tension/strength of Omega springs

sharp_edge

sharp_edge

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Jul 30, 2015
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I am not sure if this has beendiscussed before but do all Omega springs on Benchmade folders have the same or similar tension? I would prefer more tension for at least some of the larger folders.
 
All of mine are about the same which = just right ! ! ! !
940-1
Griptillian Ritter M390
Mini Grip CTS-154
710 M390

All great / not too stiff or too wimpy.
If you want something similar but with more tension / more beef develop a taste for Spyderco's Manix knives. Personally I can do without all that and much prefer the tension / feel of the Omega Axis lock.
 
We only use a few different spring sizes depending on the blade size. The assisted opening knives use slightly larger springs due to the additional drag on the mechanism.
 
Benchmade said:
We only use a few different spring sizes depending on the blade size. The assisted opening knives use slightly larger springs due to the additional drag on the mechanism.
Click to expand...

i have noticed that my 490 does seem a bit tighter actuating the lock. the 580 & 477, not so much.
 
Among all the locks that I have tried - Axis, tri ad, frame lock, liner lock, compression lock, and caged ball bearing lock - the Axis lock seems to be the easiest to shake open. I am hoping with the increased tension of the Omega springs it will be less easier to shake open the knife and also make at least some of the Benchmade folders a bit more snappier to open (but not as snappy as the assisted opening). I however do not know how feasible it would be, like increase the diameter of the spring, decrease the length of the spring, use harder (but still sufficiently elastic) material for the spring, and how they would affect/change the construction of the knife, e.g., deeper groove/recess on the liners/scales to house the spring and hence making already thick handle (of most Benchmades) even thicker.
 
sharp_edge said:
Among all the locks that I have tried - Axis, tri ad, frame lock, liner lock, compression lock, and caged ball bearing lock - the Axis lock seems to be the easiest to shake open. I am hoping with the increased tension of the Omega springs it will be less easier to shake open the knife and also make at least some of the Benchmade folders a bit more snappier to open (but not as snappy as the assisted opening). I however do not know how feasible it would be, like increase the diameter of the spring, decrease the length of the spring, use harder (but still sufficiently elastic) material for the spring, and how they would affect/change the construction of the knife, e.g., deeper groove/recess on the liners/scales to house the spring and hence making already thick handle (of most Benchmades) even thicker.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't mind increased spring tension either. I can flick my foray open without depressing the lock - just a quick up and down flick does the trick.

I cross country ski with a knife in my jacket pocket, but when I had a good fall I realized how dangerous this could be and started being a bit more careful about which knife I brought and how to carry it (eg in a leather pouch to prevent accidental deployment). Same thing with biking - I really don't want a knife to accidentally open up during a fall!
 
I’ve never felt that the springs were light. They seemed to have a good amount of tension on both my mini grip and 940.

I think it may also depend on how tight your pivot set up is. I see a lot of reviewers like their Benchmades to have a nice and free swing when the axis lock is depressed. I don’t know how you guys keep your blades but I like mine to have a smooth tension so that even when the lock is depressed, a firm “salt shaker” shake won’t let the blade swing half way open and will bring the blade back into lock position when the bar is engaged but still has smooth action when I intend to deploy the blade. I find that even when I use centrifugal force to open it, it takes a very firm amount of force to deploy. Maybe that will help with you guys who feel like their springs are too light.
 
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