To anyone anti-Benchmade, is the Axis lock the reason why you won't buy one?

I have an Enlan with their axis lock and it's perfectly fine. I don't own Benchmade cause they cost too much.
 
The axis lock is an amazingly tough and easy to operate lock mechanism.
I think the Griptilian is a great knife and is my favorite and only desired EDC from them.
I got the M390 Ritter. I have to say they really know how to heat treat a blade for maximum performance.
They can sure take a beating, that is all I can say.
 
knifehoarder said:
That said, I think their plastic handled 154-CM stuff is a little overpriced...no idea why anyone would pay over, if not well over, $100 for a 154 blade and plastic handles, personally.
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I am NOT a fan of BM's 154cm; had several. Axis lock has proven itself.
 
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Yes! I want a 810 Contego. Love that reverse tango. But I just can't get excited about that axis lock. I think it's a little silly and seems to be the only think unique about BM's any more. I don't think they are bad. Just not my thing. I don't do that little close and swish move that a lot of axis guys do. I have an old stryker that has a liner lock and it's awesome. Could be my muscle memory too. Every time I play with one I always go for the liner or frame lock then remember and close it the right way.
 
I would question the mental acuity of anyone who would avoid buying a Benchmade because of the Axis lock.
 
AlpacaWrangler said:
Yes! I want a 810 Contego. Love that reverse tango. But I just can't get excited about that axis lock. I think it's a little silly and seems to be the only think unique about BM's any more. I don't think they are bad. Just not my thing. I don't do that little close and swish move that a lot of axis guys do. I have an old stryker that has a liner lock and it's awesome. Could be my muscle memory too. Every time I play with one I always go for the liner or frame lock then remember and close it the right way.
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I have the 810 as well. It's nice, but large...thin enough that it's not bad to carry, but you'll scare the piss out of people if you flick one open to cut your sandwich in half at lunch. :D

You'd get used to the axis after carrying it a couple times. I go for the imaginary liner lock too after a while not carrying them. They open in a hurry, though, and that's what I like about them.
 
AlpacaWrangler said:
Yes! I want a 810 Contego. Love that reverse tango. But I just can't get excited about that axis lock. I think it's a little silly and seems to be the only think unique about BM's any more. I don't think they are bad. Just not my thing. I don't do that little close and swish move that a lot of axis guys do. I have an old stryker that has a liner lock and it's awesome. Could be my muscle memory too. Every time I play with one I always go for the liner or frame lock then remember and close it the right way.
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Really?

I feel that the Axis lock is so superior that I have absolultey zero interest in liner or frame locks anymore. They are just so damn archaic, inelegant and clunky in comparison to the Axis.

I don't use any wrist flip or "swish" to open or close my Axis knives. I flick the blade open with the the tip of my thumb against the stud and close it by pulling back the lock with my thumb and tapping the blade closed with my index finger. Simple, positive, intuitive, lightning fast, and no getting my fingers near the edge.
 
cards94 said:
I just seem to be attracted to the Ritter but can't get myself to pull the trigger. :( I want to have confidence in the axis.
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You never will... until you buy one and try it for yourself. Confidence comes from personal experience, not others' opinions. Personally, I like the AXIS lock and have never had one fail in any way for the 9 years that I've been buying them.
 
I have 16 Benchmades with Axis locks. No broken Omega springs yet. The only lock that comes close (IMHO) is William Henry's button lock. It is only down rated by me because it is not ambidextrous. I am right handed, so I am not effected. W/H does not offer a L/H model.
 
I like the Axis lock on smaller knives such as the mini grip and 710, but prefer other locks for larger knives.

I stopped buying Benchmade knives when the MAP pricing went into place last Christmas. If you screw your customers, they will leave.
 
I've carried a BM barrage 580 everyday for the last year plus. Never had a problem with the axis lock. Nor any play with the blade. And I can keep the 154 steel razor sharp with little effort. Great knife in my opinion.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiK-30w0qNQ

This guy certainly has a point. The axis lock is no doupt a very sturdy lock and easy to use, if the spring holds. I just wonder why the designers chose to use a spring that has this kind of inherent weakness. Coil spring would have been superior in durability.

Looking at plain strenght and durability I would put my money on ball and compression locks these days. Also the triad lock, but that one is not as easy to use.
 
NCCNC said:
I love the axis lock, but every freaking benchmade I buy has blade play unless you crank the pivot down to where the blade wont swing freely.
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I've noticed this too. But... Polish (flatten) the washers (only the side in contact with the blade is necessary) and you'll be surprised how smooth the pivot becomes even when you tighten them down.

Take a single piece of paper, lay it on a glass (perfectly flat) surface, spray it with diamond stropping compound, and polish the washer with small circle movements. Use light pressure. You're aiming for a mirror polish with a completely flat surface. You should be able to see your undistorted reflection in the washer. Put it back together with a light drop of oil on either side and you'll notice a huge difference.

When the washers are stamped they sometimes have a slight warp to them and they don't lay perfectly flat agains the liners or the blade. So that means less surface contact, which results in more friction.
 
I would choose the Axis lock over the majority of liner or frame lock knives in which ever high end knives you choose and do a "to failure" test, I bet the Benchmade would win majority of the time.
Benchmade is also one of just a few knife companies to post their own destruction test videos.
 
The axis lock has one of the best stength to weight ratios of any locking mechanism. However, almost none of benchmade's designs excite me. I wish they would collab with some new designers like Kershaw, ZT, and Spyderco. A Rexford, Burch, or Southard designed axis lock would be pretty cool.
 
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