Anyone using a Benchmade shoki nak-lok?

Artfully Martial

Artfully Martial

Joined
Jun 8, 2005
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I've been tossing around the idea of picking up a gold class version...but first, what do people think about it (either version)?
 
Yeah i'd like to hear about it too, and i can't freakin make sense of the picture of the lock mechanism benchmade has. How does it work?
 
I did get to play with a red class with what I presume to be a nak-lok. It appears to be a compression lock, with a hole drilled in the handle to allow the button to be affixed to the lockbar.

That is to say that, while most liner locks are in the front of the knife, to allow your finger to push on it, compression locks are actually near the back of the knife, although the function is basically identical. However, generally, the pressure of the tang is pushed backwards instead of down, and the backwards pressure is further pushed into a bar, wedging the lockbar in between the tang and the bar.

Then, it's a simple matter to attach a button to the lockbar, drill the handle, let the button through. When pressed, the lockbar is pushed down and out of the way of the tang.

Anyway, I believe that's how it works.
 
I have a BM Nagara, and it does have the Nak-Lok on it. The concept is pretty cool, and the execution seems good on my Nagara. It appears to be a compression lock, but the lock force is actually pointing towards the rear of the knife, it looks like you would have to actually shear or seriously mangle the liner to overcome the lock. I'd say go for it, disengaging the lock with a button is pretty cool.
 
The Benchmade Shoki is a really classy knife. When I first saw it, I was amazed at just how...pretty it was. However, when I first actually held one, my thoughts changed just slightly. It's a very lightweight folder with nice inlaid wood scales, but what bugs me is that, when holding the knife, the choil is placed so close to the edge that I'm afraid of putting any force into using it, in fear of nicking my index finger. The nak-lok itself I had no problem with, as it was out of the way and not too easy to depress, making for a strong lock.

Overall, I was really surprised with the quality of the knife, but it just isn't for me.
 
I handled a nagara a month ago and for whatever reason I actually had to push the lock to even open the folder. Is that normal, and does that translate over to the shoki?
 
I had the regular version of the shoki, its a nice knife and the lock is very secure. It is a small gents knife. My only complaint was the little deal at the end of the handle for a lanyard it looks like an after thought. If it didn't have that I would buy it again.
 
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