BM AFCK vs Spyderco PM 2?

[colin.p]

I was always interested in old BM knives but unfortunately, I started in this hobby rather late. I almost bought an ATS-34 AFCK last July (on consignment) from a local knife shop, who unfortunately went out of business last November, but decided on a 551-1 instead and even though I don't have any regrets, it's always a "what if?"

I do have a 908 that kind of scratches the original Elishewitz so there's that but still those old BM knives are something that I lust over, even though I will not likely ever be able to find any let alone afford them.

Now I do have a PM 2 and it "kind of" looks like the AFCK but how close to each other are they? I would think that both were more or less designed with the same purpose in view (you know, cutting envelopes and cardboard). I also lust after Emersons but they will have to take their turn.

 

[josiahg52]

It's an interesting knife. I found this in a pawn shop for $15. Figured it might be fake at that price but it looked interesting. Assuming it's not fake, the design doesn't do much for me and seems pretty flimsy. A lot of flex in the assembly but it would make a good knife for general use.

The 908BK-1501 is one of my favorite knives from Benchmade that I own. I also have a 913D2 - the Nitrous assisted version - that is awesome. The PM2 is very good also. All that to say if you want an AFCK because of it's place in Benchmade history, do it, but I don't think it's necessarily any better than those other knives you mention.

 

[whp]

I have an AFCK made as a dealer exclusive several years ago with an m390 blade. Very ergonomic and strong. More comparable to a Military than a Paramilitary 2. The PM2 makes a better edc.

 

[colin.p]

It's an interesting knife. I found this in a pawn shop for $15. Figured it might be fake at that price but it looked interesting. Assuming it's not fake, the design doesn't do much for me and seems pretty flimsy. A lot of flex in the assembly but it would make a good knife for general use.

The 908BK-1501 is one of my favorite knives from Benchmade that I own. I also have a 913D2 - the Nitrous assisted version - that is awesome. The PM2 is very good also. All that to say if you want an AFCK because of it's place in Benchmade history, do it, but I don't think it's necessarily any better than those other knives you mention.

What you have is the Pika 2, similar but not quite the AFCK. I do like the PM 2 as it's a good knife, but apparently, one can never have too many knives.

Really all I'm doing is trying to not go spare, what with all this "stay at home" nonsense. Jeeze, and I have only been (early) retired for two weeks. In a years time, I'll be running (probably with a walker) naked up and down the street brandishing my mini-trapper.

 

[pholder]

It's an interesting knife. I found this in a pawn shop for $15. Figured it might be fake at that price but it looked interesting. Assuming it's not fake, the design doesn't do much for me and seems pretty flimsy. A lot of flex in the assembly but it would make a good knife for general use.

The 908BK-1501 is one of my favorite knives from Benchmade that I own. I also have a 913D2 - the Nitrous assisted version - that is awesome. The PM2 is very good also. All that to say if you want an AFCK because of it's place in Benchmade history, do it, but I don't think it's necessarily any better than those other knives you mention.

greetings, that looks more like a Pika model, very similar to the AFCK. very good knife just the same, i have a older mini AFCK liner lock and gifted the Pika model to my broyher, i wish i kept the Pika, really good user, have a great day all

 

[josiahg52]

What you have is the Pika 2, similar but not quite the AFCK. I do like the PM 2 as it's a good knife, but apparently, one can never have too many knives.

Really all I'm doing is trying to not go spare, what with all this "stay at home" nonsense. Jeeze, and I have only been (early) retired for two weeks. In a years time, I'll be running (probably with a walker) naked up and down the street brandishing my mini-trapper.

greetings, that looks more like a Pika model, very similar to the AFCK. very good knife just the same, i have a older mini AFCK liner lock and gifted the Pika model to my broyher, i wish i kept the Pika, really good user, have a great day all

Thanks for identifying it. Never knew what I had but I strongly suspected it was not an AFCK.

 

[michaelm466]

Like whp said, AFCK is definitely larger and narrower, much closer to Spyderco Military or Police, I'd say the Benchmade Contego is similar in size with the same lock. Different blade shape and ergos though.

 

[Silent H]

The AFCK is much closer to the Spyderco Military in size, with a blade length close to 4". I prefer the ergos of the AFCK over almost all Spydercos, I'm just not a hughe fan of the "hump" caused by the spyder hole on the Military family. Like you, I'm really interested in Benchmade's classic knives, ones that were produced before my time. Keep your eyes on the exchange, they occasionally come up for a reasonable price there, I got my AFCK last year from a member on the exchange. As for modern equivalents in Benchmade's lineup, I think the Crooked River might be the closest, followed by the Contego and Bedlam.

 

[kylemiller]

The PM2 handles are extremely "slabby" in my hand and are a full length hot spot when I have to really grip the knife. Coming from that 551-1 it's going to feel like holding a completely unchamfered rectangle.

 

[James Y]

I’ve owned an AFCK since 1998, and although I haven’t carried or used it in awhile, it’s a great design. Also have a mini-AFCK since 1999 or so.

Actually, I recall reading somewhere that Chris Carracci, who designed the AFCK, based it on the Spyderco Police model, but he wanted it designed for tactical purposes with a liner lock and a G10 handle, and for whatever reasons didn’t want it made by Spyderco.

The Spyderco Military was designed due to a request for a Spyderco Police with G10 handles and a liner lock, among other things. That makes both the Military and the AFCK “half-siblings” of a sort, and all the knives based on THEM, like the PM2, Para 3, etc., as well as Benchmade’s Pika and TSEK models, could be considered “cousins.” And the Police model itself came about due to a request for a Mariner with a point. So the Mariner might be considered the “ancestor” of the clan.

For me personally, I find the PM2 makes a better EDC than the AFCK, and I like the FFG better for cutting purposes. Although I never understood why the edges of the PM2’s handle scales aren’t chamfered.

Jim

 

[Silent H]

Chris Carracci had a forum here for a short time, it's still archived. Here's his version of where the design of the AFCK came from: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/the-design-of-the-afck.171857/

I couldn't embed the quote from the archives, but here it is copy and pasted:
"You won't believe it but here is the truth.
In the mid eighties I was given a spyderco police model by a dear friend of mine in the D.C. area.
He is quite an accomplished Martial Artist and 32 year law enforcement veteran with Prince George County Sheriff Office. We had many a discussion about the knife and wanted to see some changes. We talked to people at spyderco but no one seemed interested.

[...shortened for brevity and relevance to the design... full quote in link above...]

As to the design, well you take a police model change the lock to something more tactical make the blade a flat grind, cut out the finger groove on the liner lock and add an index finger groove. Put on G10 scales for better grip and thats it. The best thing about the police model was the angle of the blade in relation to the handle. In reference to what changes were not made on the AFCK that I wanted, the outside bevels on the scales were to be sharper so that one would have the feel of a thinner knife. Everything else was about right."

 

[colin.p]

^^^^ Interesting read. Thanks for that.

 

[Silent H]

If you go into the Caracci forum archive, there's also a pretty interesting thread about the axis AFCK. https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/axis-afck.171286/

 

[JupiterPaladin]

To me, Spyderco is a much better choice. I have caught and released Benchmade a few times, but I have only released a couple Spydercos and those were duplicates. I vastly prefer the ergos on Spyderco models.

 

[allenC]

I'm usually a Spyderco guy more than a Benchmade guy...but in this case I have to go with the AFCK.
It's just such a near perfect design.
And I like the Axis lock more than the Compression lock.