I just got 2 580s the other day, and after playing with both of them for a few minutes, I noticed they both had developed some blade play. The side to side lock up is tight, but on both of them the up and down blade play was clearly there.

After staring at the knives for an hour or so, I noticed the omega spring was out of place on the left side of the blade. You can see the rear end of the omega spring out of position and further into one of the liner holes.

That caused the spring to loose tension.. I removed the scale, repositioned the spring, and now the bladeplay is a lot less. It is still there, but it is definitely less than when it was out of place.

I am seriously considering taking the knives back. It seems to me that all benchmade has to do is come up with a better spring that will not come out of it's correct place and has stronger spring. When I put pressure on the axis lock in the open position, the blade lock up is 100% solid. So as long as the spring is in position, and is stronger, I would think that this problem would be solved.

Does anyone else have this problem? I'm shocked to see that both of my 580s have this problem. Especially since none of my Osbornes or Pardues out of Benchmade axis lock line has never had such issues. Really surprised here...

Hi Aedrick,

Welcome to the Forum. Sorry to read you're having problems with the radial blade play. I just pulled my 580 out and notice mine has a very small amount of that also, where my 585 does not.

On the Omegas being loose, dunno but it sounds like you bought them from a dealer? Combined with the play I would send them up to Benchmade under full warranty conditions, but if that's a hassle I'd return them for two more - and ask to play with the replacements before walking out the door.

Good luck!

Thanks. I love Benchmade and glad to be part of the community.

I am considering taking back to the dealer... At this price point, I expect the knife to be perfect, at least in function. The bladeplay is not much, but still is annoying. It's really too bad that I can't just buy replacement springs. I like to have spare parts around, and don't like the idea of having to send the items back to factory just for a spring that can be easily replaced. Oh well..

Considering that it happened to more than one 580, I would send it back to Benchmade.. Chances are there was a production flaw that I'm sure they've fixed by now.. They would probably return you two new knives or at least put new omega springs in your knives.. Just don't tell them that you've already taken the knife apart and fiddled with it, that'll void your warranty .

Edited to add: I know sending them in may be a pain, but I think the turn around time has been pretty good recently... I send a knife in this past month and had it back in about two weeks, and I'm in N.Y.

Ross, I got you beat.

I sent 5 knives in last month. One today to start the month off. They swear when I call that it's OK. In fact the knife I sent in today a 522SBK just came back. The problem was not fixed (a very fixable problem) I just wanted some screws for the scales. I told them it's OK I'm not complaining. The Warranty manager convinced me to send it to her attention. I said you must think I'm a nut. She said we love our customers. But yes we think you're a nut. NO NO NO. J/K on the last one. So my 522SBK is on the road again.
It does suck if it's your new knife or your fav or ya just got 1 or 2. So easier said than done for me. Cause I'm blessed with more than I deserve.

Oh, one of those knives was a 580 Barrage (non spring related) Fixed it up nice and tight.

I love the CLACK!!!!

I have a Barrage and I really like the knife. I also own several Benchmade knives some as old as fifteen years. I have sent my Barrage back two times for the same spring problem. It must be a design or manufacturer problem. I know this is their first assisted opening knife, but I expected their quality to be consistent.

All good so far on the 585..Knock on wood

Hey Guys, I was just letting you know that these spring issues aren't resolved yet.

I won't go through the whole back story, but I have had two different 580's fail on me. I am now about to have to send in this latest 580 to benchmade for the THIRD time.

I can't speak for the 585s, but I can tell you that the 580s are to be avoided at all cost. The failure rate makes them expensive TOYS, not TOOLS.

It has failed on me so many times now, I hate to handle it. I just can't get over the feeling that it is going to break at any moment, and that is not how a knife should be.

quote:

Originally posted by wilydodger:
Hey Guys, I was just letting you know that these spring issues aren't resolved yet.

I won't go through the whole back story, but I have had two different 580's fail on me. I am now about to have to send in this latest 580 to benchmade for the THIRD time.

I can't speak for the 585s, but I can tell you that the 580s are to be avoided at all cost. The failure rate makes them expensive TOYS, not TOOLS.

It has failed on me so many times now, I hate to handle it. I just can't get over the feeling that it is going to break at any moment, and that is not how a knife should be.

How did they fail? Did the lock fail?

I have a 585 that I bought in August and had the same problem. It worked great until about a 3 weeks ago when one of the Axis Lock springs came out of place. It was so sloppy that it someimes would not keep it locked open and the safety could not be engaged without manually pushing the Axis Lock fully foreward. I was going to send it in but 3 nights ago I took out a ball point pen and mashed the spring back over and into place. Problem solved, works great and locks up tight.

Jarrod