BattleBrat
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2020
- Messages
- 81
Benchmade Vallation all metal, no BS. S30V. All I need.
Black class is the best classBenchmade Vallation all metal, no BS. S30V. All I need.
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I own two Benchmade knives. Last one I bought was an Adamas, years ago. Since their ill-advised collaboration with the Oregon authorities' destruction of guns, and their questionable political donations, I have sworn off Benchmade. BTW, they didn't invent the Axis lock. It was Doug Ritter, one of their employees, who they unceremoniously fired, who deserves that credit. After the patent expired, he took the design to Hogue knives and developed the RSK. He improved on the Axis lock and renamed it the Able lock. Since then, I've purchased numerous Spyderco, Kershaw (ZT), Hogue, Microtech and Ritter RSK knives. Doug is also an active advocate for knife rights and deserves support. **** Benchmade!Spent decades of my life looking for a real one-hand knife. Finally Benchmade came up with their Axis Locks, and I went through a series of them. The McHenry was the first one, but the folks at work were skeert by the big blade, so I moved to the smaller Osborne 942. Then things outside got scarier, so the Contego is the current carry.
It was a shock when the discontinues it, so I stocked up with a couple spares.
Spent decades of my life looking for a real one-hand knife. Finally Benchmade came up with their Axis Locks, and I went through a series of them. The McHenry was the first one, but the folks at work were skeert by the big blade, so I moved to the smaller Osborne 942. Then things outside got scarier, so the Contego is the current carry.
It was a shock when the discontinues it, so I stocked up with a couple spares.
Over the last couple years I fell into the automatic knife rabbit hole, and now have a boxful. Mostly they're just for fun. Carrying an OTS auto kinda sucks; I can flip open an Axis knife as quick as any switchblade, and I don't have to worry about it getting triggered in my pocket, or having to deal with the Law when I find myself in a Sissy State.
The OTF knives are a different story regarding safety; not possible to screw up, because they're not under spring tension. Microtechs are cool, but for my money, the Guardian Tactical is the one to carry if I'm gonna carry an automatic. Excellent, subtle ergonomics, and the best release of any of my autos.View attachment 60152
Over the last couple years I fell into the automatic knife rabbit hole, and now have a boxful. Mostly they're just for fun. Carrying an OTS auto kinda sucks; I can flip open an Axis knife as quick as any switchblade, and I don't have to worry about it getting triggered in my pocket, or having to deal with the Law when I find myself in a Sissy State.
The OTF knives are a different story regarding safety; not possible to screw up, because they're not under spring tension. Microtechs are cool, but for my money, the Guardian Tactical is the one to carry if I'm gonna carry an automatic. Excellent, subtle ergonomics, and the best release of any of my autos.
I didn't know they fired Doug. That's another dark mark on a once prominent brand.I own two Benchmade knives. Last one I bought was an Adamas, years ago. Since their ill-advised collaboration with the Oregon authorities' destruction of guns, and their questionable political donations, I have sworn off Benchmade. BTW, they didn't invent the Axis lock. It was Doug Ritter, one of their employees, who they unceremoniously fired who deserves that credit. After the patent expired, he took his design to Hogue knives and developed the RSK. Since then, I've purchased numerous Spyderco, Kershaw (ZT), Hogue, Microtech and Ritter RSK knives. Doug is also an active advocate for knife rights and deserves support. **** Benchmade!
My old trusty leatherman wave is my EDC but when its time to double up the Osborne designs are a winner. I like the contego but find it a little big to carry so it lives in the knife box. Its little brother the Rift is more my size. Through some twist in fate, a Chinese Gonzo rift clone came my way and it feels much nicer in hand so the Benchmade Rift is living with its big brother in the box as well.Spent decades of my life looking for a real one-hand knife. Finally Benchmade came up with their Axis Locks, and I went through a series of them. The McHenry was the first one, but the folks at work were skeert by the big blade, so I moved to the smaller Osborne 942. Then things outside got scarier, so the Contego is the current carry.
It was a shock when the discontinues it, so I stocked up with a couple spares.
Over the last couple years I fell into the automatic knife rabbit hole, and now have a boxful. Mostly they're just for fun. Carrying an OTS auto kinda sucks; I can flip open an Axis knife as quick as any switchblade, and I don't have to worry about it getting triggered in my pocket, or having to deal with the Law when I find myself in a Sissy State.
The OTF knives are a different story regarding safety; not possible to screw up, because they're not under spring tension. Microtechs are cool, but for my money, the Guardian Tactical is the one to carry if I'm gonna carry an automatic. Excellent, subtle ergonomics, and the best release of any of my autos.View attachment 60152