Please INfo??Arch Lock, AXis Lock(Sog And Benchmade)

T

txjaws2000

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Jan 5, 2006
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Hello all interested in gaining some more information on these two locking mechanisms. Thinking of getting the Pentagon EliteII (PE18), and also a AXis locking Benchmade knife. Is the AXis lock the same as the Sog Arch Lock?

Also, have grown accustomed to SOgs SAT in the Flash IIcombo and enjoy how fast the blade opens. How quickly can you open the Arch lock in the Pentagon or Benchmades Axis lock folders?

Any insight would be helpful in selecting some fine AXis folders or choosing the Pentagon Elite II. Also, which knives do you feel have better steels? Which is better Aus8 or other steels such as ATS34 or 154cm like I have seen in some benchmades?

Thanks.:confused:
 
The locks are different. I can't tell you how exactly because I don't own any SOGs, but I would imagine the Axis is smoother to operate, and probably stronger.

Again, I don't know about the Arc lock, but an Axis can be flicked open and closed just as fast as any assited opener with a little practice.

Benchmades have the better steels for sure. AUS8 isn't bad, I don't really care for it's edge holding abilities though.

Overall, the Bnechmades are definitely a cut above the SOGs in quailty and materials for the most part.
 
The arc lock and axis lock are pretty much the same thing. They work the same way. Ive played with my friends sog and it opened and closed just as quickly and easily as any benchmade ive played with. When it comes down to strength and technicality i am not sure which one performs better.
 
I haven't had the chance to use an axis lock before, but I do have a SOG mini-xray with arc lock. In my opinion (and I have seen many others agree) that SOG arc locks have some of the smoothest openings ever. I have heard from other threads that the arc lock is designed slightly different and has a much smoother opening and closing than axis locks.
 
The Cold Steel Ultra Lock is similar to the others. Benchmade uses far and away the best steels of the three, though.
 
From experience with all 3 I like the benchmade way more, feels alot smoother and I am partial to benchmades style as well. The SOG vision etc and the CS are ok they just dont seem to be as refined as the Benchmade imho. The steel quality as already mentioned is better in the Benchmade's and from there its a tossup to me between sog nad CS. Usually you can pick those two up much cheaper though.
 
I had a zytel vision awhile back and liked it alot. Ats-34 and the zytel was like g-10. I think the arc lock is pretty much the same as the axis, but in an arc. I think they (sog) call the locks on thier newer knives the arc actuater. Only the visions and pentegons have the arc lock. From what I recall, it was equaly as smooth as an axis.
 
I haven't played with a SOG, but the axis lock on my benchmade is smooth as anything. But that's pretty much the answer you're going to get for both knives, there's only one way for you to really get an answer to the question: fondle both knives ;)
 
Siggyhk said:
I had a zytel vision awhile back and liked it alot. Ats-34 and the zytel was like g-10. I think the arc lock is pretty much the same as the axis, but in an arc. I think they (sog) call the locks on thier newer knives the arc actuater. Only the visions and pentegons have the arc lock. From what I recall, it was equaly as smooth as an axis.
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If I remember correctly the arc actuater is the term for the arc mechanism when combined with the SAT (SOG's assisted opening) technology. I could be wrong about that though.

In terms of its similarity of the Axis, the big difference is the arc motion. If you look at the Pentagon Elites you will see that there are two pins back in the stop pin area on the handle. From what I understand of the mechanism the lock bar is attached to the lower set of those two pins and that connection requires the lock bar to move in an arc. From a theoretical standpoint this should give the lock extra strength because when you put pressure on the blade to close the pressure that the blade exerts on the lockbar is shared by these two attached pins rather than keeping it all on the lock bar by itself. This is all presuming I understand how the lock is put together mind you.

Benchmade does use higher end blade steels and handle materials on their knives in general. A couple of SOG knives use ATS-34 which is the equivalent of BM's 154CM but to my knowledge SOG has never used S30V, M2, or D2 or the likes.
 
In my opinion I would probably buy SOG for the simple fact that I've found their products to be highly reliable and a great value.
 
I'd agree with "the Knife Collector". BM's rock in every way. Only line that has been a knockout for those in the know have been the Visions. A very high quality knife.
 
I'm not saying I don't love BM. They make a great product. But I can't afford them right now. I'm a full time college student and the funds just aren't there. Plus, I'm always afraid to use a knife that costs that much and I'm not a collector. I always buy knives with the intent of using them.
 
I have a SOG PE, SOG X Ray Vision 71, Benchmade 720 and 556 to refer to on this. The SOG Arc-Locks I have open MUCH more easily than the Axis Locks; in fact there's hardly any resistance at all once you get past the detent. Of course that does not mean the Arc-Lock is better. It's just one aspect of the locking mechanism. The build quality on the PE is very, very good btw (tang stamped Seki City, Japan) but IMO - from handling, using, the general feeling you get about a knife - the Benchmades are definitely a step up from the SOGs.
 
The main difference between the Axis Lock and SOG's Arc Lock is that the latter swings the lock bar on a pivot, whereas the Axis slides freely in it's slot. The SOG version does feel smoother, since the pivot keeps it from binding, but at the cost of another pivot pin, and the waste of a lot of vertical space in the handle near the blade pivot.
 
I really like BMs for fit/finish and materials-154cm, D2, S30V---BM also has a red class lock called the Rolling Lock with InDraft (see their Ambush and Mini-ambush), which seems more similar to the SOG arc to me--both have a metal pin that notches behind the tang-- but I have never handled a SOG Arc lock--I am going by looks there....

I like some of the SOG fixed blades, but generally, in folders BM beats 'em, from what I have observed.
 
Chadilac said:
I really like BMs for fit/finish and materials-154cm, D2, S30V---BM also has a red class lock called the Rolling Lock with InDraft (see their Ambush and Mini-ambush), which seems more similar to the SOG arc to me--both have a metal pin that notches behind the tang-- but I have never handled a SOG Arc lock--I am going by looks there....

I like some of the SOG fixed blades, but generally, in folders BM beats 'em, from what I have observed.
Click to expand...

While exteriorly the rolling lock and the arc lock may appear more similar than arc and axis, interiorly the only difference between arc and axis is the path of travel on the arc and the fact that it's attached to another pivot pin which is what causes the path to be different.
 
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