Locks with Springs durability

T

Thisisgettingexpensive

Joined
Nov 3, 2021
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My first knife with a spring type of lock was the Sog Kiku XR with the XR lock. I had that one for 4 months and the spring broke. I sent that one in under warranty to get fixed. While waiting on that, I bought a Benchmade North Fork, which has the axis lock. I've had the North Fork for about 5 months, and the spring just broke on that one today. I'm going to send that one in for warranty work as well.
In comparison, I've had my Para 3 (compression lock, no spring) for almost 5 years with no issues at all.

I'm not hard on the knives, though I do tend to fidget with them a lot. It just seems like a bad design, given the two that I have with that feature have failed relatively quickly.
Is there something I could be doing to prevent this type of failure, or is it just to be expected with this design? At this point I'm thinking I'm going to just avoid this type of lock on future knives, which is a shame because the North Fork is currently my favorate. I just don’t trust them anymore.
 
I have alot of axis locks, no spring issues and have had them for a long time. My griptilian is going 10 years strong.

So op, I think you just had some bad luck, it happens definately. But good thing you have a company that will fix it with a good warranty.
 
jbmonkey said:
not fidgeting with them to open and close repeatedly, can help. ive never broken an axis or xr lock omega spring yet, but I dont fidget.
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My Benchmade Kulgera had a broken Omega spring after a year or two of use. It's a spring, it's going to break sooner or later. That being said, I've never had an Omega spring break on any of my other Axis knives.
 
Thisisgettingexpensive said:
My first knife with a spring type of lock was the Sog Kiku XR with the XR lock. I had that one for 4 months and the spring broke. I sent that one in under warranty to get fixed. While waiting on that, I bought a Benchmade North Fork, which has the axis lock. I've had the North Fork for about 5 months, and the spring just broke on that one today. I'm going to send that one in for warranty work as well.
In comparison, I've had my Para 3 (compression lock, no spring) for almost 5 years with no issues at all.

I'm not hard on the knives, though I do tend to fidget with them a lot. It just seems like a bad design, given the two that I have with that feature have failed relatively quickly.
Is there something I could be doing to prevent this type of failure, or is it just to be expected with this design? At this point I'm thinking I'm going to just avoid this type of lock on future knives, which is a shame because the North Fork is currently my favorate. I just don’t trust them anymore.
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For clarity’s sake, the compression lock leaf is a spring. Yes, some springs wear more quickly than others, but it can have as much to do with size and materials as it does spring type.
 
I've got Axis locks, Able locks, XR locks, and ball bearing locks. I haven't lost a spring yet!
But I do keep spares in my shop...
 
Bob Denman said:
I've got Axis locks, Able locks, XR locks, and ball bearing locks. I haven't lost a spring yet!
But I do keep spares in my shop...
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Bobby, make sure if ya take one with ya at burial time, you were talking about in another thread, ya got some spare springs. just in case........😅
 
But where I'm going: they just won't fit...
Unlike Heaven: where they would never break!
 
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I'm a major fidgeter. I've broken an axis lock, and not even really using or fidgeting much. Fixed under warranty, it was a QC problem I'd only had the knife a month.

I've had a SOG mini X-Ray Vision since 1999, and used it hard for a good 13 years (its a drop point, busted clip and hasn't been used in years) and never had an issue with the Arc Lock.

I haven't bought a SOG since the late 2000's, and am not sure what the QC is these days.

I do know that Benchmade's QC has suffered in the last 6-7 years.

I don't own any omega spring type locks anymore, only the CBBL Manix 2 and I highly doubt that thing will ever break.

I've hear even the Wolff springs that Hogue uses in the ABLE lock break.
 
springs fail from cycling over time...so while some limited fidgeting is okay, over time it will lead to faster failing..due to the repetitive cycling vs. a knife that isnt. all things equal in spring quality and the batch being a good one.
 
mcflyfyter said:
It took nearly 6 years to wear out the liners at the axis lock on my Contego, but the springs never broke.

I haven't the time nor focus to play with a knife all day, so maybe OP's breakage is partially cycle count related?
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I think you have the main point there with the cycle counts. I work from home and am constantly in meetings. To pass the time I find myself opening and closing whatever knife I have at the time. It doesn’t help that these kind of locks are very ‘fidget friendly’ especially with just one hand. I either need to get a more interesting job or find something else to do to amuse myself so that I stop wearing out my knives.
 
If you like to fidget, I think bearing flippers are a better choice. I don't care for the axis lock personally. I can tell you that I've flicked open and closed most of my knives thousands of times each with no issues.

Also, I think Spydie holes, flippers and front flippers are more fun than thumbstuds. They also are easier for my giant thumbs to work with.
 
tiguy7 said:
Benchmade solved the Axis Lock/Omega spring problem with the Axis Lock/compression spring set up in the Anthem model. Then they discontinued the Anthem.View attachment 1769249
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Only benchmade to peak my interest in many years, but too expensive in my opinion. Implementing that new lock design would help with many things I imagine, the least of which is strength.
 
K.O.D. said:
Also, I think Spydie holes, flippers and front flippers are more fun than thumbstuds. They also are easier for my giant thumbs to work with.
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The majority of these types are not very fidget friendly because they usually can't be flipped closed. At least that has been my experience, and partially why the axis lock is preferred by many professionals over liner/frame locks.
 
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