Benchmade Mini Griptilian and Axis Lock Disassembly

[@Cojomo1]

this vid saved my life, spent an HOUR trying to get the first washer back on the pivot, saw this video, saw that you had to pull back the axis lock as you do it, got it back together in like a minute 🤣

[@zcrazymaniac6966]

This saved me just now. I couldn't figure out how to get the damn blade back in. doing this with the knife mostly assebled was difficult but much easier than what I had tried before. Thank you!

[@TacticalJ83]

You my friend are a life saver lol I’ve been trying to put back my Griptilian for like 45min with no luck. After following your method I got the blade on in 2min 😎

[@Timmaaaayyy]

Bro thank you so much for making this video. Ended a 2 hour process in under 10 minutes.

[@sergemaster]

Although this is an old video, it must be known that it is also a knife life saver! There I was, struggling to install some sweet Flytanium carbon fiber scales on my mini grip, and despite several attempts to complete the project by reinstalling the blade, all resulted in catastrophic failure. I was this close to shaking my hand at the sky to show my emmense displeasure at the knife gods for this accursed and over engineered tool, but then I stumbled across this, and it all made sense! After taking a deep breathe, I was able to completely reassemble and adjust the grip in less than 5 minutes! She is now ready to take her place in our EDC travels. Tonight in knife Valhalla, mead will be drank to the point of access, and songs will be sung around the long table to celebrate your knife exploits!! Thank you sir!! The knife Gods are pleased! Also fun fact: use one of the torx bits to keep the axis lock open by insertingit in the channel while in the open position, helps allot!!

[@JTsKnifeLife]

Glad it was helpful! And yeah, I learned the torx bit trick on KZbin as well, but it was after I made this video. 👍

[@ogenmatic]

Everybody seems to do it differently. Two of the things I do different are: 1) I don’t fully tighten the four frame (short) screws or the three handle (long) screws until it’s completely assembled. Gives you a little more wiggle room to slide the blade & washers in. 2) I use a small steel pin in front of the retracted axis bar/omega springs to keep it retracted so I don’t have to hold it in the retracted position. A toothpick will also work for this. Actually do several things differently but those two might help no matter how anyone does it. A brave endeavor to try to do in front of a camera while narrating. I commend you! Well done.

[@JTsKnifeLife]

Man, that's smart. I'm totally stealing that idea to keep the lock open!

[@12pointsadventure]

Thank you for making this how to video me and my son got some fixer upper knives that we were trying to remake and at the last part we were having problems because we did the steps wrong but with your video we were able to figure it out pretty fast compared to the 30 mins spent trying to put it back together

[@paddyspotatopeelers2154]

You have one steady hand lad.I really enjoyed and learned alot thank you for your time.I really like these video's and a good tip for new people to this I put them in watch later or like I have a file for videos I want to keep which are informative.atb paddy☺👍🍀🎓

[@JTsKnifeLife]

It was a fun one to do and walk through. Thanks for the feedback, I'll probably do more of this in the future!

[@ericsimon1630]

Thanks, I watched this as I installed new carbon fiber scales on my mini-griptilian. I would not say it was a piece of cake, but your instructions were very helpful. Thanks.

[@liamroarke7991]

Man. You have NO idea how much this vid helped me!!! I didn't know how the hell to take my Mini-Grip down, and without knowing the internal layout I sure as shit wasn't going to risk it. But now that I know.....LET THE MAINTENANCE BEGIN!!

[@JTsKnifeLife]

Hahaha I know exactly what you mean, because before I learned I was I in the same situation. Good luck man, thanks for watching!

[@dfailsthemost]

Just wanted to mention that I had a chance to try that reassembly method (on a Hanzo since I have yet to own a knife with a price above $60 haha), and it was a huge help. Thanks again

[@JTsKnifeLife]

I'm glad it helped! Thanks for watching and checking this vid out!

[@dl6677]

Thanks a million. I messed with my grip for an hour....watched your video, and less than five minutes it was done.

[@JTsKnifeLife]

I don't get many comments more fulfilling than that. Really glad I was able to help. Thanks for watching it!

[@kyiangr7552]

Thanks for sharing tis J! Reminds me the first time i disassembled an axis lock Benchmade..At one point i was ready to throw the knife along with my working bench out the window! LOL!!

[@JTsKnifeLife]

It was this very knife that I learned on and it pissed me off to no end because I forget to open the axis lock hahaha. But it worked out eventually, no furniture thrown!

[@JasonPrice1]

This was a pretty good go of it. I had yet to take mine apart for a proper cleaning and this was the first video that shows the process from start to finish. The only thing I was really afraid of was the omega springs. Seeing the teardown, I was no longer intimidated. My disassembly, cleaning reassembly and oiling is now done for the next while. Thanks!

[@JTsKnifeLife]

Awesome, I appreciate it!

[@t_mac6866]

Nice video man, very educational! I need to take my mini grip apart and clean it out because it’s been so long since the last time I cleaned it. I’ll try your method for reassembly this time!

[@JTsKnifeLife]

Hahaha good luck!

[@Stang413]

This video really helped. I like your method of reassembling the pivot and I got it in couple minutes.

[@dfailsthemost]

I'm no axis lock expert but this reassembly is way better than my method. Thanks

[@JTsKnifeLife]

My pleasure, thanks for watching!

[@richardvirchow3390]

Great disassembly/reassembly demonstration!

[@probegt75]

I've had mine probably 6 years and never needed to take it apart. Some hoppes #9 and a toothbrush blow it out with air and use some blue lube and she runs like new. Love the mini, it's the perfect edc imo.

[@SteveKluver]

Great job JT! You only had to cheat a little (editing:) The only thing I would add, to mainly help the newer knife maintenance crowd. Is to put a layer or two of narrow masking tape on the blade edge. Before starting any work like this.

[@JTsKnifeLife]

Great point! I actually have some foam blocks that I use depending on the situation and work being done.

[@jackfarmboy]

I dont feel to bad now, this is eventually where i ended up, but the road to redemption was fraught with troubles and heart ache. Good info JT 👊

[@JTsKnifeLife]

Jack FarmBoy I remember the first time for me being an absolute disaster. I also sort of prefer to figure things out myself when possible, even though it leads to frustration fairly often.

[@stanglifemike3759]

@11:55 Ohhhhhhh, so you're saying those screws are just like weiners?! 😳 @13:24 And now I completely understand!!! Thanks!! 😂

[@maksszmyd1913]

NEXT LEVEL - OTF Disassembly

[@JTsKnifeLife]

Funny enough, I do have a couple OTFs that we could open up and check out...

[@jacobs.7205]

Thanks for sharing this JT, wish it was up when I was rebuilding mine haha. I just noticed that I put my pivot assembly in backwards. Might be tricky if i plan to use lifesharp, but I also don't want to have to redo it.

[@JTsKnifeLife]

Well, it still should work backwards, just must have been harder to do!

[@jacobs.7205]

JT's Knife Life haha, yeah it works just fine

[@BSEE8512140]

Great job! Well done. 👍

[@JTsKnifeLife]

Thank you. 👊

[@jrevs7360]

Very good video! It helped me out a lot. Thank you

[@JTsKnifeLife]

My pleasure, thanks for watching it!

[@brokeboytactical]

Excellent video

[@paulrobinette967]

Great help. Thank you!

[@pureluckvan]

Have you ever tried a tiny drop of locktite to hold the first washer against the blade. Then you can use the blade to put it over the axle. Aligning the second washer is pretty easy. I'm sure some will complain the washer can't be glued to the blade, but really as long as only one side of the washer is locked it will work.

[@JTsKnifeLife]

Naw, I hate using loctite. I'm sure it works, but my system also works just fine as it is.

[@Shadowx011]

I feel sad saying this…but I had to return my mini as apparently my hands are larger than I thought…can only get 3 fingers on it…awesome little knife…much happier with the full size I have now. 😎

[@vasiliymedvedev1532]

How hard do you need to tighten it up? Cause when I tighten up as much as possible it barely moves but if I unscrew a little it flies around

[@ogenmatic]

Oh here I go with the multiple comments again! I also toss all the screws, washers, & omega springs, axis bar, pivot assembly into a shot glass of 90% isopropyl alcohol as I take them apart. Helps remove grease, grime & dust from the parts.

[@JTsKnifeLife]

Usually I would do some sort of cleaning. The soaking idea would work really well though! I have alcohol swabs that I use and that usually works just fine. 👍

[@captcarl2]

Thank you!

[@WooSungShim]

Hey do u have any tips on how to prevent stripping the small torx screws?? Especially the handle and clip ones I always strip those torx screws on my other knives and I'm scared to try disassemble on my griptilian

[@JTsKnifeLife]

First, make sure your driver is in great shape. Sometime a soft bit will bend or distort and will be be less effective over time. This happens even to good brands, so I'd start there. Next, when you disassemble, just give it a careful test to find out how locked in the screws are. Some start turning immediately. If it doesnt there is likely locktite on the knife. Apply some heat with a hair dryer to the screw to heat up that bonding agent and make is easier to undo. That's all I got.

[@WooSungShim]

@@JTsKnifeLife ty so much!

[@bumstudios8817]

Thanks for sharing

[@JTsKnifeLife]

My pleasure!

[@Crazyknives]

I got a mini grip and didn't like the scales, got a nice ones, since I placed the order for them, I keep thinking about how to get it done, the right way, this help, thank you, it's really necessary to heat up the screws to loose them? Anybody?

[@JTsKnifeLife]

@@Crazyknives If you have good or even average tools you don't need to heat up the screws. I've taken tons of these apart and never had a problem!

[@tubbs200803]

When did they switch to the full liners?

[@JTsKnifeLife]

I think they've always been that way, at least every version I've seen has. They're nested though, so unless you take it apart it's easy to miss how far down the scale they reach.

[@jhgindia]

Do large griptilian also get full liners ?

[@dirtrider88]

are you thinking of the full sized grip which has tiny, pathetic liners?

[@tubbs200803]

Mine has skeletonized liners it was purchased from bladehq in 2018 (mini grip with s30v and the spydie hole)

[@_Fug]

I did this but now my knife is very stiff, any fix?

[@JTsKnifeLife]

Lubricant is all i can suggest. That, and slightly loosening the pivot to free up the action. Some people say to polish the washers but I've found that to make a minimal improvement on this model.

[@_Fug]

@@JTsKnifeLife Thanks man, i tried everything, looks like the aftermarket omega springs i bought are just much more stiff than the original ones, needs some time to break in

[@JTsKnifeLife]

@@_Fug Ahhh, yeah. A lot of times the springs will be that way, depending on the brand. Good luck with it, thanks for watching!

[@itzvinnyuwu]

What kind of lube do u use for these knifes

[@JTsKnifeLife]

I use Knife Pivot Lube and Breakfree CLP. But most Benchmades I've had don't need anything special. Even a generic mineral oil would be enough to get this knife where it needs to be.

[@itzvinnyuwu]

@@JTsKnifeLife so any oil that dose not corrode plastic pretty much? Thanks for the quick response I’m buying one on Sunday used for 25 bucks

[@JTsKnifeLife]

Yeah, pretty much. There are some good products out there that are pretty cheap, but if you have a clean Mini Grip that has good parts, the action will be pretty darn good regardless.

[@jamestedrow5115]

The pamphlet that came with my Benchmade specifically says to not disassemble the knife less you void the warranty

[@JTsKnifeLife]

They're pretty relaxed on that policy. As long as nothing is destroyed, your good. Maybe they'd make you pay for a part if you disassemble it, but I've never experienced even that.

[@bladecollector7]

Aweosme thats how i do it too

[@JTsKnifeLife]

I wish I could remember where I learned it, but it sure does work!

[@bladecollector7]

JT's Knife Life apostle p maybe?

[@JTsKnifeLife]

Bladecollector 7 No clue, it's possible though. I know he's been doing this for a while so the time table would be right.

[@outboardfun3353]

really you didn't clean or lube so why did you disassembly if your not going to that?

[@JTsKnifeLife]

Because a viewer from Israel asked me for a video where I take apart an Axis Lock. So I did.

[@AnthonyEspositoTheStallion]

JT, can I email you a few questions ?

[@JTsKnifeLife]

Sure, [e-mail] 👍

[@blitzbbffl]

Dude! You've got blade play... I can see it. Tighten that pivot a bit.

[@JTsKnifeLife]

You're right hahaha. Didn't quite tighten it all the way on camera.

[@jaredtyra6311]

Your new challenge disassemble a knife (don't sacrifice anything more than 10$ )without a screwdriver and just a bunch of sewing needles

[@JTsKnifeLife]

Sewing needles? Ummm, that's a heckuva challenge!

[@enigmaticobserver4413]

My knife has both of the springs broken.

[@JTsKnifeLife]

Send it on in to Lifesharp. 👍

[@definitelylukadoncic]

You sound like Tom Hanks.

[@JTsKnifeLife]

I'm just as good looking as him too. 👍

[@Hoodoooutdoors]

"Crusted into the female holes" Lol. I had to sorry man.

[@JTsKnifeLife]

"I'm glad it was you."

[@dirtrider88]

you had the knife apart, completely. why wouldnt you put the blade with the washers on one half BEFORE you put the other liner and scale back on??? also, no need to pull the axis lock back until you put in the blade and it appears that once the pivot is through the blade you can let go of the lock. man, holy crap you did this the hard way. 18:54, no it definitely isnt the best way to do it.

[@JTsKnifeLife]

You seem to be a lot more concerned about this than what I think is healthy, but maybe you aren't concerned enough. You need to understand that a substantial number of people have reached out thanking me for this video and celebrating the ease with which this method can be done. I've got my own little army of backwards ass Axis lock disassemblers out there, and we're growing by the day, biding our time before we turn the system upside down and make our ways the new normal. Protect your Benchmades from us. We're coming.

[@dirtrider88]

@@JTsKnifeLife great story, why dont you write a book

[@JTsKnifeLife]

@@dirtrider88 Thanks man, and I did actually. Check out my other channel, JTsCreativeWritingLife. Some good stuff there. I have a video about how to write backwards that I think you'll find interesting.

[@woopaka]

You sound like metal complex 😂

[@JTsKnifeLife]

He sounds like me.

[@nilsmartschin593]

Trotz Kanalsperre englischer Spam KZbin 👎👎👎👎💩💩💩💩💩💩