Benchmade...Buyer's remorse or am I not really in love.

[Sharp Steel]

I owned an original Endura for a long time and never felt the plastic grip was cheap. Even after the molded grip snapped on my Delica, I still didn't feel it was a cheap grip. The grip on my Griptillian 551 doesn't feel cheap either, and there are other grips available for it if I really felt it was a nagging problem.

As to the original poster; some people prefer one thing over another, it happens. I'm sure there is someone who will gladly take the knife off of your hands.

 

[bakergh]

I've always thought of the Griptillian as the "nice knife" people who only ever intend on buying one "nice knife" buy. I also think of it as something you would give to someone as a graduation present when you know they aren't super into knives, but like hiking or camping. To me it is the glock 19 of the knife world. When my friends come and ask me for advice for what gun they should buy I always tell them to go get a glock 19. Do I own one? No. Will I ever own one? No. It doesn't turn me on. I prefer more interesting stuff like CZ's, 1911's and Colt revolvers, but since I know this will be their only gun... yeah buy a glock. This is about the same. You want to get your son a nice knife he can take to college? Get him a mini-griptillian with "Class of whatever" engraved on it...

 

[sechip]

I think the stock scales leave a lot to be desired and if you change them out with custom scales they can transform how the knife feels in your hand.
Big fan of the Axis lock!

 

[uxo2]

I think at the price Benchmade's are currently being sold for, buyers remorse will be common.

Really.

How many ZTs are there for sale.

I HAD a 550 that I got because of the hype.Great steel blah blah blah.

I ended up doing the detent fix and still hated it and ended up
with a callous on my thumb.

Went back to my Griptilian 550 with 154c and all I did was replace the scales and addd a lowrider clip.

Lighter. Just as sharp..and cheaper than a ZT.

The 550s issues were crappy HARD deployment,, And ONE side that is slick.


The ZT went away.

As for the Griptilian line up from the factory.
IMHO the scales are the weakness. CHEAP.

So I replaced them with some nice scales.




550 with a stererilzed "no markings" stonewashed blade and lowrider titanium clip.
DOAT Off color OD green canvas Mircata scales.

I love this knife

 

[SaintlyBrees]

I think the stock scales leave a lot to be desired and if you change them out with custom scales they can transform how the knife feels in your hand.
Big fan of the Axis lock!

Fact. My Grip with Wilkins scales feels a lot nicer than any of my other Benchmades. And the Axis lock is, IMHO, the best part of the BM line.

 

[Mikey's Deli]

I don't think the scales are cheap. Just different. I love Spyderco FRN scales. They seem cheap at first, but I dig them.
These replacement scales are really cool.
I figure I can always buy another grip if my tastes change, as they often do. I just want the cash to put to some new Shapton stones.

I think I will sell it. Will post pictures once my name change goes through. ...Mikey's Deli

 

[whp]

The standard Grip scales may feel flimsy to some, but just try to break one. That s an amazingly sturdy knife. Strong pivot , strong lock. I consider mine a poor man s strider.

 

[fzla226]

I never got why people complain so much about the handles. They're that way because they want the knife to be a bit less expensive and lighter. If you want something more solid "feeling" get a presidio or 710.

 

[Sonnydaze]

I had a miniGrip but sold it. I really like the 710/D2, but can't spring for the one with M390.
I think the 710's blade-length would be really nice in the kitchen, but I don't need that for carry.

 

[cchu518]

I don't like the roundedness of the grip scales. The bone collector and presidio series solves that for me. The bone collector and the ZT's are very similar in size.

 

[uofaengr]

A lot of people find the full Grip to be chunky and clacky sounding because of the scales. I prefer the mini as it's small and ergonomic. Although more expensive, the Ritter mini version is an excellent EDC. I think it wouldn't have been a bad idea if they kept the plastic handled mini and full Grips in the $60-$70 range and had the same knife in an appealing G10 in several colors in the $90-$100 range, if the numbers worked out. I think different scales on the full Grip would help combat the "cheapish" feeling, but there's a reason why it's so popular.

 

[uxo2]

I like the girth. And texture.

It's the hollow noisy CLACK on opening and closing
I can't stand.

 

[chambelona59]

I like BM and Axis locks, though I never cared much for the blade shape on the Griptillian 551.
As far as BM folders.. I prefer the two Ritter BM Griptilians and the 550 Griptilian.
The scales don't bother me at all.

While I enjoy my Grips they are not carried everyday, I'm into rotation and variety, last several days its been a Spyderco Techno.

 

[Stainz]

Once upon a time, a younger Stainz broke down and bought his first Benchmade - a 551 Grip in 440C steel - purchased over other examples mainly due to it's low price ($65 at a local store!). Enamored by it's infamous AXIS lock, I didn't notice two negatives... it's nasty feel in my hand and the fact that it needed heat to cut thru butter. It would languish in my drawer for years, alongside dulled other knives... awaiting my sharpening skills to improve. I bought a Spyderco Sharpmaker... dulled knives were returned to service - and the BM 551 was made into a near razor. I then found out I really didn't like the 551 Grip - but I really like Benchmades. In fact, I cannot think of a single BM I would get rid of - and I now have nearly three dozen of them, with only one duplicate - a 630 Skirmish.

One day I met a nice gentleman from south Alabama - a knifemaker and designer - at the local sharp-things-emporium. When asked about the BM 551 Grip, I was honest - and told Mel Pardue face to face that I wasn't fond of one of his favorite creations. He restated the fact that 'Not every knife is for everyone!'. I make it a point to return when I know he is visiting - and he even custom made me one of his knives - a real beauty and my only 'real' custom knife.

For calibration purposes, I started with Buck - still have plenty of them. German-made Bokers & Pumas, too, as well as some Kershaw/ZT and Spyderco's - even a small plain-Jane CRK Sebbie. But - I wouldn't have some of my favorite EDC knives - Benchmades - if I hadn't looked past that initial 551 Grip! To the OP, etc, give Benchmade another shot!

Stainz

 

[wazu013]

I think at the price Benchmade's are currently being sold for, buyers remorse will be common.

Agreed:thumbup:
I'm an older buyer and collector so I was buying BM's when they were fairly new to the market especially their Balisongs. Their fit nad finish was and I'm sure it still is top of the line. Price is where they loose me. I don't have the answer it's just I love the product but hate the price.

 

[pedropcola]

Love BM. Not a fan of the fullsize Grips. The minis are another story though. Just about perfect smaller, cheaper, pocket knife for me. I particularly love my Ritter mini. After market scales can make all the difference.

I have a 0550Blk that has an impossible detent. I am trying to be patient but my thumb has asked politely that I send it back to ZT for some care. My Preacher made scale though looks crazy good on it. If the detent issue is cured this will be one beautiful and beefy knife. I will post pics when that happens.

 

[mmarkh]

I like BM a lot but I like other companies, I have probably 5 favorites that include BM. It took me years before I got a Griptilian and although I love it I haven't carried it much (no reason, just usually end up with something else, but it would be a fantastic knife to carry for days on end.)

I don't think you're missing anything. BM makes great knives. Some I like better than others. Some aren't for me and I won't buy. I think as knife knuts we at times feel like if we don't like x knife from x company that is supposed to be really good and really popular there is something wrong. There isn't.

I have no desire to own a Sebenza. If I found one cheaply, I'd likely sell it for profit. It's apparently a great knife. I am sure that it is. But I have a lot of knives I like and if I had a Sebenza I'd prefer the cash in my pocket to the Sebenza. Die hard fans or it will probably be aghast but there it is. Doesn't make us any less knutty when popular knife doesn't do it for us. It happens.

What does a Sebenza have to do with Benchmade? To the OP, try the mini Griptilian. I own a small Ritter grip and love it. Many people say the large handle feels cheap. The key is, the handles are flay out comfortable. Like someone else said, comparing it to a knife worth twice the price is a little unfair also.

 

[mmarkh]

The only benchmades that I actually liked was the 940 and 710. The rest are just mehh.. for me. The grip is a popular model and liked by many. I'm sure you can still get some of your money back on it.

Well I would certainly hope he wouldn't have to give it away to move it.

 

[Mikey's Deli]

Love BM. Not a fan of the fullsize Grips. The minis are another story though. Just about perfect smaller, cheaper, pocket knife for me. I particularly love my Ritter mini. After market scales can make all the difference.

I have a 0550Blk that has an impossible detent. I am trying to be patient but my thumb has asked politely that I send it back to ZT for some care. My Preacher made scale though looks crazy good on it. If the detent issue is cured this will be one beautiful and beefy knife. I will post pics when that happens.

About the 0550: I have pretty big hands so I like a bigger knife. I like some smaller knives too, like my Spyderco Native 2. But for me, most knives with handles less than 4" are less appealing/difficult to grip with strength.
But I got over the detent problem on the 0550 by just getting the feel for it. It's an angle and position issue for me.
Plus, it's also a handy deterrent for people playing with my knives. Most people (non-knife knuts) can't stand not being able to open it one handed right away.
It's almost like having a normie lock on it. But once they actually see the blade the normies will step back, as their first reaction.

 

[Mikey's Deli]

What does a Sebenza have to do with Benchmade? To the OP, try the mini Griptilian. I own a small Ritter grip and love it. Many people say the large handle feels cheap. The key is, the handles are flay out comfortable. Like someone else said, comparing it to a knife worth twice the price is a little unfair also.

Yeah the price comparison is not the issue for me.
See my last post...I have fairly large hands and any handle under 4.5" is hard to really bear down on. The 0550 feels like a comfortable shirt for big and tall guy.
But I do like some smaller knives. But I have to really like them aesthetically to keep them.