Review Benchmade 485 Valet

[miso2]

Hi all,


I've got my first Benchmade knife, #485 Valet.

I have been interested in Benchmade knives and Axis lock for several years.
But that skinny omega spring and their allegedly bad QC have turned me off.
When I travelled to the US, I had a chance to handle some Benchmade knives and found this piece very attractive.
Especially the overall look and the scale.

I handled two of them and found one badly off center and the other perfect.
So their QC is 50% I guess

Since I was determined to buy two knives on that trip, and there was no other knives interested me there (besides some super expensive Willam Henry), I bought this knife anyway along with Spyderco Chaparral.

The specs

  Overall length:              170 mm (6.69”)
  Closed length:               95 mm (3.73”)
  Blade Length:                75 mm (2.96”)
  Blade thickness:             2.3 mm (0.91”)
  Edge thickness:              0.6 mm (0.024”)
  Blade material:              M390
  Blade grind:                 Saber grind
  Handle thickness:            7 mm (0.28”)
  Handle material:             G10, stainless liners
  Weight:                      58 g (2.05 oz)
  Lock type:                   Axis lock
  Deployment method:           Thumstud

Here is my take on this knife.

 

[miso2]

First of all, this is a really great fidget knife.

I used to own Manix.
So I kinda knew how Axis lock would feel like.

But man, it is so fun to play with this knife!
The spring tension is just right.
The action was gritty at the beginning.
But it became so smooth after a short break-in period.
I am not sure how long the spring lasts, but I cannot stop playing with Axis lock.


But as a cutting tool, it feels little weak.

The blade steel is my favorite M390, which is relatively easy to sharpen and takes a keen edge.
The blade stock is comparable to other similar-sized knives I have.

The thickness behind the edge after reprofiling to 18 DPS or so is also similar to the other two.

The grind is saber, which is not very tall.

On the specs, it does not seem so bad.
But after using traditional or Chaparral, it does not feel slicey.
I wish Benchmade put FFG or hollow grind on it instead.

 

[miso2]

From online reviews on Benchmade knives, I actually anticipated some build issues.
But I was surprised by the quality.
The fit and finish are great, and everything is rounded and chamfered.
For the price ($175), I guess that should be expected.

The contoured G10 scale is also really nice.
I fell in love with it.
The color and texture gives the knife grace.

In conclusion, this knife prepares me to buy another Benchmade.
The Axis lock is very good in design and action.
Fit and finish is superb, if you can find a good one in a brick and mortar shop.

If I can find a knife in their inventory with a thin blade, thinly ground blade, I would buy my second Benchmade knife.

Would I recommend this particular knife?
If someone looks for a small good looking gentleman's knife with super steel and don't care for sliceyness, I would.
If the sliceyness is the first priority, this is not the knife to get.

 

[miso2]

Reserved.

 

[Dean51]

On the specs, it does not seem so bad.
But after using traditional or Chaparral, it does not feel slicey.
I wish Benchmade put FFG or hollow grind on it instead.

I got to handle one right after they came out, I really liked the feel of it. It had all the makings of a nice slim knife.
But that saber grind is a no go for me. Like you I wish Benchmade would put a FFG on it.

 

[MattBPKT]

Thanks for the review....great pics too.

 

[CPP]

I bought one when they were first released–it was numbered. It was an excellent knife, even at cutting, but it did have a minute amount of vertical lock rock. I sent it in to have this fixed and Benchmade returned it exactly as I had sent it in. I ended up selling it but am considering another. Have you noticed any lock rock?

 

[miso2]

I have read many reviews saying that blade play is common with Axis lock.
Mine does not have any blade play in the open position.
I did tighten the pivot enough to not to have it (and thus the blade is not free falling).
The action was bit tight at the beginning but is really smooth now.

I have to admit that it is really fun to play with this knife.
Again, only if Benchmade put FFG on it.