Benchmade Griptilian questions

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flimpy

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May 24, 2007
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I found this forum a week or so ago and Ive been reading and researching like crazy.

I'm looking for a decent EDC typical use: cardboard, thin plastics, etc. Im thinking a Benchmade griptilian, mini-griptilian, or 710 would be a perfect fit. I have a few questions:

1) Is the griptilian and mini-griptilian from Cabela's a good purchase (price and quality)?
2) If not, I could get the 710 and it looks like www.knifeworks.com has a decent price is this correct?
3) Any reason I should get the 710 over a griptilian from Cabela's (D2), other than price?
4) I'm not too experienced with sharpening but always ready to learn. Is the Sharpmaker a good purchase or do you think the angles are too limited? Can I sharpen kitchen knives with it?


Thanks!
 
flimpy, I have the BM Grip in D2 & I LOVE it. Some folks complain about the hollow sounding/feeling handles but it's ben a non-issue with me.
The knife is my EDC and I use it for absolutly everything. The steel while a bit harder to sharpen certainly takes and holds an edge. The edge is a nice continued belly, it's not great for mincing garlic but it would slice it just fine (if this make sense to you).

The Sharpmaker is a God-send. I am an absolute moron when it comes to useing traditional sharpening methods. So, after reading suggestions here I bought the Sharpmaker. It's brilliant I confidently & easily put a nice edge on all my knives everytime. As some here have pointed out it's not designed or able to reprofile a knife but it will certainly sharpen one up real nice. :)
Hope that helps
 
Try ebay, you might be able to find a cheap "buy it now". Make sure that the knife your a getting is marked brand new. For sharpening you should get the edge pro apex, the price might seem outrageous but its worth every penny of it. It sharpens a dull knife in 20-30 minutes, and puts a crazily sharp edge, that will last. If you get one, first watch the video, and read the booklet that comes with it,and then practice on some old kitchen knives until, you think you have mastered the skill, then move on to some nice knives, it usually takes 45-60 minutes to get the hang of it.

GB
 
Both the Griptilian and the Sharpmaker are great. If you're new to sharpening, the Sharpmaker will give you a great start.
 
I have both the 710 (M2) and a regular Grip in stainless.

IMO the 710 is constructed better. The Cabelas D2 version is only about $20 less than a 710 in D2. I'd recommend the 710... Nothing wrong with the Grip , the 710 is just better.

Also if your going to buy on-line I'd suggest a dealer like gpknives.com. I've bought several Benchmade knives from them, if it's listed on their site, it's usually in stock.
 
First, "YES" on the Sharpmaker, no matter what kind of knives you want to sharpen. Then, down the road, "YES" again on the Edge Pro. I have both. I use the Edge Pro for knives that need actual sharpening/resetting the bevels, and I use the Sharpmaker for weekly touch-ups.

Second, I have a couple of different Grip / mini-Grip combinations including Cabelas' D2 version. They are great knives. Nothing cheap about them. They are workhorses that will keep going until the job is done. D2 is probably my overall favorite blade steel. It's a bit harder to sharpen than 154CM or VG-10, but the Sharpmaker will help you do it. I like the fact that D2 works well without having to have a highly polished edge. It seems to like being a bit "toothy".

I don't have a 710, but it is certainly high on my "To Acquire" list. I have handled one, however. IIRC, the 710 will be a bit thinner in your pocket than the Grip and the blade is a little longer. OTOH, the Grip fits my hand better because the handle is a little thicker than the 710.

Try to handle both and get the one that seems to fit you better. Next month, get the other one.
 
Here's a pic of my 710 & Grip, to compare the size...

BM3.jpg
 
I love my Cabelas eddition "grip." the only thing that I don't love about it is that I cannot find it right now.
 
If the size of blade isn't a problem for you and you rather carry a bigger knife, I would go with the 710. I pesonally carry a BM 558 (Ritter Mini-Grip in S30V).

The cabellas version is the only place that sells the Grip/Mini-grip in D2 which is known to hold its edge for a while (but on the flip side is a PAIN to sharpen if it gets dull).

The sharpmaker is one of the best systems out there currently for its ease of use/set up/and results. Like the others have mentioned the Edge Pro is worth the money, but its a big investment up front. I have not yet found the need to purchase one since I get the results I want from my sharpmaker. If you do go with the sharpmaker route, I would also suggest picking up the Ultra Fine rods as well as the Diamond rods. If the Diamond rods are a bit too much for you, pick up an extra corase bench stone.

I would suggest picking up a normal grip/mini-grip first (154 CM blade steel) to see if you like the overall knife design. Pratice your skills on the sharpmaker. If you find that you have outgrown your knife, than I say move on up and try d2/s30v/ zdp-189.

I would also suggest that you purchase your items from www.newgraham.com. They have some of the best prices around. If you do a quick search, almost 99% of the people here have had great results from them. I myself have purchased many items from them.
 
spyder10 said:
Does the 710 have a slight recurve or is just the picture?
Click to expand...
Yes, the 710 has a slight recurve.

I have both sizes of Cabela's D2 Grip and a 710 in 154CM.

I find that I carry the Grips much more often than the 710. I prefer their blade length and style and I find that the Grips are easier to open than the 710 as its thumbstud is quite close to the body when the knife is closed.

Flimpy, you can't go wrong with the knives you have suggested. Whichever one you end up with, be sure to get a Sharpmaker to maintain it.

Off topic but..I think that a 710 with a thumb ramp like the Grips would be outstanding. This would make it possible to have the thumbstuds a little further from the body. Oh yeah..and make the blade a Doug Ritter designed drop point. RSK Mk5??
 
I am thinking about getting a grip also, but I dont now which one to get, d2 or 154. I want a knife that has a strong steel that can be used as a camp knife, and does not chip easy. Also another tough decision:fine or partially serrated.
Thanks
GB
 
I absolutely love my d2 grips I plan on a getting a ritter grip also. I often end up carrying the grips more than my 710D2. Both knives you have mentioned are excellent knives and will give you years of service. The sharpmaker is an example of genius I have used is on everything up to a Becker BK-7 and it works like a champ.
 
I have both and love both. Benchmade has many amazing designs, but many consider the Grip and 710 to be some of there best. My Grip was my first real knife, and it is an awesome user. The handles feel nice, it carries great, and is designed to be a tough little knife. The 710 on the other hand is built with premium materials, and is meant to be a super reliable EDC. It is great for opening boxes etc, the handles (G-10 with full steel liners) feel excellent, and it carries very well for a big knife. The difference is that while both are users, the 710 is designed to also be defense knife (not that the Griptilian wouldn't work well in this situation). If you want an inginious knife, go for the Grip, if you want to spend a little more and get a very well made carry knife, go for the 710D2.
 
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