Axis Locks Wear Out, Too

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My mini griptilian has had two sets of springs replaced. It needs a third, but I haven't sent it in again yet. It chewed through the latest set of springs with very little use, and very few openings and closings, as I barely used the thing for over two years while hospitalized and recovering.

The lifetime warranty is great. Benchmade's service is great. But the knife cost me $69 plus tax, and after the next trip, I'll have spent nearly half that in shipping it to Benchmade. (They've picked up the return shipping.)

Also, the last time they sharpened it for me, which screwed up the edge, which is a PITA to fix on the hard 154CM steel. (They do this as a free courtesy, whenever they service a knife. However, it seems not all of their sharpeners are equally skilled.)

All that said, I'm convinced I just have a weird knife. I haven't found anyone else who has had so many springs blow. I'm not rough on the thing, either, use it for light cutting and don't flick it open or any other nonsense. I do like the lock, and may one day pick up a higher end axis lock knife. For now, I carry a Spyderco Byrd traditional lockback or a Buck Vantage linerlock. I'm not spending any more on fixing my lemon knife. One of these days, I may see if I can find replacement springs and fix it myself.
You can buy a flat rate box for $5.80 or a padded flat rate envelope for $5.95. I have shipped knives back to Benchmade twice in them without any issues. You might consider doing the same if the it is getting expensive shipping them by weight.
 
One of these days, I may see if I can find replacement springs and fix it myself.

I'm told by a reliable source you can make very acceptable replacements from a non-wound guitar string.
 
Love my Benchmade 2750. Looking at their site, it looks like the lifetime warranty is only for LEO and Military, which is fine, just that I am not! Cant imagine wearing this thing out.

Russellc
 
RussellC: where is you see that the lifetime warenntee is only for LEO/Mil? I'm looking around the site and can't find it.
 
but when a spring goes it's a paperweight.

They both have to go. The mechanism's omega springs are redundant. Two springs for the same job.

Maybe it's changed. The only axis knife I have is a Benchmade Ares (maroon/black) I got during the pre-production run as an employee of a dealer. Guess maybe `99 or so. Carried it every day since then. The edge looks kind of sad from having been resharpened a few times. Lost one of the clip screws. The G10 has absolutely no texture anymore. Still carry it, though. Should probably replace it.

Edit: pics for the hell of it. Still see some scoring from the battery acid on the blade. Man, to be young and still have nice tools one more time...
 

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Speaking from experience, BM will send you new screws if you toss em an email. They should put locktite on them before leaving the factory.
 
it looks like the lifetime warranty is only for LEO and Military, which is fine,
Not true.

Benchmades warranty is for the life of the original owner, regardless of your employment status.

http://www.benchmade.com/services/warranty.aspx

The thing I have found however, is I lived longer then some of my early Benchmade models they no longer have parts for.

But there will still do their best to return you a working old knife.

As for wearing out an Axis-Lock??

I gotta call shenanigans on statement right there.

I suppose the blade or pivot pin could wear out, if you are a knife abuser who never cleans or oils his knife.

But I can see no way an Axis-Lock itself could wear out in a lifetime of use.

rc
 
Love my Benchmade 2750. Looking at their site, it looks like the lifetime warranty is only for LEO and Military, which is fine, just that I am not! Cant imagine wearing this thing out.

Russellc
Are you sure you aren't thinking about warranty work on autos? I know you can't ship them automatic knives for repair unless you are mil/LEO because of the dumb federal switchblade law, but that doesn't apply to normal manual opening knives.
 
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