Mini Onslaught 746, smoothest production knife?

H

Hobo with a Rolex

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Jul 21, 2012
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Is this the same on all 746's?

The opening and closing is way smoother than any axis lock knife I have used.

To be honest I can't think of a smoother production knife and that includes those with ball bearings.

I don't want anyone to think I am sticking out my chest and telling y'all that this is fact and that you must agree. I am only asking if this is normal for this particular model? Also in the sub-Sebenza priced knives what do you consider the smoothest? Of course only production not customs.

If you havent experienced the 746, next time you have a chance you really need to feel it for yourself.

I am hoping that there are a couple of varying opinions so I can try them out as well.
 
I think it depends on the individual knife and not the model. Sometimes all the pieces fit together just right and are super smooth. Sometimes the blade will hardly open unless there is excessive horizontal blade play. For the most part AXIS lock knives are really smooth. But sometimes they aren't. I have a mini grip like that.

So, in conclusion, it depends.
 
I am sure it varies but for some reason the 746 just feels totally different to me than any of my other axis knives and I have quite a few.
 
Both of my Sebenza's are the smoothest knives I have felt, at least for knives with washers. My Kershaw Tilt with KVT ball-bearing system is the only knife that has a blade that moves just as freely, although it has a different feel. Somehow, the lock bar doesn't seem to inhibit the movement of the blade at all, so it has an insanely smooth feel, but it's almost hard to feel it because it just wants to slip right into the open or closed position. It's so smooth that it almost lacks any feel at all. The Sebenza's are crazy for being knives with washers and also knives that lock up so solidly (same with the Tilt). They have almost no resistance but the lock bar does provide a little bit of friction and just the way it's smooth as glass but at the same time not completely slippery gives it that really awesome "hydraulic" feel people talk about. However, most Sebenza's don't come like this. They can take years of breaking in and just getting perfect specimen to begin with. What I do is follow JDavis' smoothness modification for the Seb, which is to slightly sand a tiny bit off the washers and polish them up perfectly. Now, when you take the pressure of the lock bar off the blade, the blade drops instantly like a rock. No resistance.

Anyway, that's how I like em. In that state the Sebenza's and the Tilt are the smoothes I've held. The ZT 560 is also pretty smooth but not on the same level. I also have a particular Paramilitary 2 that's unusually smooth and a Spyderco Gayle Bradley that's in that realm as well. I agree, the Mini Onslaught is a very smooth knife.
 
My BM Mini-Dejavoo is like super silky smooth. It closely resembles the onslaught in terms of handle design. It opens and closes effortlessly!
 
My new Rift BM Forum knife is sooo smooth, it's liquid.
 
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Just got a LE 746 and am pleasantly surprised how smoothly it opens.
It may be the smoothest opening folder I own despite the relatively light weight of the blade.
 
My smoothest production (not including mid-techs) has been my ZT560, or a benchmade 940 I used to have.
As far as mid-techs go.. without a doubt my new Hinderer gen4 XM-18.

Never had an Onslaught.. but wanna get one eventually.
 
The original AFCK I got in the 90's was and still is the smoothest folding knife I've ever owned. As for the AXIS they do vary. All of the one's I have are very smooth but the Rift I have is a stand out.

I think it comes down to how well the individual knife was made and will vary considerably from knife to knife.

I'm glad you got "a good one".
 
Doug Ritter Griptilion. The big wide blade really improves on the smoothness of an already smooth Griptilion.
 
Never owned a 746, but of the dozens of AXIS folders I have owned or now own, one stands out, a plain old Griptilian 550. It's buttery smooth and I've never touched it. It just came that way. I have others which are close, and I have other Grips which aren't, but that one sure is smooth.
 
940 and 14210 are better than my Mini Onslaught (Grips too).
 
I will agree that the 746 is awesomely smooth and I really like the knife.
But if we're going to compare smoothness.. Check out the Spyderco Sage 3.
 
My LE 746 isn't nearly as smooth as my mini grips (except the coated M4 Ritter which is about the same). Likely because of the coated blade. I received a full size Grip M4 today and it is the least smooth, again the coating is probably a factor.

With the mini's I have learned to pull the lock from both sides, using the thumb and fore finger, and let the blade drop. In one none flipping motion roll my hand from palm down to up and release the lock and the blade locks open. To close I reverse the the motion and the blade locks close never touching it. Fast, simple and as ambidextrous as any knife there is.

I use the same technique with the Paramilitary 2.
 
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