The Benchmade Narrows Pocketknife: Disassembly and Quick Review 

I hope to one day have the confidence that Benchmade's price setter has.

I respect benchmade putting in the design work and all that, and I'm glad it exists for people who do want it. That being said, no way am I going to be able to justify that price

The knife gods have blessed us with a 32 min Shabazz video on a Saturday evening 🙌🏽

I love my Narrows. I purchased it when they came out and have never regretted it.

I solved the spring problem by looping some thread through the spring then pulling the spring back and tying the thread around the pocket clip to hold it back out of the way. Installed the blade and pivot then removed the thread. Worked like a charm. And thank you for the objective review, high price notwithstanding.

The unboxing junk days were probably the best. Love ya nickie

Thank you, Mr. Shabazz, for your integrity as a knife fan and for reminding us to use critical reasoning.

I work for a Benchmade AD and I respect the design, construction, and carry profile. A great super light high end edc or fancy special occasion carry. Makes me think of when wristwatch companies try to outdo each other to make an even thinner watch, etc. The price is very high, but with such an odd design it isn’t made with everyone in mind. Not sure if it’s one I’ll pick up, but who knows? Thanks for the video Nick! 🙌 Cheers, - Also a Nick

I think it's a really cool pocketknife aside from the one thing, and everyone knows what that one thing is. Seriously. This is a Benchmade problem, but this is exponentially worse. The basic Bugout being over $100 is typical Benchmade BS. The Narrows is 'worth' about $200-$250 as is, IMO. Look at what Hogue does with USA made axis-locks.

Sure was difficult holding my breath for 20 minutes or so. Thank goodness it all came together in the end. Lesson learned from this epic disassembly? Never, ever attempt to clean or adjust my Narrows! Time to relax with a glass of wine.😮‍💨 Thanks Nick.

You KNOW is gonna be a good video when reassembly starts 8 min in to a 32m video!

Look here's my thing it's a fantastically well-made beautiful knife but it shouldn't cost more than 300 bucks. End of story

Nick, you are one of the first reviewers I have ever watched. I can't remember how long ago. But it's been a minute. I'm glad to see you posting. Keep up the great work. I've had the opportunity to handle one of these, and it is a comfortable thin knife that is easy to operate and could be a good purchase for someone who has money to burn 🔥. Thanks for the video.

An Oura ring, huh? I'd be curious to hear your thoughts. I'm thinking about getting one, but I'm worried to know just how stressed I actually am.

I love seeing your reviews pop up

Why go all american only to use M390 when 20CV and Magnacut exist. Also the clip at that pricetag is just sad.

I like to buy American made knives, however, $520 is obscene.

The first Bob Ross reference I've heard on any of my subscriptions 😂

Price is waaaaay too high for that. I'd get a sebenza before that or a Hinderer. No way it's worth anywhere near $525.

I've owned two of them so far. Absolutely love the Narrows. Great job as always, Nick

Nick, could you do a disassembly and review of the Microtech MSI?

Glad you’re still putting the disassembly videos out Mr. Shabazz; you’re the best out there; as well as the punniest. Having said that; I have a Benchmade Vector that I decided to de-assist; three years and several attempts later; it’s still disassembled. There’s something different about it compared to the barrages I’ve had. Maybe you could point me in the right direction.

This kicked your butt almost as much as that one buck auto from years ago

Thanks for the video Nick. IMHO, benchmade never had great QC. Then their prices started going up. Now they are price gouging. Spyderco is doing it too. No more overpriced knives for me. I think a lot of what people think about prices going up is income related. As with interest rate rises (AKA disciplining labor), if one has a big enough income (or enough wealth not to have to engage in wage labor), one doesn't feel the price increases as much, or at all - in fact they may directly or indirectly benefit from them...Well, i could keep going, but i think you get the idea. Just my two cents - or should i say two dollars now...

I'm a hobby knife maker and have been at it for about 5 years. I'm sure my simple shop has 10k invested . 2x72 grinder, heat treatment oven, bandsaw, HRC tester, benches, wood stabilization equipment, it adds up fast. Each knife takes from 10-12 hrs to complete, and I use nothing but quality materials. I respect the time it takes to both design and manufacture a knife. I think we've gotten used to high volume, and overseas labor rates, blinding ourselves to the real cost of doing business inside the USA. That being said, I don't own a $500 dollar pocket knife, but I do have a collection of folders worth a couple thousand dollars, that I enjoy immensely. Quality things are costly to produce, and craftsmen should get a fair wage. This is a quality product, although I personally would choose a premium steel on this model.

I'm all for American made. Hell, I worked for Benchmade a decade ago. BUT, I would take a Quiet Carry Drift over that any day of the week.

Thanks Nick!

Always great to see a Shabazz video!

I know you have a life, but I miss hearing your reviews and opinions as frequently as we once did. Anyway, thanks for your time and another excellent review!

Ahh, the joys of Axis lock disassembly! (or ABLE Lock, River-Lok, Ball Bearing lock, etc.) Way to soldier through, Nick... That said, with some real cool engineering and design features that you noted, could a little Benchmade R&D go into making the disassembly....um....less painful? Especially for $520....

We miss you nick. Nothing but respect for your general jackassery

I picked up a Narrows literally a couple days before it hit most retailers. At the time I considered myself a Benchmade Collector and I guess I still am since I own so many of their dang knives. I've liked it since day 1, a couple drops of KPL pivot lube and the knife is smooth as silk. I want to add that I have not picked up another Benchmade since buying the Narrows, I feel like paying what I did for the knife maxed out my interest in any additional Benchmade purchases at least until they come out with something that really wows me. There is very little justification for the price; if it was $350 to $389 I think people would have had a much different response. That said it's still a really good EDC knife and deserves some recognition for that. Thanks for a good review and thorough breakdown.

It’s always a good day when Nick posts. Benchmade knives are the worst to reassemble thanks to that axis lock, though this one in particular seems like a special beast. If you thought this was pricey, get ready for gold class. I’m guessing 1.5-2k. 🤑 Maybe they’ll finally put inlays in those pockets!

Digging the index ring

My takeaway from this is this is an awesome knife that you don't want to disassemble lol I'm definitely looking for one of theses on the secondary, I see them at like 325 and I think at that price the knife is worth owning but retail is a bit high.

Taking a sophisticated knife apart and putting it back together is very difficult especially when you explaining everything while you do it. Thanks for doing this video! I may be the only person on earth that thinks this knife is worth every penny! 🇺🇸

I really like everything about my Narrows except the price. I get a full-size super-thin Ti knife that's almost as light as a Bugout, for double the price 😂

One day I’d like to see a list of Nick’s most difficult disassembles/reassemblies

Lately iv got the confidence to work on/take apart my knives and ur vids are a big help . If I get lost uv got one tht bails me out . Thk u sir .

I would only by the Narrows at 520.00 if it had an HRC guarantee, then I'd buy it. The design interests me, looks like a great EDC. The last Benchmade I purchased was in M4 and it held an edge like a butter knife, total crap.

I bought one when it first came out and almost immediately sent it back. I was not impressed with the quality for the price. On my knife, the left-side clip mounting holes were not tapped properly (I'm left-handed), the anodizing/coating on the clip and pivot had imperfections, and I just didn't like the ergonomics. I still love my Anthem though.

Nick this looks so frustrating lol. That spring that took the place of omega springs look interesting and way stronger than omega springs. Kinda wish they’d do that with the rest of their knives. I like the design just not the price. There’s other knives out there at that price that just stands above this, and even more aesthetically pleasing than this, and American made. It is a good looking knife and I do admire how thin it is, but just not worth the price for me.

When you overemphasize the importance of blade centering, you sometimes reach a point where you know that the blade is definitely off center, but you can't tell which way it is off.

So nice to see another review from you! I appreciate the time and explanations you put in the disassembly and assembly process. As long as I know you care much about the community, I expected you will be much more harsh and critical with BM current out-of-mind prices. I think it is important the community takes some relevant action to their obscene greed. One reason is that, otherwise, other important actors may do the same, and , if so, in some years buying a decent knife may become a luxury only attainable by the very wealthy.

Big Pivot Energy 😂😂 💪 awesome

That was so much fun, let's do it again! 😀

Am I the only one that doesn't trust tiny, weak-looking little springs like that? It's just begging for a failure.

Its a shame its so expensive its a neat design!

I have no earthly idea why I'm watching a review of a $500 + knife. I actually know why I'm watching this. I like Nick's reviews. I can see no reason that I would ever buy a Benchmade knife with their current prices. I can get a perfectly good Spyderco, ZT, or WE for less money and at least as good or better quality.

I have a c.1985 Buck 704 on my desk rn that clocks in at under 9mm wide so I don't know there's a lot of marketing hay to be made over a skinny knife, doesn't seem like a startling new idea per se

Yeah, I'm hoping for the full Shabazz review.

Hi, Can you please measure the bearing OD, ID and thickness? I'd like to replace mines with thick washers but I don't know the correct size. Thanks in advance

I have that much trouble putting any of my Benchmades back together,especially the ones with assisted opening so i think you did great.I have wondered if that's not one of the reasons Benchmade charges what they do.After paying that much for a knife your less likely to fling the whole thing out the window when frustrated with it! No knife has pissed me off more during reassembly than a Benchmade.

I like to tape my blade edge when disassembling. Safety first!

Ohhh nice! Happy to be able to watch smth new from the original Nick here

I like your index finger ring. Looks sharp.

Lol missing bearing had me laughing, I was like wtf too 😂.

I happen to be shopping for chainsaws. You can buy a U.S.-made 20" Stihl chainsaw for $500.00. I can't believe that the cost of manufacturing this knife is anywhere close to the cost of manufactuing a chainsaw. Think of the relative amount of cutting per dollar!

My thoughts on this knife is: that engineering is unique and unique engineering will increase the price, but I don't know if the ends to which that engineering is put toward is that valuable. You can design something very specific and have it cost a lot as a result, but if no one wants it: what's the point? The size of the knife seems to be designed to be more of a user but a super thin construction would lower the ergonomics in longer, heavier use, I imagine. so it seems kind of at odds with itself. I'd personally be more interested if it had a smaller footprint

- Yo Benchmade, can you make an Axis even less reliable and more finicky to take apart? And do you think you can make an ordinary knife cost over half a grand? - Watch me.

I started purchasing knives years ago in the 90s and I believe in innovation and R&D but don't expect us the knife community to pick up your cost over $500.00 a knife in the knife community can purchase titanium knife from overseas companies this name is a perfect example the American knife companies are out of touch with the American knife community, I owed American made knives this night is just a trophy knife not a real EDC working class person knife in actual work sites.

Too bad, cause I actually dig this Benchmade more than most. Maybe someday they’re adjusting their ridiculous pricing model, but I doubt it

It’s an attractive knife, but I’ve handled one and it’s actually too thin for comfort…and the price. Yikes! It was really cool to see all the engineering that went into the design though!

..or a lifetime supply of Opinels, at about the same weight per knife, with better ergonomics.

I was chasing Real Steel's Real Slim for a while then I gave up, I don't think they make them anymore.

Honestly of all the sliding bar locks, only the SOG terminus XR actually seems easy to disassemble

The narrows took me no time to break down and put together... but it's kind of the inverse for the manix and that video too lol

Anyone else wondering why a knife at this price point uses plastic caged bearings?

Yea trying to maintain a Benchmade.... I think they went insane trying to build all of them, look at their prices!

Are the ball bearings wearing a track in the titanium already??? They thought that was better than having a steel washer? Just wow.

Nick, debian arch or fedora?

About $200 too much. Benchmade pricing themselves out of the market.

You wouldn't happen to have a disassembly video of an OTF microtech would you?

Great commentary. Do you ever watch Mr. Puzzle? I think you would enjoy his channel.

Did Nick get his finger stuck in a ball bearing?

Looks frustrating 😮, great video though! ❤😊.

I like Benchmade, but their prices have become unrealistic compared to other U.S. made knives. Some of their handle materials are not really special or expensive. Thanks 🎸🔪

1:08 my eyes went like this 👀 when I heard what you wanted to do 😂 You dirty dirty man Mr. Shabazz 👉🏼👈🏼👉🏼👌🏼 #BPE #bigpivotenergy

"We have a Spyderco Manix at home" The Spyderco Manix at home:

I understand why people think the price is ridiculous...but if you look at the amount of engineering and machining involved in this knife compared to a Sebenza...shouldn't everyone be screaming at chris reeves and boycotting them instead?

This knife gets so much bashing

I think you're giving BM too much credit. I think the only reason they iterated on the axis lock was because they needed something new to patent and claim as exciting, superior, and exclusive after every other company put them to shame when the old axis lock patent expired.

A good class Narrows could be epic.

Hype hype hype

522$ and t6 body screws...that just seems egregious haha

I'm going to say there is two Benjamin's too much on this msrp for me at least. It's nice, yes. But, I can't see this surviving the current state of our economy.

Classic comically painful Shabazz 😂❤

I like this knife and if people want to pay for it, that's fine too. But all things considered I'd prefer a Kunwu. Wow, unintentional little rhyme.

Not bad if you can struggle for 22.45 minutes your first time.

simultaneously too large and too small at once. Irrespective of benchmade's spotty qc and the value proposition this knife is one i would never want to own.

Me: Laughing in Spyderco Delica…

Yeah I’m just not interested in owning any knife more complicated than a liner lock to do maintenance on

This knife looks and feels incomplete. Like there should be some scales on top of this frame.

I refuse to buy any kind of cross bar lock anymore because of this aggravation.....

American made means something to a lot of folks. We'll pay more for American.

$406 at GP Knives if you're interested.

Lol, I wouldn't have watched this if I knew it was so ridiculously expensive.

I’ll be honest, I don’t see the innovation here. It’s your standard drop-point, ultra-lightweight, overpriced knife marketed specifically towards people who only buy knives for fashion. The attempted improvement over a standard crossbar lock only makes it more convoluted to disassemble/reassemble, and similar to every other aspect this knife touts as a reason to buy it…there are simpler, stronger, and cheaper finger-safe locks already on the market It’s essentially Benchmade pulling a Derek from Step Brothers. “You want to punch me in the face, but you won’t…” Except we actually won’t, it seems. Oh well, it’s not my money, at least. People cry about overseas products (particularly Benchmade fanboys trying to defend their favorite corporation), but when a handful of dorks are slowly ruining the USA-made market by actually capitulating to these insane prices being set by companies like Benchmade, overseas becomes far and away the most viable option for people who actually carry and use their stuff The beard-oiling EDC hipsters who only occasionally cut tape with their $600+ “super-strong and innovative” knives meant for “REAL use” will continue to buy stuff like this, and the overseas makers will only become more prolific and push the limits of what kind of quality can be achieved within a certain price range. It’s kind of sad to see the USA market vanish for normal people, but it’s also what we kind of deserve for making so many excuses

Wow...a headache knife for a stupid high price...not for me...still love my other BM's tho

Note to self. Do not attempt to take apart a BM Narrows