New Bugout with omega spring break

[Reswob]

Yes, that's correct. Benchmade will only send Omega Springs to customers overseas as sending in and sending back the knife just for that would be costly.
Benchmade requires you to send the knife in to replace the springs if you are in the U.S.

It's a shame their international customer service is better than their US customer service!

 

[KenHash]

It's a shame their international customer service is better than their US customer service!

I suspect that BM's policy of not even sending you springs and forcing you to send the whole knife in may be the result of the company's lawyers defining (1) what is serviceable by the customer and what should only be done by the maker (2) at what point does the manufacturer's warranty become compromised. An obvious solution would be to include an extra set of springs with each knife box, but then those same lawyers would argue that it would be a tacit admission that the springs may fail.
Regardless, you're right that the customers within the U.S. get the short end of the stick in this regard.

 

[sabre cat]

I see so many threads dealing with this issue. My first impression upon receiving a gift of a Benchmade Emissary was "I don't like this lock". I'm not saying it's junk; it's just not for me.

Personally, IMHO spring failure is blown all out of proportion.

How many LEO’s, Firefighters, Medics, and Service members have used Axis Locks without any problems?

Add in construction workers and you have a huge number Axis Lock knives used and relied on daily without issues.

To me, spring failure is more of a recent event. You never used to hear about it at all.

Now people act as if is a common daily occurrence.

 

[kreole]

Personally, IMHO spring failure is blown all out of proportion.

How many LEO’s, Firefighters, Medics, and Service members have used Axis Locks without any problems?

Add in construction workers and you have a huge number Axis Lock knives used and relied on daily without issues.

To me, spring failure is more of a recent event. You never used to hear about it at all.

Now people act as if is a common daily occurrence.

Disagreed with it being recent. I'd say these threads are just as common now as when I first got here 10+ years ago. That's not to say they're frequent, just that they occur with some regularity. Search BF and you'll see they come up every so often (edit: reading through my first link below, I saw this post from December 1, 2010 where someone searched for broken omega spring threads on BF then and got 94 results https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...n-axis-lock-folder.795225/page-4#post-8949219)

Agree that it is probably overstated, though. Bad experiences tend to get yelled loudest (no offense to OP here, not meant as a comment in that direction but in general). In these threads you don't see everyone chiming in that it has happened to them too frequently to count or something like that. You get one set of posts with people with one, maybe two breaks, a couple people who've had a bunch, and a majority of others who never have had the experience, some of which inevitably call it an overblown concern as a result of not having direct experience.

Edit:
Here's a fun thread from back in 2010: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...n-omega-spring-in-an-axis-lock-folder.795225/

Another back in 2006, oldest one I've seen so far

Benchmade Omega Springs on Axis Locks

I've noticed that a lot of people try to point out that the omega springs on a BM axis lock could break, and if both springs broke, then the lock would not function. I own a BM Griptillian and have not had any problems with the knife. It's one of my favorites for EDC. Has anyone personally...

www.bladeforums.com

 

[jbmonkey]

I've never had one break on me. got many benchmades with the axis locks. been reading about breaking springs for long time on this site, pretty much 10 years now...many seem to have them break.


wonder how many that have one fail do fidgeting open and closes over and over while sitting around. I've never been interested in fidget open and closing myself...maybe that's why I havent had one fail yet? as spring cycling is what causes springs to fail.

I know a bunch will say they've had fails and dont fidget..it isnt meant as an insult to those posters. more me thinkin out loud on why some do and some dont.

 

[Eljay2]

I've never had one break on me. got many benchmades with the axis locks. been reading about breaking springs for long time on this site, pretty much 10 years now...many seem to have them break.


wonder how many that have one fail do fidgeting open and closes over and over while sitting around. I've never been interested in fidget open and closing myself...maybe that's why I havent had one fail yet? as spring cycling is what causes springs to fail.

I know a bunch will say they've had fails and dont fidget..it isnt meant as an insult to those posters. more me thinkin out loud on why some do and some dont.

I am certainly somewhat guilty.

 

[sabre cat]

I am certainly somewhat guilty.

So am I. I used to mess with my 531 all the time. Maybe that is why it broke. In all fairness, it was used when I got it. No telling how it was used or abused.

It could be my imagination but, it seems to me that there are a larger number 530 series knives with spring problems than any other group. That series uses a smaller Omega spring. Like I’ve said before, I can’t help but feel that spring size might play a role in failure rates.

 

[toker]

Personally, IMHO spring failure is blown all out of proportion.

How many LEO’s, Firefighters, Medics, and Service members have used Axis Locks without any problems?

Add in construction workers and you have a huge number Axis Lock knives used and relied on daily without issues.

To me, spring failure is more of a recent event. You never used to hear about it at all.

Now people act as if is a common daily occurrence.

There are plenty of older posts about Omega springs breaking. I just checked my post history and I experienced it in 2012 and there were numerous posts about it then. I don't believe it's a widespread issue since people usually only post when they have issues, but it's not something new.

 

[sabre cat]

There are plenty of older posts about Omega springs breaking. I just checked my post history and I experienced it in 2012 and there were numerous posts about it then. I don't believe it's a widespread issue since people usually only post when they have issues, but it's not something new.

I wonder what Benchmade’s spring failure rate actually is. It has to be pretty low.

After all, Benchmade had a fine reputation until their QC took a dive back in 2016 or so. If spring failure was truly a serious issue, I doubt that their reputation would have very good.

 

[toker]

My guess is that the failure rate is really low. But like any other spring, they can fatigue or may have had a weakness in the metal to begin with.

 

[Eljay2]

So am I. I used to mess with my 531 all the time. Maybe that is why it broke. In all fairness, it was used when I got it. No telling how it was used or abused.

It could be my imagination but, it seems to me that there are a larger number 530 series knives with spring problems than any other group. That series uses a smaller Omega spring. Like I’ve said before, I can’t help but feel that spring size might play a role in failure rates.

I'm pretty brutal on a couple of my 940s in terms of fidgeting them for hours while I'm on conference calls. Again, never a broken spring. If the springs are the same, that it must be a design difference in terms of spring pull.

 

[sabre cat]

I'm pretty brutal on a couple of my 940s in terms of fidgeting them for hours while I'm on conference calls. Again, never a broken spring. If the springs are the same, that it must be a design difference in terms of spring pull.

Maybe. You may be right. Sounds logical.

I doubt that I will pick up any more Benchmade’s anytime soon. I can’t really justify all that I have as it is.

 

[toker]

I'm pretty brutal on a couple of my 940s in terms of fidgeting them for hours while I'm on conference calls. Again, never a broken spring. If the springs are the same, that it must be a design difference in terms of spring pull.

The most stress to a spring is from motion, so it's safe to say that eventually it will wear out. I don't know if there's a specific reason why some springs break and some don't. My Kulgera was only a few years old when one of the springs broke. I don't fidget with my knives, so I probably only opened it a few times a day to cut things. The second spring broke a week later, probably from handling the additional stress of being the only spring. I have a North Fork and Mini-Stryker that I've never had an issue with.

I doubt that I will pick up any more Benchmade’s anytime soon. I can’t really justify all that I have as it is.

Same here. I have too many knives as is. I've become a steel snob in the last few years and won't buy S30V or 154CM any longer. Not because they're bad steels, but a lot of the newer steels will hold their edge a lot longer.

 

[DMD08]

I have two bugouts and 3 out of 4 omega springs broke within 6 months. Unless things have changed benchmade won't sell omega springs and I'm not mailing my knives in to get a replacement part I can change on my own in 5 minutes. My solution is to make my own omega springs and not buy any more benchmades. Which is a shame since I really love the bugout.

My 4th out of 4 omega springs on my 2 Bugouts broke a few days ago. I pull back on both sides of the lockbar when I use them. They don't get used a lot since I rotate through a few different knives for daily carry. I live in a dry environment and see no sign of corrosion.

I purchased some omega springs off of etsy. I haven't swapped them in yet but they look nice. Nicer than my own handiwork. Although my own hand bent omega springs have lasted longer than the factory ones.

 

[sabre cat]

My 4th out of 4 omega springs on my 2 Bugouts broke a few days ago. I pull back on both sides of the lockbar when I use them. They don't get used a lot since I rotate through a few different knives for daily carry. I live in a dry environment and see no sign of corrosion.

I purchased some omega springs off of etsy. I haven't swapped them in yet but they look nice. Nicer than my own handiwork. Although my own hand bent omega springs have lasted longer than the factory ones.

If I may ask, what are ETSY springs going for now? I think I paid about six or seven bucks for the smaller size that fit my 531.

I figured that the cost was about the same as shipping my knife in to Benchmade.

 

[DMD08]

If I may ask, what are ETSY springs going for now? I think I paid about six or seven bucks for the smaller size that fit my 531.

I figured that the cost was about the same as shipping my knife in to Benchmade.

I think it was 10 bucks for 2 sets.

It's not the cost that bothers me. It's the inconvenience for something I can fix easily myself. I am stubbornly independent I guess.

 

[sabre cat]

I think it was 10 bucks for 2 sets.

It's not the cost that bothers me. It's the inconvenience for something I can fix easily myself. I am stubbornly independent I guess.

I once called a manufacturer to order a replacement pocket clip. They informed me that the knife would have to be sent in. I thought that was a little strange because the clip could easily be reversed.

So, I ask why considering that the clip was obviously designed to be user serviced. Their response was that the knife had to be sent in for “safety” reasons.

“You have got to be kidding.” I replied and told them I would would pass on the clip replacement.

 

[sgbeskin]

I’ve had over thirty Benchmade knives, over the past twenty one years. The springs have broken on everyone of mine but my old Benchmade Griptilian. I bought it back in 03 or 04. I live on the Gulf Coast and the salt in the air could be the reason. I don’t flick the knives, playing with them. They just break. But years ago, I started making my own Omega Springs out of my wife’s memory wire that she used for jewelry making. I haven’t had a problem with my homemade springs. Shoot me a message and I’ll send you a set.

 

[scottc3]

lawyer, cough cough, run amok-

So, I ask why considering that the clip was obviously designed to be user serviced. Their response was that the knife had to be sent in for “safety” reasons.

understanding that the only good one is yours-

 

[sabre cat]

lawyer, cough cough, run amok-

understanding that the only good one is yours-

May be lawyers running amok.
You could be right.

Their response has kept me from buying anything else.