Old Benchmade AFCKs vs New

[YoungCutter]

Hello,

i've heard alot of talk about "Model 800" AFCKs and "Discontinued Models", according to the BM catalog the AFCK Model 804 is "New and Improved", is it really? I'm not sure if the recommendations i've seen pertain only to old AFCKs, or the new ones as well.

Whether or not they are similar in quality, which do you prefer, why?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Dirk]

There were 3 versions of the old discontiued AFCK.

The first was a thicker g-10 and the screws for the handle threaded directly into the G-10. Very solid knife and the best of the old AFCK, IMO. The second used a thinner G-10 with more texture to it. They started using a nut for the handle screws to thread into as opposed to threading into the G-10. Decent knife, but not as sturdy- read handle flex and pivot flex started to appear. The third version was as I identify it was when they started using the newer clips on the knife. This knife was very flexible in the handle and the pivot. Everyone I saw the blade would rub the liner and was difficult to keep centered. I never saw a lock fail on any of these knives.

The new 804 seems to have solved the problems of the recent AFCK. It has very little flex to the handle or pivot. The blade stays centered with no horizontal play that I can detect. The screws thread into nuts as oppossed to G-10. They are using 154 CM as opposed to ats-34. Same basic steel except 154CM is US made.

Comparing the 804 to the 800, I think the 804 is an improvement. So much so that I have 2 of them and they are now my EDC.

 

[SIFU1A]

personally i like the older models, nothing wrong w/the new ones, just dont find them aesthetically pleasing w/the oval football shaped hole - i have 3 AFCK's and have had 2 others i traded off, and have had no probs w/blade hitting liner, etc - mine have ranged from the old model 800S w/ATS34 and logo on handles is a black butterfly on a silver background, a M2 steel one which is a middle year model i think, and a 800BT w/a 154CM blade late model, of which not many were made i dont think - again i have had NO probs w/them and highly reccomend them, especially at the prices www.newgraham.com has them for, for the $$ i dont honestly think ya can beat them - to me its strictly a decision based on looks, i dont like the oval hole.....and i have had none, zero, nada prob w/the older ones......other than my emesrson commander, it is my favorite production folder, and i only like the emerson better cuz the wave - if $$ was an issue, i would get the AFCK for $70, and never look back, i really like the things - i would even venture to say, if i was gonna buy a AFCK or AFCK2, for the same $$, i would take the AFCK, not even taking into consideration the low prices offered on the older models - new and improved?? oh i dont know about that, not to me anyway - i just like the old ones w/round hole......

i wonder if BM hadnt lost the licensing agreement w/spydie if we would even be seeing 'new and improved' models, they would probably still just be making the 800 imho

i can almost promise you ya wont be disappointed in a AFCK


sifu