I still like Benchmade, but I think I'm done with the axis lock.

338375 said:
I'd never say it's not possible, but I highly doubt it...
Even a blade that is off quite a bit at the tip, the actual amount it is off at the pivot is very minimal. The distance increases the further out you go towards the tip
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The lock on mine has a fairly "gritty" feel to it and definitely sounds like it's rubbing on something. Not taken it apart to see but I've seen videos of other people taking G10 axis lock knives apart and seeing a polished looking area on the axis springs.
 
DBZ220 said:
I have over 50 Axis lock models and never had a breakage. Some are original first year Axis models and have been heavily used/abused too. Wasn't there someone making "stronger" aftermarket springs? If so, maybe try that route.
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What's heavily used to you? When my 710 had a spring break after a year and a half I estimated I had opened it around 35-50k times in that period.
 
This is just a thought what if Benchmade offered a Heavy Duty set of aftermarket springs for say $5-$6 or just try making all of them from Titanium maybe since its really just wire gauge that shouldn't effect price, I hope.
 
bikedaddy75 said:
This is just a thought what if Benchmade offered a Heavy Duty set of aftermarket springs for say $5-$6 or just try making all of them from Titanium maybe since its really just wire gauge that shouldn't effect price, I hope.
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Hmm... I can't see them selling springs since the installation would void the warranty, but ti might be a good option for oem hardware. The spring steel they use now seems sufficient (for the most part), but ti would solve any possible corrosion issues. My mattress uses titanium coils so the stuff (which alloy I don't know) must be a viable spring material. I cannot imagine that it would increase the price of the knives, although industry like the automotive world looks at cost down to fractions of a penny...
 
bikedaddy75 said:
This is just a thought what if Benchmade offered a Heavy Duty set of aftermarket springs for say $5-$6 or just try making all of them from Titanium maybe since its really just wire gauge that shouldn't effect price, I hope.
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The other thing to think about is will a heavier spring make use of the lock more difficult?
 
Ti springs are definitely more common than not and mainly used in the aerospace industry for emergency back-up systems. We have a local company that makes Ti coil springs for many different things but they are not cheap...but that's coil springs and they are different from the Omega springs for sure.
 
What we're dealing with here is the weak spot in an otherwise very strong locking mechanism. Some of us have had the O springs break, and others haven't. I understand there are models like the Adamas, and maybe the 808 that use a heavier duty set. Sure there are smaller versions, used in the 485 and so, but if there is a mainstream standard (and Benchmade obviously knows) why not address these by replacing the current with stronger versions? It would make sense and cost them less in the long run.
 
Be interesting to have a beater that you didn't mind messing with, to open the O-spring holes just a tad and try to double them up on each side. Wonder how stiff that would make closing.

To Ballenxj - I used Wolff springs in all my pistols for years now without any issue what so ever. They make a very good spring in just about any weight you need. That does give me the idea to try to make an omega spring out of one of my old Wolff springs I've laying around. I do have one of those wire bending jigs that I've never used, so it could be a fun experiment. Use a piece of 18lb .45 spring. Can't see that thing breaking. Lol. That heavy though I don't think would fit. Maybe a 16lb. Getting the correct shape may prove problematic.
 
Joe58 said:
Be interesting to have a beater that you didn't mind messing with, to open the O-spring holes just a tad and try to double them up on each side. Wonder how stiff that would make closing.
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I thought about doubling up the springs, but there is not a whole lot of room in the slot they run around to have two sitting side by side. Maybe if they were one atop the other? Either way, I think it would definitely make it more difficult to open. The music wire that I used to replace the springs on my 943 might have been slightly thicker, or maybe more resistant than the stock springs because I did notice that the lock was slightly more stiff after replacing them.

I did this repair nearly a year ago, and this one has been going strong ever since:).

Here is the knife after the repair. The still-functional omega spring is on the left, and a spare DIY replacement spring is on the right. Behind the knife is the music wire that I used. I lucked out having this music wire stashed away. I think it came from a garage sale from when I bought a whole box of random stuff.

20140723_223030_zps2777ea1b.jpg


Here is the inside with the replaced spring.

20140725_172221_zpsde357ead.jpg


It is really as simple as winding the wire around a pen to get the right shape (using some pliers), and then reassembling the knife.

Maybe for extra user-confidence, try a slightly thicker diameter of music wire than what I used. :thumbup:
 
Joe58 said:
To Ballenxj - I used Wolff springs in all my pistols for years now without any issue what so ever. They make a very good spring in just about any weight you need. That does give me the idea to try to make an omega spring out of one of my old Wolff springs I've laying around.
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I have to wonder if somebody contacted Wolff maybe they might have something similar laying around.
Or, somebody might put a bug in their ear about a marketing possibility opening up? ;)
 
The Government said:
I thought about doubling up the springs, but there is not a whole lot of room in the slot they run around to have two sitting side by side. Maybe if they were one atop the other? Either way, I think it would definitely make it more difficult to open. The music wire that I used to replace the springs on my 943 might have been slightly thicker, or maybe more resistant than the stock springs because I did notice that the lock was slightly more stiff after replacing them.

I did this repair nearly a year ago, and this one has been going strong ever since:).

Here is the knife after the repair. The still-functional omega spring is on the left, and a spare DIY replacement spring is on the right. Behind the knife is the music wire that I used. I lucked out having this music wire stashed away. I think it came from a garage sale from when I bought a whole box of random stuff.

20140723_223030_zps2777ea1b.jpg


Here is the inside with the replaced spring.

20140725_172221_zpsde357ead.jpg


It is really as simple as winding the wire around a pen to get the right shape (using some pliers), and then reassembling the knife.

Maybe for extra user-confidence, try a slightly thicker diameter of music wire than what I used. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

As I'm not anywhere close to having any musical skills other than dirty limericks, when you say music wire, are you referring to a particular guitar string for example? If I walk into a musical instrument shop, what would I want to buy?

Going to play with this, and with recoil springs, after my house move is done and I'm set up again. Thanks!

*******Nice job on the spring there btw.
 
Joe58 said:
Be interesting to have a beater that you didn't mind messing with, to open the O-spring holes just a tad and try to double them up on each side. Wonder how stiff that would make closing.

To Ballenxj - I used Wolff springs in all my pistols for years now without any issue what so ever. They make a very good spring in just about any weight you need. That does give me the idea to try to make an omega spring out of one of my old Wolff springs I've laying around. I do have one of those wire bending jigs that I've never used, so it could be a fun experiment. Use a piece of 18lb .45 spring. Can't see that thing breaking. Lol. That heavy though I don't think would fit. Maybe a 16lb. Getting the correct shape may prove problematic.
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Wolff makes great springs... Mag springs would work as well, and possibly better than recoil springs. The mag springs have long straight sections with less dramatic bends, whereas the recoil are already set in a particular direction, so I wonder if bending them against the original "set" would weaken them ?
I could be totally off base with this thinking because the coffee isn't working, and as always I am over-thinking things :D

I've never had a BM spring break after roughly 20 years of using Axis locks. Are the springs that are breaking, breaking in the same spot ? I can't recall seeing any pictures of the broken springs, but may have and just forgot...
 
Good point 338375 - I think you're right about using a mag spring instead. Didn't occur to me. I've never had one break either on I don't know how many Minigrips, Sequel, Mini Barrage, etc., I have or have had. I'm not concerned about breaking any truthfully. I just want to try and make a pair for fun to try out.
 
Joe58 said:
As I'm not anywhere close to having any musical skills other than dirty limericks, when you say music wire, are you referring to a particular guitar string for example? If I walk into a musical instrument shop, what would I want to buy?
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I am in the same boat. I just lucked out having some wire that was about the same size. I buy a lot of junk at garage sales if it looks useful, and that seemed like good quality wire. I left the tube in the picture with the sizing information on it. I would write that down and find a music repair store. They probably have some scraps laying around.
 
The Government said:
I am in the same boat. I just lucked out having some wire that was about the same size. I buy a lot of junk at garage sales if it looks useful, and that seemed like good quality wire. I left the tube in the picture with the sizing information on it. I would write that down and find a music repair store. They probably have some scraps laying around.
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Awesome - Saved the pic. Thanks!
 
Never heard of "music wire" - musical strings are referenced with their instrument. eg: piano string, guitar string, cello string, harp string, violin string, etc...
 
snippy said:
Never heard of "music wire" - musical strings are referenced with their instrument. eg: piano string, guitar string, cello string, harp string, violin string, etc...
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IIRC it's Piano wire, and some folks call it music wire.
 
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