Spyderco Police or Benchmade AFCK D2?

Got both of these knives and love em both. I have raved about the cool factor of the axis lock but for a purely mean looking knife, its the police in serrated edge. Many more options for the stainless handles. Like Corwin said, the handle can be used to strike someone if you cannot open the knife or need it for non-lethal strikes.


Just remeber there is also the Carbon Fiber version of the police out now.
 
One issue people overlook about the Axis lock -- such as the one on the ACFK -- is that the Omega springs eventually wear out. Baraqyl is the latest victim and his thread prompted me to make this aware to you.

His is not the first either. You see people claiming their omega springs breaking now and again which leads me to believe that it's not a manufacturing defect but just regular wear. Just like the timing belt on your car will wear out eventually. The only thing that concerns me is that these omega springs don't seem to have a long life span (all speculation of course).

When it goes, it means you have to send it all the way back to Benchmade.

All thing being equal (free from defects), the lockback of the Police may offer you longer, trouble free life (I sound like I'm selling a car muffler!).
 
Thanks for continuing with the great suggestions guys.

KBR, glockman99 and MercuryHayze: Thanks for the G10 pointers. Like I said, I actually prefer the heft of a SS handle. Weight isn't a problem for me, bulk is. And I can always get grip tape it if I want more traction.

BOK: The AFCK does ride lower in the pocket. but it doesn't matter to me whether it rides low or high as long as the clip is tight enough.

jjcoolay: The CF police would be tasty, but it's over budget.

Full Tang Clan: Thanks for pointing that out. I read about Baraqyl's problems. While I understand Benchmade's point of view, the story made some things clear for me: if disassembling voids my warrantee than any advantage of a knife that I could theoretically disassemble is pretty much lost for me.

I'm leaning harder on the SS Police side now. So now, serrated or plain :D ?
 
I'm certainly no expert but it seems to me that for pure tactical defense, no survival or other mission duties required, it's gotta be a plain edge. For slashing and thrusting mere tissue and tendon what advantage does serration bring?
 
I own a fully serrated SS Police. I chose the fully serrated version since I have enough plain edged knives.

In addition, I love the look of full serrations on the sleek Police. They just seem to go together. It looks like a barracuda with an attitude problem!

If this is your one knife or main knife, I'd go plain edged since they are more versatile and is easier to maintain and sharpen.

If you do a lot of cutting of fibrous material, or like the cosmetic look of serrations on a Police, as I do, go fully serrated. In addition, if you aren't keen about sharpening your knives, at least a serrated knife will still cut (or at least saw) to an extent even after the edge has dulled.

As for the argument for or against plain/serrated blades for combat. Realistically, most of us are more prone to be cutting bagels with our knives than going on a Rambo rampage. Not to mention that either type of blade are sharp as a bastid out of the box. Hey, I don't care whether you have a sharp plain edged, or serrated edged if I piss you off and you happen to be holding a Spyderco Police. Either of 'em would scare me!

That's the one of the turn-ons of the Police. It's shiny stainless steel handle, the weird scalene triangle shaped blade, and utilitarian looks gives it a bullying, intimidating look that's akin to a straight edged razor.
 
Between the two, I would go for the Axis AFCK.

It is a very slick knife, the axis lock is very strong, and the D2 steel holds an edge really well.

The police is a nice knife, but, the steel handles can be slick when wet, the lockback is not as strong, and it has the word "POLICE" engraved across it - which isn't exactly something I would want in my particular neighborhood. If it had a different lock - like a ball lock, compression lock, etc, and G-10 handles, and lacked the engraving, I think I'd like it significantly more. (You can get a G-10 police, if you can find one - there is also a special edition carbon fiber one coming out soon).

Don't let my experience with the omega spring scare you away from Benchmade. They make good knives - I own 5 or 6 right now. Just don't be stupid like me. :)

As for the serrations, Sal of Spyderco says that serrations cut 4 times more aggressively and last 2 times as long. Many people don't like serrations for self-defense applications. Some do. I think it may be a matter of personal preference.

-- Rob
 
Baraqyl,

It's really quite sad that you live in an area where you would be stigmatized for having a knife with POLICE written on it since it has nothing to do with the LAPD.

I've visited LA...El Pollo Loco rules! A double side order of the beans please! :D
 
Originally posted by awaters
I'm certainly no expert but it seems to me that for pure tactical defense, no survival or other mission duties required, it's gotta be a plain edge. For slashing and thrusting mere tissue and tendon what advantage does serration bring?
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I think that a serrated-edge is better as a defensive/offensive knife as the serrations tend to rip the flesh (which should bleed-out quicker), whereas a plain-edge would make a "neater" cut where the edges of the cut might close back together, causing less bleeding and shock.
 
I agree with glockman. A serrated edge does cause more damage than a plain edge.
Trust me, I know from experience when I closed the serrated part of my Military CE on my finger yesterday. :eek: OUCH!!!!! #@$&^@#$*&(^!!!!! :mad: :mad:

It was not pretty. :( I also sliced my finger(no, not the same one) with a very sharp plain edge a while back and the skin just seemed to close back up neatly. The pains of being a KnifeKnut...:grumpy:
 
Originally posted by KBR
I agree with glockman. A serrated edge does cause more damage than a plain edge.
Trust me, I know from experience when I closed the serrated part of my Military CE on my finger yesterday. :eek: OUCH!!!!! #@$&^@#$*&(^!!!!! :mad: :mad:

It was not pretty. :( I also sliced my finger(no, not the same one) with a very sharp plain edge a while back and the skin just seemed to close back up neatly. The pains of being a KnifeKnut...:grumpy:
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I know that feeling! I closed the serrated portion of a SOG Magnadot on my thumb knuckle one time and it "pushed cut" like you wouldn't believe not to mention little teeth marks...a double whammy. Anyone who thinks serrated edges only saw and don't cut have never accidentally closed a serrated edged knife on their finger. They should try it, it will change their opinion! :D
 
Using a half-serrated blade, I sawed through a piece of plastic and into my finger once. Ouch. It was more of a push cut, since I stopped the blade in time, before I sawed into the flesh.

It was pretty deep, the localized high pressure points probably helped open up the skin, and the slight sliding did the tearing.
 
Originally posted by glockman99
I think that a serrated-edge is better as a defensive/offensive knife as the serrations tend to rip the flesh (which should bleed-out quicker), whereas a plain-edge would make a "neater" cut where the edges of the cut might close back together, causing less bleeding and shock.
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Doesn't work like that. You cannot look at a wound from the outside and tell if it was made by a serrated knife, unless maybe you are a forensic pathologist trained in wound characteristics. The serrations are all in a straight line, which is what the cut will be. The only difference is it might sever the tough tendons quicker than a plain edge knife. And as far as bleeding out quicker, the only way the person will bleed out from a cut, is if a major vessel is lacerated, or the person has hemophelia or is on major blood thinners. For the most part, pathologists can tell if a knife was serrated or not by looking at the deepest part of the wound for evenness, or scratches on bone characteristic of the teeth on the blade. A serrated edge will be better for slashing through thick clothes though. I have a very sharp plain edge knife that I will use to slash a rolled towel with quit poor results compared to a serrated edge, which tears it's way through several layers.

Mike
 
I’ll try to complete only some points what look missed:
  • Not only G-10 is gripper and less slippery than satin-finished stainless steel, the grip on AFCK handle is much surer due to deep finger choil, for me at least.
  • AFCK handle can be used as less-than-lethal striking weapon by all means, with its butt, no matter is the knife closed or opened.
  • For deep cuts relatively high saber grind of AFCK could work better than pretty low and pronouncedly hollow grind of Police. For me Police blade looks designed mostly for straight stabbing, however the handle shape is less suitable for such work than AFCK one.
  • Ambidexterity issue, of course if it is important for you. Axis AFCK is fully ambidextrous for carry and operating, Police is not ambidextrous at least for carry as well as classic AFCK.
Now plain versus serrated blade. Plain edge is more versatile for peaceful daily cutting tasks and less scaring for bystanders, it also cuts more accurately. However serrated one cuts better through fibrous materials – rope, clothing, car safety belts etc. Choosing the knife for urban daily carry I would (and in fact I am) going with plain blade with no doubts. However choosing pure self-defense or rescue knife I would definitely go with full-length serrated blade. The reason is simple – your assailant is clothed (of course except you are going to defend yourself against naked cannibals at tropical islands) and serrated edge cuts much easier through clothing, especially heavy winter one, especially these made of modern synthetic materials like nylon. This point could be extremely important if you are going to use slashing techniques.

So my choice would be pretty simple – I would go with fully serrated AFCK (no ideas is this blade configuration available for Axis model, for Classic AFCK it certainly was available).

However if you would ask for advice to choose between AFCK and Military my choice certainly wouldn’t be so clear and easy.
 
Thanks guys. Great input as to the tactical characteristics of serrated blades. Lotsa benefits I never thought of for defensive EDC (Da. I didn't consider cutting through clothing, but then again I do live in AZ). My last BM was a 550 plain edge. Now I gotta go out and get a new knife. Darn. And today is the Phoenix Crossroads Knife and Gun Show. See ya.
 
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