Revisit an old favorite: Benchamde AFCK

J

jjoanty01

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Jun 2, 2011
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I have read several old posts about the Benchmade AFCK and its little brother the mini AFCK. I just aquired one on ebay and I am very much in love with this mini AFCK as an EDC. I am just wondering how this knife compares to all the new stuff out there. It is ATS-34 steel and has a simple liner lock. It is a very nice and smooth knife. I have several Benchmade knives and a couple of the upper end Gerber knives (06 Auto, Emerson Alliance). Since this knife is new to me, I wanted to hear from the owners who have had them for a long time and what the thoughts are in relation to the new knives and steels.
 
I love the afck. I think it's the best knife ever made.. . I think my grail knife is a gold class afck
 
I really do like this little knife. I have been playing with it all day. Surprised it hasn't bit me yet :-)
 
I used to have both a left hand and a right hand large AFCK. The right hander was all black. I sold them back in 2006 for some reason. Most times I wish I had not, they were great knives. It was nice having one in each front pocket, the same but mirror image. Nowadays my edc is a pair of matching Spyderco Military's, one left and one right, the right all black. ;-)
 
I bought one in 98. Still have it. It deployed with me, I used the heck out of it, me, my brother and my brother in law all wore it in our weddings under our cumberbunds...yes we carry knives at weddings. I think it is a great knife. It carries very easy. Mine has lost a lot of the black on the blade but that just shows character.
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The large AFCK is my favorite folder, hands down. The back spacer cracks on the old ones if you're not careful but the steel is still good stuff, basically the Japanese version of 154CM. They dropped the mini long ago but I've read nothing but praise about it from it's owners. I wish they'd bring both sizes back as a regular production item.
 
flatface77 said:
I wish they'd bring both sizes back as a regular production item.
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+1 on bringing both back. I would buy a few. I have been looking for an AFCK with partially serrated blade and an Axis lock for a while now but have not found the right combination of model, condition and price. No matter I kind of like the hunt.
 
That was the first Benchmade I ever really played with. My Dad bought one back in about 1997-98 ish. I was completely taken with it, and this relatively "new" knife company called Benchmade.
 
One of my favorites also. I can't recall why I sold or traded mine...I miss it though...
 
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I carry my BM800 at least once a week; it's my favorite Benchmade. I've always thought ATS34 was slightly better than CM154 but
that's just a personal opinion.
 
Here is mine. I bought it many years ago and I always seemed magnified.
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I really, really want to see the Axis lock AFCK come back into production. One of my favorite designs of all time, even over the classic 710.
 
BM should go completely retro: bring back the AFCK (with its original name: Advanced Folding Combat Knife, not that idiotic Advanced Folding CAMP Knife), with liner lock, G-10 and ATS-34 (to really aggravate the steel snobs).
 
dano said:
BM should go completely retro: bring back the AFCK (with its original name: Advanced Folding Combat Knife, not that idiotic Advanced Folding CAMP Knife), with liner lock, G-10 and ATS-34 (to really aggravate the steel snobs).
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Seem to remember that the name was changed on the advice of BM's legal folks....
 
Llasi said:
Here is mine. I bought it many years ago and I always seemed magnified.
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Holy hell I thought I was looking at an Imperial measuring tape and was like wtf....

Just a little early in the morning I guess.

I've always been interested in a mini AFCK but it seems hard to spend that much money on something that realistically isn't covered by warranty.
 
supercoup said:
I've always been interested in a mini AFCK but it seems hard to spend that much money on something that realistically isn't covered by warranty.
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I've read Benchmades warranty and I didn't see anything that said there was a time limit or that they wouldn't do warranty work on discontinued knives. I believe that the Benchmade warranty is a lifetime warranty and covers ALL of their knives.

If you buy a discontinued Benchmade knife and send it in for warranty work, and if they determine that the knife was defective but are unable to repair it for lack of parts, then I believe their practice is to offer you a different new knife of equal value.

I'm sure that several of the parts used in a mini-AFCK are still being used in current models (pivot assemblies, screws, pocket clips), and it's always possible that they have a bunch of old parts like blades and handle scales in storage.

Bottom line- I don't think a person can ever go wrong buying a Benchmade knife, either a new model or an old one.

I've owned five large AFCK's (at one time it was my favorite folding knife). I still own two and carry one on a semi-regular basis. It's not my favorite folder anymore, but it's one my less expensive folders and I'm not afraid of losing or damaging it.
 
P_Meticulous said:
:thumbup:
I would take a millie or para II over an AFCK any day.. Even if you gave one to me for free.
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I recall a long time ago when the Millie first came out, that Tacticool Knives magazine did a comparison test between the AFCK and the Military. I seem to recall they prefered the AFCK for it's liners, over the lightness of the Military. That was a long time ago though, and my recollection could be wrong. Still I prefer the Millie over the AFCK, but still think the original liner lock AFCK was one heck of a knife. And since I had both a left and right hand version, it was even better. Wish I had never sold them, pure unobtainium these days. But I still have the beautiful motorcycle I bought using the proceeds from selling a bunch of my knives back then. Six of one, half dozen of the other. I ride the bike, the blades would be gathering dust. ;-)
 
cbxer55 said:
I recall a long time ago when the Millie first came out, that Tacticool Knives magazine did a comparison test between the AFCK and the Military. I seem to recall they prefered the AFCK for it's liners, over the lightness of the Military. That was a long time ago though, and my recollection could be wrong. Still I prefer the Millie over the AFCK, but still think the original liner lock AFCK was one heck of a knife.
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No doubt its a good knife, I just prefer the FFG, and the larger bellies of the millie and para II. I was also never crazy about the handle profile of the AFCK.
 
flatface77 said:
The back spacer cracks on the old ones if you're not careful
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My mini-AFCK is open construction, I don't recall that it has a back spacer. I have the full-size model too from long ago but I can't say from memory if it is open construction or has a solid backspacer. Was there a time period when they switched from one to the other?
 
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