BM AFCK or Spyderco Military - Help me decide!

T

TCW

Joined
Nov 16, 2001
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29
Well, I think I have this years Christmas gift request picked out. Trying to decide between the Benchmade AFCK (D2 steel) or Spyderco Military (CPM 440V). Both use G10.

I managed to get a hold of the AFCK yesterday at a shop and really liked it. It has the axis lock and the spyderco-style thumb hole, which I like. Also, the AFCK is tip up carry which I am used to from my Spydie native. The Military is tip-down.

Which should I go for and why?

What do you think of the teflon coating on the AFCK?

Thanks!
TCW

:)
 
They are both great knives. If you have been bitten by the knife nut bug you WILL own both eventualy anyway. So flip a coin.

That said I love my AFCK but the Military is high on my to buy list. Tha AFCK would be my "if I could only have one" knife.:)

Good Luck
 
Oh I forgot to mention my coating is pretty scratched up but it doesn't bother me.
 
have had or have both, MUCH prefer the AFCK. i would stay away from the coating if ya REALLY use the knife, unless ya get a 806 w/the D2, then i think ya gotta go w/the coating - but imho the BM coating(s) are really no better/worse than most others, which means to say, they scratch easily, esp w/use

greg
 
Even though I carry an SE Military now I still prefer my AFCK. It just needs some major cleaning and sharpening before I use it again. Mine is the old ATS 34 linerlock version.

With the D2 and axis there is little wrong you can do with the AFCK. It is high on my 'next knife' list.

The AFCK overall is just a better fit for me than the Military. Both are great but the AFCK is better.
 
definitely get the AFCK axis D2. The new versions come with bronze washers and pre drilled holes for all FOUR positions of carry for the clip. the teflon coatin is actually better then i thought but it'll still scratch off, when that happens just spend some time with some fine grit sandpaper and you can get a mirror polish if you like.
 
I've carried both a BM AFCK, liner lock, ATS34, no coating, serrations, and a CPM440V Spyderco Military. I liked the AFCK better. It has titanium liners, the Military doesn't, so the Military seemed to flex a bit more. The Military had a large cut out for the liner release, with the G10 handle slab recessed more than the liner -- this looked to me like it would be easier to accidentally release the liner just when you didn't want to, with the result of the blade folding prematurely.

Bruce Woodbury
 
You are really in tight situation, Dude! ;)
I have one Military with CPM 440V plain blade and two AFCK’s – classic 800 with plain non coated ATS-34 blade and axis 806 with coated D2 blade, also plain.
Which one I do like better? I don’t know.
Let’s try to evaluate possibly objectively:
  • AFCK fits my hand better and the grip is securer for hard work
  • This might look unbelievable but classic AFCK 800 handle with double titanium liners is more flexible than Military one with single nested steel liner. However the handle of axis 806 AFCK with double pretty thick steel liners is as stiff as Military one and inherently it should be stronger
  • Axis 806 AFCK is totally ambidextrous and Military isn’t
  • Axis lock also should be inherently stronger than liner lock. However Military liner lock is one of the very best liner locks ever made and I do not see decisive advantage of axis lock what should settle my choice in this particular case
  • The packages are equally big, however Military is somewhat thinner and lighter
  • It is nothing wrong with tip-up carry as far as the knife is equipped with axis lock but I like tip-down carry better
  • Military blade steel is more rust resistant
  • The Military blade has full flat grind and is inherently better cutter
  • No one coin has the single side, as always. Thinner CPM 440V edge probably is weaker than somewhat thicker D2 one, so axis 806 AFCK edge greatly probably could take more abuse
Reassuming: Slightly better cutting ability performing known tasks around my household have settled for me about more frequent use of Military. However the difference in my liking is really very slight and based mostly on the fact that I know what I’m doing with my knife. If I would go far outdoors and wouldn’t know in advance what tasks I should perform with my knife not excluded that my choice wold be axis AFCK because of its inherent strength and ability to take more abuse.

Try to evaluate mentioned points of difference viewing from your perspective and to decide what properties are more important for you.
 
Wow! Thanks for all the advice! I think I'm leaning toward the AFCK axis. I'll just have to be careful with the teflon coating, I guess.

You guys are the bomb.
TCW:D
 
TCW,
You should be prepared that your teflon-coated blade will look quite ugly in real life use. The BT2 coating continues to protect the blade against corrosion even being badly scratched but I know a lot of people (including myself) who would like to have the blade non-coated at all instead of coated and scratched. Not excluded that this could make some addition for the reasons why I use Military much more than axis AFCK. My Military blade is also pretty noticeably scratched during close to 3 years of continuous use but it doesn’t look so ugly.
 
Military.

For no better reason than I prefer Spyderco as a company, even if the D2 AFCK is a 'must' own knife:p

Seriously, I like D2 a lot but prefer CPM 440V slightly and the AXIS system better than a liner lock even if it is a high strength nested liner.

The Military is lighter and has a better set up in terms of ergo's and cutting ability.

A knife after all is a CUTTING tool and the Military will out cut the 806 by a fair margin by simple blade geometry alone.

As a weapon rather than tool the 806 is prob better. However I buy blades as tools (hmmm explain the MOD CQD DD and Vaqaro Grande Wayne...;) :p )

LOL!
 
Would it be better to go with an older AFCK to avoid the teflon coating?
 
Do you know if the old style is tip-up?

Would it be worth it just to not have the teflon coating? (No axis, different liners, etc)

What about the BM 805 TSEK?
:confused:
 
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