traumkommode
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2015
- Messages
- 4,620
I love both the 2550 and the 2551: The legendary Mini Reflex and its successor the Mini Reflex II. I'm not sure why the model is discontinued, maybe just how long it's been around?
The ergonomics are perfect, at least for hands my size. In all grips and for all uses. The blade is one of the best cutting designs to come out of Benchmade. The geometry and shape are slicing heaven. The 154CM is some of my favorite production steel ever.
Recently, I found a 2551 remaining in stock at an online dealer where I had some points to spend for a discount. So I bought the knife. I was so excited, I opened the box and immediately started applying my edge to the blade using my sharpening system. It wasn't until after I finished that I realized there was significant both vertical and lateral blade play, the later of which I was not able to eliminate by adjusting the pivot screw. My stomach sunk for a moment, for I had already sharpened the blade and couldn't return the knife. So, I called Benchmade. And they now have that wait-in-line-for-a-call-back thing. I opted for the callback.
Callback never came, and I sighed looking at the knife until it dawned on me: this thing has a faceted stop pin. I figured heck, someone's gonna need to work on it, might as well give it a shot. So I broke the knife down, cleaned it, lubed it, adjusted the stop pin, and reassembled the knife with a little blue loctite to "seal the deal" (yuk yuk yuk), and wouldn't ya know? The blade is now rock solid in all directions. This is the first auto knife I've broken down, too, so I'm feeling a little proud. And either I'm getting better at this the more I do it, or there's just something to this design, but even being an auto knife I feel like this went back together easier than some other knives I've taken apart, so kudos on the design front.
Who else loves a Mini Reflex, either gen 1 or 2? Who else carries one? Who else hands the knife its own ass for lunch on the job every day and is happy when it responds "yes sir I'd like some more?" Let's see what ya got. Here's mine on this rainy day in Western North Carolina:
The ergonomics are perfect, at least for hands my size. In all grips and for all uses. The blade is one of the best cutting designs to come out of Benchmade. The geometry and shape are slicing heaven. The 154CM is some of my favorite production steel ever.
Recently, I found a 2551 remaining in stock at an online dealer where I had some points to spend for a discount. So I bought the knife. I was so excited, I opened the box and immediately started applying my edge to the blade using my sharpening system. It wasn't until after I finished that I realized there was significant both vertical and lateral blade play, the later of which I was not able to eliminate by adjusting the pivot screw. My stomach sunk for a moment, for I had already sharpened the blade and couldn't return the knife. So, I called Benchmade. And they now have that wait-in-line-for-a-call-back thing. I opted for the callback.
Callback never came, and I sighed looking at the knife until it dawned on me: this thing has a faceted stop pin. I figured heck, someone's gonna need to work on it, might as well give it a shot. So I broke the knife down, cleaned it, lubed it, adjusted the stop pin, and reassembled the knife with a little blue loctite to "seal the deal" (yuk yuk yuk), and wouldn't ya know? The blade is now rock solid in all directions. This is the first auto knife I've broken down, too, so I'm feeling a little proud. And either I'm getting better at this the more I do it, or there's just something to this design, but even being an auto knife I feel like this went back together easier than some other knives I've taken apart, so kudos on the design front.
Who else loves a Mini Reflex, either gen 1 or 2? Who else carries one? Who else hands the knife its own ass for lunch on the job every day and is happy when it responds "yes sir I'd like some more?" Let's see what ya got. Here's mine on this rainy day in Western North Carolina:
