Ganzo Axis Lock Folding knife

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blackjackdan08

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I saw this Ganzo Axis Lock Folding knives being sold on the web...despite being made in china, this knife looks like its made from decent materials...blade is 440C...looks like benchmade knives but for 20 bucks...anyone have a review on these knives..
 
Look over in the Knife Review section. I think there is a review for several brands. Even if Ganzo is not named, pretty much everything that is said about the brands that do appear is applicable to the Ganzo brand since these are mostly made by the same people and factories ( the manufacturing part is my opinion from some reading at different places).
 
Check SRM, Bee, Navy and Enlan thread as Cutter said. the 440C is either 7Cr13MoV or 8Cr or 9Cr. I have Navy 440C that is very similar to 8Cr13MoV based on sharpening and usage.
 
It's not an AXIS lock, it's an unlicensed, unapproved, unlawful knockoff of the patented design and trademarked name. Nor is it 440C, it's some nuclear launch code Chinese analog of it. Trust such a company at your own risk to your fingers and your conscience.
 
Planterz said:
It's not an AXIS lock, it's an unlicensed, unapproved, unlawful knockoff of the patented design and trademarked name. Nor is it 440C, it's some nuclear launch code Chinese analog of it. Trust such a company at your own risk to your fingers and your conscience.
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While it's not an "Axis" lock by name, it's a copy of Benchmade's Axis lock. I am not entirely clear on this, but I'm pretty sure it's legal as Benchmade's patents likely only apply in the United States (there are no international patents). So Ganzo can produce a copy on their knives for domestic sale within China, and it's 100% legal. What they may NOT do is resell those knives in the United States, nor can any retailers. That's why you see these knives only being sold by international shipment from outside the US to a buyer inside the US.

Even that I believe is legal (as a buyer), although I'm not 100% sure.

EDIT: Having handled some of these knives I should say that the Axis lock is not nearly as nice as Benchmade's, mainly because the springs are too strong and the lock buttons have sharp edges.
 
drbobguy said:
While it's not an "Axis" lock by name, it's a copy of Benchmade's Axis lock.
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Every description of such knives describes it as an Axis lock, including on their own websites.
I am not entirely clear on this, but I'm pretty sure it's legal as Benchmade's patents likely only apply in the United States (there are no international patents). So Ganzo can produce a copy on their knives for domestic sale within China, and it's 100% legal.
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And that makes it A-OK in your mind, does it? Right is right, and wrong is wrong. There's things that men are legally allowed to do to women in certain countries that make the rest of the world sick, but that doesn't make it "OK". "Legal" doesn't mean "right", and just because someone can get away with something, that doesn't make it OK to do.

Regardless, even if it's "legal" for companies like SRM/Enlan/Bee/Ganzo to steal patents and trademarks for "domestic sale", that's clearly not their intention or action, as they're obviously selling wholesale to other markets, including the one (USA) that you say would be illegal to do so.

People like you can and will tell yourself whatever you can to justify this kind of thievery just so you can get what you think is a "good deal" on a knife, but those of us who aren't treading water in moral quicksand know better and will oppose the unethical and ultimately destructive thievery that those companies practice.
 
You stepped in it now. The questionable ethics of buying a blatant copy really set some people off, so get ready to get told how horrible of a person you are for being interested in them at all (ethically, it falls somewhere between the guy that finds $5 bucks on the ground and keeps it, and Pol Pot).

Now as far as the knife goes (not the company), the Axis copy works well enough. As said above the springs are much more stiff than an actual axis lock. Whether this means that it will wear better (some people say Benchmade's Axis locks break like cheap plastic forks, I disagree) remains to be seen. All in all, they are a decent deal, and work just fine, if you can find some way to live with being a horrible evil bastard that hates puppies and freedom.
 
bobusx said:
You stepped in it now. The questionable ethics of buying a blatant copy really set some people off, so get ready to get told how horrible of a person you are for being interested in them at all (ethically, it falls somewhere between the guy that finds $5 bucks on the ground and keeps it, and Pol Pot).

All in all, they are a decent deal, and work just fine, if you can find some way to live with being a horrible evil bastard that hates puppies and freedom.
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Hahaha, well put. :thumbup:

blackjackdan08: Don't let the buttmad forumites get you down. Every time someone makes a thread about Chinese knives these guys pop out of the woodwork to tell you how Chinese knives are Bad and you should Feel Bad.

There are a few video reviews of Ganzo axis lock knives on Youtube you might want to check out:

http://youtu.be/hogVYZMJ-4I
http://youtu.be/QHeyyOEKin4
http://youtu.be/Xi-GH2lS88s

Just type it into your search engine of choice - there are quite a few out there.
 
Ah.... Yes.....Cheap Chinese Knives....



DSCF3837.jpg
 
From the looks of the "axis" lock itself,but i could be wrong,it looks like the "omega" springs go to a different area where they hook to the frame.. if this is so, i wonder if that might be a weak point or would not have good strength compared to the real axis lock. & i wonder what those omega springs are made of? if its cheap wire, they can fail alot quicker...
 
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I started out buying cheap folders, because I didn't know better. I noticed things about them that could have been better, and that started me looking for higher quality knives. I try to keep my hobby in check, but the search for a "better" knife keeps getting more expensive.

Be careful of these Chinese made folders: morality aside, they are a "gateway knife"!
 
I have both of the Ganzo 704 models (old and new) and while they are quite nice, I wouldn't and I don't trust the locking mechanism on them at all. Compared to my Enlan EL-002 (also "Axis-Lock"), they barely lock up. The Enlan locks up very nicely and decisively at about 4mm onto the back of the knife (looking at wear) and the springs are very strong and snap purposefully into place. The Ganzo 704 springs have about twice the amount of pressure as a regular ballpoint pen's clicker (not kidding) and feel almost toy-ish! Also, they only lock up at about 2mm onto the back of the knife (on a good day!), which is pretty much at the very edge of that ramp; so, I don't trust their lock at all. If I put just a little bit of pressure onto the back of the knife and barely move the locking buttons back, it immediately comes out of position! Having said that, I'm sure it can be modified. The original HK 14205 Snody Design is no longer available from Benchmade. If you can find one on eBay it's like 200-250 USD, so I can understand why the Ganzo 704 at around 10-20 USD shipped is a seller; but they aren't even close.

I reprofiled all of my chinese knives to 36° inclusive on a Tormek T-7 and have to say that the SanRenMu- and Enlan models felt like they had quality steel, whereas the Ganzo knives were way too easy to regrind, i.e. too soft or something. They did take a very keen egde, but I don't know how well they will hold up.

I have the blue K-602 (new version framelock) as well, but it doesn't compete with the BM Skirmish (large). The K-602 is OK, but flimsy. It is what it is and to be honest, I found it quite expensive at around 20 USD (not shipped) compared to my SanRenMus and Enlans, which are almost 3-4 times better in every way, yet half of the price. My Navy K-602 was a bit difficult to get a razor sharp edge on, but perhaps it was just my fault, since I put a convex edge on it -- although I usually get scary sharp convex edges and I sharpened a few knives for some friends who work in a sushi-resturaunt and they seem impressed.

I bought the 704s and K-602 primarily because I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and thought that if I was enamored with these designs I would buy the ones from BM. Unfortunately for BM I can't do so, as none of them are in production (I didn't know that before) and they have gone up in price on the second-hand market; so that's a no-go.

Regarding other so-called knock-offs, they are usually hybrid-inspirational-pieces and not copies. The only ones which come close visually are the Ganzo 704 models and the Navy K-602, but they can't ever be mistaken for the real thing, so they aren't copies.
 
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Every time a knife nut buys a knock off a puppy gets curb stomped.

best-puppy-food.png
 
LOL... why? If anything it should point them in the right direction; although some chinese knives like SRM and Enlan are brands to be reckoned with now. They make very good knives for the price, but yes: the balance is off, they're a bit heavy, the steel is just OK, blade-centering is usually off... and so on -- but for 5-15 dollars a pop they fulfill their purpose. They're great to have laying around or to bring along when you don't wanna lose or break your finer cutlery tools. To me, they fulfill the same purpose in the folding-world as Mora knives do in the fixed-blade-world; which is to be inexpensive expendable yet decent quality tools.
 
That Ganzo G704 is a blatant rip off of Benchmade's HK 14205. Buy the real deal and you won't be disappointed.
 
To the OP look up the older SRM, enlan, bee and navy threads. Amidst all the thrashing there are valid points to both sides and you'll get the tension you see here.

On a side note, congrats with your new purchase.
 
I'm edc'ing my ganzo 704 today. I like the bugger. It even went with me on my last trip to Nicaragua; have had it for like 6 months and haven't had any issues with it, locks good, smooth action, springs are a bit softer than my enlan but not something to get nightmares about... the way I see it, those 4 companies (Enlan, SRM, Ganzo, Bee) have stepped up the game in the cheap chinese folder realm with some decent quality knives at ridiculous prices.
 
While I understand a bit of this anger against the copy cat companies, it seems like an industry-specific thing. I don't see anyone getting up in arms when Burger king decides to make a carbon copy of one of McD's burgers. Knives, fast food, clothing, all consumables. If a man in china wants to make a similar product and get pennies for his labor and not sell it as the real thing and scam people, well I'm just fine with that.

(This being said I refuse to trust a non benchmade axis lock, this is an area where quality really counts IMO)
 
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bobusx said:
You stepped in it now. The questionable ethics of buying a blatant copy really set some people off, so get ready to get told how horrible of a person you are for being interested in them at all (ethically, it falls somewhere between the guy that finds $5 bucks on the ground and keeps it, and Pol Pot).

Now as far as the knife goes (not the company), the Axis copy works well enough. As said above the springs are much more stiff than an actual axis lock. Whether this means that it will wear better (some people say Benchmade's Axis locks break like cheap plastic forks, I disagree) remains to be seen. All in all, they are a decent deal, and work just fine, if you can find some way to live with being a horrible evil bastard that hates puppies and freedom.
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I agree.

I own a couple, the navy copy of the Sere 2k and a ganzo bm hk 14205 copy.

I hasten to add I've also shop bought the genuine Sere (which I had before I got the copy version) and 2 BM14205's (love that design) so feel I have paid my dues to the designers.

The copies are by no means as polished (so when I can afford the premium version, I get it) but they are excellent value.

It was handling the ganzo copy which inspired me to buy the 2 genuine BMs ( which I otherwise would certainly not've done. The knife design didn't appeal to me enough visually to put down that sort of money, but the copy felt so good in the hand I just had to have the premium version of the design. And a spare;) )

In the UK we just don't generally have B&M shops into which we can walk so as to try before we buy......

In my job I work to protect vulnerable people from exploitation. I don't think I'm a bad man. And I don't think Benchmade, Spyderco etc need me to cast moral aspersions on their behalf. I stick to just giving them my custom when I see a value in (and can afford) their product. When money is no object it's a no brainer. But that is not a frequent experience for me.

I leave other peoples buying proclivities to themselves.

These knives are value for money in my book and have taken the beatings I was loathe to give my precious'es. None of the cheap versions have turned to dust in my hands or maliciously tried to cut through my femoral yet.

We have a saying in the UK: "A bad workman blames his tools."

I just enjoy knives.

Ymmv
 
I have quite a few SRM, Enlan/Bee, Navy models. All are quite nice.

I only have two Ganzo's, which are supposed to be in same league, matter of fact they generally cost a little more than the others. But both of mine are "axis" locks, and both have some slight vertical play in blade, unlike any of the other brands. Except for this one aberration though, the materials are quite nice. And btw, there has been enough testing on these particular brands to assume that whatever steel they claim to be is valid.

- OS
 
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