Lock Strength Testing - Benchmade Contego vs Cold Steel Medium Espada

Nice video. I understand the stated rational behind not doing the overstrike test if the knife failed the spinewhack, but I would rather see both tested anyway. I am no engineer so I may be way off base with this, but isnt it possible that a particular lock design might excel at the overstrike, but not the spinewhack. I mean they are putting stress on the lock from two totally different directions. The Contego went through 4 whacks before failure, it may have done quite well at the overstrike, or it may have failed miserably. The point is that now we don't know, and it wouldn't have cost anything more than an additional 5 minutes (at most) to find out. With that being said, I enjoyed the video. Thanks for posting.
 
It's still a little bit better than the paramilitary 2. I have the contego and love the m4 steel. Is there any chance coldsteel going to use m4 for there folders or fixed blade, thanks
 
I was surprised Contego held less weight than Bedlam, i thought it's stronger. Thanks for the test though.
I think the medium Espada is the strongest of all the G-10 models, because of nested steel liner along the lock and the stop pin. Thicker 4mm blade steel/lock and deep tang helps too.

I think CS should just go ahead an test the Adamas and rest the case with Benchmade. Adamas and Medium Espada actually compares pretty well too in terms of length and width.
 
I guess I really don't need to worry about the strength of the G-10 handles. That thing keeps on going.

Congratulations on making the most solid knives in the world.
 
Something I've noticed is that the axis lock doesn't seem to resist impact that well. I wonder if the design of the lock makes it more susceptible to impact. The contego and the bedlam both did pretty well in the weight hang though. Really hope to see the adamas tested too.
 
Mr.Tuesday said:
Something I've noticed is that the axis lock doesn't seem to resist impact that well. I wonder if the design of the lock makes it more susceptible to impact. The contego and the bedlam both did pretty well in the weight hang though. Really hope to see the adamas tested too.
Click to expand...

I think the axis lock has less impact resistance due to the weaker omega spring they use. I've heard this on their forums before.
Also because of the weaker spring, most axis lock knife has weaker detent, so you can actually drop the blade open by flinging the handle. Manix's 2 ball bearing lock is less prone to this issue because the coil is stronger.
 
That was a close one, Very nice test.


Please test the buck marksman i can't wait to you guys face when you lose to it

ZTD
 
hkyew said:
I think the axis lock has less impact resistance due to the weaker omega spring they use. I've heard this on their forums before.
Also because of the weaker spring, most axis lock knife has weaker detent, so you can actually drop the blade open by flinging the handle. Manix's 2 ball bearing lock is less prone to this issue because the coil is stronger.
Click to expand...

That makes sense. Most criticisms about the axis lock seem to involve the omega springs. I wish benchmade would look in to reinforcing them.
 
BM is starting to use alternative version of their axis lock this year via the APB(ambidextrous push buttons) design. They seems to have stronger spring. Not sure if it is intended to replace the axis lock because the APB has too many parts..
 
Mr.Tuesday said:
That makes sense. Most criticisms about the axis lock seem to involve the omega springs. I wish benchmade would look in to reinforcing them.
Click to expand...

To reinforce an axis lock take a piece of wood and jam it behind the bar. Good luck on making it disengage or fail then.
 
The Contego has thinner liners than the Bedlam. Even with the slightly longer and a much thicker blade, the Bedlam is 1.1 oz heavier than the Contego.
 
hkyew said:
BM is starting to use alternative version of their axis lock this year via the APB(ambidextrous push buttons) design. They seems to have stronger spring. Not sure if it is intended to replace the axis lock because the APB has too many parts..
Click to expand...

The APB looks very interesting, hope cold steel tests it too.
 
ZeroTurnDude said:
That was a close one, Very nice test.


Please test the buck marksman i can't wait to you guys face when you lose to it

ZTD
Click to expand...

buck marksman's sls lock is a tension lock that doubles as a spring when engaging/disengaging. I can't see performing well in these tests.

that being said, I see these tests more for entertainment value. yeah the triad lock may be strong, but the locking mechanism is only one aspect and a minor aspect at that...you could do alot with a slip joint. if you ever need a lock that strong, you'd probably do better with a fixed blade. otherwise any folding knife will be up to task as long as the BLADE is capable
 
Come on, let's not turn this thread into another "lock is important vs not" thread shall we? We have 30+ pages of that already over at the other threads.
 
Back to the topic:

Regarding BM APB, i think it may be stronger than Axis however i've never seen one take apart yet so im not exactly sure how much material is contacting with the blade yet. I've seen an APB assist from a knife shop but the internal looks like a SOG piston lock where a flat bar is wedged in the blade tang.

Regarding Buck Marksman, the lock bar seems to be the failure point. IMO there is not enough material. Because it's literally a liner, it can either be too soft, in this case the hole that contacts the blade tang or the cutout can shear off, or too hard where it can develop fracture. Not to mention there are plenty of chance that it can slip off and unlock the knife just like a liner/frame lock. Wildsteer WX has identical lock with added secondary lock to prevent it from slipping, but the screw holding the lock bar sheared off eventually. I would imagine Marksman having similar failure mode.
 
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