Hello folks, lets look at some facts about these folders, they are below. By the way, i'm looking at these knives as a fighter first, utility second.
First, the Microtech SOCOM, clip point plain edge.
Positive notes:the socom's are in my opinion the most precisely made folders in the world, the grind lines are perfect, the fit of the leaf lock is perfect, and all parts are precisely made and just fit perfect. The finger notches are great, there all over the socom, a very good grip due to the kraton/rubber inserts, the huge opening stud that also acts as a stop pin, the thickness of the leaf lock is over 1/16 of an inch, and it is stainless, very little wearing due to this stainless lock bar. The clip I think is great on this knife, it leaves the handle about over an inch out of the pocket, this is great when wearing BDU's, plus the socom has many more i probly forgot. Oh, and the blade is of 154cm stainless steel and is 5/32inch thick-as thick as my ka-bars. This knife can be withdrawn and thrown into battery within a second due to the high riding clip-some hate the clip.
Negative notes:well, to tell ya, there is only a couple, the high price for this puppy i think is just right, you are getting what you pay for. The leaf lock is stainless, this is good but then again not good, some stainless lock bars fail the spine whack test, my first socom is 15months old and failed about 70 times, now it stays put, but only about 30-45% of the time when doing the spine whack test. But, i do have a new socom and it i bought 1 month ago, and only failed twice, i've gave it about 20 hard whacks on a formica table and the liner/leaf lock must of molded to the tang, now it is perfect. Ive heard very little people say that they dont like the action of the socom, well, i like it, its quite buttery. The blade tension can not be tightened due to no washers on between the blade and the aluminum handle, if taken apart, u will find the pivot pin is quite small, a little less than 3/16inch, and has a bearing around it and also has a round steel type washer that is recessed into the T-6061 handle, this steel washer is bent and gives the blade a non-stop good action. For me, the assembly screws, and pivot pin is very small, they look strong, but i think they should be made a tad bigger. The clip, many hate the clip, i like it, although i hate wearing the socom with dress pants, it drags big time, knocking into every thing, but when wearing jeans or BDU's, it works great for me. The grind of the clip poin is quite thick at the edge, and i think should have been made a full flat grind. Ok, if i missed any, please tell me.
AFCK, Model 800 plain edge
Positive notes:What can i say about this knife, it needs no introduction, its been around for many years and in my humble opinion, for the money, this knife is the best factory "functioning" liner lock. The blade is of proven ats-34, very good thin edge geometry, the point is way more pointy than the socom clip point, the liners are titanium, and this has double full liners, not a leaflock, sorry, but i prefer 2 full liners. Since the liners are titanium, the lock up is solid, and unfortionatly will wear big time, but in my life time of collecting tactical folders, i never heard anyone say that the AFCK failed the spine whack test, i have 4 afcks, 800sbt-2years old, 800s-1 year old, 800plain-8 months old, and my newest is another 800 plain edge that is only 3 months old, every single one of my afck's always passed, and still passes my spine whack test. The overall finish on all my afcks are good, the opening hole is very fast, the newer models have a more grippy G-10, and have stainless inserts on the opposite side of the assembly screws, this makes a more solid hold for the screws, and will not strip any thing. The handle is very good, great grip, love the recessed liner lock, it makes the knife a little harder to close, but is better as a tactical knife. The pivot pin is way thicker than the socoms, the stop pin is in the ti liners and screwed in by two screws, the afck is much easier to clean because of the open handle, the socom has vents, mostly cosmetics, it looks cool, but i think should be open more for easier cleaning.
Negative notes:well, there are a couple, the liner lock is titanium, this means they will wear and you might have to get them replaced by Benchmades great warranty dept. For me, i think benchmade should have used more notches on the handle, like near the butt of the handle, and more for the thumb before the spine of the blade, like my BM cqc-7 had. The steel is high carbon and will rust if not taken care of, although i didnt have any prob's wit it. The spacer is plastic witch in my opinion "SUCKS", why not use aluminum dammit, the washers are also plastic witch causes minimal blade play even when the tension is fully tightened. The liners are way under 1/16inch, but are ti, and will never fail u. All in all, i think this knife is awesome.
Now, i might have missed alot, but lets look at these both, as a knife fighter myself, i'd pick the AFCK, the blade is faster, sharper, thinner, and has a blade hole, the Socom has a thumb stud, good, but will hang up on things while slashing. For utility, definetly go with the AFCK plain edge, the edge geometry is so much better. Although i prefer the socom for its high riding clip, much faster to take out of the pocket.
No BS, here it is, the SOCOM is the most awesome made folder in the world, buuuuut, i'll take an AFCK as a fighter and a utility any day. And if someone gave me a socom as a present, i'd probly trade it for two AFCK's.
Ok, give me your opinions. Thank you.
"RAGE AGAINST'EM".....
FRANK, AKA RAGE.
First, the Microtech SOCOM, clip point plain edge.
Positive notes:the socom's are in my opinion the most precisely made folders in the world, the grind lines are perfect, the fit of the leaf lock is perfect, and all parts are precisely made and just fit perfect. The finger notches are great, there all over the socom, a very good grip due to the kraton/rubber inserts, the huge opening stud that also acts as a stop pin, the thickness of the leaf lock is over 1/16 of an inch, and it is stainless, very little wearing due to this stainless lock bar. The clip I think is great on this knife, it leaves the handle about over an inch out of the pocket, this is great when wearing BDU's, plus the socom has many more i probly forgot. Oh, and the blade is of 154cm stainless steel and is 5/32inch thick-as thick as my ka-bars. This knife can be withdrawn and thrown into battery within a second due to the high riding clip-some hate the clip.
Negative notes:well, to tell ya, there is only a couple, the high price for this puppy i think is just right, you are getting what you pay for. The leaf lock is stainless, this is good but then again not good, some stainless lock bars fail the spine whack test, my first socom is 15months old and failed about 70 times, now it stays put, but only about 30-45% of the time when doing the spine whack test. But, i do have a new socom and it i bought 1 month ago, and only failed twice, i've gave it about 20 hard whacks on a formica table and the liner/leaf lock must of molded to the tang, now it is perfect. Ive heard very little people say that they dont like the action of the socom, well, i like it, its quite buttery. The blade tension can not be tightened due to no washers on between the blade and the aluminum handle, if taken apart, u will find the pivot pin is quite small, a little less than 3/16inch, and has a bearing around it and also has a round steel type washer that is recessed into the T-6061 handle, this steel washer is bent and gives the blade a non-stop good action. For me, the assembly screws, and pivot pin is very small, they look strong, but i think they should be made a tad bigger. The clip, many hate the clip, i like it, although i hate wearing the socom with dress pants, it drags big time, knocking into every thing, but when wearing jeans or BDU's, it works great for me. The grind of the clip poin is quite thick at the edge, and i think should have been made a full flat grind. Ok, if i missed any, please tell me.
AFCK, Model 800 plain edge
Positive notes:What can i say about this knife, it needs no introduction, its been around for many years and in my humble opinion, for the money, this knife is the best factory "functioning" liner lock. The blade is of proven ats-34, very good thin edge geometry, the point is way more pointy than the socom clip point, the liners are titanium, and this has double full liners, not a leaflock, sorry, but i prefer 2 full liners. Since the liners are titanium, the lock up is solid, and unfortionatly will wear big time, but in my life time of collecting tactical folders, i never heard anyone say that the AFCK failed the spine whack test, i have 4 afcks, 800sbt-2years old, 800s-1 year old, 800plain-8 months old, and my newest is another 800 plain edge that is only 3 months old, every single one of my afck's always passed, and still passes my spine whack test. The overall finish on all my afcks are good, the opening hole is very fast, the newer models have a more grippy G-10, and have stainless inserts on the opposite side of the assembly screws, this makes a more solid hold for the screws, and will not strip any thing. The handle is very good, great grip, love the recessed liner lock, it makes the knife a little harder to close, but is better as a tactical knife. The pivot pin is way thicker than the socoms, the stop pin is in the ti liners and screwed in by two screws, the afck is much easier to clean because of the open handle, the socom has vents, mostly cosmetics, it looks cool, but i think should be open more for easier cleaning.
Negative notes:well, there are a couple, the liner lock is titanium, this means they will wear and you might have to get them replaced by Benchmades great warranty dept. For me, i think benchmade should have used more notches on the handle, like near the butt of the handle, and more for the thumb before the spine of the blade, like my BM cqc-7 had. The steel is high carbon and will rust if not taken care of, although i didnt have any prob's wit it. The spacer is plastic witch in my opinion "SUCKS", why not use aluminum dammit, the washers are also plastic witch causes minimal blade play even when the tension is fully tightened. The liners are way under 1/16inch, but are ti, and will never fail u. All in all, i think this knife is awesome.
Now, i might have missed alot, but lets look at these both, as a knife fighter myself, i'd pick the AFCK, the blade is faster, sharper, thinner, and has a blade hole, the Socom has a thumb stud, good, but will hang up on things while slashing. For utility, definetly go with the AFCK plain edge, the edge geometry is so much better. Although i prefer the socom for its high riding clip, much faster to take out of the pocket.
No BS, here it is, the SOCOM is the most awesome made folder in the world, buuuuut, i'll take an AFCK as a fighter and a utility any day. And if someone gave me a socom as a present, i'd probly trade it for two AFCK's.
Ok, give me your opinions. Thank you.
"RAGE AGAINST'EM".....
FRANK, AKA RAGE.
