Benchmade Mini-Griptilian or ?? for EDC

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frogger42

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Sep 17, 2008
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My wife has given me the go ahead to spend $50 - 60 on a new EDC knife. I currently have a Spyderco Ladybug 3 on my keychain that will remain. I rotate between a Kershaw NRG, Spyderco Delica 4, Kershaw Blur and a Benchmade Griptilian (full sized) for carry now with the majority of the time going to the Delica 4. My job is likely changing in the next few months and I will be back in a white color office. Therefore, I'd like something non-threatening looking and more subtle (my current Griptilian is bright orange) that will look ok worn with khakis or dress pants as well as jeans when I'm off work. I want a strong, durable stainless steel for the blade. I'd like one handed open and I'd prefer it NOT to be a liner lock. The Blur and Griptilian are a little large for my tastes for EDC. I'd say the Delica 4 is on the top end of the size I want, but I don't want to go any smaller than the NRG. I'd also like to avoid assisted open because some sheeple in the office might be freaked out by that.

Right now, I'm considering a Black Mini-Griptilian. I haven't decided between the clip point blade or the sheep's foot blade. Which do you prefer? What other knives should I be considering in that price range?
 
I think you will find BM's 154cm more difficult to sharpen than Spydie's VG10... I MUCH prefer the 555HG over the flat ground flavors.... If BM did a full flat grind on em it would be different, but as it is with the sabre grind it is tooo obtuse a grind for my taste... Of course, so is the the Delica 4, but that knife (before I lost it) was definitely one of my favorite (affordable) EDCs.
 
For me in that price range, it's a toss-up between the mini-grip and the Spyderco Native. But have you seen the new Spyderco Cat? 2.5 inch blade, CF scales and S30v steel. All for around 50 bucks!

I'm definitely getting one.

For the mini-Grip, I like the clip point blade but I prefer the thumb hole opening so I ended up getting the sheep's foot blade.
 
See my "minigrip saved life" thread. I address the point issue a bit. the drop point seems more stabby to me, from what I've read, but I don't know for sure. glad I had that blade format when I had to use needle like precision in removing a small twine like rope that was digging into the kittens leg. Not sure if I could have done it with the modified sheepsfoot. Then again, the 555 is sweeet looking.
 
In the Office, my carry rotation includes a Ritter mini-Grip, a Spyderco UKPK, and Fallkniven U2.

The mini-Grip sees the most time at the office, so I'd say the model is a good bet. Small, light, and can I haven't gotten too many "it's a weapon" looks - there is nothing you can do for some people.

Blade shape choice should be based on use and preferance, though the sheepsfoot style is often more sheeple friendly for some reason.
 
For the office, I would most likely opt for a stainless model of some sort. The Spyderco Dragonfly SS would be ideal, in my opinion.
 
archieblue said:
I think you will find BM's 154cm more difficult to sharpen than Spydie's VG10... I MUCH prefer the 555HG over the flat ground flavors.... If BM did a full flat grind on em it would be different, but as it is with the sabre grind it is tooo obtuse a grind for my taste... Of course, so is the the Delica 4, but that knife (before I lost it) was definitely one of my favorite (affordable) EDCs.
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I don't know about the VG10 from Spyderco, but the 154 cm from BM is super easy to sharpen (IMHO) and holds an edge a quite some time. I used to sharpen my BMs with diamond pads and it took no time. Now I use the Spyrderco Sharpmaker it its still a breeze.
 
Arpaio said:
I don't know about the VG10 from Spyderco, but the 154 cm from BM is super easy to sharpen (IMHO)
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Same here. My 556 came a little duller than I prefer so I touched up the edge with a Lanksy well over a year ago and I just touched it up again with a diamond hone a couple of weeks ago.
 
Thanks for all the good feedback. I've never heard of the Spyderco Cat, but I'll look it up now. Any more? I'm planning to order later tonight.
 
If you can squeeze some more cash allowance from your wife then you should check out the new G-10 Dragonfly.
 
I think you can´t do any better than a mini Grip. Lightwight, super strong, good steel and the best locking system out there. Like Seinfelds mother use to say... what is there not to like?
 
my office EDC is a plain edge spyderco dragonfly with the clip filed off. non knife people do not get alarmed and it can cut open boxes or packages. in my brief case is a Spyderco Paramilitary. That goes into my pocket if I have to close up the building.
 
I love my Mini , so much that I ground the sheeps into a modified drop point , I find it much more useful now.

That said , with that money what about a Kershaw ?

In the $60 range there is a lot of quality made in America knives to choose from.

Tostig
 
A G Russell has a line of Ti/VG10 folders in your size and price range. They come in slipjoint and lockbacks, and IIRC, they even have some classy looking scale choices besides plain Ti. Might want to check them out before you buy.
 
I really like the Spyderco Cat after looking at it, but it is a liner lock and I've gotten to the point where I prefer a different locking system. The Dragonfly is nice too, but I don't like the clip on the FRN version and the G10 version is out of my price range. I will review Kershaw's lineup again before buying, but I seem to remember all of their knives being liner lock too. I know the 3 Kershaws I currently have are all liner lock. Keep them coming guys.
 
Thanks for all the great tips guys. I ended up going a slightly different route, but I'm happy with it. I was searching my favorite on-line knife dealer, knifeworks.com and noticed that they had the ZDP version of the Delica 4 on special for an additional $20 off if you got the combo blade. Since I like my plain Delica 4 so much and this gets me the better steel for about the same price, I jumped on it. I don't have any combo blades at the moment, so this gives me some variety there too.
 
Frogger42,

Let us know how you like the combo blade on the new Delica. I saw that $20 reduction and figured they were not moving like the PE models were. Delica seems small to have CE, but I have never tried one, either.

Bill
 
Bill1170 said:
Frogger42,

Let us know how you like the combo blade on the new Delica. I saw that $20 reduction and figured they were not moving like the PE models were. Delica seems small to have CE, but I have never tried one, either.

Bill
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Not sure why it is on special, but the Benchmade Mini-Grip is an even smaller blade and the combo seems to sell well. Could just be they over ordered that particular configuration. Either way, I got a nicer knife than I could afford so I'm happy. I really like my plain old Black, FRN, VG-10, PE Delica 4 so I expect I'll like this one too. It is a bit bigger than I was wanting, but if the sheeple freak out at work, it will give me an excuse to buy another one. :D
 
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