Picked up my first Benchmade. Small drop point with axis lock. Its ok.

Size is great, factory edge is pretty good, materials and feel are very good.

Ease of opening and closing is awkward. Cant get past that.

I went back to my Emerson after a week of trying to like the Benchmade.

I wanted to like Benchmade as well. The axis lock and thumb stud locations are difficult for my large hands. I like the AFO much more...tried the APB, ergos just don't work for me.

Thumb studs hugged right up next to the handle suck for me.

My all time favorite was the afck.
Nowadays I like the griptillian with the kind of sheep's foot blade and spyderco style hole. It's a mighty nice knife for the money