benchmade ideas

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pokeman

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Feb 1, 2008
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1st post so i hope i've put it in the right place. I had a bm mini-grip for a couple of years for everyday carry/general use and i decided to give it to my son. now its time to replace. some of the things i loved about the mini-grip was...

1. the axis lock. with the size of my hand (large), i could use my thumb and first finger to release the axis lock mechanism to easily close the blade. i got used to pressing the end of the knife (handle) into the thick part of my palm while releasing the axis button (thumb and 1st finger) to close the blade. very easy. i never felt like my fingers were in harms way when i closed the blade. fast and easy open/close. 2. i liked the blade length and overall size/length of the knife. 3. great ergonomic handle (fairly beefy) made the knife feel secure in my hand. 4. didn't feel like i was carrying a huge knife...hardly knew it was in my pocket. 5. blade shape (curved upwards).

what i didn't like about the mini-grip was... 1. the blade seemed to dull easily/quickly. 2. handle material seemed kinda cheesy...not like a real good quality knife. 3. would like for it to have a somewhat heavier weight to make me feel like it was high quality.

so....i started looking at some other bm's such as the 960 (silver) w/ d2 blade and it's a pretty thing...just not crazy about blade shape and it seems too much like a showpiece and not a workhorse...etc. etc. then i looked at the mini-rukus and...its nice, feels great (a little too heavy/bulky/big). i then looked at the bm mini-dejavoo...just didn't like the closing system (seemed my fingers were afraid of having the blade close on them (wish it had the axis system).

any thoughts/recommendations on a benchmade with axis lock (just like the mini-grip) that would be an upgrade to the mini-grip...better steel, nicer handle material??????????????????
 
I like Benchmades, and their knives using the AXIS mechanism are my favorites. I've owned a number of Grips and just couldn't get used to the feel of the handle material...problem was, one of my favorite blades was in the Ritters and it was my first in S30V which I really liked. So I started looking at the other models...and traded the Grips off.

Here's what I'd recommend:

As a replacement I went for an AXIS-based S30V Osborne 943. Mine was a satin blade and black anodised aluminum with a 3.4" clip point blade. This thing delivers a glassy smooth delivery and with a slim fit tucks away just about anywhere...

Check one out!
 
i really liked the look, feel, size, weight, handle material (g10), blade thickness, of the MINI-DEJAVOO. it felt almost as secure in my hand as my mini-grip. if it had the exact same AXIS lock system as my mini-grip, it would be mine.
 
I agree with you on the Dejavoo series but that isn't going to happen soon. Have you looked at the AXIS-based HK 14210? It's a small but really slick knife, and with the nearly same sculpted G-10 scales as the Deja...
 
Might check out the 710.... Its bigger, but it has G-10 scales, has a little more of what you were refering to as a quality feel to it. Very solid workhorse. Curious what steel your mini grip blade is ? Don't here to many stories of them dulling quickly..
 
Do you know what steel the Mini-Grip had? If it was 440C, then just about any of the current BM selection would probably work well for you, as they've got 154CM or better. So if 154CM is good enough for you, then I'd probably recommend the HK 14210 (made my BM). It's got the Axis lock, perfect fit in the hand, same size as the Mini-Grip, and same handle material as the Mini-Dèjávoo. All in all, I think you'd like it a lot. Other possibilities would be the 525 (Mini-Presidio), Mini Ritter Grip, and 707.

If you're looking for something a bit above 154CM, though, your options may be a bit more limited, depending on how important size is to you. As mentioned above, something from the 94X series (S30V steel) would be a great fit. It's not a knife that I would be as comfortable abusing as a 14210 or 525, but I would expect it to stand up to more than the 960. Another possibility is a 707D2-600 (at least, I think that's the model number for it); it's got D2 steel, wood inserts (instead of G10), and is in the same size class as the Mini-Grip. Only downsides are that it's harder to find, and I've had a hard time fitting all four of my fingers comfortably on the handle. Also, you could go for one of the Mini-Strykers that are coming out this year. They may not have the Axis lock, but when I handled other Nitrous knives, they felt like they had a bit more resistance when closing than the Mini-Dèjávoo, so I felt much less like there was a chance of the blade biting me.

In the end, though, the only steel I've noticed any significant improvement in performance for (from BM) is M2. All the others have felt about the same to me in use. And I have a much easier time sharpening 154CM than, for instance, S30V. So all things considered, the HK 14210 would be my highest recommendation; I personally would recommend against taking too many points off for only having 154CM.
 
Just curious pokeman, what materials were you cutting to where you felt the edge didn't seem to last very long?
Food? Cardboard? Rope? Roof shingles? Carpet?
 
i'm not sure what my mini-grip was...but i think it was 440. i used it for cutting plastic, paper, cardboard, rope, etc. it never seemed to stay sharp for very long...but of course, i didn't touch it up between "real sharpenings". maybe my bad???

i'm thinking that hk14210 might be pretty nice. i keep hearing so much about the 710 but isn't that quite alot bigger knife than my mini-grip??? i would not mind going a bit bigger than my mini-grip...perhaps somewhere between the mini-grip and the full sized grip.

also, isn't the 710 blade thinner...a little more delicate knife than my mini-grip? i handled some benchmades tonight and while some had the AXIS lock...they didn't feel/seem the same as my mini-grip AXIX. (smaller button, couldn't unlock from both sides of the handle.....something like that. WHY???

i'm not opposed to spending 125-150 max.
 
Pokeman, Well for starters id say you might want to take a look around the benchmade webise if you havent done so. They have a feature called "KNIFE WIZARD" where you can choose your blade length, blade material, type of lock and a few other options. It might be a place to get some ideas.

Current production Options that i see that may fit your description are the HK 14205, 940,941,942,943 osborne line, and the the 930 kulgera, and 950 rift should be out sometime this spring.

Out of prorduction but knives you should still be able to find with some looking are the 720 Series that i think might be just what you are looking for, and the 930 series aries.
 
I just finished a new project where I have designed and produced replacement grips for the standard size Griptilian knives... 500, 550HG, 551 & 552 models. Several buyers herre in Germany really liked the knives but thought the grip could be cooler. Now you have a choice! Take a look at what I've come up with: http://www.wilkins-knives.com/start_e.html
 
That is really, really cool. I've been looking for a replacement/rotation for my Mini Griptilian for a while, with similar characteristics to what the OP wanted. Different handle scales, possibly an S30v blade, same general footprint, AXIS lock.

Hopefully you get around to doing conversions on the Mini Griptilians!
 
I also suggest one of the 940 osbornes. They feel great in the hand and seem quite solid. I ended up recently buying a 921 on sale, but I was ready to pull the trigger on the 940.
 
pokeman said:
i'm not sure what my mini-grip was...but i think it was 440. i used it for cutting plastic, paper, cardboard, rope, etc. it never seemed to stay sharp for very long...but of course, i didn't touch it up between "real sharpenings". maybe my bad???

i'm thinking that hk14210 might be pretty nice. i keep hearing so much about the 710 but isn't that quite alot bigger knife than my mini-grip??? i would not mind going a bit bigger than my mini-grip...perhaps somewhere between the mini-grip and the full sized grip.

also, isn't the 710 blade thinner...a little more delicate knife than my mini-grip? i handled some benchmades tonight and while some had the AXIS lock...they didn't feel/seem the same as my mini-grip AXIX. (smaller button, couldn't unlock from both sides of the handle.....something like that. WHY???

i'm not opposed to spending 125-150 max.
Click to expand...

I prefer my 14205BT to the 14210......Pretty much the same thing, only bigger. More utility in the bigger blade IMHO.
The 710 is far from delicate, it's probably one of the stongest knives you can get in it's price range. Mine has been to hell and back, and still craves more.
The grip is delicate compared to the 710.
The Mini-Grip actually has the second smallest AXIS buttons of any Benchmade....Only the 770 series Osbornes are smaller. I believe all of the mid to large size BM's use the same size AXIS mechanism.
 
I love my Mini-grip. It's 440C - I can get the blade back to sharp in no time, but I've got some nicks in the blade I can't get out by merely free handed sharpening.
 
delkhouri said:
Pokeman, Well for starters id say you might want to take a look around the benchmade webise if you havent done so. They have a feature called "KNIFE WIZARD" where you can choose your blade length, blade material, type of lock and a few other options. It might be a place to get some ideas.

Current production Options that i see that may fit your description are the HK 14205, 940,941,942,943 osborne line, and the the 930 kulgera, and 950 rift should be out sometime this spring.

Out of prorduction but knives you should still be able to find with some looking are the 720 Series that i think might be just what you are looking for, and the 930 series aries.
Click to expand...

I think you're spot on with your suggestions. Those I like are 14205 HK, 720S, 941, and especially the 930 Kulgera. Wonder when/where I could get my hands on the 930 Kulgera??? Approximate date avail?
 
From what ive heard the Kulgera and Rift and all the new stuff from benchmade will debut at the SHOT show (Feb 2-5 so right now) They should be made available shortly after. I know thats not a very exact date and maybe someone more knowledgable could help with that, but I dont think you will have to wait for too long. If you like the looks of the Kulgera you might want to take a look at the 921 Osborne series, they have been discontinued but you should be able to find one without too much trouble.
 
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