A little late on the reply, and actually already answered. But I post anyway. The ZT0200 is the knife that the Adamas should be compared against, I think. When I first got the 275 I immediately thought of the ZT. Both are overbuilt with thicker than normal components, both are weighty because of that, 7.7 oz to 7.9oz, and both are my type of edc! The big difference is the locking system of each. The ZT has a very thick liner lock, where the Adamas has the beefed up Axis Lock. On my ZT0200's, have two, I gave the liner lock a little more bend so that lockup would be stiffer, and would take a much more conscious effort to unlock. So far it has never failed me, in fact I do this to all my liner locks, and framelocks, and also do this to the custom linerlocks I have, i.e. Both of the John W Smith SD-3's I have, and a Mike Irie Model 11. All have worked perfectly, with no excessive wear of the liner lock.

But that is not the topic here. So back on topic, the Axis Lock really has no adjustment other than it's built in wear as time and use occurs. And even though the liner locks I have have never failed, I trust the Axis Lock more.

Anyway, just some ramblings from cutter.

Cutter, just a note about the ZT 0200...the liner lock on it is as thick as some frame locks. In fact, if they had cut the handle scale and glued it to the liner lock, this would be a frame lock with all the strength of the ZT 0301 or virtually any other frame lock.

I think where liner locks get into trouble is when they are super thin. That's the ones I avoid, but still nothing I've seen can stand up to an Axis lock and this beefed up version should just be better.

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but still nothing I've seen can stand up to an Axis lock and this beefed up version should just be better

According to Benchmade, the strongest lock they offer is a "plunge lock" on button activated autos

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Originally posted by Dingo:
ZT 200 is a hard knife to beat... . BUT the Adamas should hold an edge longer and it's more friendly to carry on a day to day basis. The G10 on the ZT ripped up my pockets like no tomorrow.

LOL, I hear you. Anybody bitching about a 520 ought to carry a ZT 0200 for a few days.Ha!

I generally now carry the 200 in a sheath.

quote:

Originally posted by fastjan:
Cutter, just a note about the ZT 0200...the liner lock on it is as thick as some frame locks. In fact, if they had cut the handle scale and glued it to the liner lock, this would be a frame lock with all the strength of the ZT 0301 or virtually any other frame lock.

I think where liner locks get into trouble is when they are super thin. That's the ones I avoid, but still nothing I've seen can stand up to an Axis lock and this beefed up version should just be better.

Indeed it is thick, at ~.080", and being constructed of hardened steel it will wear slower than a comparable titanium lock, since titanium is softer than steel. The key to a successful liner lock/framelock, and I prefer the liner lock over the framelock, is getting the geometry of the mating surfaces correct. The correct angle is the key to a well made liner lock/framelock. And I think for the most part that thin liner locks can be more prone to accidents when the lock angles are off, and the same holds true for a thicker lock being problematic when the angles are cut incorrectly. Spyderco uses a thin liner lock on their Military, and I have never heard anything about a failure on this lock.

The Plunge Lock on my two AFO II's is a very strong lock, but I can't see it being stronger than the Axis Lock. In fact I've always thought of the Plunge Lock as being a type of axis lock because it covers the top of the blade tang as the Axis Lock. I know that Allen Elishewitz and Hogue have taken the Plunge Lock to a new level with the folders they are offering, but I can't see it being stronger than the Axis. Not being intending to be argumentative, but my brain just can't wrap around the idea.

Well, more ramblings from me. Bottom line is that I will probably never be in a position to tax any of my edc folders to the point of destruction, but if I do, I feel that the ones I have will go further than some other's before reaching that destruction point!

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Cutter wrote...Spyderco uses a thin liner lock on their Military, and I have never heard anything about a failure on this lock.

The only Benchmade liner-lock that I have is on a 690. It measures 0.05" thickness...which is the same thickness as the ones used on a Spyderco Military.

The only one's I've had trouble with were on cheaper knives. I've never had a problem with lock-up on any Benchmade or Spyderco.

BM used some nicely thick liners on the 425/426 knives. Those thick liners would have been nice on the 690 and the other LL's they have. Though I'm guessing that you have never had a problem with the .050" thick liner lock of the 690. Btw, what is/was the blade thickness on these knives Jan?

do all 275s have the reenforced axis lock or just later runs

SilentJohn, the 275 axis lock 25% beefier according to Benchmade (look at the thickness of the axis bar itself between the 275 and any other previous model; Dingo did a nice comparison shot somewhere, maybe on his video).

The thicker axis bar appears on even the Prototypes, so it's definitely going to be for all of them and not anything they changed mid-production.

the only reason I ask is because I also notice that the fuller on the blade seems to be extended on some models

on mine it stops at the thumb stud but in dingo's video and on the website I ordered mine from (GPKNIVES.com) it's extended past the thumb stub and down to the handle of the knife