Benchmade Griptilian Strip and Reassembly

S

Steven Andrews

Joined
Apr 7, 2002
Messages
2,167
Caveat: Disassembly of any Benchmade knife by any person other than Benchmade’s Warranty department will void the warranty.

This knife is a full sized RSK Mk1, or Benchmade 552, commonly known as the Ritter Grip. I carry it in a belt pouch and have removed the pocket clip.

You will need T10 and T6 Torx drivers, a cleaning rag, a matchstick, lubricant (I use Militec-1) and blue Loctite (I use 243):



First unscrew the pivot screw with the T10 Torx. While holding the Axis Lock studs back, push the pivot out with the matchstick:



The blade and washers will drop out of the handle. If the washers remain inside the handle, push them out with the matchstick.



If fitted, remove the pocket clip with the T6 Torx driver. Unscrew the screws of the right hand scale with the T6 driver:



Remove the right hand scale, displaying the liner and lock cartridge still attached to the left hand scale:



Unscrew the single screw of the left hand scale to completely free the cartridge from the handles:




With a finger nail, unhook the rear of one of omega springs, freeing it from the tiny hole in the liner:



Remove the omega spring from the Axis bar:



Repeat with the omega spring on the other side of the cartridge.
Drop the Axis bar out of the large cut out in the cartridge:



Separate the two liners. Remove the rear spacer and front spacer/stop pin from both liners. On this knife I found that the stop pin was stuck tight in one of the liners, so I left it in place. :



Continued..
 
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Clean the parts. Put the liners together with the spacers. Lubricate the Axis Lock bar:



Insert it through the cut out and put it in place in the cartridge. Reattach the omega springs:



Screw the left hand scale to the cartridge:



Then the right. Lubricate the tang and washers. The oil will adhere the washers to the tang:



Insert them into the handle assembly:



Hold back the Axis studs while pushing the blade and washers as far into the handle as you can:



While still holding the Axis studs back, centralise the blade and washers by using a circular sweep with the matchstick:



..still holding the studs back, insert the pivot:


Put a tiny dab of blue Loctite on the pivot screw and screw it in:


Adjust pivot tension. You will find the sweet spot where there is zero blade play but the blade glides smoothly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AXqoN0X7bo

That's it.
Thanks for looking
 
Thanks Steven. I've been wanting to get some G-10 replacement scales for my Ritter Grip and was'nt sure about putting them on myself but now I will give it a try.:thumbup:
 
Thanks Steven, excellent tutorial if one was willing to bypass Benchmade's warranty warnings. Even still, if the knife's mucked up, there's usually only a $25 charge to set the thing right.

Without the complete teardown and by simply removing the blade and washers as pictured, it's easy to remedy sticky and slow opening blades by polishing both tang and washers with 800 grit paper.

A friend did this for my 913D2 followed by a Militec-1 treatment and the knife came home smooth as glass and remains so.

Following this posting, I may try the process myself with one of my older Axis models this coming week.
 
Thanks for the step-by-step tear down and reassembly for the Ritter Grip. I really liked the idea of tracings/sketches to keep everything located. Excellent post.
 
grybsh7 said:
Thanks Steven. I've been wanting to get some G-10 replacement scales for my Ritter Grip and was'nt sure about putting them on myself but now I will give it a try.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Tell me more about G10 replacement scales for the grip, please! Who makes them?
 
This is a pic of Mike Fitz's grip with the griptilikin? g-10 replacement scales. Here is the link to the website where he bought them http://knives.cx/store/index.php.

DSC_0014.jpg
 
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Steven,

Great write up. Just perfect. The Griptilian is, and always will be, one of the best knives made.

:thumbup:
 
I will never try this but really enjoy seeing what the inside of my mini-grip looks like. PS, I think now I could do it if I had to.
 
Great info and pics! The G-10 scales are great on these- you won't be disappointed in them. I wish they would start making them for the minis as well...

One thing to watch for is that the little spacer in the back of the liners doesn't fall out on the floor. Other than that, keep in mind that the pivot has a flat in it that needs to be aligned with the flats in the liners when you reassemble, and you should be good to go!
 
Most useful as I am looking at getting one of these...

Is that the full size one? It looks kinda small...

What is the OAL of that guy when open?

Thanks for the tut!
 
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