Benchmade Gold Class Mini Grip Limited Run

it's interesting to see so many people come here to complain about the price. I don't see that kind of behavior when a custom knife is too rich for their blood.

as for a Sebenza, I'll pass. :cool:
 
99cuts said:
it's interesting to see so many people come here to complain about the price. I don't see that kind of behavior when a custom knife is too rich for their blood.

as for a Sebenza, I'll pass. :cool:
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Can't speak for anyone else but when I am working I can afford this knife, I just have no interest in paying this price for any knife, custom or otherwise (Sebenza included). I've got more important priorities to allocate my $$ to. Afterall, it's just a knife and I've already got about 100 in my collection.
 
99cuts said:
as for a Sebenza, I'll pass. :cool:
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I think the pricing on the GC mini grip is way out there, but I have to agree with your post about the Sebenza 25... I had a brand new one and didn't like the fit/finish. I tried adjusting it a little (not too much since I had a feeling I might sell it), and didn't see much of an improvement. CRK makes really nice knives, maybe the one I got wasn't the best representation of a Sebenza 25?
Anyway, back to the thread... too expensive for me even though only 175 were made.
 
NaturalMystic said:
Can't speak for anyone else but when I am working I can afford this knife, I just have no interest in paying this price for any knife, custom or otherwise (Sebenza included). I've got more important priorities to allocate my $$ to. Afterall, it's just a knife and I've already got about 100 in my collection.
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Some guys think of it as total money put into the collection, not money put towards each knife. For example, your collection of 100 knives probably cost more than a collection of 3 or 4 very high end knives. Not saying your way is better or worse, but guys with $650 knives have more important priorities too :)
 
I hear ya, I was thinking of it more from the perspective of some collections I've seen, for example, I've seen guys with hundreds of Busses, laid out in their living room, etc, etc. I'm guestimating $50,000+ in knives! I'm very happy for them that they can afford all those, I just cant justify the cost/knife. I'd prefer to allocate that knife $$ to more less expensive knives. The most I've paid for any knife was a ZT0560 that I paid $300 CDN for when they first came out. In hindsight I wouldn't have paid that, I've never used it and prefer the size of the 566 that I paid $140 for.
I'm also at a stage where I've cut back on knife purchases overall, there are a few I'm interested in getting but for the most part I've got more than enough and am actually considering getting rid of a few.

Anyhow, don't want to derail. This BM is beautiful and I love the axis lock. I'm also very happy for those who do pick one up. Use them in good health!
 
Has anyone actually held a ZT 0600? There's absolutely no way a mini grip dlc coated m4 blade stuck between nice titanium scales with an inlay should come close to the 0600. There is nothing about it that should make it cost more than 2-250 at the most. I keep bringing up the 0600 because on principle, they're equivalent. except that the 0600 has better steel. and more titanium. and the titanium is 3d machined with a fairly intricate design. and more material in both the blade and handle and everything in general. and bearing pivots. and steel inserts for a solidly produced lockbar. and higher tolerances in the fabrication due to the larger amount of carbon fiber inlays. and the 0600 costs 200 bucks less.

I actually feel bad for the people who buy that knife. I know, to each his own and all that, but still, that's over the retarded line by 400 bucks. Other than that, it's a nice looking knife. Maybe ZT should put an axis lock equivalent on the 0600 and charge 2,000 bucks for it.
 
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The mini Grip in an upgraded steel and titanium like this Gold class and aftermarket such as Wilkins completely changes the knife and makes it one of the very best EDC options out there. To me, in the three inch range it's as worthy as a small Sebenza and even prefer it more with the better steel and axis lock... But the Gold class price is just plain obscene. Again, a dressed up mini Grip to me is a world beater and for actual carrying/use, I value it higher than a lot of "collector knives" out there. It's a damn good knife. Too bad all it gets from me is a quick look and a smirk.

Soon as a I learned about this knife, I just laughed assuming it's gonna be $600 (didn't even look at the price). It's to be expected now.
 
bodog said:
Has anyone actually held a ZT 0600? There's absolutely no way a mini grip dlc coated m4 blade stuck between nice titanium scales with an inlay should come close to the 0600. There is nothing about it that should make it cost more than 2-250 at the most. I keep bringing up the 0600 because on principle, they're equivalent. except that the 0600 has better steel. and more titanium. and the titanium is 3d machined with a fairly intricate design. and more material in both the blade and handle and everything in general. and bearing pivots. and steel inserts for a solidly produced lockbar. and higher tolerances in the fabrication due to the larger amount of carbon fiber inlays. and the 0600 costs 200 bucks less.

I actually feel bad for the people who buy that knife. I know, to each his own and all that, but still, that's over the retarded line by 400 bucks. Other than that, it's a nice looking knife. Maybe ZT should put an axis lock equivalent on the 0600 and charge 2,000 bucks for it.
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Fortunately, thanks to personal preferences your "retarded line" is different from everyone else's. Benchmade only needed to beat the "retarded line" for 175 people.
 
99cuts said:
I was thinking about this too since I have the LE M4 mini grip. Mine has a polished edge tho it's not mirror polished like the 556-141. I could get the matt ti wilkins grip but I prefer standoffs over a backspacer.

What about the blade? How feasible is it to strip cerakote off and get DLC? I'm guessing this is next to impossible but fun to think about.




I have a production xm-18 3.5 w/ spanto. I think 556-141 is better too. With some work upgrading the xm-18 (anodized standoffs and full ti scales), it would still have a regular spanto blade. How much is a DLC Hinderer XM-18 these days?
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I also think the 556 with the standoffs and trim looks a lot better than a solid backspacer. The blue anodized colors also really compliments the inlay and it makes a beautiful matched sequence of colors that stands out in a crowd of really nice knives IMO.

I've not tried stripping Cerakote from a knife, but have from a gun and it did not go very well. It would be awesome if someone did that for a reasonable price. The 556-141 using DLC to me a huge improvement as I find most BM coatings to not hold up the best and DLC thus far seems to give us the best blend of coating durability vs. availability to the knife industry. I hope Benchmade starts using more DLC down the road on less expensive and standard models!

I didn't know Hinderer even offered a DLC model? I absolutely love the XM-18 and think it is a great knife and one of the best when absolute heavy-duty performance is critical, but I find myself liking the 556-141 for more practical EDC and I think the styling of it is impossible to ignore and some of the best from Benchmade to date. I'd go as far to say I think it's one of the best-looking knives I have ever owned, and it's quality is on or above the level of what I would expect from a knife in this price class. Indeed I also wish BM made more of these and at a lower price, but it is what it is and knives with these features do tend to be expensive. Much like how the Hinderers sell for 200%-300% of retail and LE ZTs often for 250%-1,000% retail, if the market allows it, the item will sell.
 
bodog said:
Has anyone actually held a ZT 0600? There's absolutely no way a mini grip dlc coated m4 blade stuck between nice titanium scales with an inlay should come close to the 0600. There is nothing about it that should make it cost more than 2-250 at the most. I keep bringing up the 0600 because on principle, they're equivalent. except that the 0600 has better steel. and more titanium. and the titanium is 3d machined with a fairly intricate design. and more material in both the blade and handle and everything in general. and bearing pivots. and steel inserts for a solidly produced lockbar. and higher tolerances in the fabrication due to the larger amount of carbon fiber inlays. and the 0600 costs 200 bucks less.

I actually feel bad for the people who buy that knife. I know, to each his own and all that, but still, that's over the retarded line by 400 bucks. Other than that, it's a nice looking knife. Maybe ZT should put an axis lock equivalent on the 0600 and charge 2,000 bucks for it.
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Yes, I have. I am guessing you own both or have used both to make this side-by-side comparison and an estimate on reasonable pricing? Also, do you have data sheets on the deviations between ZT0600 and BM 556-141 machining tolerances? And is there a certification that states BG-42 is without question a better steel than CPM-M4 in every sense?

I think the knives are comparable in a sense that they have quality best described as absolutely fantastic for production knives, and both do a great job of capturing the spirit of what each respective company stands for. The machining on the 0600 is absolutely remarkable, and I absolutely love the blade design. Like the 556-141, I can't say a single bad thing about the design. But the two knives are different.

One thing that the two knives do have in common is that both knives are luxury products with little functional value beyond that of less expensive models from the respective makers, and so it isn't like this type of knife is sourced for a "performance-only basis" in which one can attempt to quantify the data to justify price using a line-item comparison. So a lot of personal preference is involved here. We could throw a Tighe Stick in the mix and argue someone would be out of their mind to spent that sort of money on either the BM 556-141 or ZT0600...?

And I must say I completely disagree with your statement of the whole "retarded line" thing in that you are using your personal and subjective reasoning to critique the decisions of others. Not cool. :(
 
Sorry. forgot I wasn't on the other forum where thicker skin is required. I'll bow out. But first, I hope benchmade quickly comes out with a limited edition knife with a 1.5 inch dlc coated s35vn blade, plain jane titanium, colored carbon fiber, and a lanyard (labeled gold class of course) for a price of 1200 bucks. I wonder how quickly that'd sell out. But for real. I'm bowing out. sorry for the trollish behavior. just seems very ridiculous to me.
 
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bodog said:
Sorry. forgot I wasn't on the other forum where thicker skin is required. I'll bow out. But first, I hope benchmade quickly comes out with a limited edition knife with a 1.5 inch dlc coated s35vn blade, plain jane titanium, colored carbon fiber, and a lanyard (labeled gold class of course) for a price of 1200 bucks. I wonder how quickly that'd sell out. But for real. I'm bowing out. sorry for the trollish behavior. just seems very ridiculous to me.
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Is it thicker skin or basic respect & manners? I could be wrong, but, speculating on the mental capacities of people whom you've never met for buying a knife that you may not even own doesn't seem very valuable in encouraging productive discussion or generating a useful knowledge base?
 
As someone pointed out $650 is msrp they can be had for $100 less. Look at some of their other gold class knives some over $1000.http://www.nationalknives.com/servlet/the-1570/benchmade-586-dsh-142-mini-barrage/Detail The reason they price them so high is because they sell, it is essential for every company to make a profit. Can't imagine why anyone would dislike a company because they produce knives like these, seriously poor reasoning from my perspective.

The mini grip is my favorite EDC knife, it does everything I need a knife to do for the most part. Smooth plenty strong light weight and carries well. Nice looking too. I would buy one of the gold class mini grips but is weights 1oz. more than the stand model. LOL
 
I am one happy retard.
Love that DLC ;)

If you don't like the model....then it certainly aint for you.
If you like the model, then odds are you would love this one.
Have you personally held one in your hand?
I would wager that when all is said and done.... there will be 175 very happy gold class mini-grip owners.
I doubt very seriously that anybody will be returning theirs because it's a piece of crap.
Seeing is believing.
Why would I buy a pick up truck instead of a sports car?
Because it's made of the same materials but cost less?
Now, that is foolish.
 
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