Axis/Cross-bar lock is arguably the best in pocket tool category. Here are Top 7 for 2024

[@brettcarter6189]

Great video! I really enjoy carrying my Mini Iridium. I know it’s not a “premium” knife, but it’s reliable, and in many ways it looks and feels premium without a premium price tag. I agree that it’s an excellent choice for edc.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

I'm glad you like it! It is a great knife for any money. And “premium” is a soft term. To me it means well designed and well executed.

[@enwin1912]

This has to be the most entertaining review on a specific knife lock I’ve seen. If you ever have the inclination, I’d love to see another similar review, but with a focus on a selection of hard use axis locks.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@enwin1912 Good idea!

[@Huey4214]

Great video ! I have been carrying axis lock knives since the BM 940 was introduced .Have not broken an omega spring yet! I have most of the knives you have on the table and like my Spyderco Manix LW in Rex 45 as much as any in my collection. The Spydercos action took a bit to break in but was well worth the wait . And you are so right about The factory edge on the Spyderco , one of the best factory edges of all. I am surprised your video is lacking a blade by Hogue? The Ritter full size in M/C is surely one of the best axis lock EDC blades of all time IMO and my favorite when I want to carry a full size folder.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@Huey4214 The video was about knives that came out in 2024. My experience with omega springs has been positive except one of my 940 Osbornes had a poorly installed spring from the factory, which caused the blade to unlock on a spine whack. Once I reinstalled the spring correctly, the problem has gone away. I don’t buy all the complaining at the face value: only 3 out of 10 million springs are defective. Folks who have genuine BM with a broken spring should buy a lottery ticket Thanks for subscribing!

[@georgelin8498]

Haven’t had any omega springs break. As a lefty, I have a lot of crossbar lock knives. It’s one of the few systems that are symmetrical and as a lefty, is a blessing. I do like the Spyderco ball bearing lock as it gets rid of the omega springs, but it only comes in the manix, which is a great knife

[@Edcreviewer]

Been waiting for a new video drop my friend! Can't wait to watch this one!

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@Edcreviewer I hope it meets your expectations!

[@TimsSchoolOfFish]

I was pulling for the Old Timer to win, although I knew it wouldn’t. I’m currently in my “budget knife” phase since my business has been slow. But I also have an affinity for Schrade and Old Timer. I’m glad to see they’ve moved some production back stateside. I like this frontier series for the same reason you stated. I can see K98, although I was thinking they reminded me of the M1 Garand or M1903 Springfield. Good stuff as always, my friend 👊🏻

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@TimsSchoolOfFish Thanks! K98 had the steel cap on the buttstock

[@TimsSchoolOfFish]

@@CuttingBoardRx Aha!! Good catch!!

[@Dont_Poke_The_Bear]

BM and the axis lock caught hate for years, some deservedly so, but as soon as the patent expired everyone jumped on the axis lock. Interesting.... Also, now that the compression lock is also out of patent, I will he curious to see which of these well-known lcoking systems becomes the most prolific. Also, the vosteed push button compression lock is spectacular and shows two things, the blade of the smock was NEVER really necessary and Spyderco left money on the table by not expanding the idea.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

The Vosteed is definitely a game-changer but they went astray when they added cross bar lock to the Raccoon. Smok liner lock was the best of all worlds!

[@SolDarkside]

Surprised to not see the bel air. Is it too comparable to the iridium but more expensive? Or did it have an issue I'm not aware of?

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@SolDarkside I bought it as soon as it came out last year and instantly regretted that as I was working on this review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3mVlnSDi7CWhMk You will also find this one interesting: These 9 MagnaCut Blades Hardness Tested. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pH6xnmOvisZkZrs

[@nicleongkl]

Seems like Kershaw has adjusted their heat treatment to 62-64, as mentioned on their website and confirmed through email. Would the Bel Air be a good knife with that change?

[@SolDarkside]

@@CuttingBoardRx Dang, that's disappointing! Thanks for the update. I'll for sure check those videos out!

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@nicleongkl I don’t care much for for it. But it doesn’t mean you won’t! It needs to be simplified internally and it should have a 20% larger compadre. Like the Iridium that just came out with the same sheep’s foot blade shape.

[@BladeWalker77]

Hello! What about SOG? What are your opinion on theyr version of crossbar lock?. I regret I didn't buy a Benchmade years ago when prices were better. In these days I'm looking for a good crossbar lock folder and this video helped me, thanks.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@BladeWalker77 The only SOG I own is AEGIS which didn’t do so well in my Tree of Doom test

[@just9911]

@@CuttingBoardRxthe terminus xr might be the most satisfying crossbar lock flipper I’ve ever tried.

[@stevenlachance8576]

CB you missed KUNWU. Great knives with blades that push the envelope Vanax S390. S yes S390

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@stevenlachance8576 I heard Kunwus are soft… JK that’s coming up. Soon

[@stevenlachance8576]

@ not what I’ve heard

[@stevenlachance8576]

The S390 was Lieb tested to 66.3, Vanax HRC to 59.5 apex alchemy, looking for other actual tests.

[@nicleongkl]

What about the corrosion resistance of the D2 steel used in the Iridium?

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@nicleongkl What about it?

[@nicleongkl]

@ I heard D2’s biggest drawback was the corrosion resistance. In a daily carry, should I have to worry about it getting stained/rusty? Must I oil it frequently after using it?

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@ if you cut an onion with it and don’t wash it off, it will get purplish-yellow. I tested MagnaCut, H2, and LC200N steels in a home-made salt fog chamber and every time they had a little corrosion as well btw. Kershaw makes the full size Iridium now with bronze colored aluminum scales and coated blade, it should perform much better than the uncoated.

[@blockbuster6076]

Try Sog Altair XR. Perfect action

[@christopherskipp1525]

Isn't the cold steel triad lock stronger than anything else market-wise?

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Yes, but I don’t like the two-hand closing. Edit: Atlas and Shark locks are almost as strong but much more fun to operate.

[@jimmylarge1148]

What’s that third knife in your list? The little sheepsfoot or whatever? Looks like iridium sorta but isn’t.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@jimmylarge1148 Mini Iridium?

[@jimmylarge1148]

@ is it? I wondered. The back end is a little different but I’ll look into that one

[@nriyo3]

Great video. I would say a premium version of the Kizer Drop Bear might be a miss for this video. I have one in S90V. I do not have a hardness tester but the blade holds an edge well and the action is easily on par with a Kershaw or Benchmade. I am mostly a Spyderco guy but appreciate any well made knife with good materials and ergos.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@nriyo3 Huh! I missed the drop bear all together! When did it come out?

[@natesvundxxrs9107]

How could you possibly have missed the drop bear, not as in tune with the market as you think if you missed that knife

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@ I’m in tune with interesting and innovative knife. This is neither. Overpriced too.

[@nriyo3]

@@CuttingBoardRx I think it dropped earlier this year. It is a clean and neutral shape with quality build and some nice versions to choose from, I think it is worth a look. Mine is solid and easily a great user like my Spydies and Mcustas.

[@christopherskipp1525]

Did the channel poster say there is a knife brand called Rancor?

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Rancor is a product line in Bear and Son catalog

[@christopherskipp1525]

@CuttingBoardRx thank you

[@heavyweightsound]

Happy Hanukkah cbrx! Hope you had a great Chinese dinner on Xmas! 😉😁

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@heavyweightsound Nope, my sexy shiksa fiancé made some delicious ham and fixings for Christmas. Not very kosher, but how’s this sin any worse than any other?

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@heavyweightsound Happy New Year!

[@heavyweightsound]

​@@CuttingBoardRx well done! I almost always choose shiksas! Happy new year to you too!

[@monkpato]

I didn't realize you have had so many AR-RPM9 tips break off. That's wild! What a silly steel.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@monkpato CJRB only still exists because power channels like Knife Center promote them heavily.

[@Edcreviewer]

ABSOLUTELY, only reason they move so many products is becaus of all the bigger channels that will open the box and say how great the knife is without even using it so they continue to get free knives, affiliate link uses and YT clicks Go back a year or more and listen to how all those larger "every knife they open is great and you should buy it channels" and listen to them praising rpm9 and how great it is because of it being a "budget powder steel" then go back to their videos that the posted as soon as Larrin tested rpm9 and said it wasn't a powder steel but was rather a spray form steel and watch how quickly they turn on it and say that it wasn't a very good steel then the shitstorm blew over and and they was right back to "reviewing" 20 different cjrb knives a week and saying again how great they are for the money and how you should buy them. Civivi 9cr is done much better than cjrb rpm9 and it shows in performance big time. Rpm9 hasnt brought anything to the table in performance that decently dine 9cr hasnt, it just gives the company and the "reviewers" a Stat that they can claim makes it better than ingot 9cr so they sell more knives but in reality take some decently done 9cr like Civivi does it and in use directly compare it to rpm9 and at worst there will be no difference that you can distinguish and on average the civivi 9cr will out perform it but a decent bit. I'll take decently done 9cr from sencut/Civivi and a couple other companies that do it pretty decently over rpm9 any day of the week just because the heat treatment cjrb doesn't isn't very good and the steel composition it's self isn't anything special. It really was funny watching all those bigger channels back peddle when Larrin called out that it wasn't a powder steel and they had been speaking of how great it performs and why it's so special for the money for like 2 years and BOOM as soon as it was known it wasn't a powder steel theh was instantly trashing it until the crap storm blew over that then right back to shilling it... Only a handful of people stood by what they said and kept saying they think it's a good steel like they had said before and with them being right or wrong aside I at least respected the couple channels (no bigger channels all fairly small that stood by what they said like Mike emler) that stood by what they said about it before Larrin came out with that video. Clowns like metalcomplex just did what the community wanted.. Oh it's great it's a powder steel you can get for 30-60dollsrs in many models and it's so good you have to buy every model I show and did that for years then started trashing cjrb when Larrin came out with that video because the community was mad and him being mad pulled in clicks and 3 weeks later once it was getting swept under the rug and people had other things to complain about and then he was right back to shilling cjrb.. It's sad, oh buddy it's sad and people watch them like God's and aren't smart enough to understand that they are just telling you it's great so they keep getting those link clicks and free knives keep pouring in.. That man knows less about knives than my wife does and she isn't even really in to knives very much. Yet people listen to him like he is a folding knife god and look up to him because he has all these ultra high end knives that 90% of them are given to him and he has no personal investment in.

[@staysharp525]

Cjrb echo i bought has very easy button lock failure can fail it with my thumb pressure but have others that great

[@reguluscaius4636]

They are also cheap tho, people buy them like add on for free shipping

[@jimmylarge1148]

I would love for u to get ahold of some bnb knives and tell me what u think. They’re sold locally and have a cpl that look nice but just unsure abt brand. (Buck and bear knives)

[@CuttingBoardRx]

I have never heard of those knives. Sold locally screams made in Pakistan to me 🤣

[@lennyzee]

I love my cross bar knives but I feel there are no sources for quality replacement O springs. Unless spares are included you're screwed. I'm not going to Etsy for anything. Bestech was good enough to send me free replacements for my Slasher but it took like 6 weeks to get them.

[@MikeJ602]

What do you have against Etsy? I've gotten some really quality stuff from there including replacement omega springs.

[@poncho151]

I’ll always love the crossbar lock and Benchmade for bringing us the axis lock. I do prefer the compression lock but the axis lock is an undeniably safe and even fun locking mechanism. Now I have had two omega springs break, one was simply from the spring’s bottom curve rubbing on the scale until it became too thin and cracked. The other was due to a combination of rubbing on the scale and a bit of corrosion. The other “negative” I’ve found with most crossbar locks is that some of them don’t operate that well with gloves on, although the manix 2 is excellent even with gloves on.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@poncho151 Great point on the Manix! Thanks for commenting!

[@99.Blades]

Question for ya. My bugouts omega springs broke. I got some spares on Etsy. Should I go through the warranty process or not a big deal to replace yourself?

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@99.Blades I would not go through warranty process unless you’re absolutely sure that your Bugout is not a fake. If it is, they will destroy it. Omega springs break on knives with much heavier blades or when knives are seriously corroded, so I am surprised. But if you’re certain that it’s real, then send it. It usually takes 3-4 weeks.

[@99.Blades]

@ I got it at cabelas. I ended up replacing them myself as I often tear things down and clean them myself. I was told this voids their warranty but was unsure. (The replacement springs work fine). Edit: it was a daily user for about 1.5 years.

[@helterskelter156]

BM will send you spare springs if you reach out. I’ve had many (not fake) BM Omega springs break over the years, and BM was always really good about sending spares.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@ Got it. Sounds like you are 100% sure they pulled a sealed box and you cut the seal yourself? It happens very frequently: people buy a fake and then swap them for a real one at a big box store. I’ve seen this at REI and at an Army Post Exchange. Did yours break in the middle of the big loop?

[@spkhy8385]

I think it would be easy to simply replace yourself with some reinforced piano string-style omega springs. You also might consider Spyderco's Manix 2, XL, or the Microtech Ram-Lok as they use coil springs instead of omega springs which are much stronger against use.

[@MohamedMeringue1195]

Bro every body says that kizer makes the Best cross-bar locks you must do a video about Kizer Knives 👍🏼

[@TimsSchoolOfFish]

Don’t know about that, but I think they have some of the best micarta in the business.

[@Sicarius888]

I didn't expect you like and have so many axis locks. For me axis lock is the worst after I had broken omega springs. 2 times Benchmade and 1 Ganzo, stopped buying them after that. Other than untrustworthy, I just don't find them fun to use. Spring tension make them either wet noodles weak detent or stiff action.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@Sicarius888 You mean to tell me that those glass showcases behind me filled with Benchmade knives, about 230 of them, or the Adamas on my logo did not give you an indication that I like Axis locks? 🤣

[@Sicarius888]

@@CuttingBoardRx Maybe I'm just too focused on the main stars of the the show to notice the background😀. And you can never know. I switched to only modern flippers some ago but still have mostly Case and nicer bone Rough Ryders on display shelf.

[@jimmylarge1148]

The springs don’t break as often as people make it seem. I doubt you’ve broken Any springs, but possible I suppose.

[@robmiranda777]

Sharklock enters conversation...

[@wayneanderson991]

The Demko shark lock in the Ad20.5 is my favorite EDC knife, second now would be an Axis lock/cross bar lock style knife of similar size to the Ad20.5.

[@jimmylarge1148]

Do u really think the American knives are of better quality than others?

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Some are and some are not. Not Benchmade or Medford, that’s for sure 🤣After reviewing knives for 2 years straight, I don’t beat the Recliner Patriot drum. If we want to compete, we should get our shit together.

[@qiaoyuzhu6884]

Wonder why Bel Air didn't make it on your list. Same reason as the manix2 salt?

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@qiaoyuzhu6884 It came out in 2023 and had some heat treat issues. It is not as clean of a design as Iridium, which came out even earlier last year for half the price.

[@SMS2884]

While the lock design is solid. The springs are not. Only knife I've ever had fail on me is a crossbar. Luckily no stitches.

[@EvilSSP]

Nah can't agree with this one, I avoid any lock that uses a fragile Omega spring, I'll stick with the Compression Lock.

[@meesterdinglefritz2064]

I keep hearing that. I’ve owned and carried axis locks for over 20 years and never have I had an issue. I’m sure it happens, but not nearly as much as some people would like to think. It’s a wonderfully convenient lock that’s easy to manipulate. Best part is, in the super rare case that a spring breaks, very easy to replace. I’ve had spare springs for over a decade and they just continue to collect dust.

[@CardinalKolt]

Guns have springs. Just sayin.

[@kalichisucks5607]

Also manix 2 exists

[@jimmylarge1148]

@@meesterdinglefritz2064bro just saw a vid where someone said that the springs could malfunction and now he thinks it happens all the time. It doesn’t. He just watches to much tv and uses his knives almost never.

[@rhinosaur.]

All locks have a downside, and the springs would be the downside for crossbar locks. But when you balance that against its other attributes like its strength, ease of actuation, and ambidextrous nature, it's still a great lock for a pocketknife. I've never broken an omega spring, and when I do, I'll fix it and go on with life. For me, the potential inconvenience of a broken spring is worth enduring for all the good attributes of a crossbar lock.

[@ulbushcrafting6592]

Folders 🤷🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️