Questions about the Benchmade Axis Lock

Does axis locks wear out?

  • Yes, like any other locks

  • Probably not for a long time

  • Don't know

Results are only viewable after voting.
Any lock can wear out at any time. Anything mechanical can and will eventually wear out if actuated enough. Will it wear out? Yes. When? Who knows. There's your answer.

Send the knife in and don't worry about it.
 
After trolling the interweb it looks like the story I heard of BM sending out free Omega springs was Just that, A story. looks like you would have to send it in:( but that would be a great time to take advantage of their blade sharpening service. I have been told that when using the sharpening service they will also clean and lube your knife. That would be a good time to get some new springs. It only cost $4.60 to insure a package for $300, well worth the money.
 
I carried my Benchmade 5500 daily for almost 12 years. It still locks up solid. Aside from axis lock failures(which I’ve never experienced but I know it’s an issue for some), the axis lock is very solid.

Also, if you’re worried about something getting lost in the mail ship it with a different carrier and insure it.
 
Night Rider said:
Thanks it's a Grizzly Creek. That slot on the back is a Gut hook
XEACPyI.jpg
Click to expand...
Oh wow, how did I not remember that:mad:
 
Night Rider said:
After trolling the interweb it looks like the story I heard of BM sending out free Omega springs was Just that, A story. looks like you would have to send it in:( but that would be a great time to take advantage of their blade sharpening service. I have been told that when using the sharpening service they will also clean and lube your knife. That would be a good time to get some new springs. It only cost $4.60 to insure a package for $300, well worth the money.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I was really hoping for anyone to confirm the story is true(they refused to send me some, i was gonna try again) Some people say that if a knife is lost during its way to warranty then USPS will not cover the knife’s original value because it has to be “broken” to be sent in to warranty. Who knows, this might be false. As for the lifesharp, I can sharpen the straight edge myself and they won’t sharpen the serrations. I’ve taken this knife apart so many times the warranty is probly voided, torn apart and thrown into the trash( some people say benchmade doesnt care as long as I put it together correctly) Thanks for the reply
 
t5brick said:
I carried my Benchmade 5500 daily for almost 12 years. It still locks up solid. Aside from axis lock failures(which I’ve never experienced but I know it’s an issue for some), the axis lock is very solid.

Also, if you’re worried about something getting lost in the mail ship it with a different carrier and insure it.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I’ll probably will take the courage to do that soon. Thabks for the reply:thumbsup::)
 
AntDog said:
Any lock can wear out at any time. Anything mechanical can and will eventually wear out if actuated enough. Will it wear out? Yes. When? Who knows. There's your answer.

Send the knife in and don't worry about it.
Click to expand...
Yeah, thanks for the reply, I’m probably worrying too much.
 
You are. Just send it in if you need to. If it's working for now, no worries.

It's a knife, bud. Not donating an organ to a relative. Best of luck.
 
are you asking if the axis bar can wear thru the blade tang? the washers? something else entirely?
 
Bobchicken1201 said:
Yeah, I was really hoping for anyone to confirm the story is true(they refused to send me some, i was gonna try again) Some people say that if a knife is lost during its way to warranty then USPS will not cover the knife’s original value because it has to be “broken” to be sent in to warranty. Who knows, this might be false. As for the lifesharp, I can sharpen the straight edge myself and they won’t sharpen the serrations. I’ve taken this knife apart so many times the warranty is probly voided, torn apart and thrown into the trash( some people say benchmade doesnt care as long as I put it together correctly) Thanks for the reply
Click to expand...

Your comment about USPS not covering a knife sent in for warranty because it's not "broken" is total hogwash.

Insurance on a package works like this: you get insurance on a package. ANY package. If it gets lost, they give you the insured value. End of story. Doesn't matter where it's being sent, or why. All that matters is that the package did not arrive. It may take a while to recoup the funds, but it'll happen.

Don't worry about what you THINK a company will say when you send a knife in for warranty service. Write a brief, specific note describing what you'd like done, and send the sumbitch. Put the ball in their court and let them respond, and for cripe's sake stop fretting about rumors.

Send in your knife chicken man. Get it insured.
 
AntDog said:
Your comment about USPS not covering a knife sent in for warranty because it's not "broken" is total hogwash.

Insurance on a package works like this: you get insurance on a package. ANY package. If it gets lost, they give you the insured value. End of story. Doesn't matter where it's being sent, or why. All that matters is that the package did not arrive. It may take a while to recoup the funds, but it'll happen.

Don't worry about what you THINK a company will say when you send a knife in for warranty service. Write a brief, specific note describing what you'd like done, and send the sumbitch. Put the ball in their court and let them respond, and for cripe's sake stop fretting about rumors.

Send in your knife chicken man. Get it insured.
Click to expand...
I’ll probably send in the knfe on Monday
An example of USPS refusing to cover insurance on a knife because it was going back for repairs
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/shipping-pocket-knives-usps-illegal.650064/
I know this is just a rumor so I’ll send it in anyways. Just finished printing out their warranty form
 
Bobchicken1201 said:
I’ll probably send in the knfe on Monday
An example of USPS refusing to cover insurance on a knife because it was going back for repairs
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/shipping-pocket-knives-usps-illegal.650064/
I know this is just a rumor so I’ll send it in anyways. Just finished printing out their warranty form
Click to expand...

Baloney. Send the knife to Benchmade. When you get it back and open the box, smile.

Oh, before you send it, you might want to put the stock springs back in it (even if they're broken) instead of the ones you made. That right there might become an issue.

Put the broken springs back in and tell them they broke, etc. They'll take good care of you. BM has great customer service.
 
Last edited:
ok, now i think i understand what you’re asking and hopefully i can give you a good answer. i used to have one of the original 710’s that my wife got me as a wedding present in 2000. i used it every day for everything until a couple years ago, when it was stolen from me, and it never let me down. in that time i had zero issues with it. no vertical or horizontal blade play, no lock failures, no problems whatsoever, not even a broken omega spring. and that was with 17 years of hard use as my primary knife.
 
mrfields said:
ok, now i think i understand what you’re asking and hopefully i can give you a good answer. i used to have one of the original 710’s that my wife got me as a wedding present in 2000. i used it every day for everything until a couple years ago, when it was stolen from me, and it never let me down. in that time i had zero issues with it. no vertical or horizontal blade play, no lock failures, no problems whatsoever, not even a broken omega spring. and that was with 17 years of hard use as my primary knife.
Click to expand...
My oldest Axis BM is a 710. Not as old as yours was - the thieving scumbags! No problems whatsoever and it has seen a lot of use.
 
mrfields said:
ok, now i think i understand what you’re asking and hopefully i can give you a good answer. i used to have one of the original 710’s that my wife got me as a wedding present in 2000. i used it every day for everything until a couple years ago, when it was stolen from me, and it never let me down. in that time i had zero issues with it. no vertical or horizontal blade play, no lock failures, no problems whatsoever, not even a broken omega spring. and that was with 17 years of hard use as my primary knife.
Click to expand...
Oh wow, how can you go 17 years with 1 knife:eek:? Im struggling every 2 months trying to stop buying knives:(. Thank you for your reply and I hope after 17 years, the knife “decided” to fail and cut that thief:)
 
Imo the Axis Lock is a great design the barrels are made from hardened steel. besides the spring I don't see any other failure possible on a well maintained knife.

There's a old poll on the Subject

Have you had a broken Omega spring in an Axis lock? folder?

I don't own Axis locks knives for long enough to have one fail in anyway. Even if you fidget with your knife, I think it should last a long time.
 
I think the OP is asking whether the axis bar will have a “later” lockup over time and whether this would be accelerated with his stiffer springs.

I have noticed the bar has gotten closer to the pivot on my Mini Ritter, but it’s also like 4 years old and there’s still plenty of wear left. I wouldn’t worry about it failing in that manner. If you ever end up with vertical blade play from past 100% lockup, you can swap the stop pin for a slightly larger diameter one and the lockup would be early again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top