Will Benchmade ever give up on assisted axis locks?

DrRollinstein

DrRollinstein

Joined
Feb 20, 2018
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Because the new Vector model looks incredible, and I'd absolutely be buying one if not for the assist. But why the hell is any axis lock assisted?

If i want to close my knife with two hands, I'll carry a traditional.

Come on Benchmade, you guys keep getting so close to the mark. Haven't been this interested in a model since the Mini Crooked river.
 
I hear ya, the last thing you wanna have to do with a new knife is immediately alter it. BUT, it doesn't take much to de-assist and I've heard this is a service that Benchmade will do for you upon request.
 
DrRollinstein said:
Because the new Vector model looks incredible, and I'd absolutely be buying one if not for the assist. But why the hell is any axis lock assisted?

If i want to close my knife with two hands, I'll carry a traditional.

Come on Benchmade, you guys keep getting so close to the mark. Haven't been this interested in a model since the Mini Crooked river.
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I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to close an assist one handed pretty easily, but it can’t be “flicked” closed by any means. I am still worried about it opening up in the pocket, but I guess that is what the lock is for!
 
Lol, closing an assisted one handed against leg, pole, box or anything else handy is pretty darn simple. Even a caveman can do it. I don’t understand this angst on the forum about assisted knives. I like traditionals, lock backs, assisted, Spyderco, etc and just learn to work each type and enjoy each for its unique characteristics. Knives are fun and it would be boring if they were all the same.
 
Assisted mechanisms are usually implemented to overcome a crappy pivot action. One of the draws to the Axis lock is the ease at which you can close the knife.

I expect to see a lot of people in this thread beating their chest about how it's not hard to close an assisted knife. To imply that closing an assisted knife is as easy as closing a non-assisted Axis shows ignorance of the Axis locking system and how to use it to the best of its capabilities.
 
NWPilgrim said:
Lol, closing an assisted one handed against leg, pole, box or anything else handy is pretty darn simple. Even a caveman can do it. I don’t understand this angst on the forum about assisted knives. I like traditionals, lock backs, assisted, Spyderco, etc and just learn to work each type and enjoy each for its unique characteristics. Knives are fun and it would be boring if they were all the same.
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I dont have an issue with assisted knives. Only assisted axis locks. It's the most useless combination of features.
 
Cypress said:
Assisted mechanisms are usually implemented to overcome a crappy pivot action. One of the draws to the Axis lock is the ease at which you can close the knife.

I expect to see a lot of people in this thread beating their chest about how it's not hard to close an assisted knife. To imply that closing an assisted knife is as easy as closing a non-assisted Axis shows ignorance of the Axis locking system and how to use it to the best of its capabilities.
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I can close an A/O one handed but that doesn't mean I want to. :)

With that being said the manual axis flippers were poor flippers. I don't know that the axis lends well to flipping so the assist solves that problem. I don't really understand auto axis locks for the same reason.
 
My first Benchmade was a Barrage and I have bought 2 more since then (amongst a dozen or so other Benchmades) and I prefer the non-assisted variants, even though I love the Barrage in general. I keep my original Barrage assisted, but have de-assisted the other two. I can open any of my traditional axis knives just as fast (or faster, if not fidgeting with the safety) and close them much faster / simpler than an assisted knife. If there was an assisted knife I felt compelled to buy in the future, de-assisting it (since I'm going to probably have to take it down to fix centering anyway) would probably be a top priority and it's easy to do.
 
To me it is not about ease of closing or not, but more about lack of control of opening the knife.
 
Cypress said:
Assisted mechanisms are usually implemented to overcome a crappy pivot action. One of the draws to the Axis lock is the ease at which you can close the knife.

I expect to see a lot of people in this thread beating their chest about how it's not hard to close an assisted knife. To imply that closing an assisted knife is as easy as closing a non-assisted Axis shows ignorance of the Axis locking system and how to use it to the best of its capabilities.
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Very funny hyperbole. I can see for some people the difference is hugely important. Other people are well informed but the difference is irrelevant compared to other features of a knife. Not every one is going to obsess over the Axis assist. I imagine Benchmade respite did to some customers about not having an assist. Then when they add it another customer segment complains the assist is there. Probably easier to remove a spring already in there than to have to buy it separate and install it. So I can see why BM might choose to add assist to many models. For me that is so far down my list of concerns it is funny that it is all important to others. Probably some of the things I care about others find silly, too. Fortunately the market is flooded with choices.
 
If you don't want an axis assist, then don't buy it, plenty of manual open knives available. Not rocket science...
 
i’ve got a 490 that the assist spring gave out on. without the assist feature the minimal flipper tab doesn’t give enough leverage to flip the knife open without a good bit of wrist action. sent it back to the home office for a new spring & now it’s back to pretty damn near perfect. i would assume that the vector is the same way as far as opening is concerned as it also has the small flipper tab.

as far as closing an axis assist knife, what i do is pull back the axis bar with my forefinger then push the blade down with my thumb. nice smooth fluid action that’s become 2nd nature to me. works the same way with axis autos.
 
Their third best selling knife is assisted. Market driven sales dictate product offerings.

That said, it would be cool to have an option to have assist or not.
 
MolokaiRider said:
Their third best selling knife is assisted. Market driven sales dictate product offerings.

That said, it would be cool to have an option to have assist or not.
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Though that means their first two best selling knives arent assisted. Where is that info from? I tried googling it and cant find much.

But agreed, an option for both would be the best solution.
 
DrRollinstein said:
Though that means their first two best selling knives arent assisted. Where is that info from? I tried googling it and cant find much.

But agreed, an option for both would be the best solution.
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https://www.google.com/amp/s/blog.knife-depot.com/top-5-best-selling-benchmade-knives/?amp

My bad...my Google-Fu jumped the gun and posted two year old info from Knife Depot. So my post is not accurate.

If I remember correctly though, is for Kershaw, their highest selling models were all assisted.

It would seem that assisted knives must sell well enough for Benchmade that they continue making them.

At any rate, having the option to choose AO or not would be very cool!
 
IMO, a liner/frame lock has a detent that lets off after a certain pressure which aids in flipper deployment. I think that the Axis lock's mechanism makes for a sloppy deployment.. or at least requires more attention/technique. Although I'm not crazy about my 590's assist, I never really had the urge to de-assist it. The Arcane/Amacus flipper is really smooth with the assist, and I wouldn't want it without. Both knives require a little hand/finger dexterity to close one handed.
 
If I were jonesing for something with AO (or flipper or ball bearings!) I would go to a company who specializes in that sort of thing. Benchmades with flippers and springs or Spydercos with flippers and ball bearings don't get a second look. My motto: "Do what you do do well!"
 
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