advice on a new griptilian

luke86

luke86

Joined
Mar 29, 2015
Messages
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Hey guys Im looking to get a griptilian. I've been looking at them for a while and I'm ready to bite the bullet and get one. I can't decide which blade option I want. Since they have released the new g10 options with all the original blade shapes in cmp-20cv that pretty much leaves all the blade shapes with virtually the same steel. So I'm basically between the Doug Ritter, drop point and sheepsfoot blade shape. Sheepsfoot and drop point being the g10 version of course. I know the sheepsfoot hasn't been released yet but I think it will be shortly. Since I'm going to get aftermarket scales anyway the scales anyway the stock scales are irrelevant. Basically I just need advice on which blade shape would be the best since the steels are virtually the same. I was leaning towards the ritter but I noticed on the knifeworks site that it weighs 3.82 oz verses the 3.25 oz of the other two blade shapes. Seems like a big difference for just a little different blade. I was also curious if anyone could weigh in if that was actually accurate. The significant added weight is now making me lean towards one of the other two blade shapes. Anyway that's enough rambling. Any help or advice you guys could give would be greatly appreciated.
 
Te Ritter blade is flat ground, as opposed to the hollow grind on the plain Grip. It also has a taller profile to accomodate that grind. IMHO it is not big difference in weight. However it IS a big difference in performance. I've owned both the plain drop point, and Ritter Grips. Still own & carry the Ritter. I gave the drop point to my brother.

Honestly, I never noticed any weight difference when holding and comparing them side by side.

Enjoy your search.
 
Why would you spend so much extra cash to get the g10 scales grip if you are going to get aftermarket scales anyway? I'd go with the normal grips that are significantly cheaper and then use the money you saved to buy the scales you want. I'm also fine with the scales on the original grip, so what do I know? :P
 
NorthernSouthpaw said:
Te Ritter blade is flat ground, as opposed to the hollow grind on the plain Grip. It also has a taller profile to accomodate that grind. IMHO it is not big difference in weight. However it IS a big difference in performance. I've owned both the plain drop point, and Ritter Grips. Still own & carry the Ritter. I gave the drop point to my brother.

Honestly, I never noticed any weight difference when holding and comparing them side by side.

Enjoy your search.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I called benchmade and according to them the ritter weighs 3.82 and the drop point weighs 3.88. So I'm not sure what to think both knifeworks and knifecenter list it as 3.25. I've handled a drop point and it felt more like 3.25 too. I wish someone could chime in with a scale and clear this up. You don't happen to have a scale you could slap that thing on do you? :)
 
Nephron44 said:
Why would you spend so much extra cash to get the g10 scales grip if you are going to get aftermarket scales anyway? I'd go with the normal grips that are significantly cheaper and then use the money you saved to buy the scales you want. I'm also fine with the scales on the original grip, so what do I know? :P
Click to expand...

I would be buying it for the blade steel and not the scales. cmp-20cv is far superior to 154cm. I'm sure I could sell the scales if I chose too. Do you happen to have a scale to check the weight on that grip?
 
I prefer the Doug Ritters with M390.

But the CPM20CV is interesting.

A year ago, I compared Ritter mini grips in S30V and M390 and the hand-feel difference was neglible. In the 3oz range, I doubt even a 0.5oz diff would be an issue.
 
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I love both the Thumb-Stud Modified Drop-Point (551) and the Ritter (552).
I am not too crazy about the Thumb-Hole Sheepsfoot (550) Hollow Ground version.
For the Thumb-Hole, I have my Paramilitary 2.

Griptilians_zpssqjvwttd.jpg
 
I prefer the Ritter.
Here's my three, in three different steels, with three different sets of custom scales on them.


2.95 oz, M2 steel, CF scales




3.00 oz, M390 steel, G10 scales




3.10 oz, M4 steel, G10 scales

 
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Although the Ritter and the sheepsfoot are my two favorite Griptilians, the Ritter gets my vote. Most people I've ask, pick the Ritter as the best Grip made.
 


The Ritter gets my vote as well. Such a great blade design. I'll eventually get some micarta scales for mine, but I love this knife.
 
OK, I'm confused. Why not just get the G10/20CV Grip? It's the best combination of cost-effectiveness and performance. You mention getting custom scales...what might those be? I really like the grind of the Ritter Grip, but when compared to the new G10 Grip, the advantages just disappear.

Currently, dollar per ounce, the new G10 Grip is the best Grip made...and there's no rational dispute to that fact.
 
Hackenslash said:
OK, I'm confused. Why not just get the G10/20CV Grip? It's the best combination of cost-effectiveness and performance. You mention getting custom scales...what might those be? I really like the grind of the Ritter Grip, but when compared to the new G10 Grip, the advantages just disappear.

Currently, dollar per ounce, the new G10 Grip is the best Grip made...and there's no rational dispute to that fact.
Click to expand...


Already did! :)

20160102_145630_zps4awadv0x.jpg



And the best is:

20160113_205837_zpsm11jwkok.jpg
 
Keyman said:
I prefer the Ritter.
Here's my three, in three different steels, with three different sets of custom scales on them.


2.95 oz, M2 steel, CF scales




3.00 oz, M390 steel, G10 scales




3.10 oz, M4 steel, G10 scales

Click to expand...

Those are really sweet! Do you know how much the full size weighs? How much for a set of the carbon fiber ones like that for the large?
 
I've had two mini griptilians which were really awesome knives; sold 'em.

I have two Mini Ritters in M390 now and I had one in S30V. I don't know why I have two currently. I guess because black and orange look nice together.
 
I'm with Keyman on this one. I also prefer the Ritter.



As I said in the Benchmade sub forum, there is no significant weight difference that you will be able to feel at all.
 
Just to throw in a dissenting opinion. I prefer the sheepsfoot, partly because I have come to prefer opening holes to studs, and because I've found it to be a very handy blade shape. Not hugely enamored with the hollow grind, a tall saber would be my preference, but its made no difference in my use, as near as I can tell.
 
I carried the sheepsfoot for years. It was the old 440c and the steels sucked but the blade shape was near perfect. To I have bought many other benchmades over the years just trying to get that type of blade in premium materials. It has to be one of the all time best urban carry knifes as it is compact and the less pointed blade looks much less threating. IMO the sheepsfoot was what made the knife just like the reverse tanto made the the 940. I also am not big on thumb studs. Most of the time I just pinch the blade like I'm snapping my fingers.

I just bought a 940 with 20cv I thought it was pretty much the same as M390. Does anyone have both and can tell any difference?
 
I'm kind of in the same spot as the OP. I want another Mini but I'm not sure what to get. I had a Ritter Mini and I have a Full sized Ritter Grip. Both of them with M390. When it came to sharpening them I had no trouble at all getting a burr on either. When I went to sharpen my ZT0562CF with CTS-204P (basically the same steel) I have to work much harder to get a burr. I sold my Mini to my brother in law. He took one look at it with the custom scales and had to have it.

Is M390 just easier to sharpen than 204P? I wouldn't think so. Or is the heat treatment playing a part in this? How is 20CV to sharpen?
 
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