Good point and well taken Joe. I had it in my head that they first hit the market in mass in like mid 2001.
When the first coil type autos came out they appeared quite good also but then there were reports of failings and problems years later and I believe I recall manufacturers making bigger springs to replace older less hefty ones.
I believe that the Ken Onion 'assisted openers' by Kershaw were out for a few years also before many reports in a wave all at around the same time hit the forums of the torsion springs breaking in them. Springs bigger than the ones in the Axis locks too.
Earlier when I said I had the opportunity to handle one and repair it that is not the whole story. I had the opportunity to look at two actually at separate times. One came to me in pieces completely broke down. On the other some months later that had a broken spring, which I fixed, the lock was doing anything but working properly. In fact in engaged sometimes and at others it didn't go in far enough and needed help to fully engage.
Anyway, I saw the size of the springs in these knives and it just caused me to think that maybe they were 'fragile' for lack of a better word. The other thing I didn't really care for in the Ritter knives I examined is the unsecured stop pin for the blade. When I lossened the pivot pin on the Ritter I repaired that stop pin fell out before anything else was out.
I much prefer having stops that are secured with a small set screw or making a whole bar incorporating the spacer bar and stop pin in one piece on even my liner locks. This way it isn't prone to moving around or falling out if the pivot gets lose. I have not brought this up to cause a stir so please don't think that. It was just my honest observation after seeing the insides of the Ritter knives.
I have no doubt that Bench Made would cover it should something occur. Just my own opinion that in the world of knives even since the dates you gave it isn't really much time when a majority of those sold are most likely 'safe queens' anyway that are opened and closed only on an infrequent basis.
For those that carry them daily I have read both pros and cons. I am most likely to end up with one as I did like the look and feel of the knife for the most part. Perhaps a bit small for my hands but I'm sure there are other models now besides the ones I got in my hands.
To further try to explain my apprehension on the axis: I have no problem admitting that I am just a self taught back yard mechanic and yet I have already had two of the Ritters into my humble shop for repair. Both were modified slightly by the owners and the people that owned them thought they would not be covered under warranty by BM (rightfully so) so that is how they came to me for repairs. The first one is the one that led to the second one coming to me that I mentioned earlier with the broke spring. I published the repair of that first one on my home page and the second owner read about it and then contacted me about his.
To explain further. Bear with me I know it is getting into book level by now.
On the first one it had been modified by the owner trying to make the handle fit the hand better. In the process the springs popped out from under the handle and literally were not in proper working order at all. Granted this is not BM's fault nor a design flaw. I am not trying to say that it is.
After some discussion with the owner as to his options once I got the knife from overseas (Netherlands FWTW) to look it over he elected to save the S30V blade and pay a little for a new folder body from me rather than send it back to BM for a hefty replacement or repair fee.
I informed him of the fact that my work was all by hand, and that there was no way for me to remake the liners and handles keeping it an 'axis lock' because of the machining necessary. It was quite simply beyond my ability to remake it the way it was. I just don't have those kind of tools at my disposal.
With his consent I salvaged it best I could. He still carries it and uses it but it will never be as strong a lock as it once had even with a .063 frame lock thickness liner lock on it. It is strong though, just not as strong as the axis was by any stretch of the imagination.
I did manage to make it in such a way that he could go back to an original axis locking body should he not like what I did though. So far at this point that has not happened. His reference to me when he got it back was that it was a true 'tank of a knife'.
Perhaps seeing the two I handled fall apart at the slightest problem with the springs started me off on the wrong foot with them Joe. I concede that first impressions are pretty strong influences with me and that you do make a good case in their favor. At this writing though, that is the best I can give on it. I do appreciate where you are coming from though and thank you for giving me the update on the Axis locks true age.
Here is the repaired one I made the new body for.
I created just enough of a flat spot for the side lock to secure the blade but not enough to keep the old axis lock from working just fine (tested out to make sure) should the owner decide to go back to that at another time. In the mean time he could at least get some use out of that great blade while making up his mind.
after
before
