Shoki 480-1

B

BlackKnife96

Joined
Sep 28, 2012
Messages
159
What do y'all think of this knife?

I'm considering one even though I prefer knives with a pocket clip.

My main EDCs are a BM 943 or ZT 0550 for reference (depends on clothing and where I'm going).
 
The 480-1 is a very nice gents folder. The only issue that I have, which has been frequently reported, is off-centered blade. The lock seems to work fine.


 
Mine came with a centered blade and I love it. Perfect office EDC, and we all know M390 is amazing.


 
I have the wood scales version on the way. I really like the appearance of wood scales on a knife and wish Benchmade offered more knives with them.
 
Yes, the wood handle version is beautiful as well. I have been eying the Megumi since I like the Shoki so much. I just wish it wasn't S30V, I am getting a little sick of that steel.
 
It's a small gents knife that I carry when I am in a suit. I also own a 943, so I'll try to remember to take a comparison picture for you soon.

Good stuff:

Small
Light
Dat steel
Aesthetically pleasing (for most)
No clip, if that's what you want
DAT STEEL.

Bad stuff:

Definitely NOT a hard-use knife
Chintsy lock with back-and-forth blade play. I walked it into Benchmade complaining about the play and got it back with the same amount of play.
The tip on mine protruded until I hulk-smashed the blade inwards, bending whatever it was that was preventing flushness (blade play existed before that)
The choil pretty much ends on the cutting edge. If you have bigger hands, try it before you buy it.
 
Cypress said:
It's a small gents knife that I carry when I am in a suit. I also own a 943, so I'll try to remember to take a comparison picture for you soon.

Good stuff:

Small
Light
Dat steel
Aesthetically pleasing (for most)
No clip, if that's what you want
DAT STEEL.

Bad stuff:

Definitely NOT a hard-use knife
Chintsy lock with back-and-forth blade play. I walked it into Benchmade complaining about the play and got it back with the same amount of play.
The tip on mine protruded until I hulk-smashed the blade inwards, bending whatever it was that was preventing flushness (blade play existed before that)
The choil pretty much ends on the cutting edge. If you have bigger hands, try it before you buy it.
Click to expand...

If you happen to have an Emissary...

How does it compare size wise, feel etc.? I like the Emissary except for the Axis assist. Size and blade shape seem similar. With my OCD, however, blade play is an absolute no-go.

Was thinking of getting the Shoki next...
 
I have the Emissary in both the black and the Damasteel Gold class versions. Still waiting for the Shoki. The Damasteel version arrived today. The regular one arrived with some blade side play but a simple blade pivot screw tightness adjustment eliminated it. I personally like the Axis assist and now have about 8 BM knives with it. Per another thread the Emissary's linerless construction means that apparently no one has been able to readily bypass or remove the assist spring.

If you are familiar with it the Emissary size is almost identical to the Kershaw Leek with the G-10 scales, including overall thickness.
 
Charles Bronson said:
If you happen to have an Emissary...

How does it compare size wise, feel etc.? I like the Emissary except for the Axis assist. Size and blade shape seem similar. With my OCD, however, blade play is an absolute no-go.

Was thinking of getting the Shoki next...
Click to expand...

No Emissary for me. I don't care for assist-type knives. Full auto, or no auto!

As promised: 943 and 480-1 together. Sorry for the junk picture. Let me know if you want a specific angle.

 
Here is my Shoki and Megumi for comparison:

006-5.jpg


What's not apparent is that the smaller Megumi has a thicker S30V blade - 0.110" vs the Shoki's .090" blade.

The geometery is different and there is a closed detent, making the Megumi a bit harder to open, too. The Shoki needs to be carried in the included sheath for 'safety', lest it accidently open in your pocket. Still, CF & m390 make the 480-1 desirable.

Stainz
 
The Shoki is a beautiful little knife and generally the kind of knife I like to EDC. But I'm not a big fan of the Nak-Lok and that pretty much kills it for me. I'd recommend a William Henry E6-3 (Button Lock) or a Benchmade 707 Sequel (Axis Lock) instead. Both of those knives have pocket clips, by the way.
 
Stainz said:
Here is my Shoki and Megumi for comparison:

006-5.jpg


What's not apparent is that the smaller Megumi has a thicker S30V blade - 0.110" vs the Shoki's .090" blade.

The geometery is different and there is a closed detent, making the Megumi a bit harder to open, too. The Shoki needs to be carried in the included sheath for 'safety', lest it accidently open in your pocket. Still, CF & m390 make the 480-1 desirable.

Stainz
Click to expand...

Thanks for the pic of the two together. I didn't realize the Megumi was actually smaller than the Shoki. One thing I have to clarify though, I don't carry my Shoki in the sheath. Mine has a definite detent so I don't worry about it opening in my pocket. YMMV

bld522, I am not a huge fan of the Nak-Lok either, although it seems reliable it can at times be difficult to actuate. For use as an office EDC though, it has worked flawlessly. I am carrying it today as a matter of fact.
 
Thanks for the responses guys, this will probably be my next knife. I'm a little unsure of the nak lock but m390 and carbon fiber in a small package is too sweet not to try.

And thanks for the picture Cypress, there is a enough size difference to own both.
 
The NakLoc is merely a button actuated liner-lock. These are gents sized knives, and while mine are adequately 'tight', ie, have essentially no play, they are not meant to be heavily used. I think batonning with a #2 wooden pencil would be it for rough use! Also, my 480-1 definitely has no closed detent, so I carry it in a sheath. I have a spare sheath - both had their clips removed (I am anal about removing clips!) - and carry both the MeGumby and CF/m390 Shoki sheathed. Just a few days of sheathless carry resulted in lint in the knife pivot area - which had to be cleaned out and lubed with Breakfree/CLP. The 480-1 is my favorite.

Stainz
 
Stainz;

I semi agree with your Nak-Lok assessment but there are fundamental differences between the liner lock and the Nak-Lok. The main one is engagement position. A liner lock normally engages the blade below the blade pivot so any attempt to close the blade puts the lock bar in compression. The Nak-Lok bar engages the blade above the pivot pin so attempting to close the locked blade puts the lock bar in tension, ie: tries to stretch it. Both do use a side sprung portion of the liner to engage and lock the blade but the placing of the Nak-Lok bar in tension rather than compression is a fundamental difference. I am not a mechanical engineer so am not sure which design can be considered better technically.

I do find it interesting the large number of blade lock designs that Benchmade has designed or adopted and used in at least some knives though currently their Axis lock seems to be by far their most commonly used lock.
 
Mine came with a centered blade, but the lock fails repeatedly. I've put it away, because I cannot trust the POS lock to stay engaged. I've cut myself several times. It's a real disappointment.
 
I love mine. The lock is like a modified compression lock. If it failed why not send it to Benchmade to have it looked at? I have had no problems with mine. the knife is exactly what it is supposed to be. I do love my sequel as well but with suit pants this guy is king.
 
edamhcneb said:
Mine came with a centered blade, but the lock fails repeatedly. I've put it away, because I cannot trust the POS lock to stay engaged. I've cut myself several times. It's a real disappointment.
Click to expand...

On anything beyond the first nick, I would've called customer service and sent the knife up for repair. The compression lock is simple enough but works as designed UNLESS there's a mechanical problem. I've only owned one knife they couldn't fix and it was replaced by something much nicer at no charge. I would suggest instead of being disappointed do something about it so you're happier about the experience.
 
I carry one every day that I am in business dress. Work/meetings so on. 3-4 day a week.
 
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