Benchmade 556-1701 Limited Ti Mini Grip vs Spyderco Native5 S90V/154 Composite CF Sprint

Benchmade 556-1701 Limited Ti Mini Grip vs Spyderco Native5 S90V/154 Composite CF Sprint

  • Mini Grip Limited

    Votes: 26 57.8%

  • Native5 Composite

    Votes: 19 42.2%
  • Total voters
    45
Wolverine666

Wolverine666

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2009
Messages
6,719
I pretty much know which one I'm going with. But I'm curious what other prople think here.

The BM is $300. The Native is $216.

Choose.
 
Wolverine666 said:
I pretty much know which one I'm going with. But I'm curious what other prople think here.

The BM is $300. The Native is $216.

Choose.
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Iirc, the S90V/CPM154 Native has a saber grind. While not the end of the world, I'd prefer the S90V Native with fluted CF with its FFG. So between these two, the Benchmade would get my vote personally.
 
Chariotz4 said:
Iirc, the S90V/CPM154 Native has a saber grind. While not the end of the world, I'd prefer the S90V Native with fluted CF with its FFG. So between these two, the Benchmade would get my vote personally.
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What puts me off about the Fluted CF version is that it's linerless. I like liners.
 
Wolverine666 said:
What puts me off about the Fluted CF version is that it's linerless. I like liners.
Click to expand...

To each their own. On a knife like the Native, for what I'd be using it for, I don't need the extra security of metal liners. Similar to how I use my Bugout; I'm not doing anything so strenuous with it that I'll need to be worried about handle strength.
 
I have the Manix2 in S90v. [not the combo blade with CPM 154] No liner...and I'm with you on the liners....I like liners too.... even though I would have to wrench on that handle pretty good to deform it even a little.

I haven't spent a long time torture testing the blade....but it holds an edge better than my CPM S30v blades
[yeah, I know....I lurk and don't post much-grin]
 
Wolverine666 said:
What puts me off about the Fluted CF version is that it's linerless. I like liners.
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I wouldn’t be put off about the liners with the SS backspacer. I do like that saber grind though and voted for it. Can’t go wrong with the Mini-Grip either...just that price...
 
Spyderco slapped together some NICE steel.
But
In a saber grind.... Pass
 
I voted for the Spyderco Native 5. The saber grind isn't as good for slicing, but in my opinion it's good enough. I would probably carry the Native in the woods. It looks like it would make a good little backup bushcraft knife for carving.
 
So far , the votes are neck and neck. Very interesting.

IMO , if they were both priced similarly then it would be more of a debate for me. But as it stands , the Native comes out on top. And I love that cf.

But I have to admit that that Mini Grip is a looker. And 20CV is sick.
 
I would probably go with one of the other 3 S90V Natives personally. I would definitely prefer the CF scales to the green G10 one, but not at that price difference, personally.I have two orange S90V Native LW's coming in today. If there was a model that doesn't need liners, it would be the Native 5 IMO. If I was going to drop that kind of dough on a BM with 20CV, I'd probably just go with a used Anthem.

I say try out a linerless Native and let us know if you're able to break it!
 
That's a good price on the Benchmade, normally $425? Titanium axis lock with inlays and premium steel, brass fixtures, DLC clip, would get my vote for $300. That's something special.
 
MattWRog said:
That's a good price on the Benchmade, normally $425? Titanium axis lock with inlays and premium steel, brass fixtures, DLC clip, would get my vote for $300. That's something special.
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I agree that it is a nice little package. I'm not a BM fan for the most part but this Ti Mini Grip looks real nice. But I'd def be concerned about blade play and centering issues inherent on most BM's. I guess a note on the dealer order form would take care of that.
 
If the price difference isn't a problem for you, I'd go with the Grip. It has more of a "one of a kind" feel to it. Factory, Ti handle Grips are a fairly rare iteration. This particular one is quite a looker too. Benchmade pulling off solid Ti for less weight than a Spyderco with CF/Liners is a major win in my book...but then weight is an important factor for me to EDC, particularly a smaller, gentleman's knife like these.

The Native is probably my favorite Spyderco but the particular flavor you have up there just doesn't work for me. I hate the saber grind and, IMHO, the Native just doesn't work as well with liners and extra weight. I remember waiting for my first G10 Native thinking it would be a "grail" knife for me, but it just seemed too heavy and dense for the form of the knife. Additionally, I'm a little sick of the flood of Spyderco Sprints of late. I used to buy a couple each year but lately I've been passing because I don't want to feel like I'm feeding the beast ;).

Oh well, whichever you pick you'll end up with a great knife. I just think the Grip is a little "greater".
 
Honestly I'd go with a Knifeworks or DLT dealer exclusive Grip over either the Ti Grip or the Sprint Native. For half the price.
 
Well, I couldn't really vote for either knife, Wolverine666 Wolverine666 , though there's something to be said for each of them.

The Griptilian is quite the looker with its inlaid ti slabs plus a great steel. I've just picked up my 6th Grip--KW 551-1702, so you know I'm a fan. Among mine are two minis--a 555BT wearing Igorded G10s and a Ritter in M390 wearing Wilkins coarse G10. Generally, the minis are small for my hand, though the Wilkins grips change the ergos dramatically, but I keep those two as they mate up with two respectively identical larges. The 556-1702 seems pretty pricey for a BMK, but I have about that much in my GripTilkins.

That Native 5 is very interesting with its laminated blade. The fact that it's saber ground sets it apart as a sprint and doesn't necessarily seem a deal-breaker to me. I stumbled across a below-market deal on a new Native 5 in fluted Ti and picked one up as I'm a sucker for fluted Ti framelocks and always wanted to try a Native. It was a beautiful knife, superbly executed, with awesome F&F, but only fit my hand in the choke-up position. I never saw myself carrying it and didn't want to beat it up, so I sold it at no loss.

I'm a self-professed larger knife guy, but I too have been flirting with smaller knives lately. My preferences there are for more slender blades in the 3.25" range, so I'm very pleased with my NeOn Ultra-Lite, Giant Mouse GM3, and ZT0450, all of which afford me a decent 3 1/2 finger grip with their handle lengths. The only chunkier little guy I've picked up and love is the RHK HalfTrack, an odd hard-use mini that somehow really appeals to me.

Sounds like you're probably gonna get the Spydie anyway, so hope you like it even though I'm no help at all. :rolleyes:
 
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