Is there any better one hand open and close lock on a folder than an Axis lock?

bobusx said:
Liners and Frames are reasonably fast, but you do have to put your thumb in front of the blade, then move it outta the way once you get the close initiated. Adds some extra movement/adjustment that slows em down a tad.
Click to expand...

+1. I can close my axis lock knife in a heart beat when needed is all.
 
kershaw tilt

spyderco para 2

hogue ex-01 is the nicest / easiest / smoothest single hand open close i have ever found on a blade
 
That hogue ex01 looks like a really nice blade.
Got a picture of yours?

I carry a kershaw blackout sometimes and I can do the one hand close with it ok.
Just the axis once it's worn in, you just flick it with your index finger and it's close...pretty cool...;)
 
I agree the Axis lock is excellent for one-handed opening and closing.

Other excellent lock styles, IMHO, without commenting on the overall quality of the knives that usually use those lock styles:

* SOG's Arc lock.
* Cold Steel's Triad lock.
* Several of the Spyderco locks:
- The compression lock on the Para millie 2, as someone noted.
- The back lock on the Native 5, and the Chinook 3, is very easy for me to open/close one-handed, after you get used to the mechanism and wrist action required.


The cool thing is, as knife owners today, we have more choices than ever of excellent technology (in steels, in handle materials, in sharpening tools, in sheaths, and in locking mechanisms) than we've ever had. What's the coolest thing, to me, is how the "best" technology tends to trickle down and become available at lower price points. For instance, a new high-end custom folding knife implements a clever idea for a really strong lock. Then before long, some production knives implement a similar approach. And eventually, you see versions of that same locking system showing up on $30 to $50 knives. And of course, a $40 knife's lock is not going to be QUITE as good/strong as the lock on a $1200 custom knife it was based on, but it's probably a big improvement over the type of lock that was previously used on lower-end knives. A good example is the Cold Steel Triad locks. My understanding is these locks borrowed aspects of the Benchmade Axis lock system, and now you have Cold Steel folders such as the Voyager using this excellent lock system, for as little as $30 to $40. That's an amazingly good lock for a fairly inexpensive knife.
 
If the Axis lock is your favorite then more power to you. But I think some people go to extremes a little in there praise of the Axis. Is it really a common problem that people are cutting themselves while closing liner/frame locks? I've been using liner/frame locks for over a decade and have never cut myself in such a manner.

Has anyone actually encountered a problem from not being able to close their folder FAST ENOUGH? I can't imagine any situation where a fraction of a second difference in closing a folder could possibly matter.

I'm not particular when it comes to what lock my folders have. If it works, I'm happy. Currently, with the exception of a few old back locks, all my folders are liner/frame locks. And they work just fine for me.
 
killgar said:
If the Axis lock is your favorite then more power to you. But I think some people go to extremes a little in there praise of the Axis. Is it really a common problem that people are cutting themselves while closing liner/frame locks? I've been using liner/frame locks for over a decade and have never cut myself in such a manner.

Has anyone actually encountered a problem from not being able to close their folder FAST ENOUGH? I can't imagine any situation where a fraction of a second difference in closing a folder could possibly matter.

I'm not particular when it comes to what lock my folders have. If it works, I'm happy. Currently, with the exception of a few old back locks, all my folders are liner/frame locks. And they work just fine for me.
Click to expand...

That's cool, that's what's great about having soooooo many choices today, there is something for everyone...;);)
Hell part of why I like the axis so much is cause its fun to play with....lol

To each there own I always say...;)
 
I put balisongs in the same category as a folder since it is a multi-piece non-fixed blade knife. Balisongs are quite easy to open and close one handed and I don't think there is a stronger locking mechanism. You would have to completely shear through the rear pin before the blade could come down on your hand. That'd have to be a pretty massive failure to do that. But I do like my Benchmade Griptilian a lot.
 
It's great to have choices.

Personally I never met a liner or frame lock I liked. Most are right handed and I am not. The lefty ones never never clicked for me. I didn't just look at cheap stuff, either. For example I tried out left handed Sebenzas and Umfaans (?) And found I just didn't like them all that much. Ah well, there was bound to be SOMEONE out there... guess it's me. Actually at the time I had really psyched myself up over them and was ready to buy a Sebenza. I was bummed out. I had to console myself with an Axis folder (BM705) and the several hundred bucks still in my wallet.

It's a subjective thing and I'm in the minority, but I make no apology for appreciating Axis lock knives. I'm just dekighted that there is so much good stuff out there that we can all choose what works best.


OTOH full sized Axis folders are like magic for me.


Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk
 
aaronu said:
It's great to have choices.

Personally I never met a liner or frame lock I liked. Most are right handed and I am not. The lefty ones never never clicked for me. I didn't just look at cheap stuff, either. For example I tried out left handed Sebenzas and Umfaans (?) And found I just didn't like them all that much. Ah well, there was bound to be SOMEONE out there... guess it's me. Actually at the time I had really psyched myself up over them and was ready to buy a Sebenza. I was bummed out. I had to console myself with an Axis folder (BM705) and the several hundred bucks still in my wallet.

It's a subjective thing and I'm in the minority, but I make no apology for appreciating Axis lock knives. I'm just dekighted that there is so much good stuff out there that we can all choose what works best.


OTOH full sized Axis folders are like magic for me.


Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

+1 love my benchmade grip.
 
That compression lock looks nice
What other spyderco knifes have that compression lock?
Anything smaller then the Sdyderco PM?
 
The axis is the easiest lock to operate that I've ever handled. At least until your omega springs break :p
 
Nope, there is nothing as well designed as the AXIS. Even the clones aren’t quite as good, for various reasons.

It’s the only lock that offers a lightning fast opening AND closing, with only one hand.

I can pull out an AXIS folder from my pocket, snap it open, cut a cord, wrist snap the knife closed, and have it back in my pocket in three seconds. I can’t do that with any other system, I don’t care what it is.
Top that off with one of the most secure designs ever invented and it’s hard to beat.

The sad thing is that Benchmade hasn’t made anything I want for several years. The Rukus era was the last good year for them as far as I’m concerned. That company was so good there for a while. I’m glad I have most of their great past models.

I am currently enamored with high quality liner locks now. The sound and feel of a great liner lock is addictive. My current faves are Fallkniven, ZT and Al Mar.
 
Last edited:
I'm a huge fan of the axis lock, and agree that it's the smoothest action for one-handed release on the market, but...

The Compression lock is *almost* as smooth, just as secure, nearly as easy to use ambidextrously, and all knives with a compression lock also have the Spyderco Opening Hole.

This one feature keeps me coming back to Spyderco, time and again.

Yes, the flipper is just as fast/nearly as secure for opening... but there aren't that many flippers I like with with Axis locks, and the flipper doesn't really make closing the knife any easier. On top of that, I tend to favor knives with a 50/50 choil when I can get them, which just can't happen with a flipper. I can comfortably operate my Para2s with gloves; opening/cutting/closing, and I just can't say that about the axis lock knives or even most of the flipper knives.

The Caged BB lock on the Manix2 is good enough not to get in the way, and I'm 100% confident in the strength/security of the lockup. I'm fine with liner/frame/back locks, too, but the strength of the lock isn't the issue. I like operating the Axis and Compression locks; with any other lock I inevitably wish it were compression/axis.

The 741 Onslaught has both the hole (courtesy Bob Lum and some legal fenagling between Spyderco and BM) and the Axis, which should make it one of my favourite knives; sadly it's just not as good as a Para2 in terms of ergonomics (or availability of premium blade steel...)
 
Last edited:
Sigh. I sometimes wish all the people who've never had a spring break could post so there'd be a sense of proportion on this incredibly useless question. ;) Very few people have cycled 710s as much as I have, and no one has owned one for more than a few days longer than I have, and I have never, ever had a broken spring.

cziv said:
I've read that comment for years but never had a spring break on my trusty 710 or (3) 940s. :confused:
Click to expand...
 
I don't know if anyone ever answered your question about the Axis Lock being exclusive to BM, but it is. There are some Chinese copies of it, and a few companies came out with their own version of the lock, but each version was different enough to be considered a new lock, not an Axis clone. But I can't help but think that the Axis was the inspiration for these.

It is a very slick locking system. Can be adjusted so that a simple wrist motion will open and will close the blade, just as Bearcat mentioned.

Bearcat, if the Rukus was a favorite, have you checked out the 275 Adamas? It is quite a KNIFE!
 
killgar said:
If the Axis lock is your favorite then more power to you. But I think some people go to extremes a little in there praise of the Axis. Is it really a common problem that people are cutting themselves while closing liner/frame locks? I've been using liner/frame locks for over a decade and have never cut myself in such a manner.

Has anyone actually encountered a problem from not being able to close their folder FAST ENOUGH? I can't imagine any situation where a fraction of a second difference in closing a folder could possibly matter.

I'm not particular when it comes to what lock my folders have. If it works, I'm happy. Currently, with the exception of a few old back locks, all my folders are liner/frame locks. And they work just fine for me.
Click to expand...


He asked a question, and we answered. I don't think it's false praise to say the Axis lock is an extremely fast/easy to operate lock. Doesn't mean its the best lock ever made, but speed is unquestionably a strong point of the design. It is great that you like your liners and lockbacks, they are perfectly good locks, with some strengths over other designs. I don't think speed is one of them personally (especially for the lockback), and that was the subject of the OP. You may be raging against a machine that doesn't really exist here...
 
cziv said:
I've read that comment for years but never had a spring break on my trusty 710 or (3) 940s. :confused:
Click to expand...

+1. I'm not a blindly loyal fanboi for BM or anybody else, but I've never experienced this issue personally with BM Blades. My current Mini-Rukus has been my folder for like nearly 4 years, with tons of use, and never a problem to report.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top