Compression lock or Axis Lock, which would you trust more in the outdoors?

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csisland

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Aug 8, 2013
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I have neither one but have read good things about both, but which one would you want more for outdoors, camping, and general trustworthiness?
 
para 2 is honestly my favorite knife of all time, great lockup, easy to use etc.
 
Being left handed I find the compression lock a bit awkward to use.

I prefer the ambidextrousness of the Axis.
 
If you're apprehensive about a lock mechanism on a folder and need extra assurance get a folder that has a secondary lock. For instance, Benchmade 581 (Axis lock), many folders manufactured by LionSteel with RotoBlock (frame lock), Hogue, (button lock), some Fox Knives (lock back), etc.
 
Have not used compression lock yet, but I find my 710 axis lock to be quite strong for outdoor use.
 
If you are putting enough stress on a lock to be worried about it failing, get a fixed blade, especially in the outdoors. But to answer your question, I'd rate those about the same. Of all the locking knives I have, I would rate the bolt action lock on my Sage 3 as the least likely to fail. I've also heard good things about the ball in cage lock on the Manix 2.
 
csisland said:
I have neither one but have read good things about both, but which one would you want more for outdoors, camping, and general trustworthiness?
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I've used knives with both locking systems in hiking / camping / outdoor tasks for years. The AXIS locks were in a variety of Benchmades (Grips, Bone Collectors, Presidios, Rifts). The compression locks were only in the Para 1 and 2 models. Honestly, the performance of the overall knife package is more my focus than either of those locking systems. Both are far stronger than required for that kind of work... both are dependable and work fine either right or left handed for me.

If I really had to pick a point to hammer on, the only thing I can think of is that the Paras with their open construction and very simple compression lock design are easier to keep clean. I have personally experienced one instance only of an AXIS lock on a mini-Grip having enough gunk in it to keep it from engaging the blade enough to lock it open. The problem was readily visible when I examined the knife and it was easily remedied with a little running water and blowing out the lock area. And that was a mini-Grip with a very compact lock area. A larger AXIS knife like a Rift or a large BC with more "drop-through" space might not have had that issue at all.

I do find that an AXIS lock is easier for me to use with either hand, even though I'm quite capable of using a RH compression lock with my left hand. It's just a bit more awkward to do it left-handed..
 
I'd go with a fixed blade for outdoors use honestly.

But if it must be a folder, I'd say compression lock. The Spydies with it are open back construction so it'd be easier to clean out if it gets dropped in dirt or sand or gets gunk inside. The one Axis Lock I have (BM Mini Grip) is a pain to clean out.
 
If you are in a situation where you are putting enough force on a spine of a folder to make the lock fail, well you have the wrong knife. Get a fixed blade. But any folder used within a folders limits, any modern lock will do.

Both the compression and the axis are great locks and if you are worried that one will give you that slight edge.....then seriously....just get a fixed blade.
 
If only those 2, axis.

but c'mon, folders are mostly food prep outdoors, why would a lock fail haha
 
I like the Axis lock more than the compression lock.
I've had 2 para 2's, and own none now. But it wasn't the lock that turned me off.
In terms of reliability in the field, its a tossup to me. More moving parts with the axis, but a lot has to go wrong for either to fail.
 
+1 for what rodent said... If you're using it hard enough to be worried about the lock, you ought to be using a fixed blade.
 
Screwdriver said:
If you are in a situation where you are putting enough force on a spine of a folder to make the lock fail, well you have the wrong knife.
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olybears57 said:
+1 for what rodent said... If you're using it hard enough to be worried about the lock, you ought to be using a fixed blade.
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To be fair to the OP, let's keep in mind that not all locking mechanism failures are necessarily the direct result of an overabundance of brute force being applied to the knife. Some lock types can be induced to fail by exerting a very particular, but not overly strenuous, rocking or twisting motion on the blade. Other lock types are more prone to disengagement when the knife is gripped in a certain way.

In the specific comparison being requested in this thread, some small allowance needs to be made for the fact that the Omega springs in an Axis lock can fail for reasons unrelated to the application of tremendous force. I think it's fair to say that these occurrences are exceedingly rare, but they are, nonetheless, within the realm of possibility. While a big fan of both lock types, I might therefor be inclined to give the compression lock design a very slight edge in terms of real world reliability.
 
Jastab said:
Both would be fine
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I agree. Both will serve you well.

Personally speaking , I prefer the Axis. I do also like the Compression very much. But the Axis I feel is slightly more sturdy.

But again , both are great locks.
 
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