Benchmade Mini-Griptilian vs. Spyderco Delica 4

The grip is a nicer overall knife IMO.

But nothing cuts like a Spyderco.

This subject has been covered a million times. Get both of them.

Are you a Spyderco fan? Are you a Benchmade fan instead?

If you spend any time around here at all, you will be both.

-Freq
 
Nice! I wasn't familiar with the Bone Collector. I wonder if the blade and handles are interchangeable with the Mini Grip. I'd get one with the black and green G10 and swap the handle with my mini Ritter!


ASBOB said:
Are we permitted to suggest knives beyond those two?

On Spyderco: as mentioned, the Native would be my choice.

On Benchmade: I find the Mini Grip just a tad too small. The Mini Bone Collector, on the other hand, is knockdown perfect. Handles also re a terrific shape, and the ridges in the G10 just grip your hand. This is my edc and to[ choice.
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+1 vote for the delica4 in FFG. Simple and effective. It's probably my favourite folder.
 
I own both, and the minigrip is my preference for a variety of reasons:
+ Longer blade / shorter overall length
+ better pocket clip
+ Does not try to force your hand into a certain shape like the Delica
+ Axis lock
+ Thumb stud
And where the Delica is better:
- 4 point clip positioning (instead of just l/r)
- better jimping
- Thinner than the 556
- lighter
- thinner

They're both nice, but neither is as nice as the BM/HK 14210, which is now discontinued :(
 
I prefer the Mini Grip for its thumb studs (I no longer own any hole-opener Benchmades) and Axis Lock.

That said, I have a 3 series Delica in my pocket today!
 
I have both (BM gifted by a family friend) and here are my comments:

Ergonomics: I will say that the BM Grip is the best thumb stud opener I've ever used in terms of comfort of opening (others, for reference, include MCusta and SOG). Equal to the Spyderco-but only equal.

Lock-I like the slight closing bias of both, am more used to and prefer the lockback, YMMV.

Handle-Delica wins easily. The Mini-Grip feels exactly like what it is-a Grip scaled down proportionately. The handle feels too small, even for my small hands. The Delica has ample handle space, although it isn't matched by blade length. If you compare how the Delica is "scaled down" from the Endura, it's done differently from the way the Mini-Grip is scaled down from the Grip. The Mini-Grip is thicker.

Handle material-The bi-directional FRN on the Delica is not as aggressive as the texture patch on the Grip, but it is quite secure in its own right. A nice thing about the D4 is that the Spyderco logo rests under the clip, greatly reducing wear on the fabric.

Blade-A toss-up for the saber-grind versions. Both could benefit from a more acute grind. The Spyderco comes with a "reinforced" tip, which I don't like. The BM's tip is nice and pointy. The D4 was razor sharp and acutely ground new; the BM has a grind which is criminally steep on one side and normal on the other.

Clip-About the same; if you like tip down carry, the D4 offers that...It is broader but slimmer in the pocket than the Grip.

I'd go with the Delica based on ergos and carry. I made the decision a few years back and even after getting the Grip I'd not change it. The availability of Delicas in colourful flat grinds and ZDPs as well as G10 is a thing to be considered, as is the myriad of colours for the Griptilian.
 
The grip/mini-grip v endura/delica question gets brought up all the time.

IMO the mini-grip has a slight edge over the delica but the endura wins over the grip by a mile.
 
should take a look at the stretch also. its at the same price point as the mini grip. imo vg10 beats 154cm all day long.
 
I have both and I prefer the Delica4 FFG.
Like many said already, the handle on the Mini-Grip isn't that great, I prefer VG-10 over 154CM too.
The axis lock is very user friendly. From the 3 knives I use to EDC the Mini-Grip is the less used (just for the records: I prefer the SOG Visionary I over these 2, but that may change with my new acquisitions: Native I and Para2)
 
I am an owner of two minigrips. I don't own a Delica but have handled them on occasion. Personally, I don't really like the handle on the minigrip. I have medium sized hands and I barely can use my pinky on the handle. If it were a little longer, it would be a perfect knife. However, even though it feels like a fixed blade due to the excellent locking mechanism, you can't get the utility if you can't grasp the entire handle.

The Delica, especially in FFG, would be the more effective cutter in medium to large sized hands, despite it not having as solid of a lock as the Axis.

Minigrip is the cooler knife. Delica is more utilitarian and will be outperformed by few.
 
I love the mini grip. I've got big hands and feel it is not too small. My pinky is off the knife when held, but it feels very secure to me. The axis lock is great, very smooth and solid lockup. I feel the balance of the knife is great, as opposed to the full size grip, which to me feels too light in the handle. I would like a ritter mini in the future, but I have no complaints about the standard mini grip. Can't compare to the delica, only can say I've been completely happy with the mini grip.
 
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Artfully Martial said:
the grip is miles ahead of the delica. the better competitor for the price would be the native, which has better ergonomics and steel (but I still prefer the grip).
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ASBOB said:
Are we permitted to suggest knives beyond those two?

On Spyderco: as mentioned, the Native would be my choice.

On Benchmade: I find the Mini Grip just a tad too small. The Mini Bone Collector, on the other hand, is knockdown perfect. Handles also re a terrific shape, and the ridges in the G10 just grip your hand. This is my edc and to[ choice.
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Please excuse the topic side-step. Can either of you (or anyone) describe the differences between Delica and Native that influence your preferences to the Native? It happens that I have one of each, and on occasion a popular sport for me has been to compare them under similar carry and cutting conditions. For purposes of muscle memory, I will pocket one or the other for a few weeks and keep track of how things go. Usually, either gets the same round of cutting chores. So far, the result have been inconclusive in that whichever I am using is the one I tend to prefer. I have no experience with Benchmade.
 
znapschatz said:
Please excuse the topic side-step. Can either of you (or anyone) describe the differences between Delica and Native that influence your preferences to the Native? It happens that I have one of each, and on occasion a popular sport for me has been to compare them under similar carry and cutting conditions. For purposes of muscle memory, I will pocket one or the other for a few weeks and keep track of how things go. Usually, either gets the same round of cutting chores. So far, the result have been inconclusive in that whichever I am using is the one I tend to prefer. I have no experience with Benchmade.
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The Native is a bit obsolete in its own right these days, but back when there were three obvious direct competitors (the minigrip, native and blur) it was really something special. I've had both the s30v and vg10 models.

Anyway, what set the Native apart was, first off, s30v steel--and if you recall, 4 or 5 years ago you could get these for $40 from walmart, and at the time, you only saw S30V on $100+ folders, so that was pretty epic.
And the other thing was the ergonomics. As far as I know, this was the first affordable finger choil knife too.

That said, I played with one a few months ago after years away and its ergonomics aren't as awesome as they seemed back then now that lots of companies are using more contoured handles, finger choils and so on. But still, good knife. Wish it wasn't pinned, and personally, I don't like lockbacks, but that aside, nice knife.

Also, its FRN was just miles away in quality looks and feel back then. The minigrip was by far the most solid little folder you could get, but the plastic handles looked....really plasticky. But the Native's cool texture hid the plastic pretty well.

Of course, for looks and quality feel, the Blur blew them both away, but it was pretty outgunned on steel.
 
Artfully Martial said:
The Native is a bit obsolete in its own right these days, but back when there were three obvious direct competitors (the minigrip, native and blur) it was really something special. I've had both the s30v and vg10 models.

Anyway, what set the Native apart was, first off, s30v steel--and if you recall, 4 or 5 years ago you could get these for $40 from walmart, and at the time, you only saw S30V on $100+ folders, so that was pretty epic.
And the other thing was the ergonomics. As far as I know, this was the first affordable finger choil knife too.

That said, I played with one a few months ago after years away and its ergonomics aren't as awesome as they seemed back then now that lots of companies are using more contoured handles, finger choils and so on. But still, good knife. Wish it wasn't pinned, and personally, I don't like lockbacks, but that aside, nice knife.

Also, its FRN was just miles away in quality looks and feel back then. The minigrip was by far the most solid little folder you could get, but the plastic handles looked....really plasticky. But the Native's cool texture hid the plastic pretty well.

Of course, for looks and quality feel, the Blur blew them both away, but it was pretty outgunned on steel.
Click to expand...

I just got a Native. For me it is quite the same quality as my Delica4 FFG and the blade ergos are quite nice. The handle could be better, it is missing something if yu don't use the finger choil. I haven't used it decently (I'm at home because I'm recovering from an accident)and I already prefer it over the MiniGrip! :D
 
I prefer the Benchmade for the AXIS lock and the handle design. I have large hands and even though the Mini-Griptilian is a small knife, I can still handle it very well. It's well designed. I have EDC'd one for years and don't ever feel the need for more or less (even though I sometimes carry something else just because I can).
 
Both Benchmade and Spyderco are my two favorite knife makers so it's a toss up. You will eventually have to own at least one of each but if I had to choose only one between the mini-grip and Delica?

I would have to choose the Delica, but I would want the full flat ground one. FFG blades really do seem to slice better. I don't own a mini-grip, but a full size griptilian and it is a great knife but I can't imagine it having a smaller handle and being comfortable.

Now, if you don't have to choose between those two knives...

Check out a Spyderco Paramilitary.

Warriors and Wonders has the first generation one for $114 and the Paramilitary 2 for $10 bucks more. It's also S30V steel which is much better than VG-10 or 154CM.

Just my opinion.
 
i have a mini grip 557 tanto and a delica 4 ffg. They are both awesome knives but I prefer the Benchmade for the pocket clip, thumb studs, and axis lock. Also, its made in the USA.
 
znapschatz said:
Please excuse the topic side-step. Can either of you (or anyone) describe the differences between Delica and Native that influence your preferences to the Native? It happens that I have one of each, and on occasion a popular sport for me has been to compare them under similar carry and cutting conditions. For purposes of muscle memory, I will pocket one or the other for a few weeks and keep track of how things go. Usually, either gets the same round of cutting chores. So far, the result have been inconclusive in that whichever I am using is the one I tend to prefer. I have no experience with Benchmade.
Click to expand...


Sorry to take so long to reply. I have a Native CF, and the handle are wider and hence easier to grip for me than the Delica. Also the foward part of the Native's handles have a pronounced indent that is a more comfortable shape than the Delica, for me.

Small Bone Collector is best of all, my edc.
 
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