Had it with the Axis lock.

Originally posted by peacefuljeffrey
Is there nowhere they can be obtained except for Benchmade?
Click to expand...

Im not exactly sure but I would think the springs for the SOG arclock would work fine. I was thinking about hitting them up for some.
I agree about the warranty voiding issue. I see no reason why the owner can't do simple maintenance on a simple knife!:rolleyes: :mad:
I wish BM or somebody would try my idea of a single large wide flat spring!!:mad:
I may have to my dam self one of these days.
 
I certainly hope you had some faulty springs. I have used the crap out of my 710, including snapping it open repeatedly every day and no sign of failure. Of course if one does break someday, I will gladly send it to BM for repairs. This is the best production knife I've had to date.
 
From what I heard the original 710 axis locks had a "shallower" spring pocket that could cause the spring to rub and eventually break. They changed that and carried that change over to all of the models since.

I'm curious, out of all the forumites that have had broken springs, are they mainly the older models/versions- 710/705/720/730's?

As for a folding knife you can rely on, get a bali-song! :D Truely a folding fixed blade!
 
update: More great customer service from BM.
My 710HS came back today, and it has new scales, new clip, new springs, new spacer, new washers, and a freshly sharpened edge (~30 degrees included:)). Aside from the blade, it might as well be a brand new knife. It opens smoothly, and locks up rock solid, with no play in any direction.
Angie is gone to SHOT, so I haven't had the chance to talk to her about whether the scales were the problem or not.

I've been rethinking my gripes about the Axis when it comes to long term wear, though. Getting the springs/lockbar replaced is free, and pretty quick. This is a cheap and simple fix for a worn lock that is easier than, say, having the lock side of a frame lock replaced.
Maybe I haven't had it with the Axis lock, after all...
 
Originally posted by Cargun
Yeah, I can feel your pain. On my first 710 (ats-34, square skeletonizing of liners) I broke 4 springs in 1.5 years. I never sent it in until both were broken and can say with confidence that having 1 broken spring in no way hinders the function of the lock.
Click to expand...

I disagree completely. When one of my springs broke on my Ares, it DID make the lock unsafe. It depends on where the spring breaks. In my case, there was a little stub of metal still attached to the lock bar, which kept getting caught on the inside of the scales. It prevented the knife from fully locking, and allowed the blade to come partially open in my pocket! :eek: I CUT MY THUMB TWICE when trying to retrieve it from my pocket. :mad: (there was a busy week at work when I couldn't do without it, or I'd have sent it back sooner)

Lots and lots of broken spring stories in this thread, guys. You still want to try to convince me there's nothing wrong with the design, and my breakage was one in a million? It would be very easy for Benchmade to change to a much stronger coil spring design. I've never seen a post like this about liner locks.
 
Lots and lots of broken spring stories in this thread, guys.
Click to expand...
Let's see, there's mine, and there's the gentleman you quoted...and yours.
I don't call that lots and lots, but it's still three more than I'd want to hear about.
For the moment, I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt, and assume I had bad springs or scale pockets to begin with, and see how this knife does over time.
I'm curious about latchless's question about which models have had problems, too. me-710 cargun-710 you-730
I'm also not sure I'd call a spring giving out a design flaw, though it does seem to be an obvious compromise that may or not make up for the lock's strengths. I prefer fixed blades, but a folder is so much more convenient sometimes, and I guess there's no free lunch, no matter which lock we talk about.
 
Im curious if the springs broke while the knife was in the open position or more likely while it was being opened or closed? In which case, it didnt actually fail (at least when it counts, that is IN USE)
Seems to me the Axis design gives the most warning of a failure more than any other before your in any danger, you have to break both springs before you'd get a real failure ie, having the blade come down on your knuckles,plus they probably only break while opening or closing. Even if both broke you can hold the lockbar in position easily in a jam. A broken spring or springs isn't necassarily a failure of the lock per se, just a failure to lock into position automatically....BIG DIFFERENCE!!
If i had to rely on a locking folder, I'd gladly rely on the Axis with my life due it's abilty to still function manually even with no springs at all, wear proof design, ease of cleaning the lock out, resistance to failing even with slippery crap on the lockbar and awesome outright strength.
When a liner type lock or lockback finally wears, or gets enough slick stuff on the tang there's no warning at all when it fails, plus it will only fail when you would least want it to fail, that is in use with your knuckles in the way of the blade.
The Axis lock is the benchmark to live up to in lock mechs , all that survival stuff is just icing on the cake anyways, for everyday ease of use, reliability, strength and smoothness, there's no finer design. I wouldn't sweat about those springs for a second for any of you considering an Axis lock equipped Benchmade as your next knife, the springs are just a nicety, not a total neccesity.
all just my .02 of course.
 
I've had my 730 Ares for 2 years, it sees constant use, it's opened at least 20-30 times a day, the Omega Springs have been fine, I gotta believe that the breaking springs, are the result of a bad heat treat.
 
Matteo, Full tang/fixed blade rules!!!:)

In those situations where a fixed blade may not fit, I am partial to the frame lock ala Chris Reeve's Sebenza, Tom Mayo's folders including the new Buck-Mayo, Mission MPF, BM Pinnacle 750 (discontinued):( and the like. This is not to say that I do not also like the lockback as I have many years of buck 110 lockback service to look back upon favorably as well as the Spyderco Chinook and to be announced Chinook on-a-diet.

I really like the 710 because of it's handle fit to my hand and blade shape - even if it is an axis lock.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top