What was benchmade thinking when they designed the 761???

Have my 761 in my pocket now so tried to shake it out,,, really had to go hard finally get it to deploy that way but I'm ok with it ,,, don't think I really want it harder than it is now!!!??? As far as lock up and all I think it would take a lot to cause it to fail and I don't intend to push it to the limit to find out!!!:D so far I'm happy! Sorry for all the guys not getting a good 1st run but mine is ok I think so far and it's 22/1000 !?
 
In my opinion a weaker detent is fine as long as the blade is held in tightly and encounters a substantial amount of resistance during its travel - that is, the blade will not drop/swing freely. But when a knife with a weaker detent is running on bearings it just feels sloppy and loose. Some Socom Deltas had this problem and it really makes the knife not a pleasure to handle. This is a knife that really needs a strong detent.

Since enough people have complained about the detent but there are also a lot of people who have knives with perfectly good detents, I think it's not a design issue but a quality control one. The lockbar thickness is probably not an issue either even if it really is as thin as some people say. As long as quality control makes sure the detents on these are consistently strong then there shouldn't be any problem with the knife.

The real design flaw is the geometry of the frame for the framelock. When you grip this knife you can definitely feel that your grip is pushing in the framelock and it's not a good feeling at all. This really should have been a liner locked or - as much as I like frame/liner locks more - an axis locked knife.
 
asdf12345
I'm new to frame locks, and my understanding of how they work is superficial. But I thought that a person's grip pushing in the frame lock was a good thing. That the increased pressure of your grip on the lock bar reduces the chances that the lock will slip.
rummels
 
Maybe I'm doing it wrong or don't understand?,,,, I sqweezed the lock bar hard both open and closed and can detect no flex what so ever! I may be old but I'm no weeny!!! :D what am I missing?:confused::confused:
 
(When you grip this knife you can definitely feel that your grip is pushing in the framelock and it's not a good feeling at all. )

asdf12345 is right about this not being a good feeling. Does anyone else have this problem? I had that on the pinnacle and alias and I do not like this at all.
 
I cannot replicate the "not good feeling" in handling or even squeezing this knife either. There is no movement for me. Not sure how it could even move with the lip on the lockbar.
 
Last edited:
jazub said:
I cannot replicate the "not good feeling" in handling or even squeezing this knife either. There is no movement for me. Not sure how it could even move with the lip on the lockbar.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I was thinking. As for movement my 760 Lum moves. Doesn't bother me cuz it's just tightening up. I don't see the issue at all. :confused:
 
It's that tiny bit of give/flex that occurs when the knife is gripped tightly that puts me off. Maybe I am being too picky about that but there are plenty of framelocks where it isn't as pronounced.
 
In my experience, the longer the lockbar, the more it will mush inward during tight gripping. All of them do it too a certain extent. I'd guess the angle of the tang/lockbar interface has something to do with it too. Since it just locks up even tighter, I've never minded it from a safety standpoint, but it does feel less solid when the lockbar is mushy.
 
@LeathermanGX said:
You are incorrect. The frame is beveled. So it appears thinner. However less than a third through the lockbar it is thicker than my ZT0801 and my Benchmade 760 Lum lockbar cutouts.

It's sad that such horrible and erroneous prejudices were posted so early. Because they continue to be repeated even after they've been discounted.
Click to expand...

Yeah . Sounds like the regurgitated bs about ZTs elmax. The 761 is a freakin gorgeous knife.
 
Everyone has their own opinion on detent, some pure flippers are really strong so these days there's a lot more variation now out there. I tend to like a strong detent because I've had a blade or two open in a pocket before under activity in the field. The two 761's I handled at Shot I felt were weak, about the same as my old 760. Obviously we're seeing some large detent variation in user reports. Hopefully BM will address that as they get more of them made with user feedback etc. I know ZT has said in the past that we'd be surprised how many little tweaks they make over a products life and I'm sure BM is no different.

I think BM really went for a very clean minimal classy design, and on that front they nailed it. It's a very beautiful knife, the blade is not too thick as so many folders are today, and it's grind should make a really good slicer. Lots of attention to detail. If the detent was strong as some obviously are getting I would not have a big issue with tip down. I still feel the clip at the pivot end makes for a more uncomfortable grip in extended use. However, in the 760's case the clip is machined with rounded edges so it's better normal clips.

My knee jerk thought is that $330 street is pretty high, but it's subjective, and as long as people buy them it's not priced too high. I can say that after handing one, if it had tip up, dual thumb studs, and a good detent I'd have bought one. Two of those issues are already taken care of at least with some examples, and I suppose it wouldn't be that hard to have someone tap a couple holes for a second clip location either. Something I always wanted to do to my 760 as well.
 
Got to handle a 761 at my local knife shop for a good while last week. I dont remember what number it was but it was one of the first 1000 produced. It looked slick as hell. Nice and classy. But upon handling the knife it instantly felt sloppy and "soft". The bearings have the blade flying open and closed with next to no effort. The detent was almost non existent. Holding it upside down and walking forward one step would cause the blade to not only fall out, on these apparently ultra slick and smooth bearings, but fly out at near full speed to complete lock up it was ridiculous. I dont understand the tip down only thing at all. I also noticed when gripping the knife while open the lock bar would bend inwards a smidge. I dont understand the little tab on the outside of the lockbar face at all. It felt like the lockbar was trying to move inwards across the tang a touch more. I would like to know BM's reasoning on this.

Then I got to handle the new 757 Vicar! Spent a lot of time with it. The Vicar was amazing! The most overbuilt feeling, confidence inspiring Benchmade I have ever handled! The lock up on the Vicar was damn impressive. Despite the angular G10 the knife was perfectly comfy in all grip positions. The blade is also confidence inspiring, thick with a perfectly executed profile. The Vicar opened and closed so smoothly and evenly I found myself shining my Fenix UC35 that I always have on me down into the pivot looking for bearings. Nope no bearings just two big phosphor bronze washers. Where the 761 just seemed out of control with a mind of its own opening and closing in uncommon and unpredictable manners the 757 had a near perfect detent. The only way that awesome blade is coming out of the handle is if you purposely work the thumb stud to do it. I did not buy the Vicar that day last week I left with my first Para Military 2 instead. I already have many many Benchmades and have just recently gotten my first couple Spydercos. I havnt been able to get that awesome 757 out of my mind though. Will be going back for it this weekend. I have a feeling that 761 will remain in the display case for a looooong time
 
I bought a 761 the first time I saw it on the exchange. It was the first time I'd ever seen or heard of it and it would be my forst BM. I like it and I think it's worth every penny. It's a great ti frame lock and the m390 I think is gonna be great.

I carry strider and Crk mostly but I think this one will get in there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top