Benchmade Ritter Grips!

I liked mine when I owned it BUT didn't think the grips went with the blade. Just my opinion though. Upgrade the handle material to something a bit higher in quality and I'd buy another cause I like the blade shape. For that matter 154 would be ok with me with better grips. keepem sharp
 
I agree (with the OP's statement in #1). After my Rift, they are my second fav BM. They're very tough work knives... an excellent blade shape for general use, good blade steel, and excellent handle material for rough work.

I know a lot of people don't like the handle material, but it's like kevlar for knife handles. BM's Noryl & Spyderco's FRN are just really tough materials that can take a lot of abuse and still protect the knife liners and lock mechanism. My Grips and Delicas have been put through a lot of hard wear in warehouse and woods and their handles have almost nothing to show for it. That's more important to me than an upgraded material that's more likely to chip, ding, scratch, or break.
 
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After collecting knives for many years and spending thousands of £/$ on production and custom models, I now find myself carrying a Mora if I choose a fixed blade and Mini Grip variant (often a Mini Ritter) or Benchmade 710 if I choose a locking folder.



I'm one of the minority who likes the Noryl GTX scales!
 
I go back and forth with the handle material, but if a blade made a knife the Ritters are tops. That wide flat S30V blade cuts like a laser and is easy to keep sharp. The knives are good deals for the price...sure moving to G-10 would make it comparable, to say the 950, but would the price go up as a result?

I do the same thing, BTW - take the clip off and drop it in my large velcro BM pouch. Unlike slicker G-10 scales, the Valox provides enough grip.

And if you don't like the Valox there are third party alternatives out there to give the knife a more custom look and feel.
 
I have owned many different versions of Griptilians.
I have either sold or given away all but the Ritters, specifically the M2 & M4 versions. I have both sizes in M2 & M4 versions and feel that they are well worth the extra money I paid for them. The steel in both is excellent. There is nothing that doesn't work; as far as the factory handles are concerned. However, I have replaced all the handles on my Ritters with either G10, Corian or Micarta. The finish on the M4 versions are outstanding and much better than any other finish that I have seen. I very rarely carry any other kind of knife.
 
I think that the Ritter Grips are in a league of their own. The handle is secure, light and comfortable, and the blade profile is pretty much perfect for my uses. The odds of my selling any of my Grips = zero.
 
I have no problem with the handle material on my mini-Ritter. I'd like it a tad longer, but it is grippy and tough, plus comfortable for its size.
 
Supra1988t said:
The scales are what kept me from buying one....
Click to expand...

Although the scales are the same material, the mini feels and sounds different from the full size because it is effectively a full-liner knife, rather than half-length liner. That's FWIW...
 
I have the full size Ritter. It's a good knife, but too thick for my tastes.
I ...was... hot to get a mini but got a Spyderco FFG Delica and now have no desire for a Mini-Ritter.
The grind going all the way up makes the Spydie more attractive to me. I use it for everything.
:thumbup:

(not batoning or wild survival though)
 
I have two of the Ritter collaboration Grips. I have the full-size and mini in S30V (thinking about the orange one now).

I have full-size Grips (551s), the MDP and a full-size olive green with BK coated blade, with the original blade shape in 154CM. I much prefer the blade profile of the Ritter version than the original. I understand this is down to taste, but I'm with the OP. They have struck a pleasing balance between the familiar Grip so many people like, and a blade profile that is more appealing for folks like me.

Just my humble opinion, but I think Doug Ritter accomplished what he set out to do, which was (paraphrasing here) to make a solid, affordable knife you could bet your life on in a pinch. He wanted to keep the price down so as to be more accessible, but still have it made by a reputable maker.

It works for me.

I do understand the incongruity of having an S30V blade with the 'normal' everyday plastic scales. I see it as an upgrade of the blade while keeping a grip shape I already knew and already liked.

SP
 
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I just got a small Sebenza, and was wondering if adding a Ritter mini RSK MK1 to my "collection" would be redundant, since I also have a Benchmade opportunist. The Sebenza and the Ritter have a similar blade shape, all three of the knives mentioned have s30v blades. The only thing about the Ritter that I am missing out on is the Axis Lock, right?

Basically, I am asking you guys to talk me out of purchasing a Ritter mini grip.
Give me some cons, people.
 
I just got my Ritter Mini-Grip yesterday and sent it back to BM today to have the blade centered and the Axis lock mechanism smoothed out hopefully, it was really sticking...I asked them to sharpen as well just to see how they do with their LifeSharp program...

But I love the knife, the clip is parkerized instead of painted so that's a plus and the blade is incredible...I bet this becomes my EDC when I get it back...May sell my Mini-Grip or keep it for a backup...Decisions...
 
tlavas,
How can you tell that the clip is parkerized?
I ask because my two Ritters came with painted clips that scratched easily.
Thanks.
 
flash900 said:
tlavas,
How can you tell that the clip is parkerized?
I ask because my two Ritters came with painted clips that scratched easily.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

He must have the M4 addition. They have parkerized clips in conjunction with the DLC coating.
 
Very good design the Ritter, I love the blade, not so much the handle. I sure wish they would be in a higher quality material and flatter.
 
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