The Arcane...

desmobob

Basic Member
Joined
May 5, 2003
Messages
2,492
...looks SEXY to me. Mixed reviews at Amazon.

How do you like yours?
 
I’ve lost track if it is called the Arcane or the Amicus ... no matter. I like mine a lot and I’m generally not a fan of flippers but this one, I like.

Pros for me are the thin blade stock and the grind that is higher than Benchmade often does. In my mind it’s probably one of the best slicers Benchmade makes. It’s very comfortable in my small hand, no hot spots. S90V is nice change from the standard offerings. Blade shape is my preferred profile (just enough belly and a tip pointy enough to poke holes in packaging with). Blade length is also in my preferred range.

Mine does have a little bit of side to side blade play but in use that is not an issue. The aluminum scales are smoother than the typical 940 type scale and in my mind show wear quicker ... and give the knife more character. I don’t see the smooth finish as a negative because the handle shape locks my hand in without forcing it into a grip.

I really like the tiny flipper tab and the fact that when deployed the tab is integrated with the handle rather than the protruding design disaster that seems to be the norm. The fact that it is assisted makes deployment easy and there is no technique required to get it to open properly every time. I really think the design and engineering is very well thought through and executed. The spring is pretty soft so it opens relatively slowly and quietly.

After my Bugout, it’s my most carried Benchmade. A recycled photo just because.

 
I have the Amicus. It is very similar.

In fact, it is the same!! It is a very good knife.
 
I'd like mine better if I could get the blade to be centered better then it is. It's too close to one side. :(
 
I'd like mine better if I could get the blade to be centered better then it is. It's too close to one side. :(

Do you have a good set of Torx tools? I bought an assortment of very nice quality Wiha Torx screwdrivers in small sizes to fit my knives and they come in very handy. If a folding knife's blade is off center, I've had good luck getting it to where it should be by loosening all the fasteners that hold the knife halves together, including the pivot, and then tightening them back up while keeping the blade centered or otherwise manipulating the halves while tightening things back up...
 
It's not as easy to do with an axis assist knife. If the Arcane's spring mechanism is anything like the Vector's (which I'm 99% sure it is) You'll need a special tool to fix the centering. If the centering really that bad, sending it to Benchmade is probably your best option.
 
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