Benchmade 551 Griptilian or Kershaw Cyclone??

R

realitycheck

Joined
Nov 24, 2007
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Alright guys i've narrowed it down to two combatants. I like both of them and cant decide which to get. I will be using this as an EDC. I need to know what you guys think about edge retention on both? Ease of sharpening? How well does it carry in your pocket? Does it sit deep in your pocket so it doesnt scratch your hand when you stick your hand in? All the things you guys know about. I need some help on this guys, thanks.
 
I think they're both excellent.

The 154CM steel in the Benchmade is superior to the 13C26 in the Kershaw.
But you might not notice the difference.
The Cyclone is a slimmer, but heavier, carry.

The Cyclone of course is an AO. It has a liner lock.
It's very well made.
However, I prefer the Axis lock on the Griptilian.
And it opens just about as quickly and easily as the AO.

The Griptilian is more expensive, but as an EDC it's really hard to beat.
It's the one I'd buy.
 
Another vote for the Griptillian. I would trust the Axis lock over the liner. Mostly I just like the griptillian more
 
i have not handled a cyclone but the minigrip i have is an awsome knife. Holds an edge well and is pretty easy to sharpen. only downside is it is a little bulky but i carry it in my waist band when i dont have pockets and its not too uncomfortable there.
 
realitycheck said:
If you guys both have one of each, what about carrying it in the pocket EDC. Is it comfortable?
Click to expand...

I've had one of each; sold both.

Neither is particularly comfortable for pocket carry in my opinion.
The Griptilian because it's a little too chubby for my taste;
the Cyclone because it's a bit too heavy.

The Cyclone is nice and slim for such a big knife.

Still, I prefer the Griptilian.
 
Man so hard to choose. I just dont think anywhere around here sells any so that I could put them both in my hands and check them out in my pockets to see what I liked.
 
Sight unseen and unhandled is a hard way to buy a knife. But... I have 8 Grips /mini-Grips, so I obviously like them. The 551 is going to be thicker than the Cyclone. I like that because I like holding and using a knife that has some thickness to it... it just handles better to me. I also prefer FRN to aluminium or any other metal except Ti. And I don't care for A/O or autos.
 
I have a BM 551 Gryp with 440C steel and an early Kershaw Blur. While that Axis lock is legendary, the Blur gets much more carry - it's just not as thick. Still, neither has the long lasting edge retention of my Bos heat-treated Buck 110 with it's 'pedestrian' 420HC. Little matter, as I solved that problem this past summer with a Spyderco 'Sharpmaker' - my drawer full of 'butter' knives is slowly diminishing it's count.

Last spring found me drooling over a new Wally World offering - the Spyderco S30V Native - <$40. It now is my 'favorite' over both the Blur and Gryp, although the resharpened Blur is a shaver once again. I need to resharpen the Gryp... that 'Native' is an easy carry, once the clip was removed (I removed all of my knive's clips.).

Stainz
 
Had both, kept the Grip. Cylone was thinner but heavier. I did not like the feel of aluminum scales. AO was ok but not that big a deal to me.

Liked the Grip enough to also get the RSK.

I tie a small lanyard to them and use it to remove from my pocket so my hand never actually goes into my pocket to grasp the knife.
 
I prefer 13C26 (especially the way Kershaw heat-treats it) over 154CM and have been sour at Benchmade since late 2003 (won't buy another one of their knives) and I'd still go for the Griptillian.
 
Dang...It looks like I'm the only one to "vote" for the Cyclone. I have 4 of 'em, and not one Griptilian, (although I have had a couple of the "Grips" in the past). The fact that the AO feature of the Cyclone can be left on or turned off is a big plus.
 
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