[Kestrel]

I'm thinking about getting one. Any feedback?

Is the Axis lock very strong and reliable? Is it as strong as a liner lock? (I'm guessing it's not as strong as a frame lock?)

Thanks.

[Fosbery]

The AXIS lock is significantly stronger than the liner and frame lock I'd say (and easier and nicer to open).

[hso]

Well, yes, but then again, a resounding no. The Axis is one tough lock, but in any meaningful way equal to the frame or liner locks, not tougher.

The liner lock is difficult to do properly and has a reputation for failing due to poor/light materials and improper alignment and beveling of the contact faces when cheaply made. When the locking liner is the proper thickness and the faces are beveled to mate properly with the tang and the angle the locking liner is bent brings it in contact with the beginning face of the tang it's a very tough reliable lock. This only works on more expensive knives.

Tolerances for frame locks aren't as tight as for a liner lock. The bulk of the frame allows you to focus on the angle of alignment of the contact surfaces.

Now here's the amusing part. The Axis is easier to make work properly and less expensive to build than going through the steps to make all the faces/spaces match up properly on liner and frame locks. So what you get is an "uglier" reliable lock system that's easier to build than a high quality liner or frame lock. Uglier because it sticks out of the body of the folder and breaks up the lines. It also limits the design options because of the placement.

Axis, and all it's cousins, is easy to build reliably. Liner locks take more effort to build reliably. Frame locks are only slightly more difficult to build than Axis locks and are rock solid like the Axis. There is no more reliable lock than the Axis, but there are plenty of locks as reliable, including good frame and liner locks, out there.

[JTW Jr.]

so much more involved in making a lock on a folder work . I am curious as to where you got this info on the different types of locks as far as what is easier to make ?

[Don Gwinn]

HSO's expertise comes from firsthand experience with a whole lot of knives, plus a passing familiarity with knifemakers and knifemaking. He spends a lot of time (at least it seems that way to a guy like me) hanging out with the pros who make these things.

I don't have a lot of experience with the Axis, but I can tell you he's right about the frame locks and the liner locks. The catch is that a LOT of people out there making liner locks don't seem to put the time in.

[JTW Jr.]

I agree 100 % Don , sloppy craftmanship and not purfecting the lock up before cranking them out to the public is not the way to go , having spent a lot of time talking to knife makers myself , I have never heard either one being referred to as harder to do.

I have never made a folder yet , had an attempt or two but am mainly sticking with making fixed blades for now. At least til I make that trip to visit Neil in Florida. :D

I have seen well made linerlocks that will out perform a mediocre framelock. Done correctly with correct materials I dont think you can go wrong with either. But that is the key , done correctly.

I find the axis lock to be pretty strong . Personally I prefer a framelock . a beefy framelock.

[hso]

Don,

Sometimes too much time hanging out with the pros according to some.;)

JTW Jr.,

I read a lot. ;)

I was fortunate to be taken into the fold early on and have, for reasons I still can't fathom, been allowed to participate in discussions on design and manufacturing problems. Every now and then I come up with a good idea that is helpful to a knifemaker or manufacturer. :D

[JTW Jr.]

rock on HSO , if you are ever in the Vegas area , give me a holler , stop by the shop and we can grind something out :)

The Rukus is a big knife , but due to the clip it rides very well in the pocket and its a slicin machine.

I may be a bit biased though since it is a Blackwood design ;)


4 Henchman..
top down:
S30v with Koa scales , a blank Neil gave me and I finished
Blackwood Custom with CF scales
S30V Henchman Semi-Custom
BM610 Rukus.

[Fosbery]

IMO a $100 AXIS lock will be better than a $100 liner lock, but a $200 liner lock will be better than a $100 AXIS. Depends how much you want to spend.

[The Undertoad]

Nice knife. I just sliced the crap outta my thumb with one in the store 2 days ago. Boy I felt like a dumbass. And this after showing off my Skirmish and talking about my Blackwood fixed blade... :rolleyes:

[Fosbery]

Oooh, how much is one of those Blackwood henchmans (I suppse one must use a plural of a singular)? I was looking for an elegent knife to re-handle for my wife and that looks nice, although I'd prefer it if it were scaled down to 3" or so.

[JTW Jr.]

I haven't seen Neil make many fixed blades lately. He has been concentrating on folders mostly. Best to go to his website at BlackwoodKnives.com and send him an email with an inquiry.

New from him a plain one is around $350 and up from what I can recall , though on the secondary a custom is about $450-$500 , though the semi customs can be found on the secondary market for about $200-$250 ( ones without scales ) , it did make some smaller "Fiends" , not sure if he has any left. I can talk to him and see if he has any if you are interested.

[Sgt Stevo]

kinda off topic. I bought the Benchmade 710 a couple of weeks ago. Good knife, but I am gettting stains, Light brown , like rust on the blade.

I did expose it to sea water by mistake. But it was staining before that. I tried a couple of things out of my gun kit. Still there. Any ideas?

[Mac Attack]

JTW, Nice tat buddy!:)

Regarding the Axis Lock, I personaly think that a well executed frame lock is a hard to beat folder.

Regarding the Ruckus, I remember seeing pictures of Neil Blackwood's prototype and knew it would be a hit. I do not care much for the Axis lock but I love the hechman design so I most likely will pick one up.

[hso]

Sgt Stevo,

You've probably got the dreaded acid sweat that knifemakers fear. A buddy of mine is the same way and can 'freckle' 440C if he doesn't wipe it down.;)

The low tech thing to get the following items together -

Hair drier

Tooth paste

Tooth brush (I perfer a dedicated one for this)

Light oil or 3 in 1.

Put tooth paste on brush and scrub the freckles off the blade the washt the toothpaste off the blade and dry it with the hair dryer. Apply oil liberally.

If you want a more permanent solution then get some White Lightning at the bike shop and use it instead of the 3 in 1. You need to let it dry to a white haze before wiping it down so that the wax coats everything.

[Kestrel]

hso,

That's interesting. About 20 years ago, a lady picked up a Buck locking folder I had and simply touched it with her thumb and forefinger, lightly grasping the edge. The next day, there was a light stain, in the shape of the tips of her two fingers, on the the edge of the blade. It is still there to this day. It never came off. I assumed she had some kind of industrial strength acid in her body...

It has never gotten any worse, nor rusted, but she sure made a mark on that blade (which was 440A).

[akluvr]

I've had my Rukus for about 3 months now. I was a Spyderco fan before, and still like em, but this Benchmade is pretty sweet. I am impressed with the way that it rides in the pocket for its size. The opening action is the smoothest production knife that I've ever handled. The axis lock takes a little getting used to after playing with the linerlocks, but nothing earth shattering. As far as strength goes, I would put them on a pretty level plane unless you start talking about supporting vehicle weight. If you have the means, it is a really nice blade.

[JTW Jr.]

this is the original proto for the folding Henchman :

http://members.cox.net/lv_usualsuspect/blackwood_proto/hf1.jpg


http://members.cox.net/lv_usualsuspect/blackwood_proto/hf3.jpg

go to handle it a few years ago at Blade.

also attached is a picture of the FIEND , a smaller modified version of the Henchman.

[Mac Attack]

Since John's showing off his herd of Blackwoods I thought I would chime in with my one and only. Can't remember the name of this one but it is a prototype. In conversations with Neil, he mentioned that he might make a kris bladed folder like the Rukus.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/mmacayan/USN%20Pics/BlackwoodHarlotProto.jpg

[JTW Jr.]

Hey bro , that one was Titanium to I believe , correct ?

The last 2 Blackwoods werent mine , I just had the Fiend in to do the sheath for it.

[Sgt Stevo]

It worked, thanks fellas! acid sweat? Yikes man. I can add that to the other deformities I guess. Elephantitis of the nades for one. And I break out in hives in when A liberal talks to me.:what:

[gino]

My brother got a Rukus and i've had the chance to play with it a bit. I don't have small hands, but it is a bit too large for me to open easily. I have 2 axis Benchmades and I can open them just fine, but the Rukus really is a huge folder. You might want to handle one before ordering it off the net untested, unless you have large hands...

Nice knife, but did I mention that it is HUGE? :eek: Open one of these things up and babies two states over start crying!

[hso]

And I break out in hives in when A liberal talks to me.

Check my sig line and then break out the Benadryl, Bubba.:evil:

What did you use for a protectant on the steel after cleaning it up?



The next day, there was a light stain, in the shape of the tips of her two fingers, on the the edge of the blade.

I pulled out one of my customs the other day and found a very clear rust fingerprint with whorels and ridges clearly displayed 2 inches from the tip of the blade!:eek: It took all of 2 minutes to take it off, but it remineded me that I needed to wipe everything I show off with a Tuff Cloth before I put it back.

[Kestrel]

gino - thanks for the info. I did handle one in a store the other day and loved it. It almost feels like it opens by it self. Very, very smooth. (I ordered one yesterday.)

hso - what is a "Tuff cloth"?

As an aside. I picked up some Kershaw Ken Onions yesterday. I've nver had one before. That little assited opening device is nifty.

[JTW Jr.]

careful those Onion designed Kershaw assisted are addictive , my son now has various models , Leeks , Chives , Boa ,Mini Boa , Mini Mojo , etc , he has like 12 or so total. Yeah I think he is hooked :)

[hso]

http://www.sentrysolutions.com/media/images/Product/K&T-Kit.jpg

Sentry Solutions Tuff Cloth is a protectant on a wiping cloth. Think silicone cloth, but actually works.

[Kestrel]

Ah. Thanks. I've heard of them for years, but all of a sudden, my mind was blank when you mentioned them.

Thanks.

[Kestrel]

Okay, I got the Rukus. I really like it. It is large. It opens so easily, it almost opens itself.

It is so smooth, that if you unlock it with one hand and your finger is over the blade recess in the handle, it can close on your finger and cut. It's sharp.

I would love to see another version, with a little more grip at the bottom of the handle. If it flared out just a little more, it would be even more secure in your hand. Having said that, it's still a comfortable grip.

Very nice knife.

[JTW Jr.]

the action is smooth on the Rukus. Very easy to open fast with a slight flick of the wrist.

[Buddy Rabbit]

I've owned a Rukus for a while. . . . great knife. It IS big, but it sits very comfortably clipped into the jeans hip pocket. I have worn it every day since new, it is that comfortable and unobtusive.
The tolerances of the pivot are impressive - no lateral play, or incidental vertical play - at all. . . . very sharp, right outta the box.

It didn't take long to make me bleed. In fact - twice. We are blood-brothers.

[JTW Jr.]

I know the Rukus can be a bit large , so I whipped up a leather sheath for one. Making sheaths is a friggin addiction.