Recent Benchmades have pivot bushing?

[mongomondo]

I purchased a Benchmade 275 Adamas and a 520 Presidio (both Axis-Lock knives). I took out the male pivot screw so that I could apply loctite and I noticed that the blades were still perfectly centered. You could open the knives and they still locked up solid with absolutely no bladeplay in either direction. Just the female pivot part is there and it's functioning perfectly.

I don't know what Benchmade has done but these two knives feel rock solid. I'm blown away that I can completely remove the male pivot screw and the blade still has no bladeplay whatsoever. Only my Sebenza also does that. My Benchmade 710 and 940 from last year certainly has blade wobble if I remove the pivot.

 

[Cynic2701]

Try removing the entire pivot screw (both male and female) on your Sebenza. Mine still locks up solidly and reliably enough for light duty tasks without a pivot screw.

 

[stoffi]

I'd love to know what it is that does this and if it can be modified onto other folders, which have bladeplay..?

 

[Tsujigiri]

Does the blade still swing freely with no resistance when you pull the lock back? Or is it smooth but with a fairly large amount of resistance, like the Sebbie?

 

[mongomondo]

You can tighten the pivot down all the way and the blade won't move anymore. But you just back off a little bit and it's ultra smooth, up to removing the male pivot completely.

 

[cutter17]

I just took mine completely apart last night. It is a standard pivot that BM is using. The washers are "oversized" a bit, and though I didn't measure them, you can look at them to see this. I also noticed the completely centered alignment of the blade without the screw in place, and it will swing freely. I believe the washers greater OD, and thickness, are playing a part in keeping the alignment on target. Regardless, this is the best BM offering in a long time.......in my opinion, of course!

 

[mongomondo]

I think you're right. These things just have really good fit and finish from the factory. I don't even need to put loctite on the pivot. It screws in so tightly it doesn't loosen on its own.