What's the word on the street about the Benchmade Nagara?

I went a different way for my dress-up EDC, or 'Gent's knife'. I saw the Kershaw #1993-2 'Gent's Folder' last summer - very nice knife. Made in Seki, Japan, it has a 3.1" VG-10 blade that looks like the Nagara's, but has a lockback design and blade edge thumbnick deployment. The liners, pins, and lanyard tube are brass while the pivot is SS in bronze. The scales are nicely shaped Micarta. Don't polish them - the slight roughness gives you a grip. No clip - either lanyard or included, but cheesy, leather sheath that comes with it must be used. The plastic belt hook can be removed from the sheath and it becomes great pocket protection. Delivered sharp, but a more shallow grind would be better suited... and probably a new career on my Sharpmaker (VG-10 is hard!).

The best is always last... it has been dropped for this year. Ira Woods and many others have it for as low as $60 + s/h. Extravagance - and my only knife 'from the Orient'.

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It looks - and works - better than the picture.

Stainz
 
I know this is a little late, but I came across a Nagara today (Benchmade version) and it has the same price as a mini griptillian....Now I am confused on which one to get... I have read other stuff about the nagara and there seems to be a positive majority regarding it..but that was a year ago,and no I am curious how well a nagara has held up? any pictures of very used nagaras and who still use it as their EDC knife up to now?
 
I bought a Nagara just after release based on looks and ended up selling it soon after purchase.

Deploying the blade was ridiculous on mine. The sharp thumbstud and strong retention meant my thumb was destroyed after a day of playing with it. Deploying the blade slowly wasn't even an option, since the blade would just fly out as soon as you broken the retention. The knife also feels heavy for it's size, probably due to the SS liners under the Ti scales. Everything on the knife loves to attract fingerprints and scratches, and will eventually give you OCD.

I wasn't impressed with the Nak-Lok either, it too was very stiff and left a nice dent in the thumb every time I pressed it. And since it's not very big, it feels like poking the end of a ballpoint repeatedly. And the button sticks out through the handle on an angle(nature of the design), making the fit and finish look sloppy.

YMMV, but the Nagara is one of the few knives I really dislike.
 
Wow thanks.. I guess your comment made me think twice now, specially with one review stating that the tip was delicate...

But to those who have used it for a long time, did the tip stand up to the test of time? Is the knife more delicate than a swiss army knife? Should I just get a mini grip?

thanks.
 
I didn't find the tip fragile at all, though I didn't give it hardly any use. The blade thickness was actually quite good - it's certainly not a Kershaw Leek tip.

I personally recommend any BM axis knives, they are pretty much all excellent and the Axis is probably my overall favorite lock. Being able to easily open/close the blade with either hand is a big plus for me.
 
Oh alright, looks like the only issue left is the fact that it is difficult to open. Thanks for the input. Really appreciate it... Anybody else have input regarding this knife?
 
Alann45 said:
Definitely. Or a regular Grip. My favorite in the Griptilian family is the 550HG, but they are all very good.
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+1 :thumbup:

If you want a good EDC to actually use, it is hard to beat a Griptilian. If you want a knife to look at, the Nagara will suit. I don't like A/O knives, but if you do, the Kershaw is one of the best.
 
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