The Benchmade 485 Valet Pocketknife (Shinola Edition): Full Review

[@CedricAda]

Nick. I'm just coming off 7 consecutive night shifts - its now 2.30am and my ritual to returning to a decent sleep pattern is a half bottle of red and a bunch of your vids. Thanks for the great output :)

[@NickShabazz]

Hah, I'm glad you're loving it, and I'm sorry you're dealing with a schedule like that one!

[@Boojyman]

great way of shortening your lifespan

[@somerandomchd2252]

the first time i heard your videos i wasnt sure id like your channel. Now youre the first person i got to for any knife reviews before i buy. appreciate your videos and all the time you put into them.

[@zachtonndorf1210]

I got this knife today at an MCX (I’m a marine) for $115. Benchmade had a booth set up there for a few days and for that huge discount I love the knife

[@13noman1]

I work in an office setting where knives of any kind are frowned upon but I don't feel dressed without a knife in my pocket so a slim, stylish knife is right up my alley. I added one of these to my collection (in G10) a week or two ago and couldn't be happier! A little small for my hands (glove size large) but it just disappears in pocket!

[@BringOnTheCold]

I love the orange g10 spacers! Gives it some fun character.

[@steveman751]

The orange g10 spacers weren't a "cut corner". It's for the same reason the Crooked River has them, so it's very visible when you drop it in a forest.

[@cyrusrogers6887]

*don’t drop the knife*

[@hb6747]

This isn't exactly what I would consider a forest knife

[@brokenspear6604]

I had the 940-2 and wasn't the biggest fan, in fact I haven't cared to buy an other benchmade. I ordered it online and it had a serious amount of blade play. Both side to side and up and down. And to top it all off it fell out of my pocket a couple of times before it finally fell down into some black hole and vanished forever. Awesome video though, your reviews are seriously the best!

[@whateverbefore]

i think I just watched like 50 of your videos straight in a row. please keep making these videos - best knife-guy on youtube! and please don't forget to bring more about the z-hunter product line. ;)

[@AllThankful]

The orange is neither a cut corner or for visibility (as another poster commented). The owner/founder has an affinity for The Flintstones (Shinola’s parent company is named Bedrock Manufacturing). Believe it or not, the orange is a nod to Fred’s costume and you can see the accent in a lot of Shinola's products (the lightning bolt logo on all of their watches is also orange).

[@paulsummers]

A few years back I bought the Gold Class Valet 485-171 for way too much money, but I've generally had very good experiences with Benchmade. However, even the Gold way-too-expensive Valet has a bit of family vertical blade play. I've made every adjustment I can think of, cleaned, lubed, and fretted over it, but nothing will remove the tiny vertical motion in the lock. No other Benchmade I own does this. The scaled down Axis lock must have been a real execution challenge. I still have the knife, as I think it's very attractive and I'm a sucker for Damasteel. I own two other Golds, the Stryker and Foray. Both are rock solid and beautiful.

[@sable428]

IM WALKING HERE!!!!

[@flythesky3000]

Orange is the new Black. Orange spacer adds contrast and character with the wood look. I like.

[@leveluptech2985]

I wish they put the dark gray backspacer from the g10 version on this and the orange on the g10 it would've given the gray a much needed splash of color without disrupting the aesthetic

[@SnwBrdFrvr]

Just got one of these. Regular grey g10vversion with grey back spacer. Mine has a tiny bit of play if I want the blade to swing free. Just like pretty much every axis. That is a little annoying but it doesnt effect use. It would never fail or anything. I really like axis locks. Super secure, easy and fast to manipulate. Even fun to play with. A tiny bit of wiggle doesnt bother me in the case of axis locks. I prefer to have them lose enough to swing even if that means a little more wiggle. Anyways, this knife is super cool for what it is. It's really thin, slim, and light. Kind of small for my hands. It does have a very efficient blade and handle though for its size. 3" blade and can get a full grip. I just have to be careful and try a little harder to manipulate.

[@swiggamortis5521]

Enjoy your vids Nick, you spend a lot of time on the hole.......heeeeeyyyy,hoooooooo, why I oughta!!!!!

[@sghound]

nice review nick. i love the smell of dat stabilized birch on mine. wat a gem!

[@13noman1]

I picked up one of these about two years ago -- about a year after I had the Emissary. This one (standard model) is perfect for me since my daily life is very office-based. I have the Chaparral, too which I also like but it's not as fun as the Axis lock fun.

[@LorenzoNW]

“I don’t feel like I got shafting paying retail for this in the same way I would of if I had payed $270 for a 940-1.” “And of course, right now this is the Shinola edition. And Shinola’s overpriced, Benchmade’s overpriced … there’s a nice little synergy there.” You’re too funny! Just have to get your digs in. I imagine it’s frustrating for someone like you who’s so passionate about knives to see a company continue to produce almost perfect knives, only to mess them up due to lack of attention to design details and QC. Personally, I’d rather just save up for a Mnandi with damascus blade. I know, it’s more than double the price. But it’s something to be used regularly and treasured for a lifetime (or at least, that's how I rationalize it). And it just rubs me the wrong way, paying a premium to a company that doesn’t seem to take pride in their work.

[@tallica4life81]

Might be my second benchmade. My first is the 940-2. I love wood. Make your jokes. I’m a cabinetmaker and work with it daily and need a nice knife with wood grips. This fits the bill and has an axis lock.

[@kyklain86]

Beautiful knife overall. I'm just getting into Benchmade knives, they're expensive but the quality and steel, and plus the design are awesome. my next purchase is down to three haha, the Small Summit Lake, the Valet, or the CLA.

[@eric21881]

i got the edge bevel reground on my 485, its an excellent small folder and fits in the change pocket in my jeans if i wear them or as a small second knife when i do that. I also am very particular on the BM knives i buy since map. They did well with materials construction and value of all that on this one.

[@DamnTrue]

I’ve got one of these. The grey G10 one rather than the hipster premium shinola. I dig it with one exception. When I grip the axis to close it the blade falls and just barely nicks the soft flesh over the 5th metacarpal. Just a function of the size of my hands/finger length and not a hit on Benchmade. To prevent it I slightly increased the tension on the pivot (frustrating given that the centering was perfect) such that it takes a tiny shake to get the blade to close. The action of which keeps my flesh out of the blade path

[@adamgreene831]

Nick, I totally agree on the fine sweet spot for the the blade play vs. the free axis lock...... I worked on mine today actually and you better believe i had some loktite with me. I finally got it perfect but it took a while....as far as an office blade..you know this is quintessential, just as you said..... However, I completely disagree with you on the orange backspacer. I think it not only serves as a slight visual standout but looks kinda of bad ass. Trust me, if you were to ever drop that shit in the woods you will thank them when you find it because of that orange backspacer. I was watching one of you more recent reviews on a wooden handled benchmade that had an even larger orange backspacer on it and you were hatin on it asweell lol ... I dig it and think it is meant purely to help you find it if you drop it ... as always keep up the great work .

[@tamageskadub]

The design reminds me of the Benchmade Ares (Elishewitz) .. BM knife of the month Apr 2000

[@ericmack1709]

It is a really really cool little knife. It's a shame that everyone who reviews Benchmade knives is complaining about quality control. The back spacer looks bad. A black back spacer would have looked better. It's a shame you pay high Benchmade prices and then need to buy aftermarket scales to really get the knives to look good. The Crooked river looks best with aftermarket carbon fiber scales. The Greek looks best with the natural G10 scales. I wish Benchmade paid more attention to what customers want. I wish they would pay attention to Social media and dial there products in!!

[@ericmack1709]

The Freek looks best with natural G10 scales

[@stdavis22]

I have owned one of these valets for about 9 months and i feel pretty much the same as described in the video..Its a great EDC thats capable but not offensive, slightly sought after limited edition, great steel and handle, kind of small and clumsy, overall awesome knife but not going to please everyone...nice thorough review

[@dirtrider88]

2:19 the (mini) griptilian doesnt have any exposed hardware for the stop pin on either side, not sure why this knife couldnt do the same.

[@mayanalien]

Review a wooden knife on a wooden table 😐. I love your voice btw. I'm on a one hour Nick marathon listening to the voice. You should have a podcast.

[@chriselliott484]

so I have 3 benchmades now and I got my valet from bladehq and it was perfect just had to loosen the pivot and I got 2 others and I haven't had any problems out of the box

[@dirtrider88]

what do you mean "when the axis lock goes away"? why would it go away? 4 years later and its still around.

[@CopperMurdoch]

Just went to a Shinola store to pick one of these up. The three they had in stock all had horizontal blade play. Shame about that QC.

[@thomash4578]

Is the orange spacer with a deep carry clip some sort of legal thing? Is it a way to not make this a "concealed" knife?

[@doctoruttley]

Why no one has hired Nick for QC and design management I have no idea...unless they have behind the scenes. 😳🤘🏻

[@azpwnz]

Nick, I thought the axis lock patent expired last year? Can you do you short video on this?

[@HaesslichG]

Did you keep the Valet or let it go? Because that looks damn nice compared to the thicker Mini Grip 556-1 and my 940-1. Especially for office carry.

[@faethe000]

Had one of these and passed it on in less than a week. Was very pretty, but the ergos were terrible for me.

[@OLMmedic]

Why why why an orange backspacer

[@knifenutsdave]

I hate to say it, but the dymondwood they selected looks like the oak cabinets that my parents chose for their kitchen when it was built in the 70's. Looks very dated and cheap to me. I haven't bought a Benchmade in ages for the reasons you mentioned.

[@NickShabazz]

+Misanthropia Hah. I remember my parents' oak cabinets too, fondly. It looks a bit worse in the light here than in person, but I agree, they could have gone with a nicer wood grain.

[@knifenutsdave]

+Nick Shabazz I'm guessing because of the composition of dymondwood (the resin impregnated in it) it can't be stained either :(

[@chriselliott484]

so is this something you would suggest getting caz ive been looking at it for a day right now also how bad is the blade play is it only a little or what

[@troypierce3967]

Did it stay or did it go?

[@1845Raven]

Nick did a video of the valet a year later on how to disassemble it. I guess he really liked it

[@Dan_Hazard]

dude try Wahl hair clippers oil it is awesome

[@aah4764]

What's going on in July that's letting others make Axis locks? Sorry, I'm not a regular viewer yet, so if you mentioned it already, I apologize for the trouble.

[@NickShabazz]

+aah Benchmade's Patent expires then. Watch the Benchmade overview on my channel for more details.

[@aah4764]

thank you!

[@JURASSIC_JACK1]

I love shinola watches and the brand

[@Cooldibs]

What did you mean when you said "well wait till July when other axis locks are made?"

[@NickShabazz]

+Cooldibs The Axis lock patent expired in July

[@Cooldibs]

Nick Shabazz did they renew it? Or is it more complicated than that?

[@RonBrumleve]

Nick, I think you should compare this knife head to head with the CRKT Wrinkle 2. That way, you can help folks know sh*t from Shinola. :)

[@vemund77]

On sale at my local Cabela's store for 109. Unbelievable.

[@andeeaye]

If they only made a large Valet #drool

[@todaysgrailtomorrowsbeater]

Blade size identical to a small Insingo Sebenza.

[@stevenirving6096]

10:04, laughs in coronavirus

[@dalecarpenter8828]

Was that shinola ?

[@keltainreece60]

Rit dye the backspacerrrrrr

[@BrentonCarr]

that's a $160 knife

[@submariner179]

Baad-a-bing!

[@panzerfaust5119]

too much money,to little knife.

[@Oldcoinsandstuff1]

I will never,, buy benchmade after watching your reviews . Crappy and to much money.