Rolling Lock vs. Axis Lock. Which is better?

W

weirdbirdy

Joined
Dec 28, 2000
Messages
21
I read somewhere that the Axis lock comes in second to the Rolling lock for strength. Facts, opinions and non-sensical ramblings on this subject are welcomed and appreciated.

------------------
There are no rules- Thou shalt win at all costs.
 
I have/have had quite a few axis locks. I don't know how well I like them, they seem to work good, but I am still not as sold as the rest of the world, I love my liner locks, they are strong enough for anything I would use a folder for. I have sold all my axis lock BMs except for my 4 red 940's, but I may eventually pick up a 705 for airline carry. I still intend to get a 730/732/735/730KOM/something like that for a back up weak side carry piece due to the fact that it is totally ambidextrous. I will have a Sifu here this week, and I can give you my opinions and initial thoughts on it as it will be my first REKAT. I think that both should be exceeding any strength requirements you would require for a folder, and if for some reason, you require more you should be looking at a nice fixed blade that won't cost as much and doesn't have any little parts that could mess up the function.
 
I think that I like more of Rolling lock. Its due to the fact that my sifu hasn't needed continual adjustments (pivot pin tightening).

Axis is ambi (as you know) and thus has a small advantage over rolling lock (no real issue to me as a right hander person).

I cant tell which is better in other respects. They are both pretty strong...
Axis may be easyer to clean?

If I was about to choose betveen knives with these locks I wouldn't need to choose one over another because of the lock.

------------------
"Good tools to sustain life, or at least make life more convenient"
-James Mattis
 
I've got a Carnivour and a BM 740 and the smaller one. For an un-scientific measurement, I'd give the RECAT a %75 and the BM a %73. One hundred being a fixed blade.

For usability I'd go with the Axis. I like the blade pulling closed like an old slip joint or lockback.

For looks I'd go with the RECAT. Frankly that knob sticking out of both sides of the axis is UUUUgly.

Rich

PS. For the best of both. I'd go with an original Gerber Boltaction, if only they were still made and with metal liners.

[This message has been edited by shootz (edited 01-02-2001).]
 
I had a walker lock collapse on me a few months back and can't bring myself to trust them. I like the look of some of the monolocks out there but, as far as I know, the Rolling and Axis locks are the toughest, and most dependable, systems out there. I have no wish to buy a REKAT, just curious on what folks think.

------------------
There are no rules- Thou shalt win at all costs.
 
The first thing I'd urge you to do is to not worry about which is stronger. After all, even a liner lock is probably plenty strong enough for just about any use. I don't know that there have been any direct head-to-head axis vs. rolling lock competitions, but both appear to be outrageously strong. More importantly, either can probably be made stronger than the other, just by using a larger locking pin.

My own feeling at this point is that doing theoretical-type comparisons of axis vs. rolling lock is nonsensical. They should both be awesome, for both strength and reliability, on paper. Since they're both awesome on paper, I'm more interested in how they're being executed by the two companies making them, Benchmade and REKAT. Really, if you go deep enough, that's what it will boil down to: a comparison of Benchmade's axis products versus REKAT's products, and which company is executing their lock design better.

The conclusion I've come to: at the moment, I do think one company's products is a bit better than the other's. But, the difference isn't enough to make me stick exclusively with one or the other; I buy both companies' products, based on what particular knife I"m looking for and which product is stronger. My favorite megafolder is the REKAT Sifu, for example, and my favorite 4"-bladed carry folder is the Benchmade Axis.

Joe
 
This question has come up before, don't worry
so much about which is stronger. Both locks are stronger than your ability to hold onto them. Decide which knife you like and what your requirments are first. Don't buy based on the lock strengths.
smile.gif
 
Each lock is more than acceptable for it's purpose - both operate on the same principle, it's the execution that differs.

REKAT has some neat stuff up their sleeves for the near future, so soon you should have an even tougher choice to make between the two.

Spark

------------------
Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Tommi:
I think that I like more of Rolling lock. Its due to the fact that my sifu hasn't needed continual adjustments (pivot pin tightening).</font>
Click to expand...

Tommi, two words for you: Loc-Tite (or is that one word? No, not one. OK, two hyphenated words.
wink.gif
). I have loc-tite'd all my axis locks, and never had to bother with them again.

In answer to the original question, there appears to be enough anecdotal evidence, if not strict empirical data, to support stating the rolling lock is stronger, ultimately, than the axis lock. However, I think someone's non-rigorous testing concluded that a frame-lock (a la Sebenza or BM Pinnacle) is as strong or stronger than either. Ultimately, though, strength is not the issue. Reliability and usability are, along with knife/blade design itself. And steel, and heat treat, ad nauseum.
wink.gif
For my money, the only folders I have bought recently have been axis locks. I don't have a single rolling lock.

------------------
A dog at play has the mind of a wise martial arts master, a mind capable of perfect focus. - Marc Christophe

iktomi
 
I am inclined to agree with Joe Talmage that how the knives are built is the determining factor, and there I part company with him. The REKATs are simply built like tanks, no question about it. The only way to describe them is "overbuilt" and "overengineered". I have bought three axis locks and kept two of them as they are delightful little knives, but little is the operative word here when compared to my Sifu or even a Carnivour. My 720 Pardee and my 940 Osborne are both within fractions of an inch in blade length of the Carny, but they are tiny in comparison. Now I have not compared it to a 710, which is, I guess, the largest axis lock, but, Hell, the Carny makes even my Spydie Military seem small and lightweight. REKATs are built tough to take it and to dish it out. If Benchmade were to build a model to those standards, then it, too, would be as strong as a rolling lock from REKAT, but, until then, I think not.

------------------
Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
 
Fuller, I wouldn't necessarily disagree with your assessment (I said roughly the same thing you did, in my Carnivore vs. Axis review last year). But I obviously have different requirements from you.

To me, the Axis is easily strong enough to handle anything I will throw at it. The Carnivore *may* be stronger, but that buys me nothing, since the Axis is easily strong enough.

On other features I care about: The Axis is much more carryable, being lighter and slimmer. As you point out, the Carnivore is big and heavy -- and uncomfortable to carry, to me. The Axis sticks a 4" blade in a package that's lighter and slimmer than the Carnivore's ~3.7" blade. The Axis handle is incredibly comfortable, even for extended hard use. The Carnivore's handle is very secure, more secure than the Axis, but not so comfortable even for shorter-term use, and it not in the same league as the Axis for long-term comfort.

I see the Carnivore as the better pick if you care less about comfort, carryability, and maximum blade length for the size, and care more about handle security and extra handle/frame size (and maybe strength).
 
Joe, I actually agree with you about the ergonomics. My BM720 and BM940 are both wonders of ergonomic design, and the 940 is aesthic in the bargain. But the question was on of strength, and extra strong build of the REKATS would seem to lead to a generally stronger knife, if not a more ergonomic one.

------------------
Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
 
The REKAT folders are the best fighting folders made, bar none, end of discussion. The Sifu is the current king of the hill, in the 4" blade length category the Pocket Hobbit rules, and if you're limited to sub-4" and non-double-edge, the Carny is unmatched.

Yes, they're bulky. Every once in a while you'll find one with a quirk of some sort, which REKAT sorts out very quickly. They're a small outfit, they can be a bit funky sometimes...but nobody can beat 'em at their game so far.

Best hard-use combat folders made.

Jim
 
Ok Spark you have hinted about some new knives from REKAT. Spill the beans, what are they? Will you shed some light on the Ontos,Pigmy Warrior or Savant? The Carnivore and Cub light, are these Zytel handled REKATS? Well inquiring minds want to know?
smile.gif


------------------
A Pat on the Back is only a few inches from a Kick in the Butt.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top