Two week review of Benchmade 806D2

[diletante]

This is really the first decent folder I've had (unless you count the old Bucklite--OD plastic handle and 3" clip point blade--I got in the '80s). The 806D2 has been in my right front pocket every day since I bought it. I don't notice the size.

Mostly I've used it for EDC stuff--opening envelopes, breaking down boxes, cutting tape, cord, etc.

Last weekend I chopped down a bunch of 1/4" to 3/4" standing (green) bamboo with it for fun. NICE! Given the knife's balance and handle it flew effortlessly through the standing bamboo like a sharp extension of my arm. I also whittled some hard bamboo to make a whistle for my daughter. When I got home I steeled the blade very lightly and it would still shave hair off my arm.

I also sliced up a large moving box for fun--probably 10' of cardboard slicing. Cuts way nicer than anything else I own.

Finally, I chopped an old pine 2" x 2" in half and then carved the cut end for a while. A light steeling again restored a shaving sharp edge.

I'm going to take it camping this weekend and beat, er I mean test it some more.

My only complaint is the knife I got is not drilled and tapped on both sides and ends, so I cannot try tip-down carry. It looks like the knife would carry deeper that way. I have almost an inch of handle showing.

That said, tip-up carry works great for an integrated draw stroke/kinetic opening. I just put my thumb in my pocket and grasp the knife between my thumb and fingers (along the lower edge of the clip), draw, and flip my wrist straight down (so the tip is pointing at the floor when I'm done) as I straighten my arm slightly. I've read the various concerns in the kinetic opening threads, but I'm not worried about losing my grip as the force required is slight and if I'm standing the motion is away from my leg. I find flipping the knife open easier than using the thumb hole as the latter requires me to reposition the knife in my hand before and after opening it. When I flip I only reposition the knife in my hand once.

parting observation: I think the orientation of the 806D2's blade to it's handle and its handle shape creates an effective recurve. If you set the open knife edge down on a flat surface you will see what I mean. I still don't know how it compares with the 710HS, but I'll probably find out one of these days. I want some M2.

 

[JohnnyLightOn]

Great review, Diletante - thanks for posting it. I've been eyeing this knife for a while - I want one! Too bad about so much of the handle showing with tip-up carry - but if that's your only complaint, that says a lot about the knife.

Johnny

 

[knifenerd]

Diletante, the newest versions of the 806D2 are coming through drilled and tapped for tip up/down, right/left carry and have bronze bushings as well. It appears that BM is converting their folders to the bronze washers.

However, do not let that discourage you. You made a very fine choice that will serve you well. In fact, many custom makers still use the nylatron/teflon bushings and swear by them.

The AFCK is a modern classic and IMHO will remain so well into the foreseeable future. Lots of luck with it.

 

[misque]

knifenerd wrote :

Diletante, the newest versions of the 806D2 are coming through drilled and tapped for tip up/down, right/left carry and have bronze bushings as well. It appears that BM is converting their folders to the bronze washers.

This is possibly the best news I've heard since I heard they were actually gonna do the 806!
I kinda wish they had done it right before they brought it out tho. I really wanted a tip down option. Looks like I'm gonna be getting another 806.

 

[Sergiusz Mitin]

This proves what I say continuously – the strength and cutting power of decently made (and BENCHMADE’s certainly are) big folder is enough (OK, close to enough ) to match cutting chores. Of course if the user knows how to use it...

Please don’t forget an axe or hatchet going camping and then tell us how your knife held up

BTW, don’t be too excited in advance about Axis AFCK tip-down carry. Just remove your clip and try to position it for this carry mode. I bet you couldn’t find the position it wouldn’t obstruct lock operation button or handle’s finger groove.
Something always cost something, perhaps it is not my discovery...

 

[BOK]

I love my liner-lock AFCK and would love to get the axis version but funds are just not permitting right now.

How much thicker is the axis model as compared to the liner though? Is it significantly larger that you can feel the difference when it's clipped to your pocket?

 

[misque]

Sergiusz,
I see your concern about tip down carry of the Axis AFCK. It appears the standard Benchmade clip is too wide and will overhang the finger cut out.
The tip down carry mode for an Axis AFCK can be made viable IMO. Of course, the clip will have to be modified a bit. I have a Mel Pardue Axis model that is tip down and it performs well. As I compare these two folders side by side it seems a thinner clip will work on the AFCK. Or possibly a type of clip which is used on the regular Microtech SOCOM. I don't know what will actually work, but I am anxious to see how Benchmade pulls this off. I'm going to try one the minute I can get me mitts on one.
All the Best,
Mike U.

 

[diletante]

JohnnyLightOn--If you get one you will not regret it. I got mine online through New Graham Pharmacy which had the best price I found. If I were doing it again I'd call first to see if they have any of the newer tip up/down bronze washer knives.

knifenerd--I'm not discouraged. I really like this knife. It would be nice to have more carry options, but tip up carry works well for me (the Axis lock seems hold the blade closed well enough and the back of the blade is also held shut by the rearmost seam of my pants pocket) and the handle exposure is no big deal for my purposes.

misque--I might be getting another 806, too, but I'm holding out for an M2 version. I'm not going to shell out another $100 and change just for bronze washers and more carry options.

Sergiusz Mitin--your observations about the tip down clip position (and knifenerd's comments regarding nylatron/teflon bushings) is why I'm not losing any sleep over not getting the tip up/down bronze washer version. And don't worry--I'll have appropriate cutting tools on the camping trip. I was only joking about beating the 806D2--it's "only" a folder after all and a $100+ folder at that.

Question: Has anyone handled a newer 806D2 with the clip in the tip down position? Does the clip get in the way of the Axis lock mechanism and/or finger groove? It sure looks like it would.

BOK--I can't answer your questions. Hopefully others can.

I didn't buy the 806D2 with defense in mind--I've got no training in that area and don't plan to get any--but the thing that impressed me while cutting the bamboo was how quick and natural it felt. I'm sure I felt the blade impact the bamboo stalks, but I swear my first impression was of the bamboo falling.

 

[misque]

BOK,
I'm holding an M-2 AFCK and the Axis AFCK and comparing the two. If there is any difference in thickness it would have to be measured in Millimeters. They appear to be virtually the same thickness to me. The Axis might be a slight bit heavier, but, it's too close for me to tell by comparing in the hands only.

 

[Joe Talmadge]

parting observation: I think the orientation of the 806D2's blade to it's handle and its handle shape creates an effective recurve. If you set the open knife edge down on a flat surface you will see what I mean. I still don't know how it compares with the 710HS, but I'll probably find out one of these days. I want some M2

Angling the blade to the handle -- some people call this a forward rake, or positive included angle -- does make for more efficient slicing. It does not quite perform like a recurve, but threads the needle between a completely straight edge and a recurve. The forward rake puts the edge at an angle and gives more effective slicing for some uses, although the edge isn't curved so it doesn't have quite the same performance as a recurved edge. However, the forward rake does not share the recurved blades challenges in sharpening -- you are sharpening a straight edge, and it's easier. So you are threading the needle with both performance and ease-of-sharpening, between perfectly straight edge and recurves.

The downside is, there are some jobs, like food prep, where you really do want the edge and handle to form a perfectly straight line. I look at forward rakes and recurved edges as solutions that give you better performance for some jobs, while sacrificing performance for others.

Joe

 

[Sergiusz Mitin]

Mike,
I concern not about tip-down carry as itself what I like generally more than tip-up one, especially for liner lock folders (Classic AFCK). Rather I concern about the clip unsuitable to put it in such position on Axis AFCK. Luckily it is nothing wrong with tip-up carry at Axis Lock equipped folders.

BTW, Mel Pardue Axis model has the handle noticeably wider than AFCK, especially the first edition with preset tip-down clip position and aluminum handle (seems it’s discontinued now). I have handled it and have found the handle too wide to be comfortable for me.

If there is any difference in thickness it would have to be measured in Millimeters

Oh, Americans with their somewhat different measurements!
Man, millimeter is huge unit speaking about difference between Axis and Classic AFCK’s, it should be measured in millimeter hundredth fractions

BOK,
No difference in dimensions, Axis AFCK is somewhat heavier (steel liners instead of titanium at Classic). The only noticeable difference in the pocket is tip-up instead of tip-down at Classic. Nothing wrong because it is Axis Lock, just requires some habit to transfer yourself from one to another.

 

[diletante]

Thanks Joe. To what extent do your suggestions for improving the performance of the 710HS apply to the 806D2 as well?

 

[Joe Talmadge]

diletante,

Well, part of that article was how to make reprofiling a recurved edge a bit easier, by dividing up the reprofiling into sections. That entire part isn't needed, since the AFCK has a straight edge.

The part about re-profiling down to a 15/20 edge applies though. I've actually taken my Axis 710 down to a straight 15 degree edge, with just a light 20-degree edge on top of it, and it seems reasonably robust (I wouldn't do this for really hard use, but it's fine for EDC). M-2 should easily be able to take this as well. It's a joy to use, it cuts so well.

The part about the grits doesn't apply perfectly. I had said that you could rough-up just the "front recurve", which would drastically improve slicing performance, but you could leave the belly and back recurve polished for great push-cutting. Dividing the AFCK into pieces this way doesn't make as much sense. On a recurve, slicing action forces the material into the front recurve, but this won't happen with the AFCK. So with the AFCK, just pick a good grit that works for you.

Joe

 

[BOK]

Thanks for the info...I was reading an old review and got the impression that there was a noticeable difference in the thickness and weight...I probably misread though seeing as I'm usually on BFC at like 2am...

Anyway..thanks as always for the responses..

 

[misque]

Sergiusz,
Please forgive my unfamiliarity with the metric system. When I was in grade school they tried to introduce the Metric system to us after teaching us the English System. Suffice it to say, the Metric System didn't fly very well with the American people and today some of us are Metric challenged. Perhaps micrometer would have been a better measurement?
I'm very curious as to how Benchmade is going to pull off the tip down clip on the Axis AFCK. The only way I can think of that might work is to have the clip positioned below the Axis lock itself, which will leave 1 3/16"(30mm) of the pivot end of the handle sticking up out of the pocket. Either that, or, they would have to have a clip that would wrap around the side of the pivot opposite of where the Axis is located. This would still leave a rather large section of handle sticking up out of the pocket.
Hmmmm... even those solutions would leave that area between the Axis Lock and the finger choil cramped and really busy.
I'm itching to see how they are able to overcome this challenge at any rate.

 

[knifenerd]

I have the newer version of the 806D2, so I can give a bit of input into this discussion. Unfortunately, I don't have digicam capabilities, so my descriptions will have to do.

The knife was shipped in the typical tip-up configuration that most of us are familiar with. Yesterday, I switched the clip to tip-down carry. The clip is the standard BM clip, with the holes drilled and tapped very close to the top of the pivot end of the knife, providing a very deep-pocket carry. The holes are centered right in the middle of the frame.

The question was raised as to whether the clip would interfere with the operation of the Axis lock. Actually, it doesn't. I am right-handed, so my right thumb can release the lock with no problem. If I was a lefty, the clip would be mounted on the other scale, and my left thumb would have no problem releasing the lock. The clip otherwise does not affect comfort any more than any other clip mounted for tip-down carry, IMO. If, on the other hand, you wish to use both thumb and forefinger to pull down on both sides of the Axis lock pin at the same time, there is a very slight degree of interference on your "weak" side, but not really enough to cause any problems.

Without pics, I hope this makes some sense. The bottom line, IMO, BM has accomplished what it apparently aimed for quite nicely. The knife, BTW, sells for the same price as the "regular" version. It's good to see this company moving in a positive direction.

 

[diletante]

Thanks Joe!

knifenerd--Dang! I might be forced to trade up one of these days. Until then, I'm happy with the older version. Too bad carrying it concealed puts me in violation of the Seattle Municipal Code I might get a 940 or 550, too. Either one of those would be "legal."

 

[misque]

Thank You Knifenerd!!
This provides me with a perfect end to a perfect day!
I just got back from the Guild Show and managed to score a Dozier Professional Guide with Ironwood scales and got hold of some flat stock 52100(!) and got a killer deal on some sweeet lookin' Ironwood scales.

I thought for sure Benchmade would have to come up with a new style of clip for the new Axis AFCK. To hear that they were able to use the standard clip and it WORKS is pure icing on the cake. Now, I gotta start getting the cash together and get hold of what may very well be the perfect AFCK.

 

[diletante]

I just spent three days car camping on Mt. Ranier and used the 806D2 for everything from splitting kindling and making fuzz sticks from dry cedar fence boards, to carving four foot-long fish for the kids from old pine shelving remnants to all those mundane camp chores (cutting 550 cord, cardboard and baby back ribs, spreading mustard, etc. etc.). All I can say is I don't know how I lived without it!

The 806D2 worked really well for carving the wooden fish. After carving the first three fish 30 or 40 minutes, I tried switching to my new Yari, but for some reason it just didn't seem to cut as well for me. Tha Yari's handle felt too small after using the 806D2. The Yari also didn't seem to bite as well and didn't make nice big smooth shavings like the 806D2. The Yari was freshly sharpened, while the 806D2 had been very lightly steeled several times to maintain a shaving edge. The relative polish of the Yari's edge may explain the lack of bite I perceived, or maybe it was the difference in edge geometry or blade bredth or my technique--I'm not much of a whittler or wood carver. For whatever reason, the Yari produced smaller roughter shavings with the same effort. All I can say is I really liked the 806D2, but I still have to get a feel for the Yari.

 

[Walt2]

Diletante: I have a BM in M2 and a Dozier folder in D2. The M2 won't compare with the D2. I dulls a lot quicker and if I put a 17 deg. bevel on it, it will have small chips in it very easily. If I stay at 20 deg., no problem with chipping. Just MHO.