780 Linerless Axis
It's too bad this model didn't work out. I quite liked the look of it and the overall feel is pretty good, too.
Not many ended up being released due to production issues with getting everything to work. It also has a very different way of using the axis lock.
Again, I'd suggest looking at the full sized pictures for much higher resolution shots.
Full sized pictures here: 1 2 3 4
Not many ended up being released due to production issues with getting everything to work. It also has a very different way of using the axis lock.
Again, I'd suggest looking at the full sized pictures for much higher resolution shots.
Full sized pictures here: 1 2 3 4
0
-
Was there ever a final count on how many made it out the door?
I picked one up by accident....didn't know what I had. It didn't have the box.
@Patryn, does yours have a box? I've never know if they came in a "780" labeled box or not.
Thanks in advance!
T0 -
Yes they did.
Full size pic0 -
such a cool knife. Thanks for sharing this old heavy beast with us! 
0 -
ok, I am baffled, how does one pick up a 780 by accident???
No matter, thanks for sharing these pics with us. This has alway been one one those knives that I would love to grab one day. Something a bit different and unual that you know you will never seen the likes of again.
I've always viewed it as a 580/581/586/585 'concept' that never was really intended for production, but lay the way for the full blown prod model(s).
Regardless, a very cool knife that I hope to add to my collection one day...0 -
If memory serves correctly, they only made something like 250 of the pre-production and 39 of the unnumbered 780's. I hope someone who knows for sure will be able to correct me.
I always liked the 780. It's too bad it never went full production.0 -
I was always interested in handling this knife. At almost twice the weight of a 960 in SS (which I like to carry) it really must be quite the beast. I saw that Mr Winks let a 780 proto go a short time back and it went for a very reasonable price, I don't think many knew what it's story was. Thanks for sharing! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Lightning:
ok, I am baffled, how does one pick up a 780 by accident???
I saw it on ebay (this was a few years ago) and had no clue what the back story was on it, and low-balled the bid. Won.
No box....but I'm 99% sure it's a production one (no pre-production numbering on the blade). I'd have to crack open the safe to confirm tho.
T0 -
haha, nice score then TD 
0 -
Benchmade said 182 total. But there are first productions with higher numbers than 182. But the reason they were discontinued was because of an unacceptable defect rate so maybe some numbers ended up being skipped. 0 -
The scales were MIM pieces - metal injection molding - and they were doing what was, for the time, cutting-edge stuff for MIM. The fine detail, all the curves... the bottom line was that things were coming out of the furnace just fine, but when they cooled they couldn't get them to cool consistently. As I understand it, they were assembled and then evaluated.
And from what I've heard, the ~200 that made it out the door ended up costing Benchmade in the low five figures each. Not a good profit margin.0 -
Too bad BKC didn't continue the production.
Is it me or AXIS lock Omega spring works better with liner? Even with partial liner and bolster cover can isolate and protect areas with Omega springs.
MFL0 -
There is one of these for sale on the facebook benchmade page for 800.00 0 -
Great knife! I have one prototype.
Total knives was - 182 units:
1st production was about 140
Prototypes + Unmarked (serial) was about 420 -
I never knew how this lock worked on this particular knife until you posted these pictures. So in essence it is sort of a mix between the Benchmade Axis lock and the Spyderco BBL, with the post and spring.
The handle shape did make it over to the Barrage, so all is not lost.0 -
A bump for this topic, one of the many interesting Benchmade knives with Warren Osborne's fingerprints on it. Does anyone know if the push for MIM (metal injection molding) was Osborne's idea or folks at Benchmade? 0 -
bump...so the thread doesn't auto-delete after X time. 0 -
bump...to keep BMK history from auto-deleting 0 -
Thanks TDOGG.
Somebody brought one to the Forum luncheon last year and I loved it! Quite a bit thinner than a regular Barrage. It would've been a great knife to EDC.0 -
a friend just bought one of these from a long time member here 0 -
quote:Originally posted by sre1:
Somebody brought one to the Forum luncheon last year and I loved it!
twuz me0 -
Naturally.
PM to ya regarding a different matter.0 -
Roger that. Replied. quote:Originally posted by sre1:
Naturally.
PM to ya regarding a different matter.0 -
If anyone is looking for one of these babies (#31) there is one up on the bay for $600 OBO. Listed as used but in nice condition.
I shouldn't, I can't, I won't! lol
0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
23 comments