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Benchmade Griptilian / Mini Grip: Still Essential?
- Thread starter Dknight16
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When did they change the blade grind?
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When they went from 154cm to s30v on the base models, I believe. I want a 154cm Sheepsfoot for my collection, but I haven't found the sabre ground versions to be lacking. I've got a 550-1 and a custom M4/G10 sheepsfoot. I'd put them both up against any knife at any price.
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That makes sense. In theory it should be easier to grind the Sabre version.
I have the hollow ground version myself and have not used it very much. I want to dress it up with an aftermarket clip and different scales but I know that if I use it very much now, I will never make the changes.
What do you think of the 440C version with the oval thumbhole?
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I wouldn't mind having one in my collection, but I've never handled or used one. Probably not easy to find one in decent condition these days though!
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My first knife was an original mini-grip back in 2004. The beveled oval was and is not a great opening feature. It's hard to use on small knives and even the larger models were less than ideal. The Griptilian really stepped up functionally with the Ritter variant and then again when it went to the spyderhole. Ironically I think this change reduced the popularity of the Griptilian. The model, like the Endura/Delica also seems to suffer badly due to Chinese competition. The Ganzo knock-offs really hurt the popularity as they're 1/10th the price but feel "better" in the hand.
The low and mid ends of the market have been getting squeezed by Chinese product for a while and there are a ton of people who got into the hobby post-2015 who see the price/utility curve for modern classics much differently than longer term hobbyists. The E4/D4 routinely get blasted for their high-price as well. Sign of the times.
The low and mid ends of the market have been getting squeezed by Chinese product for a while and there are a ton of people who got into the hobby post-2015 who see the price/utility curve for modern classics much differently than longer term hobbyists. The E4/D4 routinely get blasted for their high-price as well. Sign of the times.
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I think its place has definitely slipped. I don't know if there's any single reason, but there are a lot of things that probably contributed: old design, Grivory, Benchmade build-quality problems, Benchmade political kerfuffle, competition from others (Hogue, etc.). Their pricing is also somewhat suspect: the full-size Ritter/Hogue is $160 with G10 and 20CV steel, while a full-size Grip with G10 and S30V (EDIT: actually 20CV) runs almost $190. Given that the Ritter/Hogue has an undisputed quality advantage, they only way I'd go with a Benchmade is if you really wanted the plastic handles instead of G10.
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The Grip doesn't come in G10 and S30v unless you get a custom. The g10 model is 20cv. It is more expensive than the Hogue version, which is an excellent knife, but I feel the Griptilian still holds an edge for me. I tend to carry my Grips more than my Hogue.
And I don't think the Hogue has a quality advantage. Mine is off center and I can't fix it. Both my Grips are perfectly centered. And the Benchmades have a better grade of stainless for the liners (410 or 420 vs 310 on the Hogue I believe).
There is also the warranty to consider. I know how good Benchmades is, but how is Hogues?
The Grip is still a very capable knife, I think that there is a lot of variety in what you are getting now though so the recommendations are diluted if that makes sense. If you are getting a PM2 you know what you are getting grind wise, handle material wise, blade shape wise, etc. The grip on the other hand comes in multiple blade shapes, multiple handle materials, multiple blade grinds etc. They are still great knives and will be a fantastic workhorse and there are enough mods and custom scales out there to make it your own if you are part of the IKC. If you are just getting into knives, a mini or fullsize grip will give you a good taste of quality without breaking the bank and the 'look' can be more appealing to those that look at the leaf-like blade of popular spyderco models and shy away. Hogue ritters are certainly good blades but their exclusivity hurts them in the accessibility department, and while the base materials are objectively better (20CV and G-10 vs s30V and plastic) that does come at around a 30$ markup which for some entry level folks that arent looking for pocket jewlery.
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You know I've actually been thinking about this for a while now. I think a lot of people have already mentioned some of the big reasons at least for knife people. But as for the general population it also has to do with instagram and bloggers, they jump on whats new aka the bugout. Personally I think Benchmade made a mistake by moving the mini/grip to s30v, a few years ago before the change I could pick up a mini grip for a little over 80 dollars, that made it a much more competitive knife me. Now with the new steel and the higher price theres just a lot more knives it has to compete with for attention.
sharp_edge
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I have the g10/20cv version of Grip and mini grip, Hogue/Ritter, and Delica. I say all of them are great great folders. Between Hogue/Ritter and Grip I won't say one is better than the other in terms of quality though Hogue/Ritter is less expensive, which makes it my choice if I had to pick one between them (but Benchmade warranty is better?). I find myself carrying Delica more than mini grip maybe because the handle of Delica is a bit longer and grippier, although mini grip is very ergo too.
![pplrY2B.jpg[\img]](https://i.imgur.com/pplrY2B.jpg[\img])
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I don't know if I'd say 410 stainless liners are better than 301 stainless, given that they have similar strength and 301 has better corrosion resistance. 410 is also magnetic, while 301 isn't; this isn't that big of a deal, but is potentially an advantage of 301. Neither is something you'd want to make a blade out of, since neither is able to get to a really acceptable hardness.
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Honestly I can't find what I read about 301 vs 410 to back up my claim haha! I want to know how hard their 301 liners are, considering you can't harden 301 by heat treatment. 410 is, of course, heat treated. 301 is cold work hardened. They have similar max hardnesses (41 for 301, 43 for 410). I would think it would be easier to get 410 in max hardness compared to 301. I'm not a knife maker or metallurgist though.
Might just be that they are about equal. I'm going to keep digging because now I am more curious.
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I like the oval hole version better, myself. But, considering I own two Spyderco knives, it makes more sense for me to stay with the round hole variant.
I have two friends that have ovals. One owns a Mini and will not part with it. The other owns a large Griptilian and swears by it.
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Is there any reason for the liners to be hardened steel rather than just annealed?
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Annealed will be softer. Less wear resistance, less resistance to deformation. I doubt it's a big issue on a knife liner, but it seems to me it would be easier to get a more consistent product if you can heat treat it to desired specs rather than just relying on cold working it. I'm sure they have specs they follow, but I don't know if 301 needs to be that strictly controlled for the things it is usually used for.
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Variety is a good thing. However I do enjoy my round hole Griptillians a lot. It's fun to Spydie flick a non Spyderco! Much easier to do with a hole vs a thumbstud!
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I think it has slipped in people's minds here, but it's still a good knife.
Me... never owned a Grip or the Bugout. I'm content with the Mini Presidio II when it first came out. They have the plastic handled one now but it is not worth the $ to buy one when I already like the aluminum handled one. It was my second full metal handled folder. The first was a Spydie Endura. Never cared for it due to the size. It stays in my work bag for just in case applications.
I have ceased buying knives just to try out. Won't even buy a Condor like I used to since they went to MAP. I know what I like and I'm sticking with it. More money in my pocket too as a result.
Me... never owned a Grip or the Bugout. I'm content with the Mini Presidio II when it first came out. They have the plastic handled one now but it is not worth the $ to buy one when I already like the aluminum handled one. It was my second full metal handled folder. The first was a Spydie Endura. Never cared for it due to the size. It stays in my work bag for just in case applications.
I have ceased buying knives just to try out. Won't even buy a Condor like I used to since they went to MAP. I know what I like and I'm sticking with it. More money in my pocket too as a result.
