So a lot of you always recommend the mini grip, but I don't hear much about the mini barrage. Is it due to the fact that it's more expensive than the mini grip? Or is something about that model just not popular or work as well as the mini grip? Because I can get my hands on a mini barrage for 65 on eBay because it needs to be sharpened. Which isn't a problem for me. Can someone shed some knowledge on this?
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Benchmade Mini Grip vs Benchmade Mini Barrage?
- Thread starter JDX
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chiral.grolim
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The Benchmade 585 Mini-Barrage is usually more expensive than the mini-griptilian. The $65 tag is a good price especially since you can send the knife to Benchmade and they will sharpen/clean/replace-parts for free.
The mini-grip is an "entry" benchmade knife - it's been around for quite a while, is among their least expensive offerings with the AXIS-lock, and is available in a variety of colors/blade styles.
In terms of differences, I own a 585 and not a mini-grip because i could not well hold onto the mini-grip - it is quite "mini" (image pulled from web):
The mini-grip handle is very small, fits 2 or 3 fingers unless your hands are quite small, while the mini-barrage fits 3 or 4. I prefer the blade-shape of the mini-barrage. The assisted-opening is strong and smooth (MUCH better than a torsion-bar) but still easy to close the knife one-handed, and the safety-switch works well to lock the blade closed or opened (a bonus should your omega-springs ever fail). The mini-barrage can be de-assisted to function as a manual (mine currently is), there are youtube videos of the process.
The 585 liners are skeletonized to reduce weight, but this along with the hollow sound of the plastic handles (which are a bit slick) make the knife feel "cheap" to some, though it remains strong and lighter than it is with G10 (also available).
The mini-grip is an "entry" benchmade knife - it's been around for quite a while, is among their least expensive offerings with the AXIS-lock, and is available in a variety of colors/blade styles.
In terms of differences, I own a 585 and not a mini-grip because i could not well hold onto the mini-grip - it is quite "mini" (image pulled from web):
The mini-grip handle is very small, fits 2 or 3 fingers unless your hands are quite small, while the mini-barrage fits 3 or 4. I prefer the blade-shape of the mini-barrage. The assisted-opening is strong and smooth (MUCH better than a torsion-bar) but still easy to close the knife one-handed, and the safety-switch works well to lock the blade closed or opened (a bonus should your omega-springs ever fail). The mini-barrage can be de-assisted to function as a manual (mine currently is), there are youtube videos of the process.
The 585 liners are skeletonized to reduce weight, but this along with the hollow sound of the plastic handles (which are a bit slick) make the knife feel "cheap" to some, though it remains strong and lighter than it is with G10 (also available).
highestpoint
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REI has the mini barrage for $99 I believe. I prefer the barrage over the grip because of size
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I prefer the Mini Barrage, it's slightly larger size makes it a better EDC. However the Mini Grip is a better pocketable knife for a secondary EDC. Both have pretty good ergos considering their size but IMO not as good as similarly priced knives like the Endura or Delica.
Untitled by Danny Nystrom, on Flickr
Untitled by Danny Nystrom, on FlickrThe Benchmade 585 Mini-Barrage is usually more expensive than the mini-griptilian. The $65 tag is a good price especially since you can send the knife to Benchmade and they will sharpen/clean/replace-parts for free.
The mini-grip is an "entry" benchmade knife - it's been around for quite a while, is among their least expensive offerings with the AXIS-lock, and is available in a variety of colors/blade styles.
In terms of differences, I own a 585 and not a mini-grip because i could not well hold onto the mini-grip - it is quite "mini" (image pulled from web):
The mini-grip handle is very small, fits 2 or 3 fingers unless your hands are quite small, while the mini-barrage fits 3 or 4. I prefer the blade-shape of the mini-barrage. The assisted-opening is strong and smooth (MUCH better than a torsion-bar) but still easy to close the knife one-handed, and the safety-switch works well to lock the blade closed or opened (a bonus should your omega-springs ever fail). The mini-barrage can be de-assisted to function as a manual (mine currently is), there are youtube videos of the process.
The 585 liners are skeletonized to reduce weight, but this along with the hollow sound of the plastic handles (which are a bit slick) make the knife feel "cheap" to some, though it remains strong and lighter than it is with G10 (also available).
Completely answered my question. Thank you. I think I'll go with a barrage and deassist it. (in the picture, was that the mini barrage and mini grip, or full size barrage and mini grip? Thanks again, I think I'll look for a g10 version as well.
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I have both. They are both great knives. I do not have them in the same scale type. I have a 556 mini grip with the plastic handles and I really like the action and it feels good in the hand. The mini barrage is a 586 with the G10/Aluminum handles which I like much more than the plastic, so for that reason I prefer the 586 to the mini grip. However, both are nice folders, the mini barrage has a slightly larger handle than the mini grip.
chiral.grolim
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For me I prefer the mini grip over the Barrage. The only reason is that I like a smaller knife for everyday carry and the barrage is too thick for my taste. Personal opinion only though.
I've seen the Ritter design, and prefer it to the other models, so if I go with the mini grip, it will be the Ritter model for sure. If anyone else has a kershaw cryo, (for sizing my hands) I can just get 3 fingers on the handle. Sorry if that's useless information. But I hear the larger sized version of the grip has cheap feeling grips, obviously because of the extra plastic
I like the Mini-Grip a bit more than the Mini-Barrage. And the Ritter Mini-Grip is my favorite Benchmade. Of all my knives, I've given myself the most accidental cuts with my Mini-Barrage (while it was still assisted). I will say, though, that I do like the Mini-Barrage a lot more after de-assisting.
The large Grip handles feel more plasticky because the liner doesn't run the full length of the knife, versus the Mini-Grip, where the liner is inset across almost the entire length and width of the handle. It's still plenty strong and perfectly functional, but it does have more of a hollow feel and sound.
You mentioned having a Cryo. Here are a couple of shots of the Mini-Grip and Mini-Barrage with the Cryo. The second pic shows the effective handle grip length of all three.
The large Grip handles feel more plasticky because the liner doesn't run the full length of the knife, versus the Mini-Grip, where the liner is inset across almost the entire length and width of the handle. It's still plenty strong and perfectly functional, but it does have more of a hollow feel and sound.
You mentioned having a Cryo. Here are a couple of shots of the Mini-Grip and Mini-Barrage with the Cryo. The second pic shows the effective handle grip length of all three.
The barrages, mini and full size, with the bolsters are classy. They also feel great in the hand, even the mini Barrage is "big enough" to be useable, and the bolstered versions have M390 steel blades.
Also, the barrage has the safety lock thing on the back, you can use it to hold the blade open and shut if the omega springs break.
Also, the barrage has the safety lock thing on the back, you can use it to hold the blade open and shut if the omega springs break.
