Well I just took my 940 apart and I had the same problem. So if the Great Nick had a hard time I don't feel so bad!!Thanks Nick for another great video.
I am 12 and I have a small knife collection and I have a benchmade 940 and it is a pain in the neck to reassemble it but I figured it out and I am able to do it myself and it works great now
This was painful to watch, buddy! I've been there, and I feel for you! The trick is to put the whole knife together except blade, washers and pivot. Then you insert the pivot just far enough to catch a washer. Insert a washer with just enough pivot protruding to catch the blade. Then insert the blade. You will need to hold back the Axis bar for this step. Then insert the pivot a little further Tom make sure the blade is secure, but not protruding out the other side. Then insert the second washer and align with oiler or tied bit. Then push the pivot home. Then install the screw, etc. I promise, your life will be much easier!
TheApostleP Hey look who commented my other favorite knife reviewer. These two guys are my favorite reviewers on you tube.. The best out there shabazz and Apostle P love you guys. Learn alot from both of you.
Aww, Apostle, that's great to hear, and I'm glad that these aren't easy for you either! Sometimes, that's half the reason I film these: To show people that the takedown isn't just tricky for them!
Last time I tried reassembling my griptilian, I just couldn't get the pivot screw through. I had everything lined up, scale, washer, blade, washer,.scale. But no matter how much I fiddled with it, the pivot screw would not push through. After about an hour and getting more and more frustrated, I finally gave up and sent the knife into Benchmade. I have reassembled other Benchmade axis lock knives, it's never an easy process, but I'll eventually get it done. This particular time though, my patience reached its limit. I'm sitting there, cursing out an inanimate object, asking the pivot screw, why, why, why won't you push through? Lol.
@@abc456f I had an issue with a blade once and they wouldn't fixed it. It was a factory issue but they said i did it. So i am on my own. Thank God we have TH-cam with people like nick to show us.
I've use a thin piece of chop stick as a slave pivot pins to hold every thing in place, align every thing then use the pivot to pop the slave pin out hope it helps.
Hey thanks for this video! I was having trouble getting the pin back through the base of the blade, and the trick where you pull the axis lock helped me get the pin through!
Heya Nick! Thanks man for this video. I actually found one of these knives while hiking in the deserts of Moab, and it was just jam-packed with sand. This vid helped me take it apart and clean it. I had most of it figured out on my own except the knife pivot pin. I tried pushing it out but wasn't sure if that's how it's done and gave up. After watching this vid, I saw I had the right idea and just needed to give it some more force (it was pretty gummed up). So yeah, thanks! :D
Actually, the handle material is called Noryl GTX, if I'm not mistaking. it's a very wear and heat resistant polymer that is also used for race cars structure. I verified heat resistance unintentionally while dropping the knife in a campfire during a significant amount of time before I was able to grab it back... no visible damage whatsoever. doesn't make it feel less cheap in hand, but it makes this knife more loveable, in my eyes at least. Have a wonderfull rest of... nevermind ;)
A quick tip, I don't put oil on the blade side of the washers. My reason being I like the washers spinning on the liners so that once the washers start wearing into the liners it's easier to replace rather than the blade
Once I replaced the scales with aluminum ones with cerakote coating it feels a ton better. The stock scales pretty rough and the profile wasn’t as nice.
I got a defective 551 in n680 steel, w/ major vertical blade play brand new out the box, took it apart to find out there was a tiny gap between the axis assembly and the spot where it sits in the handles. Nothing a few dabs of gorilla glue can't handle. Oh good lord getting the washers and the blade in was a pain in the ass. I tried to push the "female" pivot in bit by bit, making it flush with one washer, then stick in the blade, once aligned, I'd stick the pivot in a bit further, and for no reason at all the pivot'll get stuck, and here comes the process all over again. Great video, but I hope I'm never going to have to take this damn thing apart ever again!
I tend to think the ritter grip along with the 940 are the two best benchmade products. I know you have your reservations on Benchmade QC (I have been lucky enough to have very good QC), but from a design standpoint those two knives are first class. I think the mini grips feel a lot better in hand with the plastic than the big grips and with the M390 I actually think the mini ritter grip is not a terrible value for the money, especially compared to the rest of the benchmade line.
I was pretty disappointed when I missed the mini Ritter from Benchmade. I wanted a mini so bad. That blade shape is awesome. Now you see guys trying to sell them on ebay anywhere from $250-400. I wonder if you needed a re-blade with this awesome blade shape, if Benchmade would warranty this shape of a blade for all the upcoming years? Since it is discontinued you know...
Also to not mess with the washer I find it easier to just slide it in after you put one side together push it down between the frame and blade then use a driver or anything to get it centered up
Your thoughts on leaving the liners and axis as is @ 4:10 and let it sit in iso alcohol to clean it? And @ 9:00 using mineral oil (very light hints ever so ginergly) instead of frog lube?
Nick, all back together again but now blade centering way is off and the blade is rubbing on one grivory scale. Everything is put together smooth and springy where it needs to be. I've tweaked the pivot and body screws and no help. Scales come "dovetailed" together to fit flush so shifting them is not possible. When I disassembled the knife I noted that the holes in one side of the washers were slightly chamfered, and the other side is sharper. When I reassembled, I put the slightly chamfered side of the washers facing the blade and not the liners. Could this be the problem or am I imagining things and the washers are just a flat piece of metal and I'm overthinking things? Either way I would sooner put bamboo splints under my fingernails than repeat the whole process to try flip-flopping the washers and do it all again. Do you have any tricks I haven't thought of to tweak the blade centering after you've reassembled? I'm willing to live with it but it drives my OCD nuts and creates friction from the scale when using the thumb studs to open. Thanks Nick, your videos are always wonderful and helpful. Also one of the comments mentions using a slave pin (part of a chopstick) to keep everything together and then pushing it all through with the actual pivot pin when ready. I wish I had thought of that, it sounds like a great idea and it may have helped if I had thought of it. Thanks again, keep doing what you do. - Mike in Pennsylvania.
Nick Shabazz at 18:30; if you just pulled the lock bar back and realigned the washers, the pivot would've popped right through and you're in the home stretch
Yes. These types of knives rely on the pivot screw for securing the blade side-to-side and the clamping pressure to adjust tension. So you can't tighten it all the way, but you also don't want it too loose. The difference between good and poor is only a couple of degrees worth of tightening the screw. (I didn't say "great and poor" because you'll never get it great.)
What tool was it that you used Nick to line up the washers to the knife holes? I’m having a seriously tough time putting on my AWT scales because of this.
You should put the lock in and lock one side of the spring in place first then slide it through the other liner it just makes it much easier if you get what I'm saying anyway but with a lot of blades I just use wd40 and then air to blow them out if they are a pain to disassemble anyway
It's good for metal parts, but it can leave discoloration and residue on g10 and other non-metal materials. Honestly Isopropyl alcohol is the best, it doesn't react badly with most plastics, contains very little water and leaves almost no residue. Plus the vapour from isopropyl isn't as bad for you if you get a big whiff of it and it doesn't dry out the skin on your hands as much as acetone.
To what you could be doing better, i would have just chucked everything into solvent of your choosing bath before picking each part out and wiping down and drying. And then lubing the moving parts. Good content i wanted to see what was inside my knife.
After watching this I summoned the courage to disassemble my griptilian 883bk tanto. It wasn't fun. I found the easiest way was to put the liners together first, then put in the axis lock, then one scale, pivot, then the other scale. Hardest part was getting the pivot back through all the way. After ten minutes of manipulation it finally popped in. I'm not a fan of the axis lock, I find it hard on the fingers. I'll take a liner or frame lock any day over it. Don't think I'll be buying any more Benchmades. As a side note, I'd recommend not buying any cheap Chinese knives like Ganzo or Ruike. Every single one has cheap, soft screws that strip just by looking at them or spin without backing out.
Nick you used to use simple green then you went rubbing alcohol now simple green again. What is this madness? In all seriousness did you find a down side to rubbing alcohol and that's why you swapped back or is there another reason?
I find it funy how you're talking about not taking pictures of the knife as you dissassemble it, and yet you've got video of the whole thing! Of course, most people won't but most people aren't the Nick.
theres only one screw and the pivot holding each liner on??? add to that the screw is located so close to the pivot and it doesnt have much mechanical advantage. it could be so much stronger if the (one) screw was located at the back of the liner.
These screws are like butter. Mine stripped before I could disassemble it the first time. The blade on mine isn't centered either. Not impressed with Benchmade. My $7 Enlan is centered.
who is doug ritter? never heard of him at all, and why is he stealing Mel Pardue's design and putting his own name on it? considering the blatant IP theft, is doug ritter chinese, or associated in anyway with the chinese?
I’m pretty sure that’s a fake knife or at least a after market clip I got mine right from benchmade and the clip only says benchmade and the knife in this video says benchmade USA
Nick it would arouse me greatly of you used one of your favorite knives to shave your forearms bald on camera. Just realizing now how hairy your arms are, please let this be something you consider.
The Benchmade griptilian and Bugout just feel like crappy knives. I was so disappointed. $100+ for a cheap plastic knife. They're so popular because most people just don't have the inherent ability to feel quality in their hands. I just came work with things that feel like trash.
I've purchased a Mel Pardue Griptilian years ago. I've loved the heck out it and it has never let me down.
Thanks so much! I had an axis lock disassembled for over a year and finally got it back together after watching your video
I wish I lived where you do when you're commenting on the pleasure of having the window open on December 29 :-)
+Brian Taylor Hah. Filmed in July :)
Interesting how we still say "filmed". :-) Another anachronistic turn of phrase is "dialed" as in "I dialed your number."
Nick Shabazz any chance you could tell me where I can pick up that nano lube?
Well I just took my 940 apart and I had the same problem. So if the Great Nick had a hard time I don't feel so bad!!Thanks Nick for another great video.
I am 12 and I have a small knife collection and I have a benchmade 940 and it is a pain in the neck to reassemble it but I figured it out and I am able to do it myself and it works great now
This was painful to watch, buddy! I've been there, and I feel for you! The trick is to put the whole knife together except blade, washers and pivot. Then you insert the pivot just far enough to catch a washer. Insert a washer with just enough pivot protruding to catch the blade. Then insert the blade. You will need to hold back the Axis bar for this step. Then insert the pivot a little further Tom make sure the blade is secure, but not protruding out the other side. Then insert the second washer and align with oiler or tied bit. Then push the pivot home. Then install the screw, etc. I promise, your life will be much easier!
My Contego disassembly was a bit easier. Due to a quirk of my filming schedule, this is one of the earlier axis locks I've done. I got better :D
TheApostleP Hey look who commented my other favorite knife reviewer. These two guys are my favorite reviewers on you tube.. The best out there shabazz and Apostle P love you guys. Learn alot from both of you.
I always watch The Nick's reviews! And I love these takedown vids... especially on challenging knives. I'm in good company!
Lol love it
Aww, Apostle, that's great to hear, and I'm glad that these aren't easy for you either! Sometimes, that's half the reason I film these: To show people that the takedown isn't just tricky for them!
I can't thank you enough for this video. Even though it took me an hour to get the pivot all the way thru
Last time I tried reassembling my griptilian, I just couldn't get the pivot screw through. I had everything lined up, scale, washer, blade, washer,.scale. But no matter how much I fiddled with it, the pivot screw would not push through. After about an hour and getting more and more frustrated, I finally gave up and sent the knife into Benchmade. I have reassembled other Benchmade axis lock knives, it's never an easy process, but I'll eventually get it done. This particular time though, my patience reached its limit. I'm sitting there, cursing out an inanimate object, asking the pivot screw, why, why, why won't you push through? Lol.
@@abc456f I had an issue with a blade once and they wouldn't fixed it. It was a factory issue but they said i did it. So i am on my own. Thank God we have TH-cam with people like nick to show us.
I've use a thin piece of chop stick as a slave pivot pins to hold every thing in place, align every thing then use the pivot to pop the slave pin out hope it helps.
That's actually brilliant. Wish I had thought to do that...
LOVE the Tina Turner reference. Keep rollin' on the river, Nick.
Impressive that you got through all that with only 1 damn. Kudos.
Good job Nick! Useful and enjoyable, as all your videos are!
Hey thanks for this video! I was having trouble getting the pin back through the base of the blade, and the trick where you pull the axis lock helped me get the pin through!
Heya Nick! Thanks man for this video. I actually found one of these knives while hiking in the deserts of Moab, and it was just jam-packed with sand. This vid helped me take it apart and clean it.
I had most of it figured out on my own except the knife pivot pin. I tried pushing it out but wasn't sure if that's how it's done and gave up. After watching this vid, I saw I had the right idea and just needed to give it some more force (it was pretty gummed up).
So yeah, thanks! :D
Other than putting the pivot in backwards!! Great job 👏
Good presentation Nick!
Actually, the handle material is called Noryl GTX, if I'm not mistaking. it's a very wear and heat resistant polymer that is also used for race cars structure. I verified heat resistance unintentionally while dropping the knife in a campfire during a significant amount of time before I was able to grab it back... no visible damage whatsoever. doesn't make it feel less cheap in hand, but it makes this knife more loveable, in my eyes at least.
Have a wonderfull rest of... nevermind ;)
You are awesome Nick. Love your videos. Thanks so much for your content!
I sign some of my work in blood. I'm happy that no stitches were required in the making of this video. : )
A quick tip, I don't put oil on the blade side of the washers. My reason being I like the washers spinning on the liners so that once the washers start wearing into the liners it's easier to replace rather than the blade
Facts
Thanks Nick, this was helpful!
Once I replaced the scales with aluminum ones with cerakote coating it feels a ton better. The stock scales pretty rough and the profile wasn’t as nice.
Benchmades are my least favorite knives to disassemble! Great video as always 👍👍
I dig your voice sir. You don't sound like a knife guy, you sound like a guy who wears a fedora & wields a tommy gun.
Don't talk to Christopher Walken Jr. like that.
hey Nick, love your videos
Thanks Nick. I've been terrorified to take my griptillian apart and I just hot a 940-2 for Christmas. Here goes nothing!
I got a defective 551 in n680 steel, w/ major vertical blade play brand new out the box, took it apart to find out there was a tiny gap between the axis assembly and the spot where it sits in the handles. Nothing a few dabs of gorilla glue can't handle.
Oh good lord getting the washers and the blade in was a pain in the ass. I tried to push the "female" pivot in bit by bit, making it flush with one washer, then stick in the blade, once aligned, I'd stick the pivot in a bit further, and for no reason at all the pivot'll get stuck, and here comes the process all over again. Great video, but I hope I'm never going to have to take this damn thing apart ever again!
you helped me smuggle illegal knifes into my country thanks.
... Good? You're... welcome?
hey you try living in a country where axis locks are banned
I tend to think the ritter grip along with the 940 are the two best benchmade products. I know you have your reservations on Benchmade QC (I have been lucky enough to have very good QC), but from a design standpoint those two knives are first class. I think the mini grips feel a lot better in hand with the plastic than the big grips and with the M390 I actually think the mini ritter grip is not a terrible value for the money, especially compared to the rest of the benchmade line.
I was pretty disappointed when I missed the mini Ritter from Benchmade. I wanted a mini so bad. That blade shape is awesome. Now you see guys trying to sell them on ebay anywhere from $250-400. I wonder if you needed a re-blade with this awesome blade shape, if Benchmade would warranty this shape of a blade for all the upcoming years? Since it is discontinued you know...
Also to not mess with the washer I find it easier to just slide it in after you put one side together push it down between the frame and blade then use a driver or anything to get it centered up
Love your vids man. You crack me up.
My knife is of Nylon GTX or Nycor GTX I think the name is for the handle... great video btw
Didn't get the issue with the vertical bladeplay. - Still there.
But I dig your attitude.
Nick thank you for this video it was very helpful
The Shabazz Flick is endearing.
Even on knives you don't have to wrist flick, you still give it the flickity shtick.
i do the same method using your nano-oil but i adhere the washers to the blade instead of the liners
Your thoughts on leaving the liners and axis as is @ 4:10 and let it sit in iso alcohol to clean it? And @ 9:00 using mineral oil (very light hints ever so ginergly) instead of frog lube?
Is this the same for a bug out? Or are all axis lock assemblies the same when swapping scales for example? Thanks
What type of tool do you use to take knife apart and can you please tell me where to get on? Thanks
nickshabazz.com/tools
Nick, all back together again but now blade centering way is off and the blade is rubbing on one grivory scale. Everything is put together smooth and springy where it needs to be. I've tweaked the pivot and body screws and no help. Scales come "dovetailed" together to fit flush so shifting them is not possible. When I disassembled the knife I noted that the holes in one side of the washers were slightly chamfered, and the other side is sharper. When I reassembled, I put the slightly chamfered side of the washers facing the blade and not the liners. Could this be the problem or am I imagining things and the washers are just a flat piece of metal and I'm overthinking things? Either way I would sooner put bamboo splints under my fingernails than repeat the whole process to try flip-flopping the washers and do it all again. Do you have any tricks I haven't thought of to tweak the blade centering after you've reassembled? I'm willing to live with it but it drives my OCD nuts and creates friction from the scale when using the thumb studs to open. Thanks Nick, your videos are always wonderful and helpful. Also one of the comments mentions using a slave pin (part of a chopstick) to keep everything together and then pushing it all through with the actual pivot pin when ready. I wish I had thought of that, it sounds like a great idea and it may have helped if I had thought of it. Thanks again, keep doing what you do. - Mike in Pennsylvania.
"I don't know where they get their evil..." whahahaha - gawd I love your videos Nick😂
Nick Shabazz at 18:30; if you just pulled the lock bar back and realigned the washers, the pivot would've popped right through and you're in the home stretch
you are brave for knocking that knife around without screwing in the pivot screw....
Is there any need to put a bit of lock tight onto the pivot screw to keep the final setting secure ?
Yes. These types of knives rely on the pivot screw for securing the blade side-to-side and the clamping pressure to adjust tension. So you can't tighten it all the way, but you also don't want it too loose. The difference between good and poor is only a couple of degrees worth of tightening the screw. (I didn't say "great and poor" because you'll never get it great.)
put the liners together first then put the lock bar in :')
A Pivot Alignment tool makes life so much easier trust me.
Is there anyway for water to stay between the liners and scales
Does this go for all the 551s with the FRN handles?
What tool was it that you used Nick to line up the washers to the knife holes? I’m having a seriously tough time putting on my AWT scales because of this.
Good video,thanks.
Benchmade says the warranty is void if you disassemble. What is the best way to clean and lubricate without doing this?
what precision driver is that?
Yes! What is that driver!?
You should put the lock in and lock one side of the spring in place first then slide it through the other liner it just makes it much easier if you get what I'm saying anyway but with a lot of blades I just use wd40 and then air to blow them out if they are a pain to disassemble anyway
Nick, what are your thoughts on using acetone for cleaning?
Seems a little much. I'm sure it works, but I don't know why you'd do that to yourself.
It's good for metal parts, but it can leave discoloration and residue on g10 and other non-metal materials. Honestly Isopropyl alcohol is the best, it doesn't react badly with most plastics, contains very little water and leaves almost no residue. Plus the vapour from isopropyl isn't as bad for you if you get a big whiff of it and it doesn't dry out the skin on your hands as much as acetone.
But Benchmade tells you not to open your knife voids warranty so how are you supposed to clean it
Here's a tip! Take the omega springs out first and put them in last. Save you 10 minutes of trying to install the pivot.
To what you could be doing better, i would have just chucked everything into solvent of your choosing bath before picking each part out and wiping down and drying. And then lubing the moving parts.
Good content i wanted to see what was inside my knife.
If you had to, how would you go about replacing a broken omega spring?
Get one from Benchmade and drop it in :)
Gripilan handles are made from Grivory a glas fiber enforced plastic material.
Is there any significant difference between the Ritter and the Pardue Griptillian?
Bryce Martens the blade shape for the most part
After watching this I summoned the courage to disassemble my griptilian 883bk tanto. It wasn't fun. I found the easiest way was to put the liners together first, then put in the axis lock, then one scale, pivot, then the other scale. Hardest part was getting the pivot back through all the way. After ten minutes of manipulation it finally popped in. I'm not a fan of the axis lock, I find it hard on the fingers. I'll take a liner or frame lock any day over it. Don't think I'll be buying any more Benchmades. As a side note, I'd recommend not buying any cheap Chinese knives like Ganzo or Ruike. Every single one has cheap, soft screws that strip just by looking at them or spin without backing out.
When he flicks the knife open and close can it damage the blade from it falling shut? Does it slam against the liner?
Nick you used to use simple green then you went rubbing alcohol now simple green again. What is this madness? In all seriousness did you find a down side to rubbing alcohol and that's why you swapped back or is there another reason?
This was filmed in July. Booze 100% these days.
Nick Shabazz good to hear! I prefer the booze since I naturally have it around the house.
griptilian... its a beautiful thing.
Nick what is your job? Just curious.
I find it funy how you're talking about not taking pictures of the knife as you dissassemble it, and yet you've got video of the whole thing! Of course, most people won't but most people aren't the Nick.
Hey Nick you put the pivot in wrong. I was watching the beginning and end and it's not the same.
Thank you....
theres only one screw and the pivot holding each liner on??? add to that the screw is located so close to the pivot and it doesnt have much mechanical advantage. it could be so much stronger if the (one) screw was located at the back of the liner.
I have never found it necessary to take apart any of my benchmade knifes and I have had them for many many years.
I was thinking of doing this to my knife but after watching this video I think I’m going to pass. Lol😂
My pivot rings won’t go in
Just like my Dad always says “Such is life”
Why can't benchmade just release a strip-down tool this the bits on either end that fit the screws? Maybe with magnetically secured double sided bits.
nathan rubio well, you can buy a driver that has all the bits you need (non-magnetized) for about 4 bucks at lowes/Home D store
I could pull it apart but there’s no way it’ll get put back together without putting a hole in the wall
I feel ya, been there too and sweared a bit :D
“ Red loc tite is pure evil” lol
I've just learned not to take my Benchmade apart. Thanks.
the M390 version must be even nicer
I just use blaster/wd40 and stick it down in the crevices and pivot points, and just squirt away.
I’m losing my mind trying to get this thing back together. All the washers like to do is move around.
"Rock on there, bird."
These screws are like butter. Mine stripped before I could disassemble it the first time. The blade on mine isn't centered either. Not impressed with Benchmade. My $7 Enlan is centered.
who is doug ritter? never heard of him at all, and why is he stealing Mel Pardue's design and putting his own name on it? considering the blatant IP theft, is doug ritter chinese, or associated in anyway with the chinese?
I’m pretty sure that’s a fake knife or at least a after market clip I got mine right from benchmade and the clip only says benchmade and the knife in this video says benchmade USA
Smh.
This is a nightmare for anyone with ocd and mechanical aptitude. It’s also very entertaining.
That's the replica of ozark trail orange d2 😅
Not glade it difficult for you .but i feel a little less incompetent seeing how difficult it was for you .
Argh!...Struggling to do a scale upgrade on mine. There is nothing more useless than a disassembled pocketknife!
Nick it would arouse me greatly of you used one of your favorite knives to shave your forearms bald on camera. Just realizing now how hairy your arms are, please let this be something you consider.
Secret -- this is really Gilbert Gottfried.
Why I oughta
great video...besides the 80 percent of off camera work..wtf
#notabrilliantman
Uno
The Benchmade griptilian and Bugout just feel like crappy knives. I was so disappointed. $100+ for a cheap plastic knife. They're so popular because most people just don't have the inherent ability to feel quality in their hands. I just came work with things that feel like trash.
Why don't you like it?
Chinese folding knife clone have pivot ball bearing, Benchmade folding knife have watchers. lol 😆
This was painful. 😂😂😂
I don't understand how people spend so much on these plastic knives. Seems like a rip off to me
Why I oughta