Benchmade Mini Griptillian Vs. Spyderco PM2

E

Eagle10710

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Nov 24, 2011
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I'm looking for a "go-to" knife that I can use as an EDC. I generally prefer small (less than 3") blades, but recently got a Spyderco Tenacious and have fallen in love. Before that I was using a Spyderco Delica 4 and didn't think there was anything better out there. Does anyone have personal experience with either of these blades? Both? If so, between the two, which would you pick to be your reliable "go-to" knife? Thanks.
 
I would pick the Para 2 without even thinking twice. While the Mini Grip is a good knife, the Para 2 is a great knife IMO.
 
Look at price and what you like in steel.

I have nothing bad to say about either knife, either company or either knives steel.

Both are winners, but I give my nod to BM for being ambidextrous.
 
I've had a few of each and still do. I like them both for various reasons and thankfully don't have to have just one or the other. I reckon if I were forced to keep just one it would be the Para not because the mini is inferior but I believe the Para to be more reliable in terms of construction and lock reliability. Having said that, the axis lock is just plain fun and smooth and by no means a dog.
 
Thanks for the feedback, I'll be picking up a PM2 next payday. Maybe a Mini-Grip down the road somewhere in March. :rolleyes:
 
I have medium-sized hands and I think the handle on the Mini feels too small. It's not a deal-breaker, but I think it could've been a half inch longer or so. The PM2, on the other hand, has kinda the opposite effect, long handle with relatively shorter blade, but for me, it's the perfect ratio and extremely comfortable.
 
I have huge hands and prefer my 555 Mini Griptilian over the PM2. My PM2 rarely ever sees the light of day. The PM2 is a great knife for most people, but it just doesn't fit my hands as well as the Benchmade and it feels almost dainty in comparison due to the long, thin handle. The Griptilian just seems like a more utilitarian knife and feels more sturdy and substantial to me.
 
The Mini-Grip is a nice knife to be sure, but on any measure I can think of, the P2 completely out-performs and out-classes it. If anything, I think the post below is a little to tepid on the choice. :D

Orion's Belt said:
I would pick the Para 2 without even thinking twice. While the Mini Grip is a good knife, the Para 2 is a great knife IMO.
Click to expand...
 
Well, to be much more fair, the PM-2 does cost about $40 more, so it should be the one to get between the two. Now for a more fair comparison, either the BM 13960 ($90 right now at an online dealer), or the Ritter mini-grip. I would take either of those over a PM-2, but thats mostly cuz I dislike the PM-2's lock, and find it rather bulky for how much edge you get. Ergonomically though its a dream.
 
Neither one.
If I were looking for a knife that size right now, I'd go for a BM525BK-1101 it's a Limited Edition Presidio with M4 steel - that's still available. + You get that little extra length on the handle.
 
For the price of a PM2 you can get the Mini Grip.....and a Resilience!:D

I actually think the Mini Grip is a GREAT as an EDC. I haven't gotten enough time with a PM2 but know it's a great knife as well. Seriously though, the price difference is such that you could get TWO EDCs (Mini and Resilience) for the price of a PM2. Either way, you win.
 
They're really two completely different knives, however, as a Spyderco guy, I'll have to go with the PM2 any day of the week. The knife is so close to perfect. Great steel, great blade size and shape, great ergos, awesome compression lock...I can go on and on. Spyderco has my production PM2 for sharpening as of right now and let me just tell you how much I miss that knife.

I'm not trying to throw Benchmade in the toilet one bit, though. I just think that the Mini Grip isn't in the same ballpark. I will say that Benchmade knives are excellent tools, regardless of this. I've owned a Mini Grip and I was very impressed by the strength of the Axis Lock and the smoothness of the movement. They're excellent EDC blades and I know plenty of people who carry them.

But, like I said before, I will pick Spyderco time and time again.
 
The Para 2 is a pretty big knife. If that's the size you're thinking about then you should be comparing it to the full size grip, not the mini.

I like Spydercos a lot more than Benchmades, but the Benchmade I like best is the full sized Griptialian. I think it can hold it's own against the Para 2, especially if price is an issue.
 
beanbag makes a good point. I carried one of the first Delicas for many years and loved it, but I've been carrying a MiniGrip for the last 5 or 6 years and nothing has been able to kick it out of my pocket yet. Great ergos, great lock, fastest and easiest to deploy and put away and really good blade/edge to size ratio.

I almost like the PM, but for me it is just way too big for the size blade/amount of edge you get. Obviously many don't feel that way! Considering the price difference, I'm glad I like my MiniGrip so well.
 
The Mini Grip is my wife's, and the paracord (for me) definitely helps. Here's how they fit in my hand:

minigrip00.jpg


minigrip01.jpg


para200.jpg


para201.jpg
 
It may be too late, and the PM 2 is a fantastic knife, but how can nobody have brought up the fact that there are a few Benchmade knives far more comparable to the PM 2 than the mini-grip. The OP should be looking at the 710, 746, 707, 940, full-grip and ritter-grip.
 
PM2 & Mini-Grip both have nested liners :(and S30V:(.
The Limited Edition Mini-Presidio has full liners:thumbup: and M4 steel:thumbup:!
BM525BK-1101!!:D
 
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