El-04 stiff axis lock

[spdct]

Get the real deal ....gesh...buy a freaking Benchmade and you 'll have no worries...

 

[Galeocerdoshark]

Get the real deal ....gesh...buy a freaking Benchmade and you 'll have no worries...

Tssh, aside from ethics as to wether or not they "copied", "stole" or were "licensed" to use the axis lock, I find this a strange remark.
This always comes up in similar discussions, but always when people talk about the axis lock. I find this a weird argument, 'the real deal'...

Tell me, what knife should I buy if I want 'the real deal' on a linerlock? On a framelock? Do I have to buy a sebenza for 'the real deal framelock'? Or are there other framelocks that work too? My guess is: there are and they work too.

On the 'no worries' part: I've seen both the springs on Chinese axis locks as on Benchmade axis lock break after periods of time. None are perfect. Springs just wear out pretty easy...
That's why I think the axis lock is fun to play with, and it works, but I think it's one of the easiest locks to fail eventually.

To the OP: it's common with larger Enlan knives that the axis lock is stiff. I wouldn't worry about it for the $$ you spent on it. In the same category, get a SRM 763 as Chris stated, that's one done right. If you don't mind spending the $$, get a Benchmade as others have stated. Spyderco does have a similar lock, the ball bearing. Although it works completely different internally, you can still play/flick with the knife as with an axis lock blade.

 

[spdct]

Its hard to believe that the Enlan axis is on par with the Benchmade one....there are many factors that make the Benchmade better - steel , laser cut ,- not to that we talk about a chinese maker who uses chinese steel....

 

[Galeocerdoshark]

Who ever said they would be on par? Enlan does not market their knives as such, nor does SRM. I find it somewhat strange if people say: hey my lock is sticky, that someone else comments: well, you should buy knife X in the price range times 5 then!
I just find it a weird discussion, that's all. It's just that I always see the same discussion on this type of lock. I've never seen anybody come around and say: hey, you should by the knife/brand X over knife/brand Y because their framelock is so much better/smoother/laser cut/branded 'made in USA'.
I'm not going to say the framelock on my Kershaw Cryo is on par with the framelock on a Hinderer. But does the lock close the knife? Yes. Are you able to open it? Yes. Ok, that's good then. It doesn't have to be 'on par' to work, imo. Same thing applies to the axis lock or any other lock. Anyway, this is getting off topic, sorry for that.

 

[100eyes]

I've never seen anybody come around and say: hey, you should by the knife/brand X over knife/brand Y because their framelock is so much better/smoother/laser cut/branded 'made in USA'.

Uh, ok.

I'm not going to say the framelock on my Kershaw Cryo is on par with the framelock on a Hinderer. But does the lock close the knife? Yes. Are you able to open it? Yes. Ok, that's good then. It doesn't have to be 'on par' to work, imo. Same thing applies to the axis lock or any other lock. Anyway, this is getting off topic, sorry for that.

Completely off topic. The matter at hand is not whether Chinese Axis is functional - the OP complained about the feel of the lock and people suggested authentic Benchmade Axis as it's smoother.

 

[Dorito Monk]

Its hard to believe that the Enlan axis is on par with the Benchmade one....there are many factors that make the Benchmade better - steel , laser cut ,- not to that we talk about a chinese maker who uses chinese steel....

Which benchmade?

Which Enlan?

Have you owned some of each? What knives are you comparing? I have, and I can tell you that Benchmade isn't so hot in the fit and finish department - they quite a bit of shoddy stuff pass Quality Control, especially considering their price tags.

I've owned three Benchmades to date - Two Presidios (~150$ knives) and an Alias (~180$ knife) all three have had all manner of irreparable blade play, (either side to side, up-and-down, or both) one of them had two broken omega springs in the space of a month or so, and one of them had a faulty lock that will disengage if you put even pressure on the spine of the knife when it's open. All 3 of the Benchmades I've owned have had sloppy or even outright faulty mechanisms. :thumbdn:

"Get a real benchmade and you'll have no worries"? I've owned three 'real benchmades' and have had more problems with them than with the rest of the knives I've owned combined.

I have a Ganzo (14$ made in china knife) axis lock knife that came from the factory with zero blade play in any direction, and very decent fit and finish all around. It went through all kinds of use and abuse without breaking an omega spring or loosening up all that much, performed very well, and cost less than 10% of what my Benchmades cost. There are many factors that make the Ganzo better - not breaking, not disengaging for no reason, not costing me fat wads of cash to ship back to the factory for repairs again and again...

The contest between 'real benchmades' and chinese-made axis locks is not all that clear cut. Benchmade produces a surprising amount of junk - Chinese makers produce a surprising number of gems. :thumbup:

Rant over. Don't knock a knife till you've tried it.

 

[Scurvy092]

Tssh, aside from ethics as to wether or not they "copied", "stole" or were "licensed" to use the axis lock, I find this a strange remark.
This always comes up in similar discussions, but always when people talk about the axis lock. I find this a weird argument, 'the real deal'...

Tell me, what knife should I buy if I want 'the real deal' on a linerlock? On a framelock? Do I have to buy a sebenza for 'the real deal framelock'? Or are there other framelocks that work too? My guess is: there are and they work too.

On the 'no worries' part: I've seen both the springs on Chinese axis locks as on Benchmade axis lock break after periods of time. None are perfect. Springs just wear out pretty easy...
That's why I think the axis lock is fun to play with, and it works, but I think it's one of the easiest locks to fail eventually.

To the OP: it's common with larger Enlan knives that the axis lock is stiff. I wouldn't worry about it for the $$ you spent on it. In the same category, get a SRM 763 as Chris stated, that's one done right. If you don't mind spending the $$, get a Benchmade as others have stated. Spyderco does have a similar lock, the ball bearing. Although it works completely different internally, you can still play/flick with the knife as with an axis lock blade.

Who ever said they would be on par? Enlan does not market their knives as such, nor does SRM. I find it somewhat strange if people say: hey my lock is sticky, that someone else comments: well, you should buy knife X in the price range times 5 then!
I just find it a weird discussion, that's all. It's just that I always see the same discussion on this type of lock. I've never seen anybody come around and say: hey, you should by the knife/brand X over knife/brand Y because their framelock is so much better/smoother/laser cut/branded 'made in USA'.
I'm not going to say the framelock on my Kershaw Cryo is on par with the framelock on a Hinderer. But does the lock close the knife? Yes. Are you able to open it? Yes. Ok, that's good then. It doesn't have to be 'on par' to work, imo. Same thing applies to the axis lock or any other lock. Anyway, this is getting off topic, sorry for that.

I hate to nitpick but you do understand that Benchmade owns the patent on the Axis lock right? That means the Chinese manufacturers literally did steal the design because per the law, Benchmade should be the only one who can make an Axis lock knife.

I'm under the impression that while Walker and Reeves trademarked the 'Walker Liner Lock' and the Reeve Integral Lock' names but did not patent the technology and that is why people can use them without being sued by Walker/Reeve or be forced to pay a fee to license the technology.

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

Back to stiff opening, I've had a couple of knives, including a Sebenza, come out of the box "stiff". I did not want to play with the pivot, so I used Tuff Glide or Nano to lube the area around the pivots, and just kept working the blade. It seemed to improved the stiffness by 25% or so. An like they say, better to have one too tight than too loose.

 

[100eyes]

Don't knock a knife till you've tried it.

I've handled 5 Ganzos including two that I own. They all had the quality of a cheap Chinese knife.

I've owned around 20 Benchmades maybe? One of which was the HK 14205, the knife that the Ganzo is copied off of. It's not even a comparison, they are in different leagues.

 

[FlaMtnBkr]

How many years has it been now since you have owned a Benchmade? You owned a couple of their knives, had the world worst luck, and now can't let a post go by that mentions AXIS lock. You really need to try another one if you are going to keep up your AXIS hate. I'm curious why you don't wonder about other people who have had magnitudes more Benchmades than you without any problems?

Since Benchmade has the patent and rights to the design, it's not surprising that a Chinese copy might not be up to par. For those that don't see anything wrong with stealing the design, then I guess you won't mind me making a copy of your credit card? They are both just a little lost money from the pocket. No big deal, right? Unless it's your stuff that is being stolen.

A junk lock, on a junk copied knife, is just karma in my book.

Which benchmade?

Which Enlan?

Have you owned some of each? What knives are you comparing? I have, and I can tell you that Benchmade isn't so hot in the fit and finish department - they quite a bit of shoddy stuff pass Quality Control, especially considering their price tags.

I've owned three Benchmades to date - Two Presidios (~150$ knives) and an Alias (~180$ knife) all three have had all manner of irreparable blade play, (either side to side, up-and-down, or both) one of them had two broken omega springs in the space of a month or so, and one of them had a faulty lock that will disengage if you put even pressure on the spine of the knife when it's open. All 3 of the Benchmades I've owned have had sloppy or even outright faulty mechanisms. :thumbdn:

"Get a real benchmade and you'll have no worries"? I've owned three 'real benchmades' and have had more problems with them than with the rest of the knives I've owned combined.

I have a Ganzo (14$ made in china knife) axis lock knife that came from the factory with zero blade play in any direction, and very decent fit and finish all around. It went through all kinds of use and abuse without breaking an omega spring or loosening up all that much, performed very well, and cost less than 10% of what my Benchmades cost. There are many factors that make the Ganzo better - not breaking, not disengaging for no reason, not costing me fat wads of cash to ship back to the factory for repairs again and again...

The contest between 'real benchmades' and chinese-made axis locks is not all that clear cut. Benchmade produces a surprising amount of junk - Chinese makers produce a surprising number of gems. :thumbup:

Rant over. Don't knock a knife till you've tried it.

 

[Dorito Monk]

How many years has it been now since you have owned a Benchmade? You owned a couple of their knives, had the world worst luck, and now can't let a post go by that mentions AXIS lock. You really need to try another one if you are going to keep up your AXIS hate. I'm curious why you don't wonder about other people who have had magnitudes more Benchmades than you without any problems?

Have I stepped on your pet brand or something?

I own two of them right now. A Presidio and an Alias. I do use the Presidio quite a bit, but the Alias is outright dangerous. I've spent ~500$ on Benchmades, plus 60-80$ on shipping to have them repaired - perhaps not much money to some folks, but to me, that's a lot of cash. I've tried Benchmade several times, and several times they've come up lacking. There have definitely been things about each knife that I really like, but on the whole I haven't been happy with them. I don't intend to keep buying them until I find one I'm satisfied with, but thanks anyway for your advice.

"Well, lots of people have owned TONS of benchmades each and are happy with them, so what's wrong with you that you aren't happy with yours? You have to keep buying them or your opinions are invalid!"

I don't know why "people who have had magnitudes more Benchmades than me" haven't encountered the same problems I have. Maybe their knives really are just perfect in every way. Maybe they don't have any problems with their 200 benchmades because the knives sit in a drawer 24/7 and never see the light of day. Maybe I'm unjustly harsh on Benchmade. Since I can't know one way or another, it would be pretty dense of me to go making assumptions, or to imply that their opinions are somehow invalid because they're contrary to mine.

 

[100eyes]

Maybe it's the owner.

 

[Dorito Monk]

Maybe it's the owner.

Yeah, I'm the reason my Ganzo works and my Alias doesn't. You found out my secret, kiddo - and I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling children.

A+ trolling, would read again. :thumbup: