AXIS Lock
Does anyone have any hard numbers on the strength limits of the AXIS Lock? How it stacks up in relation to the CRKT Auto-Lawks or the Cold Steel Triad?
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I don't know anything about those other two knives but in order to make an Axis lock fail once it's been locked into place you have to defeat the shear strength of the locking pin which is being supported on both ends by the liners. A credible source reports that mechanism has handled 200lbs load with no damage.
It's really quite ingenious, and will spoil you for other locking mechanisms. Lefties are particularly well-served.0 -
The triad lock is lauded by many for its strength.
I haven't used CRKT for well over a decade, I personally didn't care for he steel and I didn't like the auto-lawks.
If I remember correctly I believe the only lock that benchmade makes that is superior in strength is the button lock.
I came to the conclusion that there is nothing I can do to make the axis lock fail and if I do it will be through gross abuse while trying to save my life or the life of someone else.
All of that being said I have not personally tested any knives to destruction, nor do I believe that any quality production, mid tech or custom knife will have any issues with lock failure. I will add that if lock strength is that important to anyone, that person or those people should start looking at sheath knives.0 -
They have tested the axis lock to much higher than 200 Pounds more like 850 before a failure, the bottom line is if you want the ultimate strength then get a Fixed Blade with a Full Tang.
The biggest issue with the Axis Lock is the springs braking over time (I now know that they are called Omega Springs) and it will still work with just one without you even knowing that one is gone, I liked Skimo's idea of getting extras was smart but Benchmade won't do that and I think that is not right as you can get spare springs for your firearm..
It's always nice to have spare parts if you ever need it....
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Dang skippy! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Who Dares Wins:
They have tested the axis lock to much higher than 200 Pounds more like 850 before a failure, the bottom line is if you want the ultimate strength then get a Fixed Blade with a Full Tang.
The biggest issue with the Axis Lock is the springs braking over time (I now know that they are called Omega Springs) and it will still work with just one without you even knowing that one is gone, I liked Skimo's idea of getting extras was smart but Benchmade won't do that and I think that is not right as you can get spare springs for your firearm..
It's always nice to have spare parts if you ever need it....
I can understand why Benchmade doesn't send out spare omega springs. If a user disassembles their knife it voids the warranty. The last thing they want is an influx of knives that people can't put back together. And while I believe most people on this forum could manage to get a Griptilian back together, I'm also quite sure that some idiot out there might put one back together wrong, injure himself, and then try to sue.0 -
quote:Originally posted by CutleryWorks:
I can't understand why Benchmade doesn't send out spare omega springs. If a user disassembles their knife it voids the warranty. The last thing they want is an influx of knives that people can't put back together. And while I believe most people on this forum could manage to get a Griptilian back together, I'm also quite sure that some idiot out there might put one back together wrong, injure himself, and then try to sue.
Well, that's one perspective; Benchmade does receive disassembled knives in pieces, (that and are sent a bunch of these Chinese look-alikes expecting service.) They charge a fee for putting the knife back together, but even then give it a good going over and opt to replace old with new as needed.
One way to avoid warranty and litigation issues is to not send out spare parts but the easily asked for clips and screw sets. That means no blades, springs, replacement scales, etc. but it does give them control over one injuring themself and then suing for damages.
I am sure BKC has stories about this and that.0 -
I have been carrying Benchmades with axis locks since they started making them and I'm pretty hard on some of my knives. I have never seen an axis lock fail and I know it is all over the internet about the omega springs breaking but I havenever had it happen to me. I do know that one time after putting on some scales I thought my axis lock felt funny and opened it up to see that one spring was not attached. The axis lock still worked great but I could feel the difference. 0 -
Another particularly nice aspect of the AXIS mechanism is that it can get really dirty and nasty and gritty, and the pin will still lock up and release (use two hands) in a reliable, not broken, I-still-have-a-knife sort of way.
I'll bet many other blade locking devices cannot say the same.
Because they can't talk.0 -
quote:Originally posted by CutleryWorks:
Does anyone have any hard numbers on the strength limits of the AXIS Lock? How it stacks up in relation to the CRKT Auto-Lawks or the Cold Steel Triad?
My opinion, in the end it doesn't matter. The axis lock is more than solid when the knife is used as a folder. If you want to baton or the like I suggest a fixed blade. For cutting it will never fail. Use it as a pry bar or baton it then any folder will fail at some point. I would never baton a folder unless it was a survival situation and my fixed blade was gone.
As anyone ever had to clean to axis lock/springs? I keep my knives pretty clean, the worst culprit is pocket lint. And lint mixed with excess oil.0 -
The Axis lock is ingenious, period.
Unlike liner and frame locks there is no material to wear down through friction over time giving the knife a certain life span, the reason I say this is because my first BM line lock Stryker has run it's course.
The strength is really an academic factor as it's design makes it stronger than anything you'll ever need with proper handeling and use of the knife, a claim I cannot make with liner or frame locks.
The only weak point is the omega spring, and even then you have another as a backup if one breaks, I personally never had one break, the key is to have enough BM knives to rotate so no one knife gets over used
The really ingenious part is that replacement part is free and easy to replace somethig that can be claimed when the lock bar on a liner or frame lock has to be replaced.0 -
Well said, Archer. 
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