Benchmade 556 Mini-Griptilian in M390, S30V, D2, or 154CM

S

soapboxpreacher

Joined
Apr 3, 2010
Messages
955
I didnt quite realize just how many different variants of the Mini-Griptilians there are available. There is the standard 154CM stainless which usually can be had for a street price of $60-70. Then there is the D2 Non-stainless from Cabelas and a few mixed vendors that prices around 89 but had for $71. There is the M390 Super Steel Stainless for around 89 as well, and I believe a limited run of 200. And Finally the Doug Ritter S30V which is around 125. There are a few other but nothing that comes to mind that is more desirable then those choices. The one I know the least about is the M390 version. All Mini-Griptilians seem to be similar except for the steel at the moment. I believe Dougs might be a different shape, more of a blunt design called a Wide-Chord Drop Point compared to the Modified Drop Point on the others. It seems to be a thicker blade profile. Not an overall selling point to me. Sound off and let me know about the M390 steel and how it stacks up against the common CPM S30V. I prefer a stainless. So D2 is pretty much out.
 
The Ritter grip has a different blade shape than the 556. I hope they come out with a Ritter M390.
 
Don't forget the M4 version, I never did see the M390 minigrip. I'd buy that one.
 
And there are actually three different standard Benchmade blades: tanto, and two others that are similar but slightly different, which BM refers to as modified sheepsfoot and modified drop point, IIRC (the latter two vary according to whether the blade opens with thumb lugs or a Spyderco hole). And about a dozen different color variations over the years, some of which are out of production today. Lots of variables...my personal fave is the Ritter blade but it is temporarily unavailable due to a dealer transition and it costs more than the standard models. You can probably find it pre-owned without looking very far, though, if that's your choice.
 
I have an OD D2 Mini Grip. I like it a lot. I found it a few bucks more that a standard Mini Grip so I opted for it. I'm glad I did.
 
Critter said:
Actually, the standard Mini-RSK Mk1 is $110, except for the pink version which is $107. The black blade version is $125 as the coating adds to the cost.
Click to expand...
Thanks Doug do you have a links for $110 version? I like your S30V the best but once again know nothing about M390.
 
Don't rule out the D2 grip. I am really impressed with Benchmades D2, its my current favorite steel from them. And it is a coated blade so don't worry about it staining. And even the D2 is very close to being a stainless steel at 11.5-12% Cr.
 
soapboxpreacher said:
Thanks Doug do you have a links for $110 version? I like your S30V the best but once again know nothing about M390.
Click to expand...

Roger at KnifeWorks.com will be putting up the RSK knives on his site this coming week and taking pre-orders, availability is expected before the end of November. I apologize for the inconvenience. This has been a difficult transition, but we can see light at the end of the tunnel and we're pretty sure it isn't a train headed our way. :D

I can't speak to M390 as I am only beginning to gain some personal experience with it.
 
Critter said:
Roger at KnifeWorks.com will be putting up the RSK knives on his site this coming week and taking pre-orders, availability is expected before the end of November. I apologize for the inconvenience. This has been a difficult transition, but we can see light at the end of the tunnel and we're pretty sure it isn't a train headed our way. :D

I can't speak to M390 as I am only beginning to gain some personal experience with it.
Click to expand...

Doug I think going with Knifeworks was an excellent Idea! I have had great pricing and excellent follow through there. They will do your knives well!
 
ibute21 said:
Don't rule out the D2 grip. I am really impressed with Benchmades D2, its my current favorite steel from them. And it is a coated blade so don't worry about it staining. And even the D2 is very close to being a stainless steel at 11.5-12% Cr.
Click to expand...
I like D2 especially the way BM does it. They seem to know how to heat trreat quite well. However I find the edge get toothie. And it can be somewhat tough to sharpen. I like S30V or M390 (well not yet but what I read I like) over it...I have also had better luck with even 154cm...because I can get it really sharp and fairly fast, sure it wont last as well, but my recent experience with D2 sharpening wasnt very good. Moreover, if you cant get your knife sharp your are lost. Putting the factory edge back on is tough...I did not like it. As with any knife, they will all dull at one point, to be able to do a good sharpening will make all the difference.
 
Oh and Doug the more I look at your blade design (Wide-Chord Drop Point) the more I really like it! As soon as Roger gets the S30V RSK Mk1 in Stonewash version on the site I am in for a pre-order!!! I really like the shape, beefer better proportions then the standard Modified Drop Point! Might need this in M4 also! Nice work!
 
soapboxpreacher said:
I like D2 especially the way BM does it. They seem to know how to heat trreat quite well. However I find the edge get toothie. And it can be somewhat tough to sharpen. I like S30V or M390 (well not yet but what I read I like) over it...I have also had better luck with even 154cm...because I can get it really sharp and fairly fast, sure it wont last as well, but my recent experience with D2 sharpening wasnt very good. Moreover, if you cant get your knife sharp your are lost. Putting the factory edge back on is tough...I did not like it. As with any knife, they will all dull at one point, to be able to do a good sharpening will make all the difference.
Click to expand...

Wait until you discover the ZT ELMAX knives.. Oh Lawd thems good! :eek:
 
I like my D2 Benchmade's, but I'm becoming fond of CPM S30V. As I understand it, S30V is actually a low-carbon stainless steel, but it is specially designed to offer the best combination of toughness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. Its chemistry has been specially balanced to promote the formation of vanadium carbides which are harder and more effective than chromium carbides in providing wear resistance. CPM S30V offers substantial improvement in toughness over other high hardness steels such as 440C and D2, and its corrosion resistance is equal to or better than 440C in various environments. The CPM process produces very homogeneous, high quality steel characterized by superior dimensional stability, grindability, and toughness compared to steels produced by conventional methods.

It has been gaining popularity with knifemakers, and I'm seeing it offered on many mid- and high-end knives. My three primary carry knives -- CRK Sebbie, Bradley Alias, and BM940 -- all come in S30V.
 
RevDevil said:
Wait until you discover the ZT ELMAX knives.. Oh Lawd thems good! :eek:
Click to expand...
I picked up an S30V ZT 0350 and really love it! I would have held off knowing how much I like it and would have sprung for the Elmax version. The ZT 0350 I view as an SD blade, handle design is excellent, G10 excellent, flipper, and build solid! However liner lock. Not horrible but wish ZT could design something that has a flipper with an Axis or Spine or something else. It is my favorite folder at the moment. But the Edge on the S30V blade with all its organic recurve is just ok. It looks to be tough to sharpen as well. I like Ken Onion designs but not on everything. The ZT 0350 will get replaced by my M390 Mini-Grip for an EDC. Yes the ZT is stronger but it is also bigger and the blade design is not good at everything. I carry it as an SD blade. I dont think there are many others that are better. As for EDC the Doug Ritter and gp M390 are tops. Doug has a better blade design but I think the M390 is better than S30V...as for M4...different story. I would love to see the Mini in an auto axis with a g10 handle and titanium liners for strength and weight make it with Dougs blade design and do it in M390...I'm signing up. The Mini is one of the absolute best functioning blades for EDC. When I think EDC...mini is the top of my list! Sorry Spyderco fans. I am still wrestling with my love for them. Not bad just my opinion. Just cant wait to get my grease hands on Dougs RSK MkII Mini!
 
I think the popularity of S30V has pretty much peaked and it will soon make way for S35VN, very similar in make-up to S30V but with a sprinkling of nobium (if I remember correctly) for extra toughness.

link2derek said:
It has been gaining popularity with knifemakers, and I'm seeing it offered on many mid- and high-end knives. My three primary carry knives -- CRK Sebbie, Bradley Alias, and BM940 -- all come in S30V.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top