Interesting Tidbit in WE Banter Review

[OrangeBlueOrangeBlue]

I thought this paragraph from Knife Informer’s review of the Banter was interesting:

Ben talked about how his initial design of the Banter was going to have an axis style lock, like Benchmade’s. The patent is up for that lock here in the USA, but apparently, in China (where the Banter is produced by WE Knife), that lock style is not open source as of now. And We, having the integrity they do, said they will not make the axis style lock on their knives.​

https://knifeinformer.com/we-knife-banter-review/
That there’s an active Chinese patent on the Axis lock is news to me. And that there is at least one Chinese company that refuses to use the lock is definitely novel.

 

[Hackenslash]

This is good for WE and bad for certain companies who’ve stolen the “Axis-style lock” for years. This may help to further illustrate that you can’t broad brush knives due to Point of Origin. There are good folk and bad folk all over the world.

The good ones deserve our support, wherever they call home.

 

[RamZar]

Several companies make folders with “Axis” locks now since the patent has run out. They just can’t call it “Axis” lock because the Trademark is still in place. Same with Emerson “Wave”. Hogue makes great “Axis” lock folders but they call it “Able” lock.