Benchmade Mini Griptilian Scales

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BakedBeans

Joined
May 19, 2013
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Hi Everyone! I just picked up a great Benchmade Mini-grip, the 555HG model, love the knife but hate the plastic scales. Can anyone out here recommend a place where I can buy a new/custom set in either aluminum or g10? Thanks in advance!
 
Member keyman makes awesome BM scales and fair prices for what you get but I believe his current worklog is near 10 people out, still more than worth the wait, Wilkins grip's are faster to obtain but you only have a pre-set selection of G10/Al/Ti to choose from, keyman will use whatever you want and I believe you can choose standoff's vs. backspacer, with Wilkins you only get a backspacer (albeit a cool lookig machined Al spacer).

Check out "swimming pool green" G11, its a freakin beautiful color!

Oh and great choice going for the 555(HG)!
 
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Thanks for the response! I will check out Keyman's, have not seen any of his work, but I found Wilkins on line. His scales look amazing, pricey, but no doubt worth it. I also found someone named Allen Putman...his scales look good too and I am trying to find some reviews. Thanks again for the info!!
 
Putman scales, I believe, are all aluminum, he may offer G10 but I've never seen them. A lower cost alternative if you like the honeycomb pattern.

If you search for keyman and find a post of his he has a link in his sig line to his photobucket filled with all kinds of materials and knives (mostly benchmade's but not all griptilians). If you want to go for keyman's PM him and get on his waiting list ASAP, no one ever sells theirs on the secondary market.
 
Kevin Wilkins scales are popular and available in various materials.
(G10 is plastic by the way!)
 
Go to the Benchmade subforum, and look through the customized benchmades thread. There you will find examples you can base your design off of, as well as a few skilled members who would be more than willing to work with you. Including Keyman.
 
Cereal_killer said:
G10 is a synthetic poly yes but its very different from plastic, don't believe me, try to liquefy it...
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G10 is epoxy resin bonded with glass cloth. It's reinforced plastic; the same stuff used for printed circuit boards.

Wiki:

Epoxy is both the basic component and the cured end product of epoxy resins, as well as a colloquial name for the epoxide functional group. Epoxy resins, also known as polyepoxides are a class of reactive prepolymers and polymers which contain epoxide groups. Epoxy resins may be reacted (cross-linked) either with themselves through catalytic homopolymerisation, or with a wide range of co-reactants including polyfunctional amines, acids (and acid anhydrides), phenols, alcohols, and thiols. These co-reactants are often referred to as hardeners or curatives, and the cross-linking reaction is commonly referred to as curing. Reaction of polyepoxides with themselves or with polyfunctional hardeners forms a thermosetting polymer, often with strong mechanical properties as well as high temperature and chemical resistance. Epoxy has a wide range of applications, including metal coatings, use in electronics / electrical components, high tension electrical insulators, fiber-reinforced plastic materials, and structural adhesives.

More info: http://www.plasticsintl.com/epoxy_g10_fr4.htm
 
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Who gives a flying schmuck if G10 is technically a plastic or not...it's a solid and reliable handle material...in my novice experience it is better than non-G10 "plastics" and holds up to a pretty good beating.

Thanks for the advice and insight guys!
 
On a more positive note...gotta love the BM mini-grip 555HG huh? Think I'm going with some Wilkins G10 grips/scales..."F" it! Going to cost some dough but the quality seems worth it and it is my most used EDC knife so it may as well be a beauty!
 
BakedBeans said:
On a more positive note...gotta love the BM mini-grip 555HG huh? Think I'm going with some Wilkins G10 grips/scales..."F" it! Going to cost some dough but the quality seems worth it and it is my most used EDC knife so it may as well be a beauty!
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The Wilkins G10 grips are available in smooth or grippy surface. I have both and personally prefer the smooth.
 
As Said, keyman makes beatiful scales, i was going to get a modded bm grip, but with shipping etc to Sweden, i felt that it just wasnt Worth it, Maybe some day in the near future i change My mind.
My interest to knives is slowly going away though, hurts My inside to say that..
 
You guys have any strong opinions on the type of blade steel? I went with the 154CM. I love that steel as a good all around blade but a lot of people seem to have a thing for the S30V...is it really that much better?
 
I think it depends on what you plan on using your knife for and how often you want to be touching it up. I don't know a whole lot about the steels, but the way I see it, its not that one is better than another, just built for different things. Kinda like cars. Sportier, faster, more exotic, still an automobile. Still has to stop at a stop light. Same principle. All of the steel in knives will cut. Some will do it cleanly longer than others. Just my $.02
 
I just plan on using it to cut sh*t up :) Honestly, it is going to be my EDC, so it will get a lot of use, but nothing too hardcore. The 154CM is more than I need...but dam, the knife junky in me always wants the best toys and that Doug Ritter model does look pretty nice :)
 
Everybody needs at least one good chunk of S30V or S35VN! My S30V folders are the Spyderco Para Military 2, ZT 350TS, and a Sebenza in S35VN. I just seem to be able to get the S3-V- blades sharper than any of the others.
 
spydercobenchmadekai said:
Everybody needs at least one good chunk of S30V or S35VN! My S30V folders are the Spyderco Para Military 2, ZT 350TS, and a Sebenza in S35VN. I just seem to be able to get the S3-V- blades sharper than any of the others.
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Good advice!! I am actually jonesing for a Spyderco but I am a made in the USA steel snob and they have so few. I was thinking if gong with a full size gripper doug ritter but seems kind of redundant with the mini. I am usually a fixed blade guy with my only folder being a decent quality pocket EDC. If I wanted to indulge on one more more folder with a little more girth, 3+ inch blade, with a high quality steel...you guys have any suggestions?
 
ZT566 in elmax. Sweet knife and a step up from s30 and 35v which are both a step up from 154. Really comfortable to carry and use too.
 
Here's my two Mini Grips in Wilkins' scales.

The Ritter in anodized aluminum and the 555 in G10.

 
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