Let’s not reduce Benchmade Knives to one feature. There are many things that make many of their models, like the Bugout, Griptilian, and Osborne so popular.
But, one of the main reasons these are great knives is the lock featured on so many of them: it’s Benchmade’s AXIS Lock, which has proven itself so practical that it has been endlessly duplicated by other knife manufacturers.
Here’s basically every reason it’s a great lock type.
- Ease of use. Benchmade’s AXIS Lock is easy to use; it engages automatically and doesn’t require any separate action from the user besides deploying the blade.
- Ambidextrous design. Some knife locks, like liner locks and frame locks, inherently favor one hand, generally a right-handed user. Since the crossbar can be engaged from either side of the blade, the AXIS Lock is truly ambidextrous.
- It is one of the strongest folding knife lock types ever designed. This is arguably the strongest selling point of the AXIS Lock. There are only a few other knife lock types that rival it in strength. The crossbar, when the lock is engaged, is wedged between the frame of the knife against a cutout in the tang. For it to fail, the knife frame would have to deform, or else the blade would have to deform or break.
- The AXIS Lock can be engaged and disengaged with one hand. Some knife locks require two hands to operate. The AXIS Lock can be opened and closed with one hand.
- It is almost impossible to accidentally disengage. Some lock types, like liner locks, if they are torqued, and if back pressure is simultaneously applied to the knife, can disengage unintentionally and fold on a user’s hands. This is nearly impossible with a design like an AXIS Lock.
- It keeps your fingers out of the way of the blade. Safety is also another important feature of this folding knife lock design. When closing the blade, you can keep the fingers of both hands fully out of the way of the blade’s path, improving safety.
- The action is smooth. Because of the simplicity of the design, and the spring-actuated mechanism, crossbar locks like the AXIS Lock, provided they are maintained, can offer exceptionally smooth operation.
- The knife lock can be self-adjusting. Most knife locks, as the components wear, or the hardware of the knife loosens, can allow for some play in the lock. With a crossbar design like the AXIS Lock, the bar can self-adjust for wear in the tang of the blade, ensuring consistent, solid lockup even if certain components wear.
All in all, that the AXIS Lock is an excellent lock type should be evidenced, if by nothing else, that so many other manufacturers have taken the design and run with it. Kershaw calls it a DuraLock, Schrade calls it a Pivot Lock, Kizer calls it a Clutch Lock, and these are only a few.
Rest assured, it is one of the best lock types out there, period.
Want to Learn More About Benchmade Knives or Add One to Your Collection?
Whether you want to learn more about popular models of Benchmade Knives or are already convinced you want to add one to your collection, visit River’s Edge Cutlery first. They carry a wide range of popular Benchmade Knives as well as models from other top brands, such as Spyderco, Microtech, Chris Reeve Knives, and many others.
Visit their website first and if you have more direct questions about this pioneering feature of Benchmade Knives, get in touch with them and they will be happy to help you out.
For more information about Chris Reeves Knives and Shirogorov Knives Please visit: River’s Edge Cutlery.
