Benchmade. If not contact the seller and make arrangements for either a return or exchange.

From my experience KW has great customer service when dealing with issues like this.
 
I don't own many benchmades but I have the 2013 shot show grip, my axis lock opens at all positions, and my blade swings freely when the axis lock is help open. I would contact benchmade.
 
I know that either BM (manufacturer) or KW (dealer) will make the issue right (replace).
I'm not asking what to do... just stating it's completely disappointing getting something that is "NIB" and it's such a disappointment as far as quality control, which seems to be happening more often with 'production' knives... not just in this case with BM, but with two other well known fairly large knife makers both of which I made purchases from this month.
Believe me, I know when it's just an instance of "it just needs to be broken in" and when there's an actual true malfunction-ING of a (new) knife part.

Just saying, it's disappointing that's all.
Additionally you then have to start going through the process of re-packing it, shelling out additional funds shipping back, getting to the P.O., I'm not "crying".... just stating my disappointment.

The majority of this months several new knife purchases were received in excellent, superb condition, but this one and two others are for me, examples of in my opinion a (seemingly increasing) lessening/slipping in quality control.

I was going to end this post in the paragraph above, but let me show you, my fellow blade-culturists something.
One of the several other purchases I made this month happened to be a 'Mid lock' knife, I own a few by Spyderco, all "rock solid" when open.
To me the 'Mid lock' knife I purchased last week (new from a well known major online dealer ), has a 'visually' and 'audibly' loose lock-up in the open position... I made a 1 minute video of me showing the 'issue' and sent it to the only 'authorized' contact in the U.S. and the knife will most likely be replaced, but this for me is another example of lax quality control in a 'production' knife .
Btw, the dealer I purchased it from after viewing my vid, told me "Candidly, the video didn’t show blade play outside what we would consider “normal” for a production knife, but your satisfaction is our highest priority."

Take a look... if I'm just imagining a "lack of quality control" here, I'll eat my socks.

[video]http://s183.beta.photobucket.com/user/silverspurr/media/Knifes/DSCN1173_zpse39b1046.mp4.html[/video]
 
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That is perfectly normal function. It is a slip joint, right?
 
dkb45 said:
That is perfectly normal function. It is a slip joint, right?
Click to expand...

You mean the knife in the vid, nope, it's not a slip joint.
Actually it's a 'Mid Lock', similar to a back lock, except the release mechanism is in the middle of the handle spine as opposed to near the butt end of the knife which shortens the locking arm, producing more tension and lock strength.
 
March 15th
The dealer KW "has none left", could have returned for refund, decided to call BM, they have "none left" either but said "send it in we'll repair the Axis lock".
So bottom line .... $160.95 incl. shipping from dealer + $10.00 postage and insurance back to BM = $170.95 invested.

Okay, lovers of this knife don't hate on me.... my own personal opinion is I don't find the knife to be "all that".
I find it heavy, though it does have interesting scales.
I am not someone that gets mesmerized by hyped sprint runs or "limited run show specials".
Again, just me, probably my age.
But the knife will without doubt appreciate not depreciate in value and eventually I'll recoup.

I'll take my stone wash Ritter Mini any day. :thumbup:
 
My Young Apprentice said:
. Also, when I first got my grip the lock was very sticky when the knife was flicked open with force, or the tang was riding against it. I kept playing with it and it loosened up just fine.
Click to expand...

Mine was exactly like this....it actually had too much factory lube in the pivot that got on the axis lock bar and ramp. The lock over engaged, and stuck. After cleaning some of the lube off the ramp and axis bar, flipping a bunch of times, its now fine.
 
All three of mine were centered and a little tight, no play at all and the lock functions as it should. Understandable as they are brand new, so considerthem to be perfect. BM's warranty dept. is terrific, Im sure they can get it right.
 
I have heard that Benchmade will send a pre-paid shipping label if asked.

Whether or not this is true, or under which circumstances I don't know.

Just a thought.
 
My shot show Grip is like that too. There is alot of play in the axis lockbar, and it's very sticky.
 
I know this post was a while ago, but I'm have the same issue with side to side wobble of the axis lock on my Ritter Griptilian. Did Benchmade ever fix yours?
 
glock1963 said:
I know this post was a while ago, but I'm have the same issue with side to side wobble of the axis lock on my Ritter Griptilian. Did Benchmade ever fix yours?
Click to expand...

You should contact your dealer or benchmade rather than ask a question in a 3 year old thread.
 
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