what are the weaknesses of the Axis lock?

shootist16

shootist16

knife law moderator
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It has been my experience that any design, no matter how good, has some weakness or weaknesses. The Axis lock has been out for awhile now and is available in several models. Would anyone care to comment on weaknesses or potential weaknesses of this lock?

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Dennis Bible
 
Sorry, this lock mechanism absolutely rules in my book. Evenly sized washers so there is no tendency for the blade to drift towards one liner, solid lockup, slight resistance to opening to prevent accidental pokes, smooooth.
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My only worry has been the possibility of handling the knife in such a way as to accidentally move the lock release button. I have heard of this happening, but since I now have bought, carried and used a 710 for a while, I'm not so worried about it. I suppose it could happen, nevertheless I feel the Axis Lock is at least as secure as any liner lock or lock back I know of.

David Rock

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AKTI Member # A000846
Stop when you get to bone.
 
The only flaw that I can find is that the knife is thicker because of the lock. Personally, I prefer a thinner knife, but other than that, nada. The Axislock is the strongest lock ever built, you would literally have to shear off the blade before it failed (and not even then
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)!
 
Obvious. The reliance on omega shaped springs to actuate the locking bar. Only time will tell their durability, and when they fail, so does the lock.

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James Segura
San Francisco, CA
 
Isn't one of the strengths of the lock is that both springs have to fail before the lock fails?



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Hoodoo

No, I do not weep at the world--I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.
Zora Neale Hurston

Oversharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt.
Lao Tsu
 
Benchmade says that the mechanism can work on just one spring, but we have just their word on that. So far I've found no cases of even one spring failing, so no one can verify that the knife worked with the other spring.

I agree with stjames about the springs being a theoretical weak spot -- but so far it seems to be just a theory.

I also had the same concern as David Rock about accidently releasing the buttons, but I still haven't come close to doing that, so it has ceased to be a concern.

The only real weak point for me is the one that SycoticSamurai brought up, that the axis lock presents some constraints on the thinness of the knife. No big deal for big knives, but for smaller knives, they end up a touch thicker than I'd like. Not enough of a concern to stop me from buying axis locks though!

Joe
 
Joe & StJames nailed it.

When one of the springs fails (and it will fail eventually, the question is how long it really takes), the load on the other spring is multiplied so that it takes less time for it too to fail. Someone told me what the mathmatics of it are, but I forgot them, any Engineers out there?
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Spark

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
Not trying to start a flame war, BUT:

the biggest weakness of the Axis lock is that it is currently only available on BENCHMADES!

(Sorry, I couldn't resist
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)

Glen

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Y2K complacent
 
An Axis with one spring will open and close too easily. The lock will move if you wiggle the blade, but looks like it will hold. I found out after a warranty voiding session.
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Be careful you don't over stretch or squeeze the springs while reassembling the knife.
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I created weak points that went "creeeeeek.....boink" on one spring, then the other a month later.
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Tada! springless knife.
Be careful
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Chi

PS
The spring problems were caused by me.
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I have no idea how long they would hold up without my meddling.


[This message has been edited by CK (edited 01-05-2000).]
 
It isn't really difficult to reassamble re-hook the springs. I was in a rush and held the spring down in the wrong place while anchoring it. Don't hold the spring down along the big curve.
I emailed BM about what I did. They don't sell the springs separately, but did offer to fix the knife under warranty. Nice gesture on their part. I passed on the offer, since it was my fault. Hand made springs from .025" music wire work.
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Chi
 
<html>
First of all let me say Hi to everyone since this is my first posting here. Sorry if anything is wrong with the HTML codes =)

Now on to the questions. This may sound stupid but since the Axis Lock can operate with only one spring, how do you know when you actually purchase the knife if all the springs are ok?

Next, when you close the blade and the spring pulls it quite forcefully in to the spacer, it seems that the blade hits it everytime. Now maybe this is my imagination, but if it's true, won't this dull the blade?

Anyway ... thanks for listening and addressing my concerns/questions.
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[This message has been edited by v1per (edited 01-08-2000).]
 
i know on my 730s that the blade hits nothing when it closes, there is nothing to hit as the axis lock stops the blade from hitting anytyhing. as far as the springs go you can look between the liners and see both springs moving when you play with the lock.
 
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