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axis evolution

knivesforshoes

August 30, 2015 05:49

Stressful day at work. Went to look at knives for attitude enhancement stimulation. Got real distracted and it worked well.

Started thinking about that old Cold Steel RECON...and then the Axis lock evolution.

Did BM buy the concept from REKAT?

Here is the evolution my barley soda deterred mind sees....add more if you know more please...

REKAT Pioneer = Rolling Lock -->
Benchmade 710 = Axis Lock -->
Cold Steel RECON = Ultra Lock -->
SOG Pentagon = Arc Lock -->
Kershaw Speed Bump = Stud Lock

A locking mechanism so handy yet secure it has been sort of copied very much.

Comments

7 comments

patryn

August 30, 2015 08:55
Did a quick Google search and found a nice little lock evolution post over on BF from Sal Glesser (Spyderco owner).

I'm obviously not sure if it's totally correct, but he's pretty good with knife knowledge.

http://www.bladeforums.com/for...=1981349#post1981349
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panendiaz

August 30, 2015 11:01
Good read from Sal.

Thanks for the link.
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kirbysdl

August 30, 2015 15:42
The Spyderco Ball Bearing lock is another variant. It's listed in Patryn's link but I wanted to mention it for those that don't click through.
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po

August 30, 2015 23:04
Benchmade did buy the Rolling Lock from REKAT, but it is a completely different mechanism from the Axis lock, and if I read your post correctly you are speculating about the evolution of the Axis Lock...or were you wondering about the evolution of folder locks in general?

Jason Williams was making knives with the Axis Lock before the 710, before it was called the Axis Lock as far as I know. I think the Axis lock and Rolling lock would have been developed about the same time, unless Williams and McHenry were using it for a significant period of time prior to the 710.

In the late 90's, when the "tactical folder" revolution occurred, there were essentially three types of folder locks, spine locks, liner locks, and balisongs. It didn't take long for some of us to note that the lock used on the majority of "tactical folders", the liner- or Walker-lock, was not up to the job of a "tactical folder". Bob Taylor of Round Eye Knife and Tool was one of the first to come up with an alternate folder lock that promised to be an improvement over the liner lock. Unfortunately, the rolling lock, as implemented by REKAT turned out to have reliability problems of its own. About this same time Benchmade came out with the Axis lock, which has never had any reliability problems other than the occasional broken omega spring.

Shortly after the Axis lock proved itself to be a genuine revolution in folding knife reliability, Cold Steel, SOG, and Spyderco produced their own versions of it, the Arc Lock, the Ultra Lock, et al.
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billhammer

August 31, 2015 01:11
PO, I really like the axis lock too, but I'd take a Bob T made or Emerson liner lock over the axis for a survival of combat situation.
Now if Benchmade would sell a emergency repair kit with extra omaga springs a 810 would be a great choice, but until I can get spare omaga springs axis locks are for urban settings only,
So if it breaks, I go home take out another knife & send the knife with broken omaga Spring back to Benchmade for repair.
I will add I've never had an omaga spring break in 15+ years.
Regards Bill
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knivesforshoes

September 02, 2015 02:08
Good info. I was sort of wondering if BM bought the Axis vs "created" it.

The Patryn, Po & Hammer info is all good stuff, hence the post.

Wonder what is next. Always a good sign of quality and usefulness when something gets copied lots
.
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po

September 02, 2015 15:00
...Forgot to mention that I still have one of the original REKAT Pioneers. I kept it for historical purposes. It is an interesting, if rather unrefined knife. An outstanding effort to improve folding knives, and a pioneer indeed in terms of folder lock development.

Since Benchmade bought the patent to the Rolling Lock, I've been waiting to see what they would do with it...so far, nothing interesting. It seems a very good concept, though perhaps not as strong as the Axis, and not as ambidexterous. Second best is just not good enough I guess.
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