Newbie has Liner Lock Paranoia

O

Opie

Joined
Nov 30, 2002
Messages
3
I bought my first decent production folder about a year ago. Before this one I have always used CRKT because they were cheap.

Its a Benchmade 880BT Darkstar with a liner lock. I have carried it and used it almost daily for the last year with no problems but now I keep reading that this style knife is inferior to the Axis locks on several current Benchmade knives.

The main reason I carry a blade is a last ditch resort for self defense. The daily cutting is just a bonus for me. I need a knife that I can depend on in case my handgun ever fails me.

Should I look into getting a knife with the AXIS lock or am I just being paranoid. I don't want to blow a hundred bucks unless I need too.
 
Unless you've experienced that the blade tends to close easily when hit at the back of the blade (well not excessively hard, but a decent amount of pressure), you shouldn't worry about it.
My CRKT C/K 3" used to do that. A semi-forceful hit on the back of the blade on the edge of my desk can disengage it.
 
If it worries you, I would replace it. If you really want to stake your life on your equipment you should have absolute confidence in it.
 
i wouldn't worry about it at all, unless you get some really cheap, thin & flimsy linerlock. all the guys who own & love their axis locks are gonna come in & champion them, and the same goes with the guys who love their liner locks. everyone's gonna be biased. i've never read any definitive, objective test data, or statistical data indicating the superiority of either when matched price-wise, especially among the respected models & brands. this forum has a good share of axislock owners, hence the comments you've heard.
 
So many locks, so many problems ... :p If you want a knife for self-defense that won't fold up on you, get a fixed blade.

We have frequent arguments about which locks are reliable and which are not. I like my liner locks but I don't pretend they can never fold under pressure. Some of them, like my Buck/Strider or Commander, seem totally reliable, even when twisting. The axis lock looks good but the new Spydie ball lock does the same thing, only better, since the ball is almost impossible to accidentally disengage. Framelocks are stronger under a grip. Lockbacks are almost immune to disengaging under stress.

A well-made (probably more expensive) knife will hold up under all but the worst-case circumstances, no matter what kind of lock.
 
Originally posted by alan aragon
this forum has a good share of axislock owners, hence the comments you've heard.
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Keep in mind many of the Axis lock owners also own many liner locks, frame locks, lock backs, etc. If they recommend the axis lock after they have tried everything, that isn't bias, that's just practical experience. Now if someone only owned Axis lock folders and didn't have experience with any other lock, then I would be suspicious of that person being biased.

I have a drawer full of knives, only three of them Axis locks, and when I go out I grab an Axis lock for no other reason than that I've found it works the best for me.

drawer.jpg


For Esav, while Axis locks maybe stronger than a liner lock, it doesn't mean liner locks are crap by any means!
 
wade, you have a hard-on for your new axis lock & you know it man. you could be the spokesperson for BM's current line!! nah, i'm being a little feceitious here ;), but of course you'd recommend axis lock; it's got that novel fling/latest dish appeal.
 
Originally posted by alan aragon
wade, you have a hard-on for your new axis lock & you know it man. you could be the spokesperson for BM's current line!! nah, i'm being a little feceitious here ;), but of course you'd recommend axis lock; it's got that novel fling/latest dish appeal.
Click to expand...

NEW? :) I've had my Axis locks for 2-3 years. I had liner locks and lock backs before that. I got a frame lock Sebenza after the fact. You'd think I'd be raving about that since it was three times the cost. My most recent knife is my Camilus Dominator which I got less than a month ago. Again more expensive than the Axis locks, has the cool Robo assist, and the frame lock. I also recently got a Kershaw Random lock with speed safe and frame lock, Spyderco Cricket frame lock.. all cool knives, but the old 710 still goes in my pocket everyday and the main reason for that is I can deploy it faster than anything else and am comfortable with the solidness of th eknife. I have a BM AFCK liner lock that's really cool, but that's a big nasty blade to have to worry about shutting on your fingers if the liner lock fails. :) That's why I have a BM806D2 on order.

I still by plenty of knives that aren't Axis lock. I have a Al Mar SERE 2000 coming, Spyderco Native.. I like trying them all out and give them a fair shot as my EDC. So far I just haven't found anything that I'm more comfortable with than my 710. I think a lot of my other knives are cooler than the 710, just not as practical. :)
 
Originally posted by WadeF
NEW? :) I've had my Axis locks for 2-3 years. I had liner locks and lock backs before that. I got a frame lock Sebenza after the fact. You'd think I'd be raving about that since it was three times the cost. My most recent knife is my Camilus Dominator which I got less than a month ago. Again more expensive than the Axis locks, has the cool Robo assist, and the frame lock. I also recently got a Kershaw Random lock with speed safe and frame lock, Spyderco Cricket frame lock.. all cool knives, but the old 710 still goes in my pocket everyday and the main reason for that is I can deploy it faster than anything else and am comfortable with the solidness of th eknife. I have a BM AFCK liner lock that's really cool, but that's a big nasty blade to have to worry about shutting on your fingers if the liner lock fails. :) That's why I have a BM806D2 on order.

I still by plenty of knives that aren't Axis lock. I have a Al Mar SERE 2000 coming, Spyderco Native.. I like trying them all out and give them a fair shot as my EDC. So far I just haven't found anything that I'm more comfortable with than my 710. I think a lot of my other knives are cooler than the 710, just not as practical. :)
Click to expand...
holy shit man..

can we trade jobs for a second?!

okay, you've made your case. now i gotta go make some cash to get more knives.
 
Any folder can and will fail at one time or another to some unlucky SOB somewhere in the world.
:(

Murphy's Law, it never fails, and is just about the only thing you can always count on.

Right tool for the right job?

Get a fixed blade.

It's the only sure-fire way around this problem.

Allen
aka DumboRAT
 
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