Anyone have a 484 Nakamura?

TechDoc:
Thanks for the multiple descriptive pocket clip pictures, it is appreciated.

Cypress:
Thanks for bringing up the "one screw in the standoff" issue, which is something I wasn't aware of.

Even though the 484 Nakamura is an interesting knife and would have been a great non-assisted model to compliment my assisted 586 Barrage for EDC there is two issues that will unfortunately prevent it from happening:

1. The original pocket clip rides too high in the pocket for my liking, and the one screw in the standoff when using the low carry clip is not desirable. For many this isn't an issue, I just prefer discreet carry.

2. The unintentional opening of the blade by the thumb stud snagging on the pocket. The fix/modification explained by TechDoc is excellent and would have been applied if not for the hi-ride carry design.

Considering how many ambulance chasing lawyers there is these days, Benchmade would be wise to take note of the thumb stud snagging on the pocket issue described by more than one member. Adopting and implementing the fix by TechDoc into future production and offering a free fix-it replacement kit to current owners would be the prudent thing to do.

Oh well, for those who don't mind hi-ride pocket carry it looks like a very nice knife to own.

Thanks again.
 
I haven't hit the thumb stud snagging issue myself but it does worry me a bit maybe it can happen one day.
 
I'm going to see if any knife parts dealers have, or can custom make a three-hole pocket clip that will allow a flush pocket carry for the 484 Nakamura. I'll start with USAKnifemaker and STR Backyard Knifeworks. If anybody knows other parts dealers or resources that may be of help feel free to chime in. :)
 
You could drill a hole slightly larger than the torx head into the 810 clip, allowing the screw to be tightened onto the G-10 before the clip is attached. Benchmade gives out free clips if you call them, so there's no cost to you! Definitely a unique project.
 
After Benchmade finishes the first production run do they often make changes for the second? For instance, would they possibly skeletonize the liners for the second run? Just trying to decide if I should wait or go ahead and take the plunge. Thanks in advance.
 
StinkyTool said:
After Benchmade finishes the first production run do they often make changes for the second? For instance, would they possibly skeletonize the liners for the second run? Just trying to decide if I should wait or go ahead and take the plunge. Thanks in advance.
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I don't work for Benchmade so I can't say definitively, but I'd say nothing will change other than removing the "First Production" engraving. If anything, and it is a long shot - they might modify/change the thumb stud design slightly because of a safety issue. But again, I don't work for Benchmade so it is just wishful specualtion on my part. Two members here have had it snag on their pocket and partially open the blade. I've also read a review on Amazon where a buyer had the exact same thing happen to him so it must be a not so isolated safety factor. For an excellent quick fix read TechDoc's solution in this thread.

The other day I got the opportunity to inspect the 484 at BPS and was impressed, but decided to wait for the second batch too because I dislike the "First Production" engraving. The first thing to do after receiving it is apply TecDoc's quick fix and install a deep-carry pocket clip, it should then be an excellent EDC folder and share rotation duty with my 586.
 
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StinkyTool said:
After Benchmade finishes the first production run do they often make changes for the second? For instance, would they possibly skeletonize the liners for the second run? Just trying to decide if I should wait or go ahead and take the plunge. Thanks in advance.
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I don't recall any instances where they did more than take the billboard off the blade.
 
Lennyo3034 said:
I was looking at the 484 Nakamura and am very tempted by it. My favorite steel in a nice looking G10 package. The only thing holding me back is the price. I also just ordered a Spyderco Manix in 110v.
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The 484 Nakamura is the smoothest folder I've ever owned. It's even smoother than my 940 Osborne.
 
TechDoc, If you're still here I've got a question for you about your 484.

The 484 I inspected at BPS the other day had a blade that was loose enough at the pivot screw to cause horizontal play. It did make for an extremely smooth opening and closing knife, however :). None of my Benchmades were received even close to how loose this one was.

Was your 484 received in this condition? I was wondering if a lot of these are being shipped with loose pivots and that could be the reason why some owners (currently two here, and one at Amazon that I know of) are having the thumb stud dragging on the pocket cause the blade to open. Possibly, a little pivot screw tightening would solve the issue. Just a thought...
 
I don't recall if my pivot screw was loose or not when I received the knife. However, I completely disassembled and reassembled the knife before I carried it so I could put TuffGlide on everything. When I put it back together I optimally tightened the pivot screw and used a small amount of blue LocTite.

IMG_1136.jpg


I don't believe that pivot screw looseness has much effect on blade opening (unless the screw is too tight) since it is the Axis lock and omega springs which keep the blade closed.
 
harris2 said:
TechDoc, If you're still here I've got a question for you about your 484.

The 484 I inspected at BPS the other day had a blade that was loose enough at the pivot screw to cause horizontal play. It did make for an extremely smooth opening and closing knife, however :). None of my Benchmades were received even close to how loose this one was.

Was your 484 received in this condition? I was wondering if a lot of these are being shipped with loose pivots and that could be the reason why some owners (currently two here, and one at Amazon that I know of) are having the thumb stud dragging on the pocket cause the blade to open. Possibly, a little pivot screw tightening would solve the issue. Just a thought...
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This may be happening because most of the Benchmades I have gotten more recently do not use the low-strength threadlocker, which Benchmade used for at least a decade and a half on their knives. I am guessing it was Blue Loctite. I find Benchmades and most all folders have pivot screws which will back out over time if no sort of threadloker is used. I use VC3 on my knives because it is reusable and uses a gel rather than an adhesive bond (easier to remove, reduces the chance of stripped screws, and protects against inner corrosion).

Another way to get a super smooth opening is to fully strip and reassemble using a fluoropolymer grease on the washers. I've also drilled some of my BM washers, and replaced them with larger PB washers for more contact area and for the perforations to retain grease like that on a CRK Sebenza and other models using this technology. If I had to guess, I would say it goes 5 times or longer between strippings.

On some models, I have installed Nytralon washers to replace the B/PB washers. This type of material is not lube-sensitive at all and it is extremely consistent in smoothness, even as the knife gets dirty. ProTech uses these on many of their folders.

Some knives are more prone to blade play because the physical surface area of the blade-to-handle contact area is super small. Some makers have increased the physical size of the pivot, but the real factor here is how much metal surrounds the pivot hole on the blade, and how much of that metal makes contact with the liner (which also implies the need for a larger washer to increase the contact area, given this sits between the two). I am describing this terribly but it is the same concept of why setting a quarter directly on top of another quarter dead center is going to be more stable than setting a quarter on top of another quarter with only 50% centered. The 484 has a large washer and a lot of surface area here, which makes it a good candidate for not developing blade play over time, even when the pivot is looser. Their usage of what appears to be washers that go over the G10 pivot cutout should help here as well. Seeing pictures from a detail strip makes me want to buy this knife even more, as it has all of the design features I look for!
 
Thanks pnsxyr, that's good information for future reference. However, I think without following the earlier posts my "It did make for an extremely smooth opening and closing knife." comment (which was actually said in jest) may have caused a little confusion about the actual topic of what TechDoc and I were discussing.

The primary topic was about the cause of some owners having the 484s thumb stud catch on the pocket by a few owners and accidentally open resulting in a safety issue. It seems this is the only Benchmade knife to do this (currently two here, and one at Amazon that I know of) that any of us are aware of, and I was discussing possible reasons for it happening other than a too tall or too far forward thumb stud design on the 484. TechDoc devised an excellent "quick fix" that is explained earlier in this thread.

Sorry for the confusion.
 
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harris2 said:
I'm going to see if any knife parts dealers have, or can custom make a three-hole pocket clip that will allow a flush pocket carry for the 484 Nakamura. I'll start with USAKnifemaker and STR Backyard Knifeworks. If anybody knows other parts dealers or resources that may be of help feel free to chime in. :)
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Actually you can still use the 810 deep carry clip if you like. If you turn your 484 over you'll notice that the screw for the barrel spacer in question is flush with the G10. The G10 on the right-handed clip size is the same so you could get a screw into that middle of the 3 clip holes and into the barrel spacer and then cover that screw with the 2-hole deep carry clip.

The only issue is that the middle clip screw you get is going to be too long, so you'll need another screw that is shorter (i.e. as short as the one on the non-clip side). I had an extra clip screw from Benchmade for another knife which worked. If you don't have one I'd be happy to mail one to you.
 
Thanks TechDoc,

I've got a few screws that will fit except they are black, so I'll probably just grind the original stainless screw a little shorter. I'll use low RPMs and quench often so it doesn't heat discolor the screw.

I talked to "STR Backyard Knifeworks" via email and as soon as I send a 484 to him he will custom make a deep-carry titanium clip that doesn't extend slightly above the rear of the scales like the 810 deep-carry does. The pictures taken by Cypress and posted earlier in the thread show the 810 clip doesn't extend much beyond the rear, but it's just enough to irritate me. :)
 
harris2 said:
Thanks TechDoc,

I've got a few screws that will fit except they are black, so I'll probably just grind the original stainless screw a little shorter. I'll use low RPMs and quench often so it doesn't heat discolor the screw.

I talked to "STR Backyard Knifeworks" via email and as soon as I send a 484 to him he will custom make a deep-carry titanium clip that doesn't extend slightly above the rear of the scales like the 810 deep-carry does. The pictures taken by Cypress and posted earlier in the thread show the 810 clip doesn't extend much beyond the rear, but it's just enough to irritate me. :)
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That sounds like a good plan and of course I'd like to see how your custom clip turns out. It you were to use the 810 clip then the color of the screw wouldn't matter since it would be covered by the clip.
 
TechDoc said:
That sounds like a good plan and of course I'd like to see how your custom clip turns out. It you were to use the 810 clip then the color of the screw wouldn't matter since it would be covered by the clip.
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I'll post pics as soon as the project is completed. It may be a few weeks or even months because so far the only 484s I've seen in the wild is "First Production" engraved, which I dislike. My favorite online dealer is going to notify me as soon as the second batch is shipped. Maybe someone else will send theirs to "STR Backyard Knifeworks" first... hint, hint, wink, wink. :)
 
How does this compare to the Ball Flipper? The handles look the same, and the Ball Flipper is far too small for my hands.
 
the Nakamura totally smokes the Ball flipper. They feel totally different although the scales may look similar and my Nakamura is a good touch longer than my Ball so may be better for bigger hands IMO
 
I really like the AXIS locking mechanism on 484 and of course M390 super premium stainless steel, let's hope the blade won't open in my pocket.
 
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