I'm just curious as to possible reasoning about making the blade on the RSK just under four inches. Is that because it's all you need for most cases? Legal issues?

Just how tough is the lock? I saw Cold Steel's "More Proof" a while back and I can't get some of those lock test images out of my mind.

RSK owners, please give me your opinions!

It closely follows Doug's guidelines for a survival knife found elsewhere on this site. it also happens to be about the max length for a pocket folder (my opinion). I doubt it's for legal reasons... you can find a place where almost any knife is illegal. Freakin' Texas has a city (Austin?) where locking folders are illegal. Texas. That's just... wrong.

The lock is an AXIS lock. I have a couple of other Benchmades with the lock. I've never hung from it by a rope or anything, but it looks and feels very strong. In order for the lock to fail, you'd have to either shear the lock pin or change the shape of the handle (steel). It's a nice design.

The blade is quite a bit shorter than 4" -- I have no idea why you mentioned that length. It is 3.44", which is the maximum blade length in the Benchmade Griptilian series. Doug's knife is not a custom run. It uses the standard Griptilian Black glass-filled Noryl GTX scales, with a custom S30V blade. The blade simply had to fit the pre-existing handle size.

Maximum legal blade size is determined by where you live. In many parts of the US, e.g., Boston, it would be illegal to carry even the mini-RSK. Some people also consider the axis lock knives to be gravity knives, which further complicates the issue. Anyway, I don't think legal issues, which are incredibly variable, had much to do with the knife's design.

Forgive my error. In my mind it seems I transposed part of the 3.44" length of the RSK with the 2.88" length of the Mini RSK to arrive at 3.88".

It would seem that precision sometimes eludes me.

Dude, it must be the hemp. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The blade length is 3.44 inches because:

A: That's all that will fit the handle on which the knife is based

B: It's a good multi-purpose length for utility and survival use.

Legal issues have nothing to do with the design length.

If you can find a stronger lock than the Axis Lock, buy it.

IMHO, most people ask questions about specs, or performance for one of two reasons: either they are genuinely curious about functioning and reasoning behind this issue or that issue, or they think they know of or have a better product and want to knock another product because in some strange way, it makes them feel better about their choices or gives them greater self esteem or something like that.

In my case, I eternally ask the question, "why?". It helps me understand things and helps me make more informed choices. My wife used to think it was me being willful, but it is really just a way for me to make sense of things.

If I have offended you Doug, or anyone else, it was not intentional. I am simply trying to understand.

For any who may have taken offense, please accept my sincere apologies.

Sorry, but I don't understand your post. You asked some questions, I thought I answered them in a straightforward manner. No offense taken. I do not generally engage in disparaging other companies with which I compete, so to speak, so I really prefer not comment on your reference to the Cold Steel videos. You can find substantial discussion of these promotional pieces on the various knife specific sites, such as www.BladeForums.com and others. To best of my knowledge, the Axis Lock has no better in strength and ambidextrous ease of use.