Open letter to Benchmade.

MAURICE

MAURICE

Joined
Jul 14, 2000
Messages
3,278
Making the AFCK with the axis lock was a HUGE leap in the right direction, I must say....
However,
there is one thing i know many knife nuts would absolutely love to see,myself included.
A full size AFCK, with the original Spydie hole, a satin finish (anything but the black coating) and the AXIS lock.
I was thinking about it just tonight. It would be the perfect folder. The best of all worlds, rolled into one,that would satisfy a lot of customers.

Forumites,if there is something you want to add,please do. Criticism? Share. This is something that i would love to see done,as im sure a lot of others would.

-MO.
 
I don't currently own any Benchmade knives, but I like them and want to get one eventually. I like only those with the Spyderco hole -- I have NEVER liked thumb-stud knives. I think that what you wrote about the AFCK design you'd like to see them make is right on. I'd like a model with those features, too. It'd probably be the first Benchmade I ever get, if they end up making it. Or I'll eventually get around to getting a Gryptilian (sp?).
 
...and, maybe someday offer Mo's knife in a jr. or mini model.

yeeaaahh baby! :)



regards,
bill o.
 
Agree on the satin finish. I also agree on the original, round opening hole. However, I believe Spyderco will no longer license that hole for other companies to use, so we're stuck with the oval holes from now on.
 
The hole is Spyderco's trademark and BM cannot use it without an agreement with Spyderco. They had one and it expired. I dought Spyderco will sign another one. So oval it is.
 
Originally posted by kutch133
The hole is Spyderco's trademark and BM cannot use it without an agreement with Spyderco. They had one and it expired. I dought Spyderco will sign another one. So oval it is.
Click to expand...


I think BM simply didn't want to pay royalties to Spyderco anymore...

They also neglect to mention the AFCK was designed by someone...

They used to say that in the past...

For those who don’t know - Chris Caracci, an ex-Navy SEAL designed the AFCK

Give credit where credit is due…
 
So close to perfect. I understand about the round hole. That they can't control. But the crappy BT2 finish :barf: ? Come on Benchmade. I know you can do better than that. This knife deserves a satin finish.
 
Why is everyone slamming the BT2 coating? The steel is going to be D2. If that thing stays satin it will rust right in your pocket. Black may not be as pretty, but it is a lot more practical for this high tech steel.
 
we cannot forget chris' design.
IMHO he designed a HELL of a knife, i love mine,and carry it often. very cool.
thank you,chris.

as far as the round hole goes, it seems like it would be worth it to pay royalties to spyderco for it,as its the ONE major complaint about the new AFCKs,as far as i have heard.

Black coating? Its not bad, but tactical,to me,seems to be tired. so many makers and companys have done it...its just boring to see the same thing over and over again.
Now dont jump my ass about locking liner knives with thumbstuds, thats not my definition of tactical. I think of black handles/blades, lots of serrations,etc when i think tactical.

sincerely,
mo
 
FIsrt, the license from Spyderco to use the ROUND hole expired...Some may say that using ANY hole on a knife blade as a means of opening is infringing on Spyderco's patent...But I'm not a patent attorney...Anywyas, Spyderco no longer re-news licenses...As for the design of the AFCK, it is true that C.J. had a part in it, but so did Al Mar, Sal Glesser, and Mark McWillis (ex-Benchmade exec).


--dan
 
The argument that some coating is needed may have a little validity. SO USE BC1 BumMade!:rolleyes:

A satin/BC1 D2/M2/BG-42/CPM 3V Axis lock AFCK with a REAL SpyderHole (tm) would be one hell of a knife.

Trust BumMade to sour the brew...:mad:

Still a 'sort of' AFCK Axis is better than none.

To me the SpyderHole (tm) was half the appeal of the AFCK package. The odd shaped rugby ball is... Well it ain't the real deal. Considering how long we waited for this knife and all the imput from those in the know, it must have been real hard to screw this one up. Well done! Staggering stupidity, it must take a lot of practice to be that stupid.

If I seem harsh, well fair comment, but the AFCK Axis has been the dream of KnifeKnuts for years, something BumMade are proud to advertise.:rolleyes:
 
BC would have been the better choice for a coating, but why so much negativity about the hole? Round or oval, a hole is a hole, it will open the knife. And there's not much to be done about the whole liscensing deal.
 
give it a rest,will you?
EVERYONE knows you dont like BM,even my grandmother,so chill,will ya?
 
I'm not sure that Spyderco really can license out the round hole anymore. Benchmade used it when Spyderco had a patent on it, but the patent expired and it's now a trademark. By having the hole trademarked, I think Spyderco has to make an argument like: "All of our folding knives use the round hole as an opening device and it's a feature that's exclusive to our knives and makes them recognizable." If Spyderco started to use thumb disks or studs, or allowed other companies to use the hole, then that could dilute the status of the trademark.

Wouldn't it be ironic if Spyderco let Benchmade use the round hole and then Benchmade sued to claim that Spyderco couldn't have trademark protection for the hole because Benchmade knives used it too? :) But keep in mind that the round hole is the only thing that's a trademark, not other shapes. So instead of discontinuing the model, Benchmade made their hole as round as possible without it technically being a circle.

I really don't know much about trademark stuff though, so you might want to try asking Sal Glesser directly to get a clearer answer. It might also be interesting to ask him about who designed the AFCK because, as Dan pointed out, many people take at least partial credit for its design.
 
The AFCK is a modification (however extensive) of the Spyderco Police. Add that to the confusion:p

The oval hole works just like the round one on the knives I've tried. I can't stand BT2, personally, but I preordered a 806D2 anyway. When it starts looking like crap, it's coming off.
I was in a huff about the BT2 being the only option, but screw it. Decided to quit crying about it...I'm buying a knife, not a blade finish.
 
Lol! Actually I love BM knives! They offer QC equal to none (you will never hear of sloppy QC on any BM knife!) they are always razor sharp out of the box! Benchmade are even amazingly offering all customers the oppertunity to be a part of the production process! Oh yes, we are all now members of the now defunct? QC department! Great! We have a sloppy knife, we return it for amazing service! Oh and they always listen to customers and try their very best to offer first rate knives at reasonable prices. Oh and the company philosophy is second to none in any capitalist economy. The customer always comes first with this company. I like the way they fall over themselves to offer products that the general public and KnifeKnuts always ask for and offer these products exactlly as required without messing them up.

Oh, even better is the way they get rid of any troublesome members on their own Forum so as to avoid potential customers seeing discord or problems (esp those problems that they don't want to fix) and best of all the way they always seem to hold on to custom knifemakers who only after all design the knives that we actually want from BM. Even better is the way they forget to mention who designed elements in knives like the perfect AFCK Axis. We are after all only human it it is downright brave of a company to show its human face by forgetting these little inconsequential things! All in all I would argue that BM are the most loved knife company in the world and they have nothing but friends in the industry. All they need to do now is introduce a price fixing policy so we all pay the same price! After all it is unfair that some get cheaper knives than others, downright unethical if you ask me! Oh wait, they already tried that, ah well someone always has to spoil it for such a genuine and amazing company.

BenchMade I love you! Keep up the great work!:D
 
I love the original model 800 AFCK, but I like the new oval hole used by Benchmade as well as the "stonewash" look of the new uncoated blades. An AFCK with an Axis lock is a must-have for me, but I don't care for the BT2 coating, no matter what the steel is. I just do not like black coated blades, period.
 
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