I recently bought a 583-1 Warn Axis folder as part of a blade swap project with a 580 Barrage, and I just wanted to alert all those who like tanto knives that the Warn Axis is a MUST HAVE.

Having toyed with both knives for a few days now, I have come to the opinion that the Barrage is a blah knife, but the Warn Axis is an extraordinary one!

This sounds contradictory on the surface, but let me elaborate...

The Barrage has a rather featureless blade grind - though a perfectly functional one - and unimpressive handle scales. The handle itself is a great design, but the Valox scales are rather slippery, and if you didn't like the hollow, plastic sound of Griptilian handles, you aren't going to like the Barrage scales either.

The G-10 scales on the Warn Axis, on the other hand are formidable! Thick slabs of G-10, very pleasingly contoured, domed top to bottom and thinned slightly in the contact areas. The checkering is very grippy, providing a non-slip grip and a tool for reducing bunions. The final result is a hand filling, grippy, solid feeling handle. For massiveness and strength, this is one of the best Benchmade handles ever.

I am no fan of chisel ground tanto knife blades, nor am I a fan of combination edges, but I ordered the BK combo-edge blade on my Warn because...okay, to be honest, I think it was a mistake. But now that I have it, I think it is a very cool blade! It has that aggressive, high-tech, stealth look that I guess tanto blade fans must appreciate. Couple that visually aggressive blade with the Axis-Assist opening mechanism, and what you have is a very cool knife!

I swapped the SBK blade in my Warn with a PE blade from the 580 Barrage, but I like the Warn package so well, I am tempted to swap them back!

A word about the Axis-Assist: it rocks! It fires the blade very crisply, and the Axis locks up perfectly and precisely every time. The safety mechanism is simple and effective. Brilliant. The only draw back is the inability to open the knife in an inconspicous way. But being inconspicuous isn't what the Warn Axis is all about. This thing is tons of fun...particularly for us auto-knife repressed Californians.

If you like tanto blades, this is an extraordinary Benchmade knife. You'll be impressed.

Uh oh, I guess I might have to get a tanto grip and the warn at the same time. Thanks.

Steve your journey over to the dark side is almost complete...

Buy a 523 Steve... Buy one...

Steve...tanto I can handle. Chisel ground?..I think not.

Don't beleive it's chisel grind. I'm pretty sure it's double.

I've seen another review on this one, and it's definitely on my list of stuff to get (and believe you me, Tanto's aren't my bag these days). But it's got some nice lines on it.

Thanks much for the review, O Dragon Warrior

quote:

Originally posted by fastjan:
Steve...tanto I can handle. Chisel ground?..I think not.

Ooop! Sorry FastJ, I mis-wrote. The Warn Axis is a chisel tip tanto, but is double ground, not a single-side chisel grind.

quote:

Originally posted by sabu71:
...Thanks much for the review, O Dragon Warrior

No charge...

quote:

Originally posted by sabu71:
...I've seen another review on this one, and it's definitely on my list of stuff to get (and believe you me, Tanto's aren't my bag these days)...

I did a blade switch with a PE Barrage...But I like the SBK blade so much, now I'm thinking I need a standard Warn too!

quote:

Originally posted by Mark G.:
...Buy a 523 Steve... Buy one...

523? ...hate it.

...but thanks for the invitation!

Steve
Thanks for this info.
Was there any difference in lock up or spring energy between the 580 and 583-1?

Some of the 580’s had a tiny bit of vertical blade play not usually associated with the Axis. It was not a problem.

Does it fire just as hard as the 580? That sucker is a rocket. It's fun but may cause undue stress long term. Probably not.

Hope there is no charge but if there is PM me your PayPal addy.

Anyone else feel free to field this question.

Thanks