Side note: the additional Gemini springs included are thicker than the installed ones. These will give you a little more resistance if desired. GREAT VIDEO! Thank you for sharing.
Wonderful video! Something that is interesting is that the extra lock springs in the box are thicker and are more stiff than the springs that come on the knife. I swapped my springs out and the detent was much much stronger!
If we're being really honest, Blade HQ was never the same after Ben left. It was the chemistry between Ben and Zac that made the channel. Once DCA started working for the opposition, Blade HQ was pretty well dead in the water. Nice to see Zac's personal channel doing well though.
I watch a lot of knife vids and I’m not sure that anyone else has covered this feature on this knife yet. Regardless, it’s awesome seeing you doing your own thing. Keep the content coming, Zach!
i predict that there will be a huge market for custom 3rd party scales with this guy for how easy the scales go on and off. cannot wait to see how this knife is!
Great looking knife. Nice innovation. My thoughts, bearings on the lock system. Most axis style locks are metal on metal creating drag. Bearings on the moving studs would be epic smoothness.
Great vid. I’m convinced. Ill be adding a Drop Bear to my collection in the next week or so. Excited to see what options the aftermarket will bring to the table.
Question for anyone. I just ordered the gunmetal version but intersted in changing the thumb stud. Any recommendations? I really like the purple version but didnt want all black. Thanks for any tips!
If the aftermarket gets big on knives like these, Benchmade is going to have to up their game if they want to keep those prices. I love my bugout but they really don't want you in there despite it being it's main appeal to mod the hell out of one.
Having it open by gravity or centrifugal force on the lightest setting would make it illegal in Canada. Based on my understanding of the law. So here's to hoping this doesn't become a trend.
it's a decent looking knife, but I don't think it's going to dethrone my Bugout. I like the adjustability of the clutch lock, but not a huge fan of the drop point Kizer went with. Too much drop on it IMO.
there actually were 'copies' of the compression lock made... there was a company out of germany called 'cherusker messer'. they had two or three overseas produced models in their lineup that used a 'puzzle lock' which was essentially a modified compression lock. operated the same, but the engaging interface was a bit different. the models were one jürgen schanz design, more utilitarian in character, and the 'lapu lapu corto' by bram frank in at least three sizes, which is a highly specialized self defense design.
Kizer has really been making some interesting knives lately. It’s crazy how much Kizer has evolved from mainly titanium frame locks to interesting stuff like this. Thank you Kizer!
Remember Ya'll, if you're not familiar with Axis-style locks, that you'll need to adjust both springs if you're changing the spring position, not just one. You probably could get away with just doing one spring, but the tension might feel a little wonky, & it could be harder on the springs, making them more likely to break. Overall I think it's really cool to see something like this, especially since it only involves simply drilling a few extra holes for one end of the spring. Great job as always, Kizer! As a side note: Yes, I have had several Benchmade Omega springs break on me, without significant fidgeting or anything. I actually prefer the aftermarket springs much more & those have never broken on me. Any time I get a new Benchmade now, I immediately replace the springs. The aftermarket springs alsao have just a touch more tension than factory ones from BM, which is nice since I get tension I like without having to bend the new springs.
Common sense first evolution for the lock, I'm shocked no one has done it before now, congratulations Kizer. And to include extra hardware and springs, is class act, and should be the standard across the board, even if it's baked into the price. Still reasonably prices also, as you may otherwise spend the money and don't like it, because of the lock/detent tension. All that and the Lefty Love, puts this on my list of wants.
A really cool clip! 🤣 And a really cool knife. I broke the omega spring on my bugout, bought stronger aftermarket springs, managed to puut it back together thanks to a youtube clip but now I have blade play and by trying to solve the problem I ruined the pivot screw and I couldn't get a new one because I live in Germany and the authorized dealer won't sell one to me because I didn't buy from him . . . HELLO KIZER!!!!!!
I recently had an Omega spring break on my Bugout. I wrote Benchmade and they said they couldn’t send me an extra set and that I had to send it in for warranty repair and from what I hear that takes several weeks. So I said to heck with it and ordered aftermarket springs and fixed it myself in just a few days time. You are right about these big knife brands needing to jump on the boat and offer more options for those of us who enjoy working on our own knives. Great video Zac. Keep it up. 👍🏻
Great review Zac! Thanks for bringing this to our attention because I'm not sure I would have heard of this knife otherwise. This is a really cool idea for a knife, but part of me wonders about the longevity of the springs if you adjust them too much. I think it's a cool idea and I hope Kizer is successful with it though! I'd also be curious about it's use in a larger knife with a three and a half to four inch blade. I also wonder how well it will actually sell in the market? Will people see this as just a gimmick or as an actual advancement in knife design? I don't know. I feel like Kizer is one of those big knife brands that is always the bridesmaid never the bride. They don't have the big reputation of the much bigger brands (at least in North America) like your Benchmades, Bucks, Spydercos, WE's, Cold Steel or CRKT's, but they also don't have that niche boutique feel of smaller brands for Chris Reeve or Knafs or Vero. Kizer has always been a brand I appreciate but never actually owned. Wow, I didn't know I had such complex emotions over a knife company, anyway if you've read this far thank you for coming to my TED talk.
Love all the insight! If someone is a person snapping omega springs I actually think the Gemini springs would last longer because you can set them under less tension. Totally agree on kizer perception in North America. I think them and WE are making some of the best production knives out there even if a lot of the designs miss for me a lot. Thanks for sharing👊
My titanium and lc200n dropbear just arrived!! I’m really enjoying it, the finish on the ti is crazy and the detent with the stiff springs and highest tension settings is the best on any crossbar lock I’ve tried, even better than my kunwu pulsar which I love
Man, I'm so happy that Kizer are doing that many things right. It's good for them, good for competition's sake and good for customers. Such a good time to be a knife person. Thank you, Zac, for bringing this to us and explaining :D
It "evolved" in the wrong direction. What we NEED is fir axis style locks to drop the omega springs and follow the Anthems way of having functioning with a coil spring. Hot take but THAT was the 1 time the axis lock actually evolved. But instead of that becoming the new way of doing it they just reverted (or really just kept with) the omega springs which are as we all know are fairly prone to breaking.
It looks great, but can we just start calling them "cross-bar/bar locks" already? I had no problem with Benchmade naming it, as they were originally the only ones using it, but now every time a company introduces their own take they have to give it a name, and I die a little inside each time. How many are we up to anyway? AXIS (Benchmade), ABLE (Hogue), XR (SOG), Pivot (Gerber), A-Lock (Acta), B-Lock (Bestech), Slide/Ambi-slider (James Brand), and now Clutch (Kizer). I'm positive this isn't all of them. Just imagine how annoying it would be if every brand used their own name for the liner, button or back lock?
I just got this knife yesterday for Christmas. I had never heard of Kizer before yesterday. In my opinion this knife is every bit as smooth and nicely finished as the couple of Benchmade knives I have, possible more so. Zero blade play, well balanced, nice quality pocket clip, and super silky smooth action. The only downside for some people is that it's made in China.
Outstanding review I purchased Escort in Burlap and I had adjust the omega springs 3 times and I want purchase Drop Bear in Black blade the same one have your holding I probably have to adjust the Omega springs but that's fine it's on sale right now $95 you can't beat that again outstanding review thank you again Zac
Xlnt vid style & production…tired of all the “under the camera lens” vids👍. Usually a larger-knife guy, but I need a smaller one…just because. So, Drop Bear with the clutch lock appears to be it☝️
As an assembler at Benchmade, that is amazing mechanism on the pivot screws. We use a similar D-nut concept when we’re assembling our knives, so this is really cool to see in the wild
I have a Griptillian, I always want to call it a Gripzilla for some reason, lol. Anyway, awesome knife, had it for about 12 years no problems except one of the springs for the Axis lock became dislodged about 5 years ago and reduced the tension just enough so I can now easily close it one handed with just my thumb pulling only one side of the lock back as opposed to having to pull both sides with thumb and forefinger. So the flaw became a feature. But I really like how this new Kizer let's you adjust the detent from the start. Great innovation. But much respect to Benchmade for the original concept. 👍😎👍
I own several bugouts. Every single one had a break in period for that axis lock. Just bought a Kizer drop bear and right out the box it’s dead perfect. I can flick it as soft or as hard as I want and it won’t stick at all when I tug on the lock. Why can’t Benchmade do that? Oh yeah they’re focused on raising their prices 😂
looks like a cool knife indeed.. only I am not the person to buy a knife where the manufacturer knows there is a quality or design problem and the answer is to ship extra parts.. I mean wtf really?
Are these springs more durable than the omega springs on a benchmade? I've broken two omega springs and both times were after taking apart and putting it back together. I'd be worried that would be the case with adjusting the spring tension on this.
Like most knife enthusiasts I've seen my share of rather mundane knife reviews. Thank you for taking the time to care enough to deliver your content in both an informative and entertaining way. Thank you for not settling for a "surfacy" presentation in a multitude of ways. Great presentation is work but thank you for taking the time and effort to care. 🙂
Another great video. So simple thing like 5 small holes in the frame making so huge difference 🤔 It’s very nice that Kizer adding extra set of springs, so far I have only 1 knife with axis lock ( mini griptilian) and often I’m wondering what I’m gonna do if omega spring will brake? Of course is millions ways and tricks on RU-vid but I couldn’t find original replacement set in any knives shops what I’m using 😒 Are you planning record something with Kurt? I’m sure lot of us waiting for it.
Impressive, both the knife’s features, your presentation and your access to this new knife. Not many other American knife bloggers have presented it yet. One question, what is the default spring setting out of the box (1-5)? Keep up the good content. Shoutout to Jamie on the drop bear effects.
