The cheapest Axis-Style lock knives?

[Mephtyrm]

As you can see I'm new, and I'd really like to try out those lock styles.

When I say that, I mean based on or being the Axis style.

For example the Sog Arc-lock?

Anyways, I hope my time at Bladeforums will be good.

 

[Brian Sargent]

Can't go wrong with a Benchmade Gritilian.

 

[Dorito Monk]

I'm pretty sure the cheapest ones you'll find are the ones made by Sanrenmu

 

[lacrosse11attack]

I'd go with a mini grip or a griptillian depending on the laws of your area

 

[brets-ftw]

Sanrenmu, Navy, Bee, or Ganja are your best bet for 20ish axis/arc lock types

 

[lacrosse11attack]

Sanrenmu, Navy, Bee, or Ganja are your best bet for 20ish axis/arc lock types

I wouldnt go that route because while you are getting a SIMILAR product it is still a cheap knock-off.

 

[snowreaper1]

Get the real thing and go with a Benchmade. You can find a mini grip for around
$55 if you look around. Its a good beginner knife and you still get a proven
design.

 

[brets-ftw]

I wouldnt go that route because while you are getting a SIMILAR product it is still a cheap knock-off.

well these companies did work for benchmade, kershaw and other major us companies for the chinese imports so i suppose if benchmade ever had a redclass with the axis lock it would be the same

 

[risen]

I'm pretty sure the cheapest ones you'll find are the ones made by Sanrenmu

I second the Sanrenmu, specifically the GB-763.

Here's a great review on it from MultiTool:

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,22232.0.html

There are a few YouTube reviews on it. Here's one that popped up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyEJN0R7KFE&feature=related

There's also one with green handles (GA-763).

Hope this helps.

 

[kaotick]

I'd go for the SRM, but if you order now it will take awhile seeing how Chinese New Year is next week. If you need it quick, pick up a mini griptiallian.

 

[risen]

Argh!

Just talked myself into buying another two Sanrenmu GA-763s.

LOL!

 

[Tsujigiri]

Cheapest would be the Chinese ones mentioned before. One of the ones out there is a pretty exact knockoff of an HK knife. The cheapest good Axis lock variant, though, would probably be the Kershaw RAM. Spyderco also makes a similar lock, but it costs more. The Manix 2 is a very good deal nonetheless.

 

[Artfully Martial]

The Kershaw RAM uses a lock far different in design, but in actual use, the operation is very similar, although much smoother, than the axis lock. The RAM is one of the best designs at any price range. It's the obvious choice. Having owned maybe six minigrips and two RAMs, it is my opinion that the RAM is, overall, a superior knife for about $5-$10 cheaper.

But for a lower price, around $30, you shouldn't neglect the old Benchmade Ambush. It uses the rolling lock, which is a lot of fun and very interesting to use. In operation it's very similar to the axis lock, except that you can't "axis flick" with it. But the fit and finish is quite good for $30 and the FRN is actually a lot higher quality looking/feeling than the minigrip's. Also, it's arguably an "assisted" knife in the sense that once you defeat the "in-draft" there's a noticeable spring boost to the opening, making it surprisingly faster to flick than comparable axis lock knives. I am really quite impressed with it.

So there is the definitive answer: If you want to save money, get an Ambush for about $30-$35. If you have a little more, get a RAM at about $55-$60.

 

[EricV]

well these companies did work for benchmade, kershaw and other major us companies for the chinese imports so i suppose if benchmade ever had a redclass with the axis lock it would be the same

That would be interesting if you had proof. It would probably change a few people's minds, of course it would have to be actual proof not assumptions put together with deductions like;
" Well there are only three knife manufacturers in China, so since the big three wouldn't all use the same one, then these must be the same manufacturers. "

Fact is they don't have the big name quality control. I'd recommend a mini grip over a Sanremu anyday and I really dislike the grip series. The Benchmade Ambush is a really good suggestion.

 

[cziv]

Fact is they don't have the big name quality control. I'd recommend a mini grip over a Sanremu anyday and I really dislike the grip series. The Benchmade Ambush is a really good suggestion.

I sold my 2 large Grips because I thought they were cheap but would have them back in a second than this POS.

I bought one and gave it to a friend. Very cheap hunk of plastic with an axis lock (copy) that doesn't work right, hurts your fingers to disengage. You can't really flip one out smoothly as they're very awkward. Watch this guy change his grip 2 or 3 times to deploy his: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyEJN...eature=related

He managed to get it to flick open once. If you've ever owned a Benchmade Axis lock, you'll be so mad at yourself for throwing away the money on this chintzy CCC. Just my $.02 :thumbdn:

 

[Keyman]

Nothing "works like an Axis lock"
Better than a true Axis lock.
Get the real thing, you won't regret it.

 

[brets-ftw]

That would be interesting if you had proof. It would probably change a few people's minds, of course it would have to be actual proof not assumptions put together with deductions like;
" Well there are only three knife manufacturers in China, so since the big three wouldn't all use the same one, then these must be the same manufacturers. "

Fact is they don't have the big name quality control. I'd recommend a mini grip over a Sanremu anyday and I really dislike the grip series. The Benchmade Ambush is a really good suggestion.

Well ill give you one between hearsay and fact, whats cheaper for a company? to make a contract with a foreign company that already has the materials, buildings, manpower and a good standing monetary base, or making all of this yourself to produce a knife? now if you check out nutnfancys shotshow 2011, the one with the interview at kershaw the claim that they check all imports at the oregan plant afterwards so they have the quality control, and the benefits of cheap labor and supplies. (im using kershaw because i believe benchmade kershaw and spyderco all have the same QC levels, and yes i know that is a weak point)

as to the mini grip yeah i agree theres no competition for a mini grip over a SRM or a Navy, but check the prices, benchmade $80-$140 USD, vs SRM/Navy $20-$30 USD thats a 4x ratio, so i would hope that the $80 knife would be better then a $20

 

[risen]

That would be interesting if you had proof. It would probably change a few people's minds, of course it would have to be actual proof not assumptions

Actually, if you search on BladeForums, I believe you'll find a few very thorough discussions on Sanrenmu with acknowledgements from qualified sources that Sanrenmu has made knives for some big US companies, like Spyderco, CRKT, etc... (even Benchmade?).

 

[Artfully Martial]

The Minigrip's real price isn't $80. You can find it for $60 new from reputable dealers.

And there's much more to a knife than a brand name. For instance, I'm skeptical that this Sanrenmu (whatever it's called) uses steel that's the same caliber as Benchmade's 154CM.

As per quality control, I assume that the only way to perform it economically would be a visual inspection, as opposed to x-raying the components, or disassembling them to examine the smaller parts. Kershaw can correct me on that. The point is, of course, that there are some issues relatively invisible that would probably slip by if QC is performed primarily on the back-end of production.

Why think that US knives are "better" than Chinese made ones? Well, I'd probably ask the manufacturers, since they obviously value the US labor more than they do the Chinese labor, given that they certainly pay an individual in the US much more to do the same task. If they really believed that Chinese production was equal to US production, they would rush to push all manufacturing to China. In my long conversations with some of those company's presidents, they assured me that there would be little to know "image" recoil caused by Chinese production (they are absolutely incorrect, of course), so at least so far as they're concerned, marketing will not be a deterrent to moving the entirety of production overseas.

But I suspect they're secretly aware, although unable to say publicly, that they know what is common sense to the rest of us: on average, the quality of work performed by a nation with worker's rights as opposed to quasi-slave labor produces a better product. This may be part of the reason Benchmade shifted essentially all of its production back to the states.

At any rate, we know that the Big 3 can domestically produce knives of considerable quality at prices comparable to their Chinese counterparts--how do we know that? Quite simply, it's because they actually do produce those knives. Take the Kershaw Storm. for instance. Good materials and quality, with a big name designer behind it, produced in the US for around $30.

Even if we assume that a Chinese manufacturer has created great quality knives for trusted companies, they were producing knives to Benchmade's (etc) own specifications. Is there any good reason to believe that they will hold themselves to those same high standards when there isn't any risk of defaulting on a contract?

So, my point is centrally this: buying a minigrip or kershaw ram, etc, gives you a known quality level that is consistently enforceable against the manufacturer's warranty. Do I know, for a fact, that a Chinese manufacturer is producing knives of lower quality? No, I can't say that I do--but I can say the odds are quite high that it isn't comparable to an in-house Benchmade.

 

[risen]

...For instance, I'm skeptical that this Sanrenmu (whatever it's called) uses steel that's the same caliber as Benchmade's 154CM.

No one's claimed Sanrenmu uses 154CM,

If they really believed that Chinese production was equal to US production, they would rush to push all manufacturing to China.

I believe some have.

But I suspect they're secretly aware, although unable to say publicly, that they know what is common sense to the rest of us: on average, the quality of work performed by a nation with worker's rights as opposed to quasi-slave labor produces a better product.

Now, that's just ignorance talking.

Take the Kershaw Storm. for instance. Good materials and quality, with a big name designer behind it, produced in the US for around $30.

Thought the OP was interested in the cheapest axis-type knives. Btw, the Sanrenmu 763 (an axis-type knife) can be purchased at about half the price of the Storm (which isn't an axis).

Do I know, for a fact, that a Chinese manufacturer is producing knives of lower quality? No, I can't say that I do--but I can say the odds are quite high that it isn't comparable to an in-house Benchmade.

But, I thought you said it was "common sense" that quality would be lower from China. That is what you said and/or implied ("common sense to the rest of us: on average, the quality of work performed by a nation with worker's rights as opposed to quasi-slave labor produces a better product.").

Also, regarding comparable quality to a Benchmade (of which I own several), we would also be talking about a hugh difference in price/s, for the most part.

Hey, next time you chat with all those "presidents", be sure to say "hi" for me.