Reviews of the AFCK
- Thread starter BM800S
- Start date
O
Ogre
Yeah - I will give you a review... I have had 3 of them.
One of the best knives out there. Good value too. Cuts what you ask it to cut... handles good - with good balance and feel. The blade has enough belly to it to allow most skinning chores... ATS-34 blade keeps a good sharp edge for a long time. Comparable knives out there may be a Spyderco Endura... EDI Genisis. It opens quickly and smoothly.
Complaints about it...
None.
The knife WORKS. You can ask it to do anything... Then with a little wipe down... it looks good as new.
With the optional M-2 steel - cant imagine a knife could get any better - or that there is a better value for the dollar.
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I want a Light Saber for Christmas
One of the best knives out there. Good value too. Cuts what you ask it to cut... handles good - with good balance and feel. The blade has enough belly to it to allow most skinning chores... ATS-34 blade keeps a good sharp edge for a long time. Comparable knives out there may be a Spyderco Endura... EDI Genisis. It opens quickly and smoothly.
Complaints about it...
None.
The knife WORKS. You can ask it to do anything... Then with a little wipe down... it looks good as new.
With the optional M-2 steel - cant imagine a knife could get any better - or that there is a better value for the dollar.
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I want a Light Saber for Christmas
Um...maybe I'll write more later, but for now let me just say that this knife is perhaps the only good reason not to buy a Spyderco. It's fast, it's gorgeous, it locks solidly and has great ergonomics...a damn fine folder by any criterion. I've carried one for over two years now and I love it even more today than when I got it. Just be sure you can handle a few, because there is, in my experience, a wide spectrum to Benchmade's quality in any one knife model.
I LOVE this knife...just hope nobody from Spyderco hears me...hehe, back to my Police model.
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-Corduroy
(Why else would a bear want a pocket?)
I LOVE this knife...just hope nobody from Spyderco hears me...hehe, back to my Police model.
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-Corduroy
(Why else would a bear want a pocket?)
- Joined
- Nov 13, 1998
- Messages
- 153
Once upon a time... there was a long thread on some of these forums (on BladeForums) about pro's and con's of the AFCK. The topic was something like "enough AFCK", if I remember correctly. That single thread taught me more about the AFCK than any review I've encountered, and the AFCK had been my primary carry folder and training knife for at least one year at that time. There were some truly excellent analyses (by, e.g., SB). I wish you'll find the thread!
Of the maybe half-a-dozen specific reviews I've read (mostly in knife-, gun-, etc. magazines), I remember enjoying Thaddeus's review of the M2 AFCK very much. Can't remember where I saw it, but it was on the web (some of the cutleries, I think).
Markku
[This message has been edited by Markku Huttunen (edited 12 May 1999).]
Of the maybe half-a-dozen specific reviews I've read (mostly in knife-, gun-, etc. magazines), I remember enjoying Thaddeus's review of the M2 AFCK very much. Can't remember where I saw it, but it was on the web (some of the cutleries, I think).
Markku
[This message has been edited by Markku Huttunen (edited 12 May 1999).]
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The good 'ol AFCK...one of my favorites...Designed by Mark McWillis (ex-vice pres of BM) with inspiration from Chris Caracci...it cuts great, feels great, the whole package is nearly perfect from a design standpoint. Some complaints have stemmed from it's narrow point, sometimes un-champfered opening hole, etc...But overall, it's one of the all time greats...
--dan
--dan
- Joined
- Feb 11, 1999
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"the 4th" (I think) mentioned using one to skin a squirrel. According to him, the sharp, narrow tip, resulted in numerous punctures of the skin. Don't know how that would translate to larger game, but may become a problem if you're trying to preserve a pelt <?>.
O_D
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Live fast, die young, and leave a good looking corpse, it's the only way to win.
O_D
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Live fast, die young, and leave a good looking corpse, it's the only way to win.
- Joined
- Mar 20, 1999
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- 1,163
Yes, I ruined the squirrel. It was more my fault than the knife's, but I do think it would be easier to use on larger game. My AFCK is still my favorite everyday carry folder.
I was trying to make a SLIGHT jab at Benchmade for changing the name from AFCombatK to AFCampK. Stating that if I had the newer CAMP model, I might have done better at skinning the squirrel.
There are tons of AFCK's out there (some new!) that can be had for 1/2 the street price. I highly recommend the knife. Buy one, if you don't like it, it will make a nice gift for me....I mean a friend or relative.
I was trying to make a SLIGHT jab at Benchmade for changing the name from AFCombatK to AFCampK. Stating that if I had the newer CAMP model, I might have done better at skinning the squirrel.
There are tons of AFCK's out there (some new!) that can be had for 1/2 the street price. I highly recommend the knife. Buy one, if you don't like it, it will make a nice gift for me....I mean a friend or relative.
O
Ogre
Well - for such small game, you would want a real skinner - not a multirole fighting knife.
There are better knives out there for squirls...
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I want a Light Saber for Christmas
There are better knives out there for squirls...
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I want a Light Saber for Christmas
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 883
Good reviews of the AFCK with M2 steel can be found at these locations.
http://www.nwcutlery.com/review.html#m2
http://benchmade.com/
David Rock
http://www.nwcutlery.com/review.html#m2
http://benchmade.com/
David Rock
O
Ogre
If dont want to pay the money - the Eclipse is a great knife - with a Cold Steel kinda handle... its 1/2 the bucks... and almost as good as a knife. If you dont need the liner lock...
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I want a Light Saber for Christmas
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I want a Light Saber for Christmas
- Joined
- Nov 13, 1998
- Messages
- 153
Glad you found the thread, BM800S. Strong stuff, eh? And perhaps a reminder that we, on these forums together, can really do a lot more than any single review.
Thanks for the URL to Thaddeus's review, David. Now I'll remember the point of the compass (and don't just say "some cutlery").
Markku
Thanks for the URL to Thaddeus's review, David. Now I'll remember the point of the compass (and don't just say "some cutlery").
Markku
- Joined
- May 13, 1999
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- 1,926
Pay special heed to the spotty quality - My liner sticks (galls) really bad. Great knife to use, but don't count on opening it without scaring the "straights".
- Joined
- Feb 20, 1999
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Hi guys. I got my M2-AFCK recently from Arrow-Dynamics, and the knife is wonderful! Just for one small problem...
While opening/closing it, I can hear a very faint but noticeable scratching noise. I thought at first that it was just dust on the spacers, so I checked, and found none. Then I realized that there's a very slight scuff mark on the left side of the blade's BT2 coating.
Looking at the knife in closed position, I noticed that the blade moves to the clip-side of the liner whenever I try to open it. I was told by Cecil of Arrow-Dynamics that this is a regular problem with AFCKs. I can put it dead center again if I flex the handle a bit but putting it in my backpocket makes it go back to its usual misaligned self.
Does anybody have this problem as well? The knife locks up solid with almost no blade play, but it's a different story altogether once it's in closed position... arghh...
Just a thought,
Dan
While opening/closing it, I can hear a very faint but noticeable scratching noise. I thought at first that it was just dust on the spacers, so I checked, and found none. Then I realized that there's a very slight scuff mark on the left side of the blade's BT2 coating.
Looking at the knife in closed position, I noticed that the blade moves to the clip-side of the liner whenever I try to open it. I was told by Cecil of Arrow-Dynamics that this is a regular problem with AFCKs. I can put it dead center again if I flex the handle a bit but putting it in my backpocket makes it go back to its usual misaligned self.
Does anybody have this problem as well? The knife locks up solid with almost no blade play, but it's a different story altogether once it's in closed position... arghh...
Just a thought,
Dan
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 883
Dan:
Have you tried tightening the pivot screw? If you can easily push the blade over against the liner when thumbing it open, this simple operation ought to fix it. You say the knife has "almost no blade play". It should be rock solid. If the pivot screw is a bit too loose the blade will wobble from side to side.
David Rock
[This message has been edited by David Rock (edited 21 May 1999).]
Have you tried tightening the pivot screw? If you can easily push the blade over against the liner when thumbing it open, this simple operation ought to fix it. You say the knife has "almost no blade play". It should be rock solid. If the pivot screw is a bit too loose the blade will wobble from side to side.
David Rock
[This message has been edited by David Rock (edited 21 May 1999).]
Don't forget that screw up by the pivot that passes through the locking pin/tube. The way that is set relative to the pivot can cause a lot of different effects, including the one you mentioned, by actaully making the liners slightly off parallel at the front of the knife. Scraping against the lock-side liner is a common problem for any linerlock, but with the thick washers and slim grind on the AFCK it must be rather seriously out of alignment to cause this. Try tightening both the pivot and the first screw down to where the blade requires some force to move, and then ease up on each, playing with different amounts until you get an action that's light but doesn't allow blade play or scraping.
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-Corduroy
(Why else would a bear want a pocket?)
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-Corduroy
(Why else would a bear want a pocket?)
- Joined
- Nov 13, 1998
- Messages
- 153
Both of my AFCK's have had a "problem" like Dan described. The handle flexes, or should I say bends (I mentioned this on Hilton's Ground Zero forum a long time ago). Solution (for me): no back-pocket carry.
Markku
Markku
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David - Yes, I tried to tighten the pivot screw, and it seems to have cured the play a bit. But the blade isn't square in the center when it's in closed position. I tried "popping" it back to center, and it somewhat helped, though I know it will go back to its misaligned self if I put it somewhere in my pants that will exert pressure on it, like the backpockets.
And tightening the pivot screw will eliminate the scratch against the liner, but is a compromise as it becomes difficult to open the knife.. hehe..
Oh yeah, I noticed that when tightening/loosening up the pivot screw, doing it in the open position and the closed position gives it different effects, specially when it comes to the blade swing. I just dont know if it's better to tighten or loosen it when it's closed or open.
Corduroy - Yep, noticed that one, too.. But I haven't touched any other screws other than the pivot screw (we can thank Benchmade for using those small torx screws) and it looks secure from my end.
Markku - LOL!!!
That's not a solution!
That's adapting to the problem, but no solution in sight!
hehehehe!!
Oh well, I guess I better put this knife aside, and play around with the others first.
Maybe when I'm in a better frame of mind, I'll try to experiment on adjusting every screw there is on this thing.
Thanks for the help, guys! really appreciate it a lot!
Dan
And tightening the pivot screw will eliminate the scratch against the liner, but is a compromise as it becomes difficult to open the knife.. hehe..
Oh yeah, I noticed that when tightening/loosening up the pivot screw, doing it in the open position and the closed position gives it different effects, specially when it comes to the blade swing. I just dont know if it's better to tighten or loosen it when it's closed or open.
Corduroy - Yep, noticed that one, too.. But I haven't touched any other screws other than the pivot screw (we can thank Benchmade for using those small torx screws) and it looks secure from my end.
Markku - LOL!!!
Oh well, I guess I better put this knife aside, and play around with the others first.
Thanks for the help, guys! really appreciate it a lot!
Dan
I do not have one currently, sold to a friend, but i loved it. He needed it more at the time and I was short on cash...old story. Anyway, there is a guy calling himself knifehead who modifies the AFCK to Gung Ho Chuan standards and each knife is looked over by Bob Kaspar before it is sold. If you want to look at it go to Gung Ho Chuan Site (that is what a browser is for) and check them out while you are at it. AFCK was a bit large for my pocket tastes, maybe I have changed in the last couple years, but the mini saved my A$$ once and I would not hesitate to bet on either. As for the improvements from Knifehead...how about draw to strik in .66 second? Beats anything I can do