How to disassemble and maintain the Benchmade Megumi with the Nak-Lok

[@KnifeNerdery]

Oh how fun! I wasn't expecting to see a Nak-Lok disassembly in 2024! And that model -- the 482 Megumi -- is the exact version I have in my personal collection. For anyone curious about the mechanism, Seiichi Nakamura filed a patent for the lock in 2006 that was granted in 2011 (Patent US7987601). Benchmade owns the patent and put out at least 4 models with the mechanism: the 480 Shoki, the 482 Megumi, the 483 Shori, and eventually the 10700 Nagara under their overseas Red Class line. The first 3 are all configured the same as this one: the lock bar rides directly beneath a solid backspacer that would resist any upward motion (though as Nick points out, the design and shape of the lock directs most of the closing force in a forward, extensional direction on the lock bar), and the lock bar curves up slightly at the end; the Nagara seats the lock bar (which remains straight the entire way) slightly further down into the handle, and the solid backspacer has been replaced with a barrel spacer that sits a little further back. Anyone curious about other Compression Lock adjacent designs should explore Bram Frank's "Puzzle Lock" (which was actually born out of a disagreement with Sal in the Spyderco R&D department during the development of the Compression Lock in 2001, but not patented until 2008 -- US7774940 ), or Warren Osborne's "Top Lock" (which is actually quite similar to the Nak-Lok in terms of how it works, but predates even the Compression Lock, as the patent was filed in 1999 -- US6256887).

[@Youtube-Censorship-Police]

"it is also very discontinued" i knew it, haven't seen this model ever before, but it looks way too good to be a recent benchmade release.

[@rhinosaur.]

Thanks for this excursion into knife history. It's nice to look at different stuff. Very interesting and unique design.

[@timtitus2532]

2017 is not that long ago. Not something you see everyday, a Benchmade with something other than thier bar lock. Thanks Nick.

[@davidkelly2697]

That’s actually a knife I wouldn’t mind owning.

[@tylerjackson498]

Great video! Really enjoyed your commentary and a look into the past

[@stresselemental]

Seeing a Nick upload is like Christmas! Would really like to see you go back and re-review some of the older knives from your catalog and see if your thoughts have changed on them!

[@CBxDeathgrip]

Thank you for the nightmare disassembly video haha. I dont envy you for having to take this thing apart. Good job.

[@ViceCommando]

Love to see Megumi video in 2024. Now I need to find where I put my own one. Liked to carry it back in the day. The action was never good but I think it fits to open this with two hands like gentleman anyways.

[@abuzzbat3632]

The lbh had me fooled into believing that was a full sized knife until the delica reveal

[@Wzrd100]

LbhM

[@St-Mji5pl]

What a pretty little knife.

[@turtelz217]

I like the saibu resembling waves on the back spacer

[@johnwest4097]

When he's not dominating grandmasters during Titled Tuesdays, he's inventing knife lock mechanisms. Nice!

[@bill64gr]

Very beautiful knife!!!

[@duuuuude1526]

That’s a hot lil knife

[@openplz3000]

Got two, awesome knife. There are 3 orn4 other Macanura designs, have them.all, very good looking gentle folders done well

[@phreakinpher]

I know you said that every knife is a Bestech frame lock these days and it's not just fair. There are plenty of Reate frame locks out there, too! :D

[@JKTF476]

I would love to see you review the fox tribal k. I find the curved edge perfect for opening boxes. I think karambits tend to get pigeon holed into a tactical ninja perspective when in fact when held with the blade up like a mini sickle they can actually be very practical tools. It's especially useful to let the knife dangle off your little finger to free up both hands to use when having the blade readily available when needed

[@kerryrwac]

You didn't lube the washers. You did lube the detent ball. This may be the first time that you under lubricated a pivot lol.

[@billycarr7446]

Too late now but I would of measured those washers and went looking for new replacements. I know, fat chance but those old ones look pitted. Way too hard to assemble. I got a BugOut disassembled in a ziplock in my desk that I gave up on getting back together. I do like slab sided rear flipper tab frame lock knives for sheer simplicity. I am no expert on washers so maybe you have some advice? I got this SixLeaf SL-25 framelock because it had Ultem PEI scales and I wanted to own one example. Turned out to be a hella budget banger and I like it a lot. Bearings and has 3 ways to open it. Skiff makes pb washers that replace the ball bearing set, dead nuts exact same dimensions. I ran them lightly tarnished right out of the package, mehh on the action. I polished them on oiled thousand grit and maybe a tiny bit smoother. I am running the pivot right at the edge of free play. It acts sorta like a screen door hydraulic piston thingie. The action is good but I gotta put some wrist behind the reverse flick and front flipper open. My explanation sux but I will take any suggestions?

[@fabianthe_lazy_couch_potat7657]

Am I the only one, laughing about "the woods not going in" jokes?😅😂

[@jeffcanfixit]

THANKS Nick! 👍👍🔪

[@stwida91]

A benchmade I'm ACTUALLY interested in? Did I wake up in some sort of alternate universe?

[@asn101]

Giving a Smock (top liner lock with stud) vibe, but with the hook…but the hook makes *look* stronger…but it really can’t be. The steel being compressed would be strong enough and the lock isn’t being lifted like a back lock but slid aside to unlock…so the hook wouldn’t add much strength or stability. Maybe that’s why it didn’t take off. The eccentric stop pin to dial out play as the lock wears is a good idea though. There are a couple knives I have where that would be amazing.

[@pauljosephbuggle3722]

I like that knife; it's right up my street being light, tight and outta sight. But the disassembly is way beyond my ken. As a leftie I don't like knife designs with only one thumb stud. God gave me two hands for a reason.

[@billycarr7446]

I never saw a great view of it but looks like that stud screws thru the blade, just a tad bit of thread exposure on the clip side (if it had a pocket clip). Reversible stud on this maybe. I love good studs and yeah, make them on both sides. I hate studs that get in the way of the stone on my KME fixed angle sharpener. I am unfond of studs that are poorly placed and why is it always the clip side stud that sucks?

[@beaurex4756]

Get a piece of 3M 2000 grit wet/dry for those bearings.

[@DanielTorres562]

Isn’t this one of their made in China knives? It would be interesting to know who the OEM was for these.

[@elde667]

Just wow. 😳

[@just9911]

I almost picked up a used one as I really love the looks… but the thing is just too small for my hands. I’m very jealous of you normal sized human beings.

[@pitiedvod]

The style is very much up my street, love the scales, the backspace, the blade shape and size of it, but the disadvantages are so overwhelming it no good for me. As a lefty it is a big no no with a button I can't easily press (I have that issue with most right handed buttons and compression locks) and an opening stud that I can't use. I am not sure why they over complex that mechanism and to top it off with a T5 screw? Scary small. Kind of a shame, but if they worked on that design and added a left handed version, it could make a really nice knife.

[@Mettle_DAD]

Would be much more attractive if they chose a different combo than wood and carbon fiber

[@asdf17969]

So it is basically a compression lock with a button that makes it annoying to disassemble?

[@joaopedrosambatti2474]

very much like the vosteed top liner locks

[@matthuck378]

Wish the thumbstud was symmetrical. Being left handed and liking small knives is sad when they don't bother with things like that.

[@speckledjim_]

You can see the DNA of the Saibu 486 in this knife

[@priority2]

What a nightmare. A simple button lock would be a vast improvement 😝

[@samslade5498]

"Don't you hate it when the wood just won't go in." Hello? What? Are you tristate edc now?

[@VeniVidiVid]

Nick “Bobby McGee” Shabazz. 🙂

[@Mike_Y.]

Button compression

[@bazzzker]

Nak-lok oh boi

[@iamgroot4080]

This knife is cool just because the brand is dead 💀

[@christamu2]

That'll help my wood slide in. Oof.

[@tonyballou]

I have a few of these BMs with Nak-Loks. Neat, stylish, not traditionally edc stuff though

[@jasoncadier5305]

Typical Benchmade difficulty in disassembled. I will never buy another one again!

[@sunrisejak2709]

I have over 15 different Benchmade knives. (Favorite brand and lock) I use them all have never taken any Benchmade apart nor do I intend to. I can clean, lubricate and adjust as necessary without disassembly.

[@jasoncadier5305]

@ Go to the next level and try a Reeves, Shiro, Grimsmo or Koenig. You will sell,all of your Benchmades and NEVER look back. I

[@sunrisejak2709]

@jasoncadier5305 I have about 45 pieces in total. Including a Chris Reeves Sebenza. But most are modestly priced and good value. Of course that includes a good number of Spiderco, Kizer, and CRKT etc. No need to spend more money and just get similar results. I'm not afraid to use all my knives under any circumstance. I have a few Gold class Benchmade that I admittedly won't abuse. I'm a big fan of the axis lock. Never had one fail and the symmetric nature of the lock I appreciate more than a liner or frame lock. But that's what knife collecting is all about. We all have our idiosyncrasies.

[@AhmadRiyal]

Leave it to benchmade to make something overcomplicated and ask for an absurd price for it

[@Smegmode]

Second

[@Kempy13]

first