Broken Axis lock?

[thebrain]

I agree with a few comments about the detention not being strong enough to feel completely safe. I had my Grip open on my pocket twice and once it cut me and was gone a week later. I might have to check out the an auto axis to see if I feel better about that.

 

[knarfeng]

I hope I don't come across as a blade steel snob, but I see "AUS10" and it makes me want to run for the hills...

The edge retention performance of AUS10 is similar to that of VG10, and 154CM / ATS 34.
That is a step above 440C and a step below S35VN.
And a couple of steps above AUS8.

 

[Sticky]

That Air Lite takes a very sticky sharp edge too.

 

[Delta-v]

Never had one break but I do look at them as consumables. It's the one downside to an otherwise fantastic lock. But all locks have their downsides. I only wish Benchmade shipped their knives with an extra set or sold them in packs. Then I'd have not even the slightest concern.

 

[YetAnotherKnifeEnthusiast]

But all locks have their downsides.

I hear you on that! If Spyderco shipped their caged bearing locks (Manix) with titanium cages instead of plastic ones, they'd be perfect.

 

[BD_01]

I had an omega spring break on a 940-2 after about a month of ownership. Sent it to Benchmade. Turn around was fast.

There were some other fit & finish issues on that knife too. Probably not one of BM’s proudest specimens.

 

[YetAnotherKnifeEnthusiast]

I had an omega spring break on a 940-2 after about a month of ownership. Sent it to Benchmade. Turn around was fast.

There were some other fit & finish issues on that knife too. Probably not one of BM’s proudest specimens.

What do you think of the 9400?

 

[ShaiHulud]

My opinions of BM sit precariously on the fence, but one model i like and I like a lot is the manual presidio in CF. Its definitely built to perform, it's too bad they went from aluminum to CF-elite though, to stay relevant, I havnt had an omega spring break *on me* yet

 

[goldie]

Ive had axis locks since they 1st came out in around 1998 never had one break.

 

[Bubbafett33]

Been running Benchmades for 10 ish years with no issues...

 

[johnnytoxin]

The blade play, uneven factory edges, and warped blades are much more of a concern for me than broken omega springs.

 

[YetAnotherKnifeEnthusiast]

The blade play, uneven factory edges, and warped blades are much more of a concern for me than broken omega springs.

Does the warranty cover all that?

 

[johnnytoxin]

Does the warranty cover all that?

Yes, but I’ve had to send certain knives in twice for acceptable results, and some they won’t fix to what I feel is acceptable at all. At the prices Benchmade is asking the quality should be good from the beginning and if you do have to send it in it should be made right the first time. You can literally get a Hinderer for $125 more than a Benchmade now and you’d get a better quality to price ratio. Just my experience and opinion. Many here will say otherwise.

 

[CSG]

Yes, but I’ve had to send certain knives in twice for acceptable results, and some they won’t fix to what I feel is acceptable at all. At the prices Benchmade is asking the quality should be good from the beginning and if you do have to send it in it should be made right the first time. You can literally get a Hinderer for $125 more than a Benchmade now and you’d get a better quality to price ratio. Just my experience and opinion. Many here will say otherwise.

Otherwise

 

[BD_01]

What do you think of the 9400?

No opinion.
I don’t follow Benchmade so I’m not even sure I’m familiar with the 9400.
I was kinda one & done with BM with the 940-1 (although I always loved the asthetics of the OG Crooked River—bolstered clip points make me kinda hot) .

 

[stabman]

Yabut, does your LIFE depend on your knife? Likely not.
And unless your life actually depends on your knife, the chances of a broken omega spring making the knife completely unusable are so small as to be safely ignored.

There are two omega springs in an axis lock. For the knife to be completely unusable, both would have to break.

If both springs break, you can jam a small piece of twig behind the AXIS bar, and now it is more solidly locked than if both springs were working.

Solutions that no one asked for are my specialty.

 

[Sticky]

If both springs break, you can jam a small piece of twig behind the AXIS bar, and now it is more solidly locked than if both springs were working.

Solutions that no one asked for are my specialty.

I can't remember where i saw it or who it was, but i remember seeing a axis lock knife with a small fob that had a small tapered pin for such last resort situations.

 

[norcalAF]

I can't remember where i saw it or who it was, but i remember seeing a axis lock knife with a small fob that had a small tapered pin for such last resort situations.

I think kunwu did a model like that

 

[Razorsharp1986]

Had three springs break on a 940 about a decade ago. When the first one went, I wanted to experiment and see if the knife can safely be used with only one functioning Omega spring. It failed days after the first one went.
I sent it for warranty work, and it came back with two new springs. It took about a couple of years for the original set of springs to break, but one of the replacements broke months after.

I also had a mini Bugout spring break about a year-ish after receiving it from an online retailer.

Lastly, my most recent Omega fail was in my Mini Adamas. I owned it for about two years before the failure occurred.

Having said all that, Omega springs are easy to replace, and Benchmade looks after their customers. Not to mention,I had over a hundred of Benchmade knives that use the Axis lock, and only these handful of them fail. I’d say it’s a pretty dang good ration!

 

[elde66]

The omega springs sold on Esty have held up much better/longer than the factory parts.