Axis lock does not need a flipper, but that is the trend now. Don't like 154cm, it loses its edge to fast for me, and I don't like sharpening it. Don't mind the looks, and like the pocket clip. This knife reminds me of a pimped gritilian, especialy with that blade.
Tooke a while to click on this thread. I mean, how exciting can a BM be these days. Gotta say. Flipper with an AXIS lock. Very cool. I like the styling and size.
I was in an ornery mood yesterday I guess. I didn't mean to give Hinderer or Strider extra credit. When I was looking for a custom knife a few months back, they all seemed to be using frame locks and flippers. Now two companies who have avoided them are adding them (understandably). As an outside observer and admittedly not a fan of either, they all look alike to me.
Good point. The Axis lock sort of acts as a flipper in itself. It's very easy to pull the bolt and the blade easily "flips" open. Maybe a flipper and an axis lock are sort of redundant. It is Benchmade's thing, and it's hard to imagine them not putting an axis lock on anything these days. But you do make a good point that any axis lock knife really doesn't need a flipper.
It is cheaper than the Southard, check out BladeHQ, they have it for $112. I love the design, but that knife is too thick, the blade is too small, and I would have liked to see embedded steel liners. I like 154CM, but S30V would have been a better choice I think. I think the flipper is pointless (just a cool feature to have) since the axis lock is already soooo fast. I like that Benchmade is adding new deployment features, first the assisted axis (barrage and emissary), now the axis flipper!
I got mine a few days ago, I actually kind of dig it. I was unsure about the flipper, but I like my 154CM fine enough, liked the scales, and wanted a Xmas present so I ordered it on a whim. The flipper is pretty fun, the knife is very heavy but I find that a plus, I know it's there and I have room in my pockets. The blade is also pretty thick and heavy, and I'm not sure but I think this is my only BM I can actually deploy without using anything (just a hard focused shake while not engaging Axis or Flipper will deploy it).
$107 at Knifeworks... use the code. First production knives, BTW (ie. numbered), if that is important to you. Yes it is bulky, but still beautiful.
Dammit. I was really hoping the price wouldn't come down so much. I was happy to keep my excuse not to buy one being the fact that the price seemed too high. Quick, someone give me another reason not to get one before I pull out the credit card.
The gun shop by my work has a few of the first production ones on their shelf. I saw it and my heart lit up, I had some extra cash so I asked to handle it assuming that I was about to walk out with it. Unfortunately for my tastes it was a little too thick both blade and scales for the purposes I would want a knife that size for, as well as being a bit heavy. I could tell it would bulge in my pocket. A knife that size will primarily perform light utility tasks in my usage and it was a little overbuilt for that. Cool knife, just couldn't justify buying it.
Tweezers, those criticisms are totally valid. No argument there, but as for myself, my purchase was based primarily on aesthetics. I have a thing for earth tone knives/scales. For sure, that knife will be too wide for the vast majority of users. I think I could carry it because I carry my primary knife in my right rear pocket and don't have a job/lifestyle that includes a lot of sitting. Plus I already am in the habit of carrying a fairly large blade (Endura). Bag or sheath carriers might not mind it either. I could be wrong, but I imagine that most people who buy this knife will be collector/hoarder types like myself rather than someone owning it as their do it all, one and only blade. Did I mention who stunning it is to look at. That Cone guy has a real problem.
Oh, I definitely understand the decision to purchase this knife. It is cool and fun to flip, I am just on a tight gear budget right now so I only buy knives that I 100% know I need to fill a gap in what I have with nothing I don't like about them. Trust me, I have plenty of knife purchases that were bought only because they are cool to look at/play with, just with another kid on the way I can't afford the fun toys right now
Congrats on the new arrival, Tweezers. Budgets are a bummer, that's for sure, but first things first. Toys before toys, if you will.
I wasn't really a fan, and I love flipper designed knives. I just think that the axis lock flipper, which didn't work well, paired with the weight, will be pretty limiting factors for this model.
I don't understand why the knife needs so heavy. It has a 3" blade and weighs almost 5 oz. I know many users like the "over-built" feel, but I don't think weight is necessarily equivalent to quality.
It doesn't. It also doesn't need to be more than half an inch thick. I mean... I'll carry heavy thick knives, I love the ZT 0300 that weighs 8(!!)oz... but I don't think the trade off is worth it in this case.
CPM154 would have been a better choice. 154CM is easy to sharpen, but its edge holding properties aren't up to more modern steels.