BM AXIS AFCK review.

sph3ric pyramid

sph3ric pyramid

Joined
Jul 24, 2002
Messages
861
AGH. The pain. I had a long review written out, having received this exemplary specimen today, but the board timed out my session, and I LOST IT!!! :mad: :mad: :mad:

In summary:

SCORE: 9 out of 10 marks

PROS:

- Perfect size for a large EDC, not overly bulky; very slim profile.
- Carries well
- Excellent fit and finish
- Excellent ergonomics, grip security
- Good placement of traction grooves at the top of the blade and handle
- High end materials used.
- AXIS lock
- Opening hole
- Tip-up/Tip-down reversable clip options
- Excellent clip (as with all of BMs folders)

CONS:

- Slightly uncomfortable in the hand when gripped hard, as the G10 scales are not chamfered.
- Horizontol bladeplay develops when pivot is loosened to the point where pulling back the locking bar allows the blade to fall out.
- Retention of the blade in the closed position is somewhat iffy, as the blade is rather large and heavy (compare to Griptilian)
- Slick G10 scales (although, this could turn out to be a pro, as it won't chew up pockets, and the finger groove provides enough grip security as is).


That's it, and that's all. YMMV, as always. But it's a great knife from what I see so far. Well worth the $100+ I paid for it.
 
I have an AFCK on the way, and am curious to see whether I like it. I'd hesitated in buying one, mostly because of that coated, black blade; I HATE coated blades. However, I got a good tip on removing the coating from Tom Walker at NGK, so I decided to take the plunge. We'll see how the coating - removal goes.
 
Nathan S, do you mind posting the tip for the rest of us? My AFCK's coating is getting beat up and I wouldn't mind removing it.;)
 
Nathan S, do you mind posting the tip for the rest of us? My AFCK's coating is getting beat up and I wouldn't mind removing it.
Click to expand...

OK, here goes. Apparently, a "rust eraser" (available, I'm told, in hardware stores, at Walmart, etc.) will remove the black coating without marring the blade. Tom Walker told me that he had done this with his Benchmade CQC7 with excellent results. Apparently what you remove is the black color, but not the actual protective treatment, so the steel remains protected. Of course, he disassembled his knife to do this; easier to do with a liner lock knife than with the Axis lock AFCK. Anyway, figured it would be worth a try.

I won't actually receive my AFCK until after July 20 (when I arrive in the USA), so I'll have to wait a while before I put Tom's idea to the test. Maybe some of you enterprising forumites can try it out in the meantime, and let us know your results.
 
Thanks for the tip! I'm a little reluctant to void the warranty by disassembling my knife, but maybe it's worth it. I'll miss that butterfly logo, though :( .
 
I'm also told Scotchbrite pads work well for that. My AFCK could probably use having the rest of its coating removed as I ground and filed away so much steel on it to make it slice the way I wanted.

If a rust eraser is hard to come by in your area, you can also use a plain old sanding block. A flat sanding block can let you remove the BT2 from just the bottom bevel while leaving the top intact. Then, if that's not to your liking, you can still hit the rest of the blade. One thing, if you don't remove the blade from the knife (as beat as this one is, I didn't void its warranty), the back edges near the handle will take forever to get done.

Great review, Sph3ric Pyramid. It's quite the gent's folder, ain't it?
 
- Slightly uncomfortable in the hand when gripped hard, as the G10 scales are not chamfered.
Click to expand...

I wonder if this is something that changed recently. The G10 on my AFKC is chamfered all the way around. It's pretty slight, but it's definitely not a sharp edge anymore. I just got mine maybe a month ago. Absolutely love it.
 
Actually, after I posted, I went over the knife again and found that the scales are chamfered, as you said. The thing was, it was so slight that I couldn't tell it was chamfered at all.

But that's probably because my previous EDC was a BM Griptilian which is rounded out all the way. Holding another knife after that seems a bit strange, but I'm getting used to it.

The AFCK is an incredible piece. And it looks cool, too. :D
 
I've had mine for about a month now, and I absolutely love it. It is incredibly smooth, lock up is rock solid, and is one wicked looking knife.
 
Originally posted by SteelDriver
Thanks for the tip! I'm a little reluctant to void the warranty by disassembling my knife, but maybe it's worth it. I'll miss that butterfly logo, though :( .
Click to expand...

Just remove the stuff on edge part of the blade. Leave the swedge alone. It'll have a two-tone finish, but if you really love the logo.
 
I've had my 806D2 a little over a year now. I still love it, although I eplaced it with a Griptilian for EDC because the 806D2 is illegal in Seattle (blade is too long).

I removed the blade and then removed the BT2 with ordinary green kitchen pads. Then I tried to polish it. I think you could put a mirror polish on D2 with enough work (I think some custom makers do) but it would be a lot of work. I gave up. Mine has a nice satin finish right now.

FWIW I recently contacted Benchmade about getting bronze washers and spare omega springs for mine (an old tip-up-only version that did not come with them). I told them point blank what I had done. They said to send it in and they would give me the washers for $1 each plus $5 return shipping and install new omega springs (they may have misunderstood and thought I needed new omega springs now). Bottom line, Benchmade did not seem too broken up about removing the blade and BT2.

I think I am going to try a convex edge on my 806D2--not because of any perceived deficiency (it is my "go to" knife for everything that does not require a fixed blade)--but just for fun. I'll post the results.
 
i've found that teflon is relatively easy to remove compared to other types of coating. I used some sponge sand paper (basically like scour pads but with different grits) and some clorox. I think it's hard to take the axis lock apart since the thing is press fitted together? I just pulled the pivot pin and slid the blade out. However, i think all the blades that BM coats is bead blasted underneath?
 
Manji,

wish it were true that BM coated blades were beadblasted underneath. Maybe they are, but my 710HS has what looks like a really rough grit finish underneath the BT coating. I would guess that it would take a bit of elbow grease to satin finish the blade if the BT coating is taken off.
 
I got mine since march, this year. It is secure and solid, opens up pretty easy (no problems with blade play, because i fixed it stiff enough), guess these bronze washers do a good job. I´ve been looking around for different knifes and found none to replace my litle brute beauty.

None

15 of 10 points
 
I just received my M806D2 and ..... I don't like it. The handle just doesn't work for my hands: too long and skinny. Too bad, but them's the breaks! I guess I'll put my AFCK up for sale.
 
I carried a Griptilian for a while (a few months), and then I received the AFCK. And I was like, WTF?!

But after a couple of days, it really grew on me. It was just different.
 
I´m not used to a Griptilian, but i like the feeling of the long handle in my hand. The two thick liners (together as thick as the blade) and the G10 give it a good strength.
 
You can remove the coating with citri-strip, takes 10 minutes.

I like the handle on the 710 better, as well as the blade shape.

The AFCK opens real fast though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top