[Sir Galahad]

Just got a new Benchmade AFCK plainedge. Great knife!!! High quality, smooth, solid, sturdy, and fast. Using the thumb hole is fast. Holding back the axis lock button and flicking is faster. Doing the Brownie pop is warp speed! Sharp? This thing is like a straight razor. It shaves you arm with the very slightest tough, smooth as a babys skin. The whole length of the blade is this sharp. I mean, it shaves like a fine straight razor, no irritation or pulling. Feels great in the hand. It fits mine perfectly. LOTS of quality for the money. It's worth every penny.

[Jim March]

Yes, the M2 Axis AFCK is in my opinion, the finest 4" production fighting folder made. It has beat out the REKAT Carnivore D2 by a small but significant nose.

[Kevlarman]

I have a Benchmade Ascent (formerly Eclipse). It's basically the same blade as the AFCK, except with a cheaper Zytel handle instead of G10 laminate. And it's a lockback. Otherwise, it's still an exceptional knife and I just love the blade!

Next up on my list an an M2 AFCK with the Axis lock. I've seen them go for around $100 on eBay.

[ACP]

Welcome to the sunny side of the street. great knives. My wife and I have been carrying AFCKs for several years now. I'm in the market now for an Axis lock D2 model...

[dav]

I've heard lots of good things about the AFCK. But how do you decide where to get them? There is an 806D2 on eBay at the moment... at $130. On the 'net I've found them as low as $118. But I have no way of knowing if these outfits are for real.

Jim, you mention the M2 beating out the REKAT. The AFCK now has stainless steel liner (stiffer) and D2 blade. I assume these changes can only be for the better?

[tiberius]

I have the mini combo edge. Get this, I bought a it few years ago because I used fly a lot and it was small enough to carry per FAA regulations, my Spyderco Police was not. Needless to say, that plan went up in smoke...so to speak. :fire:


It is now my everyday knife that is always clipped inside my waistband (appendix) no matter what I'm wearing. Light, strong, practical, quick...I just wish those friggen butterfly badges were a little more durable....They get scratchet when you look at them too hard. :mad:

[Sven]

Wow. I'm interested. Anyone know a reputable dealer stocking these with an online storefront?

My mini-griptillan is SWEET... love the axis lock.

Best,

-s

[Jim March]

Dav: correct, D2 is also an excellent steel. An AFCK with an Axis lock and either M2 or D2 steel is going to be a *superb* knife. Hell, it'd be pretty good in ATS34; my only concern there would be that BM's heat-treat on ATS34 isn't optimal (in my opinion).

Here's why I like the Axis and M2/D2 combo:

The grip ergonomics, combined with a truly reliable lock and good blade.

The grip allows you to use the "slack forefinger/thumb" grips (Asian influenced) where the strength comes out of the back three fingers. It "bulges at the pommel" nicely, a feature we're seeing more of as people study Asian knife combatives, but comes to a WIDE flare right at the pivot to prevent "slip-up accidents" (hand slides down the blade on a hard-target stab, cutting the inside finger tendons).

The lock is first rate, the blade shape is plenty good enough (I'd prefer fatter, like an enlarged Ryan 7, but it's no biggie). And the clip is flippable for off-hand setups. If I had a CCW permit, I'd set up for gun at the right, knife as the primary off-hand weapon...there's a lot of utility in a knife that's southpaw compatible even for righties.

The Carnivore comes up a bit short on the blade length and lock reliability. A Rolling Lock works GREAT when it works right, but...they are a bit finicky and failures are really what drove REKAT under. I believe the Axis is a better design, the best lockwork available.

I just wish Benchmade had the guts to build megafolders. An AFCK "supersized" to a 6" blade would be just killer but...they're just not creative enough.

The other option: take the existing AFCK, and turn it into a Muscrat. A double-ended folder, two blades that open in opposite directions, with a 5" grip in the middle.

THAT would rock.

[JShirley]

George Hill was kind enough to send me a Mini-AFCK over a year ago. It's a good knife, but I don't really fully trust any liner-lock.

Kinda like my M4. :)

John
(Who has a Griptillian in his pocket as he writes this.)

[tex_n_cal]

The AFCK handle shape doesn't do it for me, but I did recently buy the M2 blade McHenry & Williams AXIS, and it is a hell of a knife, wicked sharp and very handy:D

[Sir Galahad]

Best place to get the AFCK is New Graham Knives. Price is $107 plus $7 or so shipping. No kidding---I ordered this knife on a Tuesday and had it in my hand on Thursday. Three days only!! You just can't beat that. Outstanding service and friendly folks. Plus, you get a free band-aid dispenser with each order. You may need them with knives this sharp.

[ACP]

I'll just chime in here and say I believe the AFCK grip is the best I've ever felt on a folding knife. I had purchased a (Benchmade) Emerson CQC7 and returned it because the squareness of the grip dug into my palm. I returned for...what? An AFCK. Designed by former SEAL Chris Caraci, I believe. I like my ATS 34 models. The grip curves naturally in the palm of your hand; it makes indexing the thumb hole easy (for me), and switching to reverse grip is not difficult. And that tiny bit of grip that extends beyond my palm makes for a nice skull cracker.

I have also done the 'spine whack" test, and practiced on rolls of corrugated carboard wrapped/taped around a steel support pole in my basement. No problems, but the Axis lock would make me feel better.

Re: a larger blade, yes, that would be nice, but 4" in the maximum in my state and, I believe, many others.

[Boats]

I am getting a D2 Axis lock full size AFCK next week. I handled a lot of knives before replacing my old liner-lock lefty AFCK. Nothing else comes close IMO. Good steel, a spydie hole for opening, tip up or tip down carry for either hand, and now the AXIS lock, there is nothing out there that I could find that I'd rather have more in a factory folder.

[ninjalawyer]

I've owned three of them since 1996-- The first was a normal liner lock comboedge that I carried for about five years until it stopped holding an edge and the lock became too loose to depend upon. The second is the same type, but a custom job by Drew with gorgeous Micarta scales and an aluminum spacer. My fiancee laughs at me when I call that my "dress knife." She bought me one of the new axis lock models about 6 months ago and it's the finest pocket knife I've owned. The D2 steel holds a fierce edge, the grip is perfect (for me), the lock mechanism is handy, and all the tricks I used to practice with my old AFCK work just as well with the new one. Great knife, couldn't recommend it more strongly.

[atek3]

D2 AFCK axis, my primary folder. (kershaw is my utility folder)

atek3

[Sir Galahad]

This knife became Every Day Carry at first touch!:D

[hso]

The original AFCK is a partial Spyderco design and came out at the same time that Spyderco began to share designs with other manufacturers as the patent clock began to run out on their hole in the blade concept. It has proven to be one of the best knives produced by anyone and the improvements in lock and materials have only made it better.

Jim's saying that Benchmade doesn't have the "guts to build megafolders" and "just not creative enough" isn't correct. Benchmade is a commercial manufacturer of knives that has considerable money invested in each model they produce. Most states don't offer everyone the freedom to carry a megafolder and most folks wouldn't carry a knife over 4 to 5 inches in blade length if they did. It's not lack of courage or creativity, but simple business economics to not waste capital on tooling up to make a knife that you already know won't return the investment at the same profit level. There are enough models produced with "reasonable" expectations of return that don't perform in the market as expected. A smart manufacturer doesn't start out knowing that they have a very limited market unless they charge so much that they get the "boutique" profit level. BM's already decided they'll invest in butterflys, a knife type with limited sales potential, they've just decided to let someone else "specialize" in megafolders.

[Sir Galahad]

That's very true. BM is already selling a "niche market" item with butterfly knives. There are a number of states where those are not legal. Thankfully, Arizona is not one of them. But as far as I'm concerned, the AFCK with Axis lock and D2 is an instant classic. You just cannot get over how much you get with this knife for the price. This knife shaves clean with less push behind it than a straight razor. Never seen the like!

[Ed]

Ok gotta chime in here, I bought mine in 98. Have carried it every day since. Took it on 2 deployments in the military. Wore it with my tux when I got married. Only time I let it go was at my brothers wedding when I let him wear it , New Tradition ;) and then I wore my Elishewitz. I fly with it still. In my suitcase of course. And when I bought it they were going for $80. I love that knife....

[sch40]

I bought a Benchmade 940 a couple years back. It's a great knife with very smooth action/great balance. But after a few years of light usage, the edge of the blade is not nearly as sharp as it used to be. I know that the instuctions say that if the blade loses its sharpness you should send it back for (I'm assuming) somewhat expensive resharpening. Since my blade is combo serraded-flat, it makes it even harder to sharpen myself.

Does anyone have some helpful tips about where to send it/what to do?
thanks in advance,
sch40

[Boats]

Benchmade's literature says just send it back to the factory along with five dollars to cover return shipping costs and they'll sharpen it up and give you a "tune-up." It doesn't get much simpler or low cost than that.

[Griff]

A definite keeper.

Some folks love the Axis, (got one, BM 720) but I've never had any trouble with mine in liner lock flavour. (in all fairness, I have to say that I don't go around beating my blades with bricks, either) Smart move on the part of the manufacturer to have both versions available in some shape or form, IMO.

try here: http://www.knifeworks.com/manufacturer.asp?2=1076&6=4
(VERY good service)

[Jim March]

Linerlocks can fail. Sorry, but it's true. The Axis is so much better it's not funny, and probably the best lock out there today.

There's a couple of near-clones of the Axis out, from SOG and Cold Steel. They're not bad either. The Axis is itself clearly related to the old Blackie Collins "Bolt Action" from the Gerber Parabellum and such, which in it's first-generation flavor was one HELL of a knife. The newer ones suck by comparison (sigh) - thinner blade of junk steel.

[Sven]

I started with the Axis lock... I understand in theory why people imagine potential problems with the axis lock (during a fight, it might get pressed), but when I handle liner locks I see other issues...

...for example, I must put my fingers into the path of the closing blade to unlock the liner lock. Seems less elegant than the axis lock, to me. But you guys are the knife experts.

Looks likk $110 at the link above - very tempting.

[Harold Mayo]

Love this thread...the AFCK has been my EDC for several years, now.

The one that I have HAS a liner lock. It's an older one with a plain-edged ATS-34 blade covered with black teflon.

I thought that I had lost it in a movie theater yesterday and had given it up for good when I realized where it was...only the third time in the last six years that I have left home without a knife.

Anyway...

The axis lock IS better in almost every way but I am hesitant to get one with it. My liner lock has never failed and hasn't even loosened up. It is subjected almost daily to quite a bit of use and has even had a lot of abuse piled on it. It has resisted corrosion when used to cut open bags of ANFO, has stayed relatively sharp even when cutting a lot of cardboard and blasting wire, has resisted corrosion again when diving in salt and fresh water, has been used extensively in practice against various targets (dead deer, dead hogs, cardboard boxes, an old water-logged heavy bag), has cut meat at meals (yeah, yeah...I clean it with anti-bacterial soap after some of the above things...it's not as sick as you might think)...the worst is that I constantly open and close it by flipping it when grasping either the blade or the handle. It's a nervous habit that I have that some people who aren't used to me find a little frightening when they see the size of the blade and all. The knife has DEFINITELY been worth the money. It is VERY worn and the medallions are long gone but it's always been there for me.

I was very sad when I thought that I had lost it.

Just my $0.02 on the AFCK...

[Sir Galahad]

With your thumb over the spine of the handle and forefinger in the cutout, there is no way the axis button can be released accidently. In fact, I've also held the AFCK every way I can think of that is comfortable and have not seen one grip that can accidently release the axis button. That's why 15 seconds after getting this knife out of the box, I knew this was IT---the much sought after Every Day Carry. I knew it when I handled one at a knife shop some time prior to ordering my own from New Graham, but one has to feel one's own knife to really get the feel.

[Kevlarman]

Well you guys convinced me; I ordered the Axis AFCK from newgraham.com on Monday. It'll replace my Ascent as my EDC.

[mtnbkr]

Linerlocks can fail. Sorry, but it's true. The Axis is so much better it's not funny, and probably the best lock out there today.

While I personally don't like linerlocks on working knives (will accept them on gent's knives like the handmade Beverly linerlock I have with me today), comments by the AFCK's designer, Chris Caracci, stick in my mind. For the short period of time he moderated The Urban Jungle at Bladeforums, he stated more than once that the Axis lock was a bad idea for a fighting knife like the AFCK. Apparently, in certain situations and grips, it can come unlocked. He felt like the original, with the linerlock, was the better design for it's intended purpose. Bladeforums is currently down or I'd try to find one of his posts on the subject.

I miss REKAT. I have a Pioneer and a Savant with perfectly functioning locks. When the Rolling Lock works, it really works. It's a shame they couldn't get past their attitude and fix the problems others were having. I'm seriously considering another Savant just to have. It's about perfect for EDC.

Chris

[Sir Galahad]

As I recall, though, he never did prove HOW the Axis could come unlocked. Someone demonstrate how it can. Otherwise, it's speculation fueled because some well-known guy just "sez so".

[Boats]

Having both the liner lock AFCK and the axis and putting them through their paces, I am not anywhere near being convinced that the liner locked one somehow is a better "fighting knife." With each knife I have tried both saber and reverse grips in both hands with the clip in all four positions on the axis and removed, and I can not get the axis lock to fail by activating the release while stabbing and striking a doubled burlap sack filled with wheat.

I carry mine tip down left-handed. The clip being pivot mounted on the port side scale all but blocks the use of the left lock release stud in a casual manner. In a saber grip, the left thumb finds the liner and spine serrations and the blade remains indexed by touch. I can see how it is conceivable during some sort of mishap that the thumb could somehow ride the starboard stud back, releasing the lock, but this would be just as unlikely as accidentally releasing the liner lock through accidentally handling its release during a mishap. The thumb simply shouldn't be riding along the opposite scale in the first place and constant pressure should be applied to the indexing during a committed attack to prevent the thumb from coming into contact with the opposite side stud. Even were that to happen, the most likely pressure being applied by the errant thumb is forward, which will do nothing but remove some calluses if the momentum of the strike is halted by sinking into the target. In various reverse grip attitudes, nothing is even near the lock, and I appreciate the axis being tougher if a forceful overhand strike were made to the skull or something.

I am far from being a knife-fighting "expert," but I have handled/carried/wielded serious folding knives extensively for over twenty years now. I view the axis lock being accidentally released as a non-issue and I appreciate its more solid lock-up when compared to the liner lock AFCK. The cross pins keeping the axis' blade in place look and feel a lot more positive and failure-proof than seeing a small fraction of an inch of liner steel seperating the blade from lock-up failure and my fingers, though in fairness, the liner lock on the AFCK has never failed me. . .yet.

YMMV

[Jim March]

There IS a hold that is totally unsuited for the Axis, and shouldn't be used on a REKAT with the rolling lock either and probably most of the "Axisoids" like the SOG, Cold Steel and the Blackie Collins Bolt-Action (which is much older than the Axis).

In this hold, the knife grip is in a forward grip, "horizontal in the hand" with the thumb on the side of the pivot.

Dunno quite what it's called. It used to be more popular, before the various Asian-influenced techniques took over. It works OK with a double-edge blade but is a VERY bad idea on a single-edge because you can't shift direction "outwards". For a right-hander, this means you can cut right to left, but not left to right.

The advantage to this hold is that in a stab, the blade is horizontal where it's more likely to cut the majority of the body's arteries, which run up/down.

I'd be willing to bet this was the hold used to make an Axis fail. It puts the pad of the thumb too near the release.

[Griff]

When I was a youngster we had pocket knives. I guess they're called "slip joints" or something. No locks to push or poke, just didn't use your knife in such a way that it would close on you like you were taught before you got to carry it, or it'd get taken away from you until you learned how not to break stuff. (You big dummy, got what you deserve, huh? Now, get me the merthialate and some band-aids)
Then the Buck 110 came along and all of a sudden everything else wasn't safe anymore. This one locks open! Oooooh. Forget that we still had all of our fingers and toes, (mumbeltypeg) this new thing was MUCH better. Still, you didn't go around trying to cut steel with it, it was a knife, not a hammer, not a prybar.
Yes, everything mechanical breaks, and of course, in certain circumstances, you must use whatever's available, but do you see where I'm going with this?

Congratulations, and I hope you enjoy your new purchase, sir; just don't ever forget common sense.

[Sir Galahad]

Thanks for the admonition about common sense. However, I didn't get to be 36 years old, including a stint in mining, without common sense. But thanks for your concern. Slip joint knives? Yes, I had some too. They're less effective than a GOOD knapped flint blade hafted on a piece of antler. Mumblety-peg? We were too scared of our grandfather to be seen throwing knives into soil. Slip joints had their day. We have better things now. Like a Benchmade AFCK. The slip joint is to a Benchmade Axis lock what Australopithecus is to Homo Sapien Sapien. Sorry, but the slip joint is still dragging its knuckles on the ground (but just the knuckles; the fingers got cut off when the blade folded over.)

[Griff]

Good Sir Knight,

To die a thousand terrible deaths would be preferable to leaving an impression that one's judgment was in question, but I think you've missed my point.

With your kind indulgence I shall clarify.

It's not about one or the other being better. Different locks, different features, preferences, whatever. They're all good tools if used properly. To me the bottom line is that no matter what kind you have, you have to rely on yourself, not technology, to save your skin.

Regards

[Sir Galahad]

You are absolutely correct there. Been carrying and using knives since I was 13. That's how I know a good one when I see one. Because, over time, I've had some real nice ones that I still have and some POS that are no longer here. When I select a knife, it has to fit certain criteria for me. Most important, it has to "fit". There are knives out there that everyone raves about and feel like a lump of bituminous coal in my hand. The Axis feature I didn't believe in until I really sat down and studied it. Then it made perfect sense. With the feel of this knife plus the lock, it is a perfect fit.

[Jim March]

When the knife in question is primarily carried as a defensive weapon, I think there's great merit to making it a GOOD piece, one you trust and that feels right to you.

When the excrement hits the rotary air movement device, that extra bit of confidence (mindset) might make the difference between a goblin fleeing and a real fight breaking out.

I've chased goblins away at knifepoint, threatened to draw on others. Never needed to draw blood. I was also carrying *good* steel on all such occasions.

I don't carry knives I don't trust, or feel "wrong".

[45R]

AFCK is a great knife. I sold mine for the gun fund a while back. Now its time to pick up another one!!! You cant go wrong with a BM...esp with the axis lock!!!

[VaughnT]

Well, I just bought a BM Griptillian 550 and I really like that axis lock. I've had liner-locks fail on my (CRKT M16-13LE) and that hurts.

The only downside is that I like the blade and handle lines of the Emerson Mach 1, even without the wave feature, and seriously see this as my next purchase. What I loved about the Benchmade is that the plastic handle fit my hand perfectly and the clip was mountable on the portside so I could carry it opposite my duty holster.

Now that that position is filled, a right-handed blade seems to be needed and the Emersons, much as I dislike the company, have a nice heavy blade and seem durable. Just have to get my mind around the arrogance of those folks.

If the AFCK had a heavier blade, one thicker across the spine, I wouldn't mind getting that instead.

[George Hill]

I've been reading this thread since the start.
I was keeping my mouth shut out of fear of being thought of as less than educated on this matter.
I've at one point or another most ever major tactical folder out there.
The AFCK is one that I have always come back to and is one of my absolute favorite knives. The have never failed me, they have never given me anything but good solider service. And I have probably owned over a dozen of them of various sizes, finishes, and blade steels.

I've never owned one with an axis lock. To me honest, I can not see how the Axis lock is really an advantage.

Here is why. I've also owned a large number of other tactical folders that have all had liner locks... and I haven't had one of them fail either.

I've used them in Central America. I've used them in South America... everywhere. I've had them with my while I was in the service doing seriously unhappy duty there. They never failed me there, in the most extreme situations either.
This makes me think that if your doing something with a folder that makes you worried in the slightest about what kind of lock you have... you should really be using a fixed blade.
There are a number of good fixed blade knives out there the same size as your folder.

I like Liner Locks. I really am not all that impressed with the Axis, or similar type locks. I sell some knives that are cheap. They all have liners. I have purchases at my own expense one of each so I could thoroughly abuse them... and even these "cheap" liners have not failed. Regular use is a lot less stressful on the lock that throwing it into my wood fence and baching the back of the blade against a 2X4.

If you need really serious strength... just get a fixed blade. Either that or stop abusing your knife! Because your normal cutting chores really do not do anything that would cause your lock to fail and the knife to snap shut on your fingers.

[VaughnT]

George, my liner lock failed. The M16-13LE fit my hand perfectly and was probably more blade than I needed, but the liner lock would not positively engage...allowing the blade to close with only the slightest pressure on the tip. If you tried to flip it open, you could be assured that it would bounce right back and cut your fingers.

I guess that a lot has be be said for quality control and materials selection. My experience was, I'm sure, a fluke and CRKT was very good about replacing the knife (gave me a free D.O.G. that was about $50 more expensive but didn't fit my needs). Good people to deal with and I didn't hesitate to buy one of their Ryan Plan B fixed blades for my visor organizer. That's a really good knife!

Truthfully, my only problem with Emerson is their attitude. Their knives are touted as uber-tactical but they don't come tapped on both scales so you can mount the clip as you might need too. And when approached about this idea, they gave me the short shrift and told me it was an extra $25 to drill and tap the portside scale for left-handed carry.

Maybe my email to them wasn't worded correctly or was read as impolite or hostile, but what I got back wasn't exactly what I was looking for. That Commander is beautiful and the Mach 1 just appeals to me on a certain level, but their attitude keeps me away.

As for the axis lock, itself, it's at least as strong and reliable as a liner lock. The only downside is that it is a more complicated locking system and, as such, is more prone to failure simply because Murphy's Law stands ready at all times.

[Sir Galahad]

I can cite you an advantage, George. You can hold the axis button back and flick the knife open quicker than greased lightning. That gives you three methods of one-handed opening. Thumb hole, axis lock button hold and flick, and the Brownie pop. That's what I call versatility. The fact that the axis lock is stronger than the liner lock is the main point. The extra method of fast opening is just horseradish on the side of a great prime rib (served extra rare; run it through a warm room, that's me.)

[George Hill]

"horseradish on the side of a great prime rib (served extra rare"

Now that has got to be the best danged arguement for it or anything else I have ever heard!