New Ritters with sticking axis lock?

Tixx

Tixx

Joined
Mar 19, 2011
Messages
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Am I the only one that returned 3 new mini Ritters because when I flip that blade out with a quick flick of the thumb, that axis lock stocks in a major way and produces a loud and undesirable click noise that takes an unusual amount of force to disengage?

Found this only on recent batches sine they have been producing the new mini orange scales. On these the Doug Ritter logo goes below the spine and onto the blade grind.

Chime in if you have this experience as well. May be a quality control issue at BM. I got the owner of knifeworks on the phone and he confirmed, but seemed uninterested and continues to sell them.

I've haso many mini Ritters that I can see a slight shrinking of the blade's leaf shape as well. (money saved on materials?)

Let me know if you have had any of these experiences.
 
I've EDC'd a full size Ritter for about 6 years; It was sticky when I got it but wore in after a few months and has been
fine ever since.
 
Ive had sticky axis locks on amost all my of my BMs (except the Sequel). It was especially bad on my Presidio. After a a bit of time the whole mechanism wears in and the lock becomes smooth as silk.

Every new axis lock ive handled has been sticky and had gritty feel to it when new. But it all goes away in the end. I think the same thing would have applied to your 3 Ritters had you kept them for a while and used them.
 
The blade on the orange is the same as on the pink, yellow, black, and whatever other color they use. Give it a bit of time to break in.
 
It is probably to do with coatings on the blade, axis and liners. Needs time to wear to a smooth texture. You may want to try not flicking them open as hard as well. Doesn't take much force.
 
Do you mean that it sticks as you try to open it, or when you want to close the knife and fold the blade?
My mini grip is a bit sticky to close. My sequel started that way, but after a little use, the blade drops smoothly. All my Benchmades open easily, and slicked up after some use.
 
When I first got my mini grip it was sticky as well. I spent most of the first day flicking it open and closed, after adjusting the pivot, to get myself accustom to the axis lock. That first day I couldn’t disengage the lock without using both my thumb and index finger; now, after having it a week, I can flick it open and closed easily with only my thumb on the axis lock. The knife is now the smoothest knife I own. Yours may be different but I would play with it for a few days and if it doesn’t loosen up send it to Benchmade. I have heard many good things about their customer service.
 
Tixx said:
Am I the only one that returned 3 new mini Ritters because when I flip that blade out with a quick flick of the thumb, that axis lock stocks in a major way and produces a loud and undesirable click noise that takes an unusual amount of force to disengage?

Found this only on recent batches sine they have been producing the new mini orange scales. On these the Doug Ritter logo goes below the spine and onto the blade grind.

Chime in if you have this experience as well. May be a quality control issue at BM. I got the owner of knifeworks on the phone and he confirmed, but seemed uninterested and continues to sell them.

I've haso many mini Ritters that I can see a slight shrinking of the blade's leaf shape as well. (money saved on materials?)

Let me know if you have had any of these experiences.
Click to expand...

I think you're having unreasonable expectations about the product you're purchasing and you're exaggerating the issues a bit. It's not as though the lock produced a loud klaxon and requires the strength of He-Man to disengage. It's a new knife, give it time to break in. I purchased the same knife from the newest run from KnifeWorks and the AXIS lock stuck slightly when flipped hard and wasn't as smooth when disengaging, but it's perfect now. I didn't even make any adjustments.

Can you take a picture of one blade that you feel is normal and one blade you feel is 'shrunk' overlayed together?
 
somber said:
I think you're having unreasonable expectations about the product you're purchasing and you're exaggerating the issues a bit. It's not as though the lock produced a loud klaxon and requires the strength of He-Man to disengage. It's a new knife, give it time to break in. I purchased the same knife from the newest run from KnifeWorks and the AXIS lock stuck slightly when flipped hard and wasn't as smooth when disengaging, but it's perfect now. I didn't even make any adjustments.

Can you take a picture of one blade that you feel is normal and one blade you feel is 'shrunk' overlayed together?
Click to expand...


Not unreasonable at all. I have had easily 75 mini ritters pass through my hands and have never experienced this previously. Had I actually stated the need for He-Man or that it sounded like a klaxon, then yes, I would have been exagerating. I said neither of those. :)

If I purchase another from those runs, I will take a new pic and post it. I think I took some at the time, but don't know which computer they were on. I will look when I have time.
 
Yup, I've had sticky locks on both of my Ritters out of the box. Check to make sure there is no oil on the lock face and then simply play with it for a while. 100 or so openings and closings and the stick disappeared. Nothing to worry about on a relatively inexpensive production knife.
 
I have had easily 75 mini ritters pass through my hands and have never experienced this previously.

That's a buttload of Ritters
 
I've currently got more than a dozen Grips of various types and they all stick to one degree or another and will definitely stick if you wrist flick them. I've also got two dozen or more other Axis knives and some stick - depends on tang ramp angle, coating, pure chance.
 
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