Is Axis lock and G-lock same thing?

Joined
Dec 21, 2017
Messages
183
when I see Ganzo knives on Amazon, it lists the lock type as G-lock but looks like Axis locks.

Is Ganzo just ignoring patent/trademark and using Benchmade Axis lock design? Just curious.

It doesnt seem likely that it is allowed in Amazon.

Thanks.
 
The AXIS lock is patented by William McHenry and James Williams. Benchmade exclusively licenses it from them. Ganzo illegally copies the patent, as well as other patents and trademarks from other companies. Amazon and eBay don't care.
 
Ganzo's lock is a blatant copy of an axis lock and Amazon actually doesn't care, if they know at all.

This is the same company that's infamous here for sending people "new" knives that are actually returned, used knives, or for sending people counterfeits in legit looking listings.
 
Ganzo's lock is a blatant copy of an axis lock and Amazon actually doesn't care, if they know at all.

This is the same company that's infamous here for sending people "new" knives that are actually returned, used knives, or for sending people counterfeits in legit looking listings.

I've gotten some blatant knock-offs of items from Amazon before, which were fulfilled by Amazon. Last year I bought some Streamlight Microstreams that were obviously a re-branded Chinese light. I had to email Amazon which refunded my money.
 
when I see Ganzo knives on Amazon, it lists the lock type as G-lock but looks like Axis locks.

Is Ganzo just ignoring patent/trademark and using Benchmade Axis lock design? Just curious.

It doesnt seem likely that it is allowed in Amazon.

Thanks.
This is where search is helpful, there have been about a 1000 threads on this in the last couple years.

As far as amazon goes, doesn't care or bigger fish to fry? Who's to say besides them. Suffice to say, a lot of motivation gets assigned by people who have a bit of a bias.
As far as the party line of BF goes, don't buy clones. Buy from trustworthy sources. Ebay and Amazon are not trustworthy sources for knives at this stage of the game.
If you are looking at a knife and want to know if its a clone, do some searching here, and then post and ask questions if you are unsure. Sometimes there will be some debate, if a knife is a stolen design, sometimes not, its then up to you to decide. But sometimes it's clear, like Ganzo, that they are simply making knives that are copies of other designs.
 
Ive never handle a ganzo. The lock does look the same but with it prices how could it be the same quality.

Side note, Ganzo should be sued by benchmade and Spyderco.
 
Side note, Ganzo should be sued by benchmade and Spyderco.

To what avail? Ganzo is in Red China, home of the knockoff. Designer handbangs, Fauxlex watches, $19.99 Ray-Bans, etc. They get away with it because they can. I agree in principle, but in practice, it's spitballs at a battleship.
 
Ive never handle a ganzo. The lock does look the same but with it prices how could it be the same quality.

Side note, Ganzo should be sued by benchmade and Spyderco.
They are not quality at all. IMHO they are junk. Some people will stand there and say they are good, and support them ripping off everyone.

Avoid at all costs.

Not much spyderco or benchmade can do. They try and it's expensive to do. But these shady companies don't care because people keep buying them and that's proof enough that they should keep making them regardless of how much they copy.
 
Last edited:
I did some searching. Looks like Benchmade Axis lock patent is public now.... so Ganzo is doing nothing illegal in the g-lock..

Maybe they are infringing on other designs. Not sure.

What is odd is that... Amazon will take them down very fast if reported true. I sell my products on Amazon (non-knife related). I have reported someone selling a product similar to mine. They could not prove they have the design/functional trademark, and I had mine, so they got shut down. They were shut down the same day i reported.
 
Last edited:
I did some searching. Looks like Benchmade Axis lock patent is public now.... so Ganzo is doing nothing illegal in the g-lock..

Maybe they are infringing on other designs. Not sure.

Just poor quality product, but not illegal
You should really cite your facts regarding the patent no longer being in force.

You should also be aware that this same assertion has been made repeatedly here and proved wrong repeatedly.

You may have come across new information but history is not in your favor.
 
You should really cite your facts regarding the patent no longer being in force.

You should also be aware that this same assertion has been made repeatedly here and proved wrong repeatedly.

You may have come across new information but history is not in your favor.
Hi Danke42,

As far as I know, Benchmade’s Axis lock is Patent Number: 5,737,841 and it was filed in July of 1996

Utility patent lasts 20 years... after that it becomes public. So Ganzo is not ripping off a patent but using a public utility.. just like a framelock or liner lock.

Please let me know if incorrect.
 
Last edited:
You should really cite your facts regarding the patent no longer being in force.

You should also be aware that this same assertion has been made repeatedly here and proved wrong repeatedly.

You may have come across new information but history is not in your favor.
Even if the Axis lock patent has expired (I really think it may have, I'm no patent lawyer, but I know patents are VERY hard to extend), that doesn't change the fact that Ganzo not only copied the Axis lock without permission for years before the patent expired, but also blatantly advertised it as an Axis lock mechanism until very recently.

If Ganzo had waited until now to put out a G-lock and put it on original designs there might be a bit more grey area, but they've illegally used IP for years and continue to clone other designs. It's hard for me to swallow any argument that they're justified in using the lock now if the patent is, indeed, expired, when they happily used it illegally for years before.
 
Even if the Axis lock patent has expired (I really think it may have, I'm no patent lawyer, but I know patents are VERY hard to extend), that doesn't change the fact that Ganzo not only copied the Axis lock without permission for years before the patent expired, but also blatantly advertised it as an Axis lock mechanism until very recently.

If Ganzo had waited until now to put out a G-lock and put it on original designs there might be a bit more grey area, but they've illegally used IP for years and continue to clone other designs. It's hard for me to swallow any argument that they're justified in using the lock now if the patent is, indeed, expired, when they happily used it illegally for years before.
Hi Insipid,

The initial question was... are they illegally ripping of a patent. Im not arguing that they are doing an ethical thing, or were operating illegally in previous years.

Simply asking “are they doing anything illegal now”.
 
Hi Insipid,

The initial question was... are they illegally ripping of a patent. Im not arguing that they are doing an ethical thing, or were operating illegally in previous years.

Simply asking “are they doing anything illegal now”.
Ah. Thank you for clarifying. That lets me know all I need to.
 
Ah. Thank you for clarifying. That lets me know all I need to.
Thank you. If Ganzo is indeed infringing utility patent rights, and it is NOT expired.. i will contact Amazon and try to have Ganzo products down. Amazon rarely cares about design patents but they will take down a utility patent or personal hygine products with issues reported product down fast.. and they will need to provie legal documents to open their store again. I have done this before as a seller/brand in Amazon. i have reported and taken down. And someone has reported me, but when proved with legal documents, they opened my products again.
 
Hi Insipid,

The initial question was... are they illegally ripping of a patent. Im not arguing that they are doing an ethical thing, or were operating illegally in previous years.

Simply asking “are they doing anything illegal now”.
Silly question then. They are in China. Our laws have no legitimacy there.

As for the patent....there are tons of more recent filings on this patent. Fees are still being paid on it. Why do that if you get no protection? If it is expired, why haven't we seen legitimate companies use the technology? I've looked into this extensively. It is a damn rabbit hole of legal bs. Certainly not as simple as saying "since it has been 20 years it is up".

Go spend a couple hours on the patent website and tell me what you think.

Then again, being a cheat that rides on the back of other's hard work is never a good look. That is ganzo. If you buy them then either you dont know better or you are fine being a cheat. So come here to learn better or get out, we don't need cheats in this community.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mo2
Hi Danke42,

As far as I know, Benchmade’s Axis lock is Patent Number: 5,737,841 and it was filed in July of 1996

Utility patent lasts 20 years... after that it becomes public. So Ganzo is not ripping off a patent but using a public utility.. just like a framelock or liner lock.

Please let me know if incorrect.

Basic patent life is 20 years, that is true. However there are almost always prosecutorial delays which extend the actual date of enforcement. Many times several years. II would say that 50% of the patents I have been involved in had extensions of more than a year and a half. YMMV

I have dug through the system a couple times in the past to determine this patent was not yet out of force when the question came up, and I might again. Not tonight, though.

It will always be enough for me when ganzo comes up to know that they ripped people off at some point.
 
Back
Top