Is a spyderco knife with an axis lock possible?

The PM2 is one of the best knives I've ever used, but I feel that the compression lock is still nowhere near the axis lock in ease of use. The arch lock is close, but I get vertical blade play over time. I find myself buying more Benchmade axis lock knives lately possibly due to an unconscious attraction to the ease of opening/closing action.
 
Feel this thread is déjà vu. Just substitute "flipper" where the OP wrote axis lock.
 
the kid said:
This week I took my knife apart to take a look at the axis lock and I'm extremely impressed.
It is such a simple design, a cut out on each side of the liner, a bar in the middle, two studs on either side. The most elaborate thing is you need to make room for the springs in the handles.
According to some videos/tests it's a really strong lock as well.

I feel like the frame, liner and back lock are archaic and the only reason they are still being used in 90% of lock knives is because of the patent.
Or to put it in other words: if the patent wasn't there I think the axis lock would be the most used lock.
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The frame, liner, and back lock are used for a number of reasons, not least that you don't need five parts to make them work. The liner and frame have one part, the sprung liner/frame and the back lock three, bar, pivot and spring. Cold Steel's tri-ad lock is a back lock variant that is extremely strong. The liner and frame work with flipper opening knives while an axis lock wouldn't.
 
In one way it's unfortunate that we don't see more "collaboration" such as the spyderco hole, wave, axis lock, etc. on more knives from other brands, as I think you could come up with some really great combinations of those features. However, my guess is that companies don't like sharing, and if they do, it's an expensive license fee.

In another way it's good, because it forces innovation from companies to come up with their own unique ideas.

I can say I'm a huge fan of the non-liner lock knives, it's not that I think the liner locks are dangerous or weak, but even with higher end production I still feel we see way too much variation on lock up, detent strength etc. For example there's a significant difference in the lock bar pressure between my 0551 and 0651, the 0551 being much weaker, it still locks up solid, and there's significant difference between the two in lock up position the 0551 barely hits 30% and with a bit of pressure the 0561 can hit 100% and those are not cheap production knives. I can see why manufacturers like it, it's simple and less parts/assembly, and if it's done right it's a very simple/elegant design. I just find myself buying less and less of them now that we have the axis, compression lock, hogue plunge lock, etc.

As for the Axis with a flipper, BM it seems has gone to a much weaker spring in the Axis lock at least on my recent 810. For example my 950 rift and mini-grip ritter have noticeable stiffer springs in the axis lock. It takes almost no downward movement at all to get the blade exposed and it's by far the weakest blade retention knife I current have, and right now it won't go into my pocket as it is because I believe it could easily open on it's own.
 
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my guess would be the flipper starts out behind the axis lock when it's closed so it never has to interact with it, but I haven't actually looked at a 300.
 
Freman Bloodglaive said:
The frame, liner, and back lock are used for a number of reasons, not least that you don't need five parts to make them work. The liner and frame have one part, the sprung liner/frame and the back lock three, bar, pivot and spring. Cold Steel's tri-ad lock is a back lock variant that is extremely strong. The liner and frame work with flipper opening knives while an axis lock wouldn't.
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If I can buy a functional axis lock knife for $12 with a 440C blade I don't think this is much of an issue.

The "axis" lock rocks. And seeing how Spyderco is trying to work around the patent with it's several variants of the ball lock is in my opinion proof of that.
It's almost embarrassing to see they have to resort to some kind of plastic cover in it's latest variant. Talk about over engineering. Be patient Spyderco! Just two more years.
 
Spyderco doesn't need an Axis lock. A few minor improvements to the ball bearing will make it as good. A metal cage, and a slightly weaker spring for actuation the lock (less tension). Possibly a redesign for the ramps on the cage to make it slightly easier to grip.

All in all, the Axis lock is nice, and easier to use than the ball bearing lock, but the BBL is still pretty sweet, and it feels much stronger, not to mention Spyderco using it on knives with thicker blades. The BBL also has the advantage of fewer moving parts (one stout spring versus two tiny ones) so it has fewer points of failure unless the cage cracks.
 
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