Just came home from work, and I was greeted by a new Benchmade Griptilian 551-1 in my mailbox. My initial impression of the knife are very positive. It's definitely 80 dollars worth of upgrade over the standard version. The G10 handles, while not the most grippy, are very nice and definitely on upgrade over the standard frn. I'll be carrying this bad boy at work and I'll really get a feel for the 20CV steel. I'm curious to see how it compares to S110V. Anyone with experience with both these steels Id love to here you re take on then. If anyone is considering getting the 551-1 I'd say go for it, you won't be disappointed.
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Benchmade 551-1
- Thread starter Blur1670
- Start date
- Joined
- May 23, 2015
- Messages
- 119
I have a 550-1 and it was the only knife I've received with a hair whittling edge from the factory. I definitely agree that the upgrade to the "dash one" version is money well spent.
The example I have of S110v is a Manix 2. Both knives generally sport a 1000 grit edge. In my experience the 20CV seems to keep a keen, hair-popping edge longer and responds readily to stropping. S110v seems to keep a working edge for a bit longer and sharpening takes a more patience.
Granted, the sample size of each steel is one and a lot depends on heat treat, edge geometry etc., but if I had to describe each steel in one word 20CV would be "keen" and S110v would be "aggressive".
The example I have of S110v is a Manix 2. Both knives generally sport a 1000 grit edge. In my experience the 20CV seems to keep a keen, hair-popping edge longer and responds readily to stropping. S110v seems to keep a working edge for a bit longer and sharpening takes a more patience.
Granted, the sample size of each steel is one and a lot depends on heat treat, edge geometry etc., but if I had to describe each steel in one word 20CV would be "keen" and S110v would be "aggressive".
So 20CV would be better at a higher more polished grit while S110V takes a better, toothy lower grit edge? Good to know, thank you for you're response.