How reliable are omega springs?

K

knife chop

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Feb 11, 2014
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I have a couple of Benchmades and I haven't had any issues with the omega springs breaking. Although, I've been reading threads regarding it and it seems that it happens quite often. Thoughts?
 
I agree with Wolf1524. There are stories about them failing, but I've been buying AXIS locks since 2005 and I've never, ever, had one single issue with the springs. They've been wet, dirty, in sea water, and filled up with pocket lint. All the locks needed was cleaning out and they were ready to go again.

If an AXIS lock is going to fail, that's the likely place, but it's never happened to me with any of my Benchmades.
 
I've had lots of bm's. I only have two now. One however is a full size griptillian I've had almost four years. It gets flicked open, cuts a lot of stuff, and is big time neglected, when it comes to maintenance. I've never had omega springs fail.
 
If omega springs were unreliable, the Axis lock would never have become popular and Benchmade probably wouldn't be in business today.
 
Jesse B. said:
If omega springs were unreliable, the Axis lock would never have become popular and Benchmade probably wouldn't be in business today.
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That, for starters.

I've been buying Axis locks since the very first 710. I have a crate of various Axis knives. I have never had a spring break. Never. Does it happen? Yes. People get struck by lightning, too.
 
I join the sentiment. Since 2005 I've owned many axis based models without an issue with the springs.
 
My brother in law has a Pardue AXIS lock from around 2001 with the original springs. The knife is beat to hell and back, AXIS springs are reliable I'd say.
 
I own several Benchmades. The kulgera is the only one I've had a broken omega spring on. Happened after about 2 years of use. Benchmade fixed it in about 10 days.
 
Lots of Axis knives zero issues with the omega springs.
Also if you send a knife in for Life Sharp ask them to examine the knife and replace any parts. My two mini grips came back feeling like they were brand new once again.
 
I've had a couple benchmades, and have nothing bad to say about the lock system. Its never failed or slipped up on me.
 
Reliable enough for ordinary life. If on the rare chance a spring pops it's not like you are stranded in the middle of the Amazon rain forest (or a zombie apocalypse which is a popular scenario online). Send it in, grab another knife for the time being and life will continue just fine. I like the Axis lock for the speed of opening and closing, the small hit in potential reliability is a non issue for me.
 
Never an issue here either. I'm one of those guys who might just have a backup (or several) for his favorite Axis folder, so my hand is filled should the one with the broken spring(s) have to return to the Motherland for repair.

My question is, with all the pimp'n and modd'n of knives going on out there, how come no one has made any aftermarket Omega springs? Perhaps thicker with a little more tension? Perhaps titanium?

I give ti framelocks the nod for overall simplicity (and probably reliability also), especially with the steel lockbar inserts which to me are a great phase of evolution for the framelock in regard to long-term wear. But like Redmasta, the speed of opening and closing, and the manner of the locking mech wearing "in" a opposed to "out" keep me hooked on the Axis folders.
 
Great points. My other question is are omega spring differ in thickness and length based on "class" or size? I noticed that most breakage occurs only on blue class or smaller folders and and not in the big ones like the adamas or contego.
 
Let me put it this way, there more reliable then Frame or Liner locks, and I'd dare say lock backs too.

I've never had one break personally and have had an AXIS lock BM since almost the beginning. I've been reading the forums for years and have read far more, and by a large margin reports of slippage / failure from other lock designs then the AXIS.

Hope this makes you feel more confident. Anything mechanical can and will fail including the AXIS but it's far less likely then you might have been lead to believe.

All the best!
 
knife chop said:
Great points. My other question is are omega spring differ in thickness and length based on "class" or size? I noticed that most breakage occurs only on blue class or smaller folders and and not in the big ones like the adamas or contego.
Click to expand...

My observations have been that it is either random, no rhyme or reason regardless of class or size or the user admits they "flip" their knives excessively. Like for hours while watching a TV show. Not saying that's the only cause or the cause but a common theme I've noticed over the years. Then again some times they just break... But as said it's still very rare considering how many AXIS knives there are out there.
 
Also, you have a second as backup if one fails. They are supposed to work with one spring in use. Breaking two simultaneously would happen when you find a unicorn eating 4 leaf clovers.
 
pbcg said:
My observations have been that it is either random, no rhyme or reason regardless of class or size or the user admits they "flip" their knives excessively. Like for hours while watching a TV show. Not saying that's the only cause or the cause but a common theme I've noticed over the years. Then again some times they just break... But as said it's still very rare considering how many AXIS knives there are out there.
Click to expand...

Gonna burst your bubble. ;) :D I am a knife-fidgeter and my 1998/1999 710 and a 710T that's almost as old have been cycled endlessly - we're talking 15 years in the case of my original 710. I don't wrist-flick knives, but I don't think that's an issue for the springs (potentially different story for the lock bar and liners, though). Maybe I'm just lucky, but if you could break springs just by opening and closing the knife, I would surely have had lots of broken springs. :o
 
JNewell said:
Gonna burst your bubble. ;) :D I am a knife-fidgeter and my 1998/1999 710 and a 710T that's almost as old have been cycled endlessly - we're talking 15 years in the case of my original 710. I don't wrist-flick knives, but I don't think that's an issue for the springs (potentially different story for the lock bar and liners, though). Maybe I'm just lucky, but if you could break springs just by opening and closing the knife, I would surely have had lots of broken springs. :o
Click to expand...

I was relating my observations of posts I've read over the years nothing more. I CLEARLY say "Not saying that's the cause but a common theme"

Not sure why you repeatedly can't seem to comprehend that? But no worries, my "bubble" hasen't been burst..
 
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