Benchmade Griptilian gripe

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ottobon100

Joined
Nov 19, 2005
Messages
18
Wondering if anyone else feels this is a problem: Just bought a Benchmade 557 Mini-Griptilian at a local gun show. My Griptilian (553) was just too large for me for every day carry and THEN I remembered another thing I didn't like about the Griptilians, the handle. It just trashes my pants pocket clipping it on and off. Mostly I wear jeans so they are pretty durable and it still trashes the pocket. Mini feels like it will do exactly the same thing. SO, it's back to my trusty Benchmade Osborne 942 with the smooth aluminum handle. This one really takes a while to wear out my pants pockets. The mini goes into my ever swelling collection of knives I probably will never use- right alongside the Griptilian. Nice to look at though! Next time only S-M-O-O-T-H handles for me! Little s-l-o-w in learning!
 
I tried a Mini Grip as an EDC some time ago. I was never really a fan of the thick handles and ended up trading it for a Spyderco Delica.

That sparked my inner Spydie Sense and I haven't purchased a Benchmade since. Spyderco's composite handles (especially the Delica and Endura 4) are nice to pockets, but still grippy. You should give them a try. Better blade steel and price of a BM Grip too!
 
I pulled the clip on my mini grip and sanded down the pointy handle bits a little and put the clip back. Every day carry in dress pants and no damage after many months.

Seems silly to give up such a nice blade when it is so easy to adjust.
 
maybe you should try a sheath. i didn't realize just how nice the griptilian feels in the hand until i took off the pocket clip.
 
If you look at the knife from the top of the blade and see where the clip contacts the blade you see where the "diamonds" in the grip look like teeth -and act like it too. That's what I'm talking about and I guess you too since this is what wears the pants. I'm just not willing to grind on a brand new knife and IMO ruin the looks but that's just me. I know functionally it wouldn't be a problem. Maybe Benchmade could work on that handle and do something similar to what you recommend. I haven't had to sand anything on my 942 and I don't have that problem. I know, if it bugs me I shouldn't have bought it but I did.:grumpy:
 
Yeah most of the spyderco's including the delica 4 are smooth right under the clip for this very reason!
 
TFin04 said:
Spyderco's composite handles (especially the Delica and Endura 4) are nice to pockets, but still grippy. You should give them a try. Better blade steel and price of a BM Grip too!
Click to expand...
I have one of each and like them both. Still my 942 has been my favorite. I just like trying something different every once in awhile. That's how I ended up with the Spyderco's and BM Griptilians.
 
That's weird- I've never noticed ANY wear spots on khakis or jeans :confused:. Leave a short stack of playing cards under the clip (the bigger the stack, the looser the clip will become) overnight and see if that helps any. Start small- you can always make the clip looser, but not easily tighter.
 
TFin04 said:
I tried a Mini Grip as an EDC some time ago. I was never really a fan of the thick handles and ended up trading it for a Spyderco Delica.

That sparked my inner Spydie Sense and I haven't purchased a Benchmade since. Spyderco's composite handles (especially the Delica and Endura 4) are nice to pockets, but still grippy. You should give them a try. Better blade steel and price of a BM Grip too!
Click to expand...

Agreed. Your money goes much further with Spyderco.
 
I've carried my mini grip for damn near a year now and I love the knife. It's perfect for me and my rigorous use. I've never had any problem with it ruining my pants pocket. weird.
 
No problem here, carried my 551 for about 6 years, mostly for work. An excellent all around knife. Gary
 
If your Grip is eating up you pockets where it clips it is very easy to fix.
Just remove the clip, hold clip in a vise or pliers and bend it back just a little.
Hold by the end the screws go in. Gap the clip like you would gap a spark plug. A lot of those clips come to tight to start with.
 
I have three Grips, all of them "ate" my pocket, till i did MINOR alterations.
1.There is no grinding required on the plastic and i can't see much difference in the looks - a piece of wet or dry 320 grit cut into a small strip and backed up with a flat stick, a few passes and you are done.
2. Check how tight the clip is against the handle- bend clip back a little till it just touches handle.

Knives in this price range must be gone over carefully and corrected if necessary. Most do!
 
ottobon100 said:
If you look at the knife from the top of the blade and see where the clip contacts the blade you see where the "diamonds" in the grip look like teeth -and act like it too. That's what I'm talking about and I guess you too since this is what wears the pants. I'm just not willing to grind on a brand new knife and IMO ruin the looks but that's just me. I know functionally it wouldn't be a problem. Maybe Benchmade could work on that handle and do something similar to what you recommend. I haven't had to sand anything on my 942 and I don't have that problem. I know, if it bugs me I shouldn't have bought it but I did.:grumpy:
Click to expand...

you're not willing to grind on a brand new knife because it will ruin the looks, yet you are willing to put it in a box with other knives not to be seen at all???
 
ubercoupe said:
I pulled the clip on my mini grip and sanded down the pointy handle bits a little and put the clip back. Every day carry in dress pants and no damage after many months.

Seems silly to give up such a nice blade when it is so easy to adjust.
Click to expand...

Same here. Used a Dremel. It's worth the extra work to be able to own and carry a Doug Ritter Griptilian.

Regards
 
That's strange...I've carried several different minigrips for awhile now and never had any jean problems...I've never had to on any minigrips, but you may need to adjust the clip tension.
 
never noticed a problem with my mini grip, either. Not even in a suit pocket.
 
Sir,
I have owned 3 grippies to include the Ritter Grippie and it was the handles that did it for me. I just did not like them but they are made that way to keep the price down. I have never had a problem with the blade or locks.

:jerkit:
 
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