Benchmade 551 Grippy

S

SuzukiGS750EZ

Joined
Dec 30, 2008
Messages
4,563
So, after being bit by my griptillian really bad and a few close calls I decided to put my grippy away. It's been away for months now and I know it's potential, but I'd rather not get cut. The reason is that the thumb studs get caught on the top of my pants pocket and pull the blade open. So after some thought today, wanting to EDC this thing, I decided to switch the pocket clip to the other side so that when I grab it, my thumb is on the tip of the blade making it impossible to open. And if by some chance it does, no fingers are there to cut! I also tightened down the blade a little bit so it doesnt just swing open, but enough so I can still flip it easily. So, has anyone else done this and or been cut taking it out? It really is a nice knife but I put it away before I could even use it! Also, what do you guys think about this knife?
 
Hole-opener FTW

Or: couldn't you remove the thumbstud altogether?
 
Yeah I could, but I like them and I think a hole that removing them would create in my blade would look stupid lol. I do welcome the hole opener though I wish they had that model when I went to buy it. Next one I get will be a black handled 550 with the hole and a plain edge. This is an easy solution for now. I actually like the clip on the other side its more comfortable to hold, being a righty, and feels more secure. I just got used to flipping it with the clip on the other side, and flipping the knife a bit when i pulled it out, itll take some getting used to but i'm sure i can create new habits with this knife.
 
Perhaps I misunderstood.

Did you switch the clip to left handed tip-up? Wouldn't right-handed tip-down be a better solution?
 
I have had my knives open up on me, but thats because they snagged on something else in my pocket. It has only happened once or twice. Get a pocket sheath if need be. I leave the clips on my folders, but rarely use them.
 
Dekz said:
Perhaps I misunderstood.

Did you switch the clip to left handed tip-up? Wouldn't right-handed tip-down be a better solution?
Click to expand...

Its tip up left or right only. I also have a problem but it has to be pretty common. I lack the torx wrenches to get the knife apart, i resorted to an allen to get the clip off, which didn't strip them luckily. I just switched it back to the right because i was forever flipping the knife the wrong way around haha. It seemed impractical after practicing taking it out. But anyways, the blade stop, infront of the axis bar towards the front end wiggles and shakes around, kinda annoying. Any fix?
 
Dekz said:
Perhaps I misunderstood.

Did you switch the clip to left handed tip-up? Wouldn't right-handed tip-down be a better solution?
Click to expand...

Mini griptilians are tip-up only.

I've never had a similar problem, but there's always the Mini Grip 555HG...
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
Its tip up left or right only. I also have a problem but it has to be pretty common. I lack the torx wrenches to get the knife apart, i resorted to an allen to get the clip off, which didn't strip them luckily. I just switched it back to the right because i was forever flipping the knife the wrong way around haha. It seemed impractical after practicing taking it out. But anyways, the blade stop, infront of the axis bar towards the front end wiggles and shakes around, kinda annoying. Any fix?
Click to expand...

Something is not right here.

First off get yourself some proper torx drivers like Husky from Home Depot.

The open blade stop bar should be rock solid. Loosen the big pivot screw and
make sure the stop bar snaps in the sleeves properly, then tighten the pivot
screw lightly. The closed blade stop bar is the axis bar itself. Make sure you
lube the pivot and axis bar with some good lube like Miltec-1.

The 551 grip uses large 710 style thumbstuds, I can see how they might
hang on certain types of pants. The Mini Grip has a slightly smaller profile
thumbstud that will fit on the 551. if you have access to some try swapping.

Finally, the 551 Grip is proven. If you have anything wrong Benchmade will
make it right, make sure you call them first.

Clack-Clack.

-Ron
 
440hard, this is the part i'm talking about. There is about a sticky note thick space on one side that when i shake the knife it knocks back and forth, it sounds like those clacker toys on the stick. It doesn't hinder the knife unusable, just obnoxious.
IMG_0001-1.jpg
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
But anyways, the blade stop, infront of the axis bar towards the front end wiggles and shakes around, kinda annoying. Any fix?
Click to expand...

Ah the infamous "Griptilian rattle" once again rears it's head.

Some Griptilians have a loose stop pin sleeve, that rattles when the blade is closed and not bearing on it. Several of mine had it when new, but over time with use, they tend to settle in place after the blade hits it enough during opening, that it stops rattling.

Some folks put a tiny spot of Loctite on it to make it stop, but I've not found that necessary.

Just use it and flick it open awhile and see if it stops on it's own.
 
Weird thing is, it was solid when I got it, as i played with it more it got loose lol. I don't want to lock tite it as thats a quick fix, if its just something that happens i'll deal. What causes it? Is the sleeve too short or do the liners expand?
 
Hmmm, I've been carrying a Grip. for a couple of months now and haven't had this problem. When I was carrying an Emerson Super CQC-7 it would get caught on the pocket edge quite often. The solution was to wrap the middle finger around the back of the blade. I find myself still doing this.
 
I decided to make the knife my own. Since i only had a torx wrench large enough to get the blade out and the pivot pin i took the pin out and the blade/washers. I cleaned it all off with rubbing alcahol, then put some bicycle chain lube (a teflon lube that is a little thicker than sewing machine oil) on the blade, pivot and washers. Then i put it all back together and put a tiny bit of medium thread locker on the pivot screw and tightened it up to how i liked it. It's quiet, smooth and solid now. I just wish i could get rid of that rattle! I think it'll become my EDC now that i tinkered with it lol.
 
Since it was good before and the way your
barrel stop is wearing (slightly right of center)
something may have got in there, it seems
like it isn't seated properly. (high centered).
Keep it lubed up and maybe it'll work itself out.

Congrats on the successful tuneup, it is a great knife.

-Ron
 
Bear Claw Chris Lappe said:
Ah the infamous "Griptilian rattle" once again rears it's head.

Some Griptilians have a loose stop pin sleeve, that rattles when the blade is closed and not bearing on it.
Click to expand...

The stop pin doesn't actually has a sleeve - it is one piece, with narrower sections that slot into the steel liners. If you flick it round with a toothpick you will see that the whole pin rotates.

Some knives have a rattly stop pin when the knife is closed. Two of my 710s have this "feature" ;).

It's not a defect - and may actually be beneficial, by spreading any wear over the whole circumference of the pin.

You can see the stop pin in my strip and reassembly tutorial here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=581554

If you do find the rattle unbearable, a tiny smear of loctite will stop the pin from sliding back and forth between the liners.
 
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