Benchmade Griptilian 551 knife

J

Jjewell

Joined
Jun 3, 2012
Messages
54
I want to know how this knife performs... Come on let me make sure my 100 bucks ain't going to waste
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I've had the 550 griptillian for about 10 years, and in my opinion it's the best money you will spend. I carry and use mine daily for everything from daily cutting chores to field dressing game. Sharpens easily, holds an edge great. Comfortable to carry and use. Nice secure grip even in cold wet conditions, covered with blood, oil or whatever. If you want a good reliable, rugged every day carry knife, I think you will be pleased.
 
Alright well I've never spent more than 50 bucks for a blade yet so when I buy this I hope it has some high performance
 
I know it's about 20 bucks over priced. I'm buying locally to support my friends shop. Is it still worth it
 
i personally love mine! it is in my pocket as we speak. it often beats out my $200 + knives as my edc. since february 13 it has been my daily carry. i personally have the orange h2o model with the combo edge. i really like the combo edge with the drop point blade shape of this knife. normally i hate combo edges but it seems to work for me on this blade. some dont like the plastic handles but i actually like them a lot. it is true that they feel hollow but i will take that for the trade off of a knife that is so light. over all they are fantastic knives. i would recommend that you take the pivot screw out and put a lot of lock tight in there so the screw does not loosen. you will not go wrong with the knife
 
I personally don't like the Grip. The handle material feels cheap (though I've been assured otherwise) and it's a bit too fat in the pocket for my tastes.
 
I have handled it but it's over time performance I'm looking for since I'm paying more than I should
 
I have the 551 with orange handle. I think I paid $60 or so for it. It's my EDC, but in all honesty, I wouldn't pay a penny more for it. I am underwhelmed with the edge retention of the 154CM blade steel and can't seem to get it sharp enough with my Lansky 4-rod box sharpener. The design of knife is great however.
 
I have the 551

It does feel like plastic toy. However when you use it it's anything but that.

The knife is very tough.
What comes across as a cheap feel is actually efficiency.

It's light and sits well in your hand.
Also the steel sharpens very easy and stays sharp

Can't go wrong with this knife. In my case it's dethroned my ZT0200 as my main edc :D
 
If you're going to spend a hundred bucks, grab the standard finish Paramilitary 2 from Spyderco. It'll outdo the Grip for that price range. I spent 111 and coin on mine after shipping. Much better built overall. The Grip is great for it's price range which should be a good amount less than 100 bucks.
 
I had the mini version of the 551, I think it was the 556 and I loved it as an edc blade. Not terribly thin but small and lightweight enough for every day carry. At some point I need to replace it for my edc(lost it during a fishing trip).
 
The Grips are a great knife. I prefer the mini grip though. The mini has liners and feels more solid than the full size imho.
Its big enough to do everything I have asked it to do, and it clips into the watch pocket on my blue jeans...

I doubt you would be disappointed in the performance. I can appreciate that you want to support a brick and mortar store, but for about 130 bucks, you can go to the Benchmade website and create your own Griptilian. Lots of different colors choices, and you can choose the blade steel you want, as well as other options.

Here is my current edc from the custom build. Mini grip with S30V blade

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Jkjklkl said:
I personally don't like the Grip. The handle material feels cheap (though I've been assured otherwise) and it's a bit too fat in the pocket for my tastes.
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That's exactly how I felt about my 550. Wish it came standard with better handles. I know you can purchase aftermarket handles for them but who wants to spend another $50-60, or more, on a knife you just paid $80 for?
 
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