What is the lifespan on the omega springs.

I don't buy the notion that pulling one side of the lock bar does anything detrimental to the pair of springs. At least on all benchmade axis lock knives that I've seen, pulling one side of the axis bar bends both springs exactly the same amount (or as near as makes no difference). From a statics perspective, the springs shouldn't see any difference because all that matters is that the axis bar moved.
 
I didn't have them break, but I have a North Fork that had to go back because they got so weak. I'm still waiting to get it back and hopefully it'll be here in a day or two. One day I just noticed the blade would drop out if I barely moved it. There was literally zero retention after only two months and I wasn't even carrying it everyday. Looking forward to getting it back....
 
Never had them break and i have been using butterfly brand since 98. also 3 months? So lets do the math use it for 3 months send it in for 2-3 months. So you can only use it half the year
 
I have only had one spring break and i'm a chronic flicker. I usually have one of my knives in my hand when i'm just sitting around. My 940 seemed to have a weak axis lock after 3 months of ownership. I took it down and one of the axis springs had broken. Instead of sending it back and being without it, I bought some memory wire and a bending tool for $10 at hobby lobby. The memory wire seems to be much stronger than the factory springs and makes for a stronger detent when closing. For $10 I have enough wire to make hundreds of springs. Now i'll never have to send in a knife, short of blade replacement. I've changed all the knives that I carry over to the memory wire. It just changes the feel of the knife to me, for the better.
 
hd-bagger said:
I have only had one spring break and i'm a chronic flicker. I usually have one of my knives in my hand when i'm just sitting around. My 940 seemed to have a weak axis lock after 3 months of ownership. I took it down and one of the axis springs had broken. Instead of sending it back and being without it, I bought some memory wire and a bending tool for $10 at hobby lobby. The memory wire seems to be much stronger than the factory springs and makes for a stronger detent when closing. For $10 I have enough wire to make hundreds of springs. Now i'll never have to send in a knife, short of blade replacement. I've changed all the knives that I carry over to the memory wire. It just changes the feel of the knife to me, for the better.
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I have tried this as well. Not that difficult with a little practice. It does make the detent a little stronger which is a benefit in my opinion.
 
hd-bagger said:
I have only had one spring break and i'm a chronic flicker. I usually have one of my knives in my hand when i'm just sitting around. My 940 seemed to have a weak axis lock after 3 months of ownership. I took it down and one of the axis springs had broken. Instead of sending it back and being without it, I bought some memory wire and a bending tool for $10 at hobby lobby. The memory wire seems to be much stronger than the factory springs and makes for a stronger detent when closing. For $10 I have enough wire to make hundreds of springs. Now i'll never have to send in a knife, short of blade replacement. I've changed all the knives that I carry over to the memory wire. It just changes the feel of the knife to me, for the better.
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I'd like to do this! Do you remember the diameter of the memory wire, and which specific tool it was?
 
nanotom said:
I'd like to do this! Do you remember the diameter of the memory wire, and which specific tool it was?
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I don't remember the diameter, but I believe there was only one size of memory wire. I just held the package up to my knife and gauged the spring to the size of the wire. The tool has 2 round rods on it to bend the wire around. One rod is larger than the other. It was hanging right under the wire.
 
nanotom said:
I'd like to do this! Do you remember the diameter of the memory wire, and which specific tool it was?
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I purchased mine online. It was actually stainless steel memory wire from beadalon. I ordered it directly from them. I can check specifically what package I got when I get home this evening. As for tools. I just used random things around the house to bend it.
It was off this page. I do know that for now.
https://www.beadalon.com/pc_combine...4116F9&pc_id=6496051D74FC433DB9665965274116F9
 
I've used the memory wire for Omega Springs as well. My wife used to make jewelry. I believe it was .24 gauge. It does work better!
 
+1 on the stainless memory wire. It's about the same gauge as the original omegaspring but has a more polished finnish. Holds up great.

These are the tools I used, the one on the left is a wirecutter. Original spring at the bottom.

PAp3toN.jpg
 
Maybe we need to have a "Spring Break". How many postings about springs and little else. And these are easy to replace with support and a quick trip to the factory. :cool:
 
I've never had one break or personally know anyone that has. In my opinion, i'd much rather have a broken omega spring than to have a lock (of any other lock type ; lockback, liner etc.) get sloppy and wear out or get lock rock. For a novice, I don't think I could fix a worn lockback knife. But if my omega spring broke I know I could just send it into benchmade or if I didn't want to do that, I know I could bend some wire and just make another.
I think people just look at it wrong, it's not that the omega spring could break, it's that the omega spring is easily rebuildable :)
 
I won't give any data on omega spring life but I can say this has been tested internally and the springs should last many, many thousands of cycles. As stated before though corrosion can cause the springs to fail pre-maturely.
 
I'm almost positive that the ones I've had break are the ones that I carry the most and oiled. And they see alot of time outdoors, near saltwater, in a very humid climate. I still can't figure out why my Griptilian's springs haven't broken. I used carry it all the time, even swimming in the Gulf. I would rinse it off with fresh water and it was good to go! Love that axis lock!
 
They are a stainless steel so rinsing it off with water and allowing to dry after salt exposure can help a lot.

I could see continued exposure to pocket sweat causing a failure due to corrosion.
 
Made a set of springs from stainless steel Beadalon remembrance memory wire, now the detent is stronger and opening feels better. I'm a happy camper.
 
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