BM Mini Dejavoo: questions for owners

E

enderwiggin

Joined
Nov 18, 2006
Messages
2,011
How confident are you in the lock on your knife?

I've had my eye on the Mini Dejavoo as my next purchase for quite some time, but I just can't get over the liner lock. I love BM's axis lock.

I've even considered a Doug Ritter mini-grip as a compromise for the S30V steel and Axis lock. But then, I really can't justify a 4th mini Griptilian!

I know I may catch some flak for this, but I really don't trust liner lock knives on the whole. I own but don't carry a Harsey T1; the lock feels secure enough, but now that I've figured out how to, I can disengage the lock by squeezing the knife just right, or by letting it twist a little in my hand.

Thoughts? Opinions? Flames?
 
I received a 745 the other day but sent it back.
Sticky lock, side to side blade play, a pinch in the butt end of one of the liners that caused gaps between the liners and the scales..and a blade that very nearly touched the liner when closed.

Benchmade definitely do Axis Locks best.

enderwiggin said:
I've even considered a Doug Ritter mini-grip as a compromise for the S30V steel and Axis lock. But then, I really can't justify a 4th mini Griptilian!
Click to expand...

Of course you can - I have half a dozen. And half a dozen full sized ;)
558 M2 x 2
558 S30V
552 M2 x 2
552 S30V
551 154CM
551 D2
556 440C
556 D2
555HG 154CM
550HG 154CM
 
My full sized Dejavoo is as flawless as any knife I own. I've never bought a Benchmade, Spyderco or a Kershaw that had a bad sticky lock or any type of blade play. If I want a new knife and order one of those brands, I don't give a second thought about it being about as close to perfect as a production knife gets.
 
I have never had a ritter grip, but you might want to consider getting a mini-rukus, especially if you cant justify a new grip, in is amazing. It has s30v steel, g10 micarta and the axis lock all forged into one amazing knife.
 
I think the mini Dejavoo is one of the best folders BM has come up with.
IMO,if you are gripping the knife that hard,or twisting your hand on it in certain ways to try to get the lock to fail,as a test,well,then,I think you will be able to get it to fail.But,for normal usuge,in reality,it won't fail.Now if you use your folder that hard & aggressively,well then,I think you need a fixed blade,'cause all folders,have a pivot,some with locks,and they have limitations as to how secure they will be
 
If you are trying to figure out how to disengage any locking folder while you are gripping it with one hand, I'm certain you will be able to. They all unlock with pressure, so even an axis lock, or a lock-back will unlock given the exact force on it. No matter if you apply it with a finger to unlock it on purpose or with a single hand gripping it. You can use a non-locking blade all the time if you use it for what it is designed for (to cut) without having it fold on you. One lock-back that has a safe on it that would be very hard IMO to close with a gripping hand is the Extreme Ratio (or the hated Dark Ops as well) because it has a rather stiff cross-bolt old fashioned gun type safety across the back of it's lock. You have to push it off (or on) to disengage the stout locking bar.
 
New out of the box, the liner lock on my mini Dejavoo didn't engage completely -- but after a short period, it settled in and locks up very solid. Its not a combat or survival knife but is plenty solid for EDC.
If the only criteria is the strongest lock -- I agree, the axis design qualifies as being more solid -- but as far as being a strong and capable knife, the Dejavoo is a great design. One of my favorite folders.:thumbup:
 
I don't see any problems with my mini or regular sized Dejavoo. They are awesome folders. The liner lock is as good as any other liner lock and I have had no problems. The only thing I have heard is that you might want to remove the pivot screw and apply some loc-tite to it.

The Dejavoo is one of the best looking knives Benchmade has manufactured in my opinion. You cannot go wrong with a Bob Lum design and now that he has passed away its a great tribute to him if you carry one.

I think we read so much about different locks that we are afraid to try anything that is not the "norm" for us. The liner lock has been a proven lock design for a long time and while some may do it better than others you shouldn't have a problem with a liner lock from most well-known companies. Yes, the Benchmade axis lock is a great lock but for everyday use other locks serve your needs just as well.
 
Steven Andrews said:
I received a 745 the other day but sent it back.
Sticky lock, side to side blade play, a pinch in the butt end of one of the liners that caused gaps between the liners and the scales..and a blade that very nearly touched the liner when closed.

Benchmade definitely do Axis Locks best.



Of course you can - I have half a dozen. And half a dozen full sized ;)
558 M2 x 2
558 S30V
552 M2 x 2
552 S30V
551 154CM
551 D2
556 440C
556 D2
555HG 154CM
550HG 154CM
Click to expand...

The "sticking" of the liner lock may be caused by the blade play you mentioned. In many cases if the blade is able to wobble even just slightly, the face (contact surface) of the liner lock and the blades tang ramp (contact surface) may not lockup up consistently/ correctly. Blade play can be adjusted or eliminated with the pivot bolt adjustment. This is not uncommon with knives arriving fresh from the factory. And it is not necessarily a defect nor quality control issue. It is interesting to note that often times the "sticking" will disappear after a short while of working the blades action. Sometimes some "wearing in" is needed(?) I prefer to have my liner lock folders display some slight stickiness. This tells me that the lock up is still biting consistently. ;)

The BM Deja Voo series are fine quality users, if used for cutting!

N.

www.dozierknives.com/forum
 
I have no problems with mine. The blade is centered when open and closed, with no blade play. It locks up with the full liner just contacting the tang, so while mine's new I don't see any problems developing with wear.
 
Nakano 2 said:
Blade play can be adjusted or eliminated with the pivot bolt adjustment. This is not uncommon with knives arriving fresh from the factory. And it is not necessarily a defect nor quality control issue.
www.dozierknives.com/forum
Click to expand...

I tried adjusting the pivot, but even with the pivot screw screwed down as far as it would travel there was still play.
Unfortunately this, added to the other defects, meant that it had to go back.
 
The dejavoo is a well designed well built knife. It is a very smooth and functional tool. That being said. If you want a "HARD USE" knife then get an axis lock or a beefy framelock. but if you want a light to medium use EDC knife then the dejavoo should easily meet that need.

For a hard use knife I have only held, used, and trust one liner-lock. And that is of the benchmade 425/426 snody gravitator. The titanium liners are thicker then some framelocks i have seen.
 
SplittinHairs said:
New out of the box, the liner lock on my mini Dejavoo didn't engage completely -- but after a short period, it settled in and locks up very solid. Its not a combat or survival knife but is plenty solid for EDC.
If the only criteria is the strongest lock -- I agree, the axis design qualifies as being more solid -- but as far as being a strong and capable knife, the Dejavoo is a great design. One of my favorite folders.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

I had the same experience. Mine broke in within one evening. The lock is solid with no play.

I love the Mini Dejavoo! It has become my favorite folder. I have several Griptillians including the Ritter, but prefer the Mini Dejavoo due to the G10 handles and the size. The S30V blade is a great slicer similar to the Rittergrip.
 
BenchMade did pretty good on that one but the detent ball does not hold as it should on a lot of them. Most every Dejavoo I have handled whether it be the mini or the full has been basically a gravity knife because the ball did absolutely nothing to keep the blade closed as it should.

Its for this reason I refuse to make clips for them tip up carry and mount them for customers.

STR
 
Eek, STR, really?

I had this problem with every CRKT M16 I ever handled, but I put Benchmade above that...

Sad.

-j
 
My full sized black blade, I can just barely move my hand and the blade falls out and goes fully open. I rather like it opening easy. I've got plenty of other knives that don't open very easily. Nothing wrong with having a really easy opening blade for a change, IMO.
 
jill jackson said:
My full sized black blade, I can just barely move my hand and the blade falls out and goes fully open. I rather like it opening easy. I've got plenty of other knives that don't open very easily. Nothing wrong with having a really easy opening blade for a change, IMO.
Click to expand...

Well, technically speaking when the detent does not work the knife is illegal and it would be taken a high % of the time by law enforcement as a gravity knife Jill. The liner lock can be easy opening without a faulty detent though and when they work right I agree with you. Not to forget that if one was to set up a clip for tip up carry gravity can have its way with the blade even in the pocket. I've seen it cut people in the behind that carry their knife in the back pocket that way just from falling down in the woods.

I have yet to see a Dejavoo that would not fail the test officers do when they see a knife on someone and usually they have done this when I've witnessed it before measuring the blade if its obviously long looking to them.

Just FYI. Gravity knives are in the same class as automatic knives and balisongs in most states. So many liner locks being made with ineffective detent balls are the reason they are proposing outlawing liner locks altogether in NY if it has not already been done BTW.

STR
 
Autos aren't illegal here in KY. and they are classed as deadly weapons. You can own them carry them NOT concealed, same as you can openly carry any length blade and a firearm. Now if you conceal any of those you will need a concealed weapons permit. (which I will be acquiring when I turn 21 this year) I don't know about gravity knives, out here in the country, the police tend to leave us alone if we are law abiding about such things as knives and firearms. I guess I just don't consider how hard some states and cities can be on something we here think very little about.
 
Must be nice to live where you can carry an auto. That'd be nice. Still though many folks that live in legal states travel and those that live in the country, while generally of little concern should know that they may want to carry deep, or switch carry knives before traveling to a more urbanized area or public event, especially if they live in a state where a gravity knife is an illegal item. If convicted you face a misdomenor and if nothing else a fine and the loss of the knife if they are lucky. Not to mention the attorney and court cost fees.

I saw a guys Emerson knife taken from him once at a MayFest celebration just for the gravity knife law. My feelings on this are that these companies know and when liner locks are made illegal in NY it will set the wheels in motion for Illinois, Kansas and any other big red F state for firearms and knives in line to follow suit. Once that happens we can thank the companies not building them properly in large part.

I have some customers that are police officers in NY and according to them so many liner locks are confiscated there every year that the law is now staring at serious changes. The last thing we want to see here is a lot of convervatives making all locking folders borderline like is going on in other countries.

STR
 
Both my large and small Dejavoo's came out of the box a little sticky with the lock lined up flush left on the tang. Opening and closing them a few dozen times worked them in just fine. Initially I used a little #2 pencil to put some graphite on the angled cut on the tang to smooth things out, but after a week both are working in.

Normally I don't like large knives, but I find I like the 740 even better than my 745. These models use a deep pocket clip, so combined with great handles make an easy carry.

BTW - a great many of my liner locks, both Emerson and Benchmade came home tight, and all worked in after use just fine. I think it comes with the design~!
 
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