Verdict on Waves?

[357wheelgunner]

The Axis is superior to the Wave in every way.

Where's that article about the cop who lost a few fingers because the axis button was under his thumb, and he mistakenly disengaged it in a heated moment?

I bet he'd disagree.

I don't want any knife with a lock button directly under my fingers. I'll take a liner lock anyday, they're very safe and secure WHEN FULLY ENGAGED. Every story I've read about liner lock problems was the result of either the lock not being fully engaged or the knife being cheap junk in the first place. A quality liner is very solid, much safer than the axis.

 

[Mandirigma]

I'll take a liner lock anyday, they're very safe and secure WHEN FULLY ENGAGED. Every story I've read about liner lock problems was the result of either the lock not being fully engaged or the knife being cheap junk in the first place.

I have to disagree, I've had liner locks fully engaged fold on me. I've had axis locks fold on me. I've also been lucky enough to be able to drop the knives before I got anything more serious than a cut.

There have only been two types of folders that have not folded on me. Balisongs, and an auto opening by benchmade, both of which are illegal for me to carry. I've owned most brands of production style knives, so the knives haven't been junk.

I am also no novice when it comes to knives and their handling. I am proficient in their use. If it were simply a matter of certain grip(s) to avoid I'd do that, but I haven't been able to isolate a particular grip to avoid.

Anything mechanical can and will fail. Chances may be slim, but it happens.

This all being said, I understand that a lot of people totally trust their folders, I can live with that. As stated earlier in this thread I simply have no faith in folders anymore.

 

[S&W620]

I'm a big fan of the wave.

I have an Emerson cqc "snubby" and I couldn't be happier. It goes from in my pocket to in my hand as fast as a fixed blade. When showing it to friends I've actually had to do the process in slow motion as they had no idea what in the hell was happening.

Emerson makes quality stuff and the wave feature is a real asset if you need the knife in your hand in a hurry.

 

[highorder]

Quote:

The Axis is superior to the Wave in every way.
Where's that article about the cop who lost a few fingers because the axis button was under his thumb, and he mistakenly disengaged it in a heated moment?

I bet he'd disagree.

perhaps that statement was a bit superlative.

the cop sounds like he needed a fixed blade; being an LEO allows it most places.


I guess that I should quantify my statements by saying that I never intend to deploy my Axis as a weapon in dire circumstances. I am talking about the everyday operation of a tool; perhaps there are better designs for instant deployment in a life or death struggle.

 

[Mike Sastre]

"The wave draw stroke moves the knife away from the target - so it creates a lot of extraneous motion."

Absolutely!! Not the best thing in a SD situation. Original intent of "the wave" feature was that of a blade catcher. Found you could open the blade with it and a marketing gimmick was born. I think Emerson makes great knives and have all the respect in the world for Ernie Emerson, but the wave is nothing but a unnecessary gimmick. Excellent actions deploy the blade faster using inertia openings.

 

[S&W620]

"The wave draw stroke moves the knife away from the target - so it creates a lot of extraneous motion."

Not necessarily. A right handed knife can be placed in the left hand pocket and can be withdrawn from the pocket with the blade/knife headed forward in a reverse grip. The same is true of a left handed knife for a right handed person.

 

[Skofnung]

I've been carrying a waved Endura for about a year now and I love the thing.

With most of my pants, it opens on a straight upwards pull as opposed to an up and back motion. Either way, I consider it a tool first and a weapon second. As a weapon, I have more confidence in it than my old Endura, mostly because of the steel liners and lack of needing small motor skills to open it.

I also like it for opening bottles of yummy Sierra Nevada Pale Ale!