Benchmade replacement

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kunchi97

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Sep 17, 2011
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Hey guys, I'm fairly new to the knife world (been collecting about a year) and have been wanting a benchmade for a good long while. however I'm 14 years old, so i don't really have an income source, or any allowance. most of my money is just rollover from me being frugal pretty much my entire life. however, i still can't justify pretty much cleaning myself out to buy a benchmade. Even buying a 90 dollar griptillian is just too much right now. but then i found out something interesting.

That benchmade makes HK's knives, and that most of HK's knives are basically benchmades red class knives (discontinued ones for my fellow newbies). so i thought, why not get a 49 dollar HK soldat, basically the earlier model of the current griptillian.

so i was wondering if anyone had any advice on whether an HK knife will satisfy my benchmade bug for now, or if you have another brand or knife that will deliver the same satisfaction at a 0-50 price point. also preferably a folder

i don't know how to post pics so i'm linking some pics of my prospective choices here (sorry). http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_list.aspx?category=27 http://www.benchmade.com/products/14410-14411 http://www.benchmade.com/products/14536

also i can get each of these knives for at least $20 less, i checked

I agree, I love the benchmade griptillian, I have held and fondled them pretty much every chance I get, the problem is, even if I save up, it will still be my most expensive knife. and I tend to use my knives hard, and just like people's 500 dollar customs, I find my most expensive, best knives, impossible to use for fear of breakage, or getting lost. does that make any sense. that's why I'm looking for a budget folder.
 
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I got a brand new Griptilian on eBay for $46 a couple weeks ago. :) Or, if you want to spend a little less, a certain online retailer has HK Ascenders and mini Ascenders for around 25-30 bucks.
 
dude the griptillian is one of the best knifes i have ever touched and i own a sebenza a para2 some zts spydie sprints a 710 etc etc

look on this forum and ebay for some better prices

save and get what you want thats what i did when i was your age and i sure as shiz didnot regret it and neither will you if you want a bm get a bm grippys are some of the best
 
If You're Going To Go For An HK - Great Starter Brand And Will For Sure Calm Your Bug For The Moment. Until You Decide You Just Have To Get Another Knife.
But Like I Was Saying.. If You're Going To Go For One, I Would Go For:
Benchmade/HK Monochrome
Benchmade/HK Mini Ascender
Benchmade/HK Ascender
Benchmade/Harley Davidson Levitator

A Few Others From Other Brands To Look At Would Be:
Spyderco UKPK
Spyderco Tenacious
Spyderco Persistence
Spyderco Dragonfly 2
You Can Often Find Delicas And Enduras For 50 Or Less.
 
Or Go For The Grip Like Said Above.
Own A Benchmade Griptilian 550HG And A Benchmade Orange Ritter Griptilian 552ORG.
They Are Good Knives And Will Last For Years.
Probably Going To Make My 550HG A User - May be My "Beefy" Hard Use Folder.
Because It May Be Light But The Build Is Very Beefy And Ergonomic.
Just A Good Knife.

Here's Some Pics!
550HG:

Grip.jpg

Grip2.jpg


552ORG:

RitterGrip.jpg

RitterGrip2.jpg
 
Save up for what you really want. You're gonna end up with it eventually anyway, but it'll take longer if you get sidetracked (and I say that as someone who owns 100+ knives worth of being sidetracked.)
 
^^ I Agree.
If You Really Want The Griptilian, Save Up A Little More Money And Get It.
Do You Currently Have An EDC?
Are You Wanting Said Knife For EDC?

Anyways....
Save And Get It If It's What You Want.
I'll Vouch That It's A Great Knife.
A Lot Of People Say It Feels "Cheap".
For Me, It Doesn't Feel Cheap, Just Lightweight.
I Feel It's A Really Solid Knife. And Even Though It's Thick And Everything, It Just Disappears In The Pocket.
You Don't Really Even Know It's There.
It's Light But You Can Feel How Solid And Heavy Duty It Is When It's In Your Hand.

An Yeah, I Was Side Tracked For A Long Time Lol.
I've Had A Few Phases.
But Always Come Back To Loving My Folders.
I Also Love SAK's. But Own Very Few Now.
I Try To Keep The Necessities Rather Than Just Have A Lot Laying Around.
I Really Need To Get On Getting Rid Of Some Knives.

But Yeah, Save A Little, Get A Grip, Love It, Hold It, Squeeze It, Pet It....
And Then Look At Some Other Brands As Well.
I Say - Spyderco Lol.
 
You can also get a Spyderco Manix 2 for about 70 bucks. Great knife, some like it more than the grip ;)
 
The Manix 2 Is A Great Knife.
But Some People Just "NEED" A Benchmade - Especially When You're Starting Out - They Are A Huge Name In The Knife World.
I Was One That Just "NEEDED" To Have One Once.
And I Really Do Like Them And Their Designs.
Spyderco Has Won My Heart, But You Can't Go Wrong With A Good BM!
I Have Had Many Many Knives Pass Through My Hands.
And If I Had To Recommend The Three Best Knife Brands Out Of What I've Owned It Would Be:
Spyderco
Benchmade
And
Kershaw - Great Knives And Most Of Them Are Found For GREAT Prices.

And If I Had To Reccomend The 2 Best Knives Of Each Brand I've Owned:
Benchmade Griptilian/Ritter Griptilian.
Benchmade Large Bone Collector.
Spyderco Paramilitary 2.
Spyderco Manix 2/Regular And Sprints.
Kershaw Rake Composite Blade.
Kershaw Junkyard Dog II.

You Just Can't Go Wrong!! =]
 
Spyderco Doesn't Have Some Of The Most Appealing Designs To Some People(I Love Their Designs), But They're GREAT Knives. Spyderco Makes An Excellent And Wonderful Knife And You Can't Go Wrong.

I'd Pick Up A Tenacious If I Were You.
I Own Many Mid-Higher End Knives, And Still Love My Tenacious!
 
I agree, I love the benchmade griptillian, I have held and fondled them pretty much every chance I get, the problem is, even if I save up, it will still be my most expensive knife. and I tend to use my knives hard, and just like people's 500 dollar customs, I find my most expensive, best knives, impossible to use for fear of breakage, or getting lost. does that make any sense. that's why I'm looking for a budget folder.

I'll edit this into the top post
 
Most of the Red Box Benchmades were made in China or Taiwan. They were $20 or so on closeout locally last year. All of the H&K and HD models mentioned are as well. The more expensive H&K and HD models are like the current Benchmades - made in the USA. Buck, Kershaw, and Spyderco also have imports as well as USA-made products. One of the best buys in a folding knife is the Buck 110 'Folding Hunter'. It doesn't have a cool name, thumb post or hole, isn't 'assisted', etc. It is a classic. US made and <$30 at WallyWorld, Academy, Dick's, Bass Pro Shop, etc. Small stores may want closer to list - ~$65. Check the Kershaw Ken Onion series, too - like the Scallion or Leek - also at those stores. A visit there will give you an idea what they look like - perhaps what they feel like, too, if you can find help. That doesn't just mean a salesman - you may need someone older to ask to see the knives, I don't know your local laws.

I have a bunch of Benchmades, including a 551 Griptillian in 440C steel - my first-ever Benchmade. It saw little use - and still is not a favorite by any means. It came - brand new - dull as could be. I eventually became able, by using a Spyderco 'Sharpmaker', to sharpen double bevel/edged knives - and it is sharp now. From my previous experience, Buck, Kershaw, and Spyderco generally come razor sharp - as have all of my subsequent Benchmade folders. Odd, huh?

Good luck!

Stainz
 
kunchi97 said:
I agree, I love the benchmade griptillian, I have held and fondled them pretty much every chance I get, the problem is, even if I save up, it will still be my most expensive knife. and I tend to use my knives hard, and just like people's 500 dollar customs, I find my most expensive, best knives, impossible to use for fear of breakage, or getting lost. does that make any sense. that's why I'm looking for a budget folder.

I'll edit this into the top post
Click to expand...

The Griptilian is a great way to overcome that fear. When you hold it in your hand, you have no doubt that this is a "work" knife. It still feels quality, but the no frills FRN handles just don't feel like a safe queen knife. One of the things I appreciate about my D2 Grip is that I can beat the crap out of it and it just seems right. That knife is one of the few I have that actually looks like it has been to hell and back, and I still reserve it for my dirty jobs. (For absolute, pure toughness, I use my Cold Steel Spartan, but that is pretty damn rare). That, and one of the best things about Benchmade knives is the Axis Lock. Getting a first BM that doesn't have an Axis Lock, would be like your first Spyderco having a thumbstud or something...
 
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