July 12 2016

[crimsonfalcon07]

Benchmade has plenty of models that are in the same price range as Kershaw. Did you maybe get a catalogue with half the pages torn out? Benchmade has a LOT of variety, from the inexpensive sub $40 models to the absurdly expensive Gold Class.

They offer several models with AXIS in sub 3", and honestly, there aren't that many knives made by other companies in the sub 2.5" range. I can't imagine that's a large part of the population; 3", 3.5", and 4" are far more common.

And forgive my lack of education, but I haven't heard of a custom shop for Kershaw or Spyderco either. And heck, Spyderco only makes 2 models with their BBL lock.

 

[gomipile]

Benchmade has plenty of models that are in the same price range as Kershaw. Did you maybe get a catalogue with half the pages torn out? Benchmade has a LOT of variety, from the inexpensive sub $40 models to the absurdly expensive Gold Class.

They offer several models with AXIS in sub 3", and honestly, there aren't that many knives made by other companies in the sub 2.5" range. I can't imagine that's a large part of the population; 3", 3.5", and 4" are far more common.

And forgive my lack of education, but I haven't heard of a custom shop for Kershaw or Spyderco either. And heck, Spyderco only makes 2 models with their BBL lock.

Okay, educate me. This entire thread is about the AXIS lock, and you mentioned sub-$40 Benchmade knives as a refutation of one of my points. Therefore, you must have a currently in production sub-$40(street price) Benchmade knife or knives with the AXIS lock in mind. Which knife or knives made by Benchmade with an AXIS lock retail for less than $40 new?

Edits follow: The reason I mentioned a custom shop was that many bladesmiths use other lock designs in their work. The liner, frame, and back locks used by, say, Kershaw or Spyderco are used in many custom knives. What custom knives use the AXIS lock?

I mentioned empty market niches which Benchmade feels no economic need to fill. I don't particularly think they "should" fill those niches, since doing so wouldn't make economic sense for them, and I want them to stay in business.

As to <2.5" blades, you are correct, but I think that that range should be better represented than it is. There are a few excellent blade shapes out there in the <2.5" range, such as the SOG Flash, the Ladybug, the OD-2, etc. If any of those had an AXIS lock version, I'd love to try it. Benchmade obviously doesn't see a need for an AXIS lock knife with a <2.5" blade. However, my point stands: that the more manufacturers using the AXIS lock, the likelihood that such a knife would be made should increase. I'd especially like to see such a knife in a better steel than the current SRM offerings.