New Benchmade knives Barrage and Nagara

Macchina

Macchina

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Apr 7, 2006
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Recently, I noticed two knew knives from Benchmade. The first is the Barrage with an assisted axis lock (the first) which I think is better than an automatic axis! The knife looks awesome and has a beefy looking 154CM blade, but unfortunately when everything appears to be going so good, it has Valox (another fancy name for plastic) handle scales. Looks like it is going to sell for around $110 (for an axis lock it's in the middle, for plastic handle scales, it's high).

Also new this year is the Nagara in the Red Class which features dual titanium liners and scales! Features decent 9CR13 in a nice agile blade shape that looks very useful for EDC. This knife looks like it should cost much more, unfortunately it's made in China, but Benchmades Chinese QC has been impressive to me in the past. It appears to be showing up on eBay in first production run for around $90 (not bad for so much titanium).

Trying to decide between the two for my knife purchase of the next few months. If you have one or have handled one, your comments are greatly appreciated.
 
AO is redundant when you have an axis lock. It's so easy to flick open and close and you don't have to deal with some additional springs. Less parts the better.

The Nagara looks more interesting and I think it's a better deal if you want something different.
 
mongomondo said:
AO is redundant when you have an axis lock. It's so easy to flick open and close and you don't have to deal with some additional springs. Less parts the better.
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+1, And I have to wonder how the AO will affect the already seemingly weak Omega springs.
 
Haven't played with the barrage yet.

BUT! I am freaking in love with the Nagara. This beauty isn't a full blue Ti scale, but more of a grayed out blue. Anodizing Ti and getting that flat color is hard, but they do it. The Nak-Lock works great on this and has an extra long post for closing ease. When The blade is closed, the lock is near flush with the scales, and only protrudes when opened. I was concerned about the lock on this knife after a few poorly done Shoki's, but my concerned were laid to rest once I played with it.

It's a long skinny knife with a wicked point on it. The only draw back I see, is that it's fairly heavy for the size and materials. Not heavy like a Rukus, but it's more than I expected.

Overall, I am very happy with the knife, and am considering buying the first run I have been playing with.
 
Hmmm would love some first hand impressions of the Nagara, I am finding it online for ~$70.
 
I will not pay $90 for a knife made in China.
 
BoxANT said:
Hmmm would love some first hand impressions of the Nagara, I am finding it online for ~$70.
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yeah, it looks pretty cool, and that's a good price, BUT why not have just made it TI framelock. I mean ti scales+ti liners seems a little redundant to me. If it was a framelock, and BM wasn't talking about pulling from distibutors, I'd jump on it. On the other hand, BM liner locks are good.
 
nate3993 said:
yeah, it looks pretty cool, and that's a good price, BUT why not have just made it TI framelock. I mean ti scales+ti liners seems a little redundant to me. If it was a framelock, and BM wasn't talking about pulling from distibutors, I'd jump on it. On the other hand, BM liner locks are good.
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It uses the Nak-lock and I think that was part of the intent from the get go.

Besides, just about every time Benchmade makes a ti framelock, some individual does the old "it is a Sebenza" knock-off" routine - unless the design is an incredible departure, anyway (Skirmish, 760, etc).

The Barrage does appear to be a rather good EDC design. I might get one, though I'm hankerin' for a 760.
 
The Nagara is actually on my short list of knives I really desperately want this year. And the Barrage is actually a really sweet design. While I agree that the assist is unnecessary, you should feel how incredibly smooth the action is, both opening and closing. The grind is particularly sweet on the largest version. The Valox handles don't feel cheap, either. Good stuff, and while I admit I love Benchmade I'm no apologist either.

Now if they'd just fix that god-awful CSK II...
 
I really like the Nagara, especially the price(VERY cheap for a titanium handled Benchmade), but I' m a bit hesitant about that Nak-Lock, sicne I' ve never had any experience with it, and can' t even seem to find any pictures of it' sinner workings anywhere on the net:eek:
 
orthogonal1 said:
It uses the Nak-lock and I think that was part of the intent from the get go.

Besides, just about every time Benchmade makes a ti framelock, some individual does the old "it is a Sebenza" knock-off" routine - unless the design is an incredible departure, anyway (Skirmish, 760, etc).

The Barrage does appear to be a rather good EDC design. I might get one, though I'm hankerin' for a 760.
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oh, yeah, you're 100% right...what was i thinking-a liner??!!-it's just i read in the description ti liners, to me that says liner lock...i tottally forgot about the fact that it ISN'T a liner and that it's a nak-thanks bud
 
Garth said:
same here

I will not pay one cent for something made in C.:barf:
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Then you better get off the PC you bought, better not use your phone. might want to check your kitchen appliances.....Your full of crap.

You probably buy stuff from china all the time......but because its a knife NOW you take the hight ground? Pleeeeease.:rolleyes:
 
Benchmade is an American company the employs hundreds of Americans. Who gives a crap if a few of their low end knives are made over seas? Where else are you gonna find a knife with big titanium slabs on it for $90.
 
Garth said:
that´s none of your business.:rolleyes:


internet is great, huh? A place where you can call people names you would get smacked up for in rl.:D
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I'll be over in W&C for this one. Not the place to continue this.
 
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