Inadvertent test of Axis lock thought you would be interested

[Yo Mama]

So I'm a moron and just dropped a $150 Benchmade off of a ladder straight onto the ground hitting the metal ladder a few times on its way down. When I went down to get it I was for sure it was going to have problems but actually it's perfect!

So on the way down I know that it hit quite a few times nailing the ground from about 8 feet up. The edge was not chipped I'm not sure if was hit it all on the way down but 154cm is good to go.

The axis lock held perfectly, knife was still open and locked after it hit the ground. Obviously I have no idea what force it was but it's nothing compared to what the Axis can probably handle.

As a side report the G10 while dirty had no scratches or chips. That's pretty tough stuff.

All right time to move on and get past this little indiscretion. Will not happen again.

 

[afishhunter]

The perfect example of why I like a bail and a lanyard (not a fob) on my work knives.

I'm glad your knife survived the fall, and did not stab or slice anyone at the end of the fall.

 

[eugenechia1989]

My Griptilian 550HG landed point first on a hard marble floor and was completely fine. Nothing compared to what yours went through, but I have no doubt that these are tough-as-nails knives, it's just the springs that concern me. Needless to say, it would have passed a more conventional spine-whack test, which I have done on this knife.

 

[midnight flyer]

I think that most QUALITY knives these days are a lot more sturdy than people think. I have Demko lockers, Axis lockers, liner lockers, etc., and not one has failed me in the last 15 years of carrying them on the construction site. Like yours, they have slid off roofs (grrrr.....) been dropped off scaffolds, been completely stressed beyond design by my co-workers, etc., etc. Even from time to time been used incorrectly by me as a matter of need.

I know a lot of guys need a knife that will allow them to chop their way out of a downed aircraft, baton a 12" oak log, but for practical use I think most knives will perform well out of their pay grade. My old Kershaw Tremor was $18 on closeout about 10 years ago, and like my RAT 1, it has been given every dirty job you can imagine. The edge has been so badly damaged by cutting shingles (after I dropped my utility knife/box cutter) that I put enough pressure on it to be able to see the lock bar move over to the last 1/3 of the lock area. Cleaned off the tar, oiled it, sharpened it, and the lock bar returned to a little over the first third of lock position as it did when I bought it. It is 12 years old now, the scales are really smooth and the blade is a bit "redesigned", but it still locks perfectly.

My Cold Steel American Lawman... well, I haven't done much more than break that damn knife in, so the lock is still stiff after years of use. I can't imagine outside of taking it apart to polish the lock surfaces what it would take to even loosen it up.

That being said, I am glad your knife was OK! My problem with sudden impacts has been more of tip damage or edge damage. I can live with that. (BTW... I am on the camp that says the Benchmade Axis lock failure is greatly exaggerated.)

Robert

 

[John H.]

I think that most QUALITY knives these days are a lot more sturdy than people think. I Demko lockers, Axis lockers, liner lockers, etc., and not one has failed me in the last 15 years of carrying them on the construction site. Like yours, they have slid off roofs (grrrr.....) been dropped off scaffolds, been completely stressed beyond design by my co-workers, etc., etc. Even from time to time been used incorrectly by me as a matter of need.

I know a lot of guys need a knife that will allow them to chop their way out of a downed aircraft, baton a 12" oak log, but for practical use I think most knives will perform well out of their pay grade. My old Kershaw Tremor was $18 on closeout about 10 years ago, and like my RAT 1, it has been given every dirty job you can imagine. The edge has been so badly damaged by cutting shingles (after I dropped my utility knife/box cutter) that I put enough pressure on it to be able to see the lock bar move over to the last 1/3 of the lock area. Cleaned off the tar, oiled it, sharpened it, and the lock bar returned to a little over the first third of lock position as it did when I bought it. It is 12 years old now, the scales are really smooth and the blade is a bit "redesigned", but it still locks perfectly.

My Cold Steel American Lawman... well, I haven't done much more than break that damn knife in, so the lock is still stiff after years of use. I can't imagine outside of taking it apart to polish the lock surfaces what it would take to even loosen it up.

That being said, I am glad your knife was OK! My problem with sudden impacts has been more of tip damage or edge damage. I can live with that. (BTW... I am on the camp that says the Benchmade Axis lock failure is greatly exaggerated.)

Robert

If you take apart the Cold Steel
American Lawman, there is a spring holding the lock up. It looks kinda like a leaf spring. If you put it in a vice and flatten it to about half of what it was, it will work so much better. There is a video on Youtube by Matthew Culbertson showing how to do it.

 

[midnight flyer]

If you take apart the Cold Steel
American Lawman, there is a spring holding the lock up. It looks kinda like a leaf spring. If you put it in a vice and flatten it to about half of what it was, it will work so much better. There is a video on Youtube by Matthew Culbertson showing how to do it.

Thanks! Truthfully, the only reason that knife isn't carried more in the rotation is that stiff lock. My other knives have been used so much that they are all really smooth to lock/unlock and I like that.

Robert

 

[Velitrius]

Gave my brother an HK Mini Axis once. He decided it would be a great throwing knife.

Brought it to me so I could sharpen it for him. The G-10 was chipped all up, the blade play was ungodly.

But the D2 steel was in great shape, and the Axis lock was true and secure.

Took it away from him anyways.

 

[midnight flyer]

Gave my brother an HK Mini Axis once. He decided it would be a great throwing knife.

Brought it to me so I could sharpen it for him. The G-10 was chipped all up, the blade play was ungodly.

But the D2 steel was in great shape, and the Axis lock was true and secure.

Took it away from him anyways.

I just about spewed my drink all over the computer screen!

Good for you!!! Children shouldn't play with knives, no matter their age!

Robert

 

[johnnytoxin]

If you take apart the Cold Steel
American Lawman, there is a spring holding the lock up. It looks kinda like a leaf spring. If you put it in a vice and flatten it to about half of what it was, it will work so much better. There is a video on Youtube by Matthew Culbertson showing how to do it.

I remember reading a post somewhere by Andrew Demko where he talks about how he can tweak the tension of the spring to make the action less stiff on his customs. He went on to say that the greater spring tension contributes to a stronger lock. All this to say you may be decreasing the strength of the lock by altering the spring. In the end it’s your knife, just thought I’d pass the info along in case you didn’t know.

 

[John H.]

I remember reading a post somewhere by Andrew Demko where he talks about how he can tweak the tension of the spring to make the action less stiff on his customs. He went on to say that the greater spring tension contributes to a stronger lock. All this to say you may be decreasing the strength of the lock by altering the spring. In the end it’s your knife, just thought I’d pass the info along in case you didn’t know.

Yes, I remember reading something similar. I wonder how much it would decrease the lock strength? For me, the Triad Lock is definitely strong enough, and losing a little strength doesn't hurt for what I use the knife for in EDC. If it was something like a 4-Max or something I really wanted super strength for, I probably wouldn't "tweak" the lock. It is worth it to me to sacrifice a little strength for a very smooth lock.

 

[sharp_edge]

If you take apart the Cold Steel
American Lawman, there is a spring holding the lock up. It looks kinda like a leaf spring. If you put it in a vice and flatten it to about half of what it was, it will work so much better. There is a video on Youtube by Matthew Culbertson showing how to do it.

Same can be done with spyderco lovkback (delica, endura, dragonfly, etc). Bending the spring bar a bit will make noticeable difference.