My first Benchmade; should I worry about the Omega springs?

[Honed_Edge]

It's nothing to worry about even though it will break in your or your children's life. Option A is send it to BM and they will fix that and anything else that's wrong. This might take a few weeks. Option B is just pop the scale off and stick your own homemade spring in it. This route is more in the 15 minute range. I prefer option B, but A is a fine choice too!

 

[42Jackbauer23]

Funny you should ask. This happened a few weeks ago. It still function ok, only problem is the detent is really light now. I'm about to send it off and have it fixed. I hate not having my favorite edc on me for a couple of weeks but oh well. It'll come back good as new.

 

[KrisNZ]

Worry less, cut more

 

[toker]

Funny you should ask. This happened a few weeks ago. It still function ok, only problem is the detent is really light now. I'm about to send it off and have it fixed. I hate not having my favorite edc on me for a couple of weeks but oh well. It'll come back good as new.

- Send it in. If the other spring breaks, the blade will not stay closed.

As mentioned in my earlier post, my 2nd Omega spring broke very shortly after my 1st one did.

 

[Cursum Perficio]

I have 5 Axis locks, oldest of which is 'bout 4 years, haven't had a problem yet. 2 of them are AO though so the lock gets less use on those.
As I understand it, BM requires you to send them the knife for repair if a spring does break unless like me you live in the antipodes, then they will mail you the spring.
I figure if I ever do break one I will ask them for a few spares and be good for ages.
Though I do like the idea of homemade guitar string replacements I read about.

 

[sgtbsimms]

I've got close to 17 years of use on my 710 and never had a problem. I know Benchmade will fix it if I do have a problem but I call 17 years of problem free use a fine track record.

 

[338375]

Use and enjoy your new knife. If we could figure out the total overall number of knives that BM has made with the Axis lock, and the total number of knives
that have had a spring break, I'm guessing the percentage would be very small.

 

[JNewell]

I've got close to 17 years of use on my 710 and never had a problem. I know Benchmade will fix it if I do have a problem but I call 17 years of problem free use a fine track record.

I also have one of the first 710s, as well as a large pile of other Axis lock knives. I have never had a spring break.

 

[Redmasta]

I've had a couple break. Its a very thin wire which will eventually go after enough opening and closing. Unfortunately my knife is in and out of my pocket constantly at work which doesn't help. I still love the Axis lock because of the sheer speed it can be opened and closed one handed. Just wish they would mail you extra springs instead of having to send in the knife which is a pita. I have a duplicate of the knife I carry which I'm using for parts and currently in the process of sending in for a spring refill (taken both springs now).

 

[jumpstat]

I have 3 griptillians purchased circa 2012. Of the 3, two have seen active usage and so far so good. These grips are well designed as I have yet to disassemble any of them for general cleaning. If I was cutting flesh, all it needs are detergent water and TLC. And WD40 occasionally. Its good to go and no grittiness.

However there was an issue with my mates grip. This happened last year. All it took was some photos and an email to benchmade. BM send by mail a pair of the springs for my friend (all the way to Malaysia without any costs). So BM is top notch. If there is any issues with your knife, BM will make it good.

 

[Rapt_up]

Springs are small pieces of metal under stress and they can break. But, think about it. How many everyday items have springs and still function for decades without failure? Firearms come to mind. I've owned dozens of guns over the years and I've had one single spring break in one single gun during this time. I've had springs lose their "springiness" and need replacement but one single spring breakage over time in so many firearms is not a bad failure rate.

I've really only recently gotten into Benchmades but I do have a Griptilian that's about 10(?) years old with no breakage. To be fair, that knife has only seen occasional use over those years. But I don't worry about it. It's less likely that I'll have to depend on my pocket knife to save my life than I'll have to depend on one of my guns and I don't fret that those guns have an abundance of springs that could break.

Springs can fail and/or lose their "springy-ness" but generally in firearms, and things its due to the designers not understanding the spring design, or due to a greater number of cycles than they were designed for. A proper spring design will function flawlessly for a very large number of cycles... The ones in your car engine valves runt at very high temperatures for millions of cycles and rarely fail or lose their spring... So it is possible... Also often the springs in firearms were designed before they understood spring design very well. Sometimes "new" designs can replace old ones with lifetime springs. I have done it for magaizine springs.

Back to the original question. No don't worry, have it replaced or do it yourself if it does. Get spares from Benchmade. Not an worry issue. Mine have all been great.

 

[bigolegator]

I've owned many and used them without a failure...wouldn't worry about it too much. As others have stated, BM will fix it for you if needed.

 

[Ro$$]

I think it is something you hear of more on the Internet then actually having it happen to you

 

[uofaengr]

To be brief, no.

 

[jkarp_53]

In more than 10 years of owning I've never lost a spring in any of my Axis models. And so long as Benchmade honors their warranty it will never be an issue If I ever do.