Benchmade Ritter MiniGrip disappointment

petrosil

petrosil

Gold Member
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Feb 26, 2006
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291
I just got a Ritter MiniGrip from AeroMedix and the axis lock definitely isn't as smooth as my Mel Pardue MiniGrip. I bought the new one because I really liked the look of the drop point on the Ritter and also because I expected it to be as smooth as my other minigrip.

I called Benchmade and the woman was polite. She first suggested I should call the retailer. That wasn't what I wanted to hear. I wanted her to sound appalled and demand that I send it in to them so they can fix it.;) She finally did say that I could send it in and they would look at it but I didn't feel very confident that they would tweak it or somehow make it better.

I called Aeromedix and they said they would take a look at it. Not sure what to expect from a retailer looking at it. I know they're that only ones I found that are selling the Ritter mini.

Guess I'm just a bit disappointed in the overall quality; I don't think I'm being too picky but I can sometimes be hard to please.

Anyone else ever have a somewhat sticky axis lock? Any experience taking them apart and tweaking them?

Lou
 
I've got a min-Ritter grip and like it. Notice I don't say "love". I do love the blade design but the motion, IMHO, is not as fluid as the Pardue version of the mini-grip. I suppose this may be due to the larger blade but I'm not sure.

I haven't had a problem with the lock on the Ritter at all though.
 
You can send it to benchmade with return shipping and they will look at it and tweak it no problem. Benchmade is a stand up company. It does not surprise me that they asked you to go through the retailer, as it might save you money and may end up in you getting a new knife with less trouble. If you send it in, they will fix it, it just might take longer than going through the retailer. Additionally Aeromedix is the exclusive distributor of the Ritter Grip, which is why it is the only place that sells it, and probably why Benchmade wants you to go through them. I would chill, and figure out whom you want to send it to, and know that either will make it right.
 
The pivot screw wasn't too tight, even loosened it up more than necessary and it still didn't wasn't smooth. Mostly it's the axis lock, feels like the spring is binding or the movement is catching on something.
 
The friction between the 'lock bar' and the SS liner's holes is most likely the cause. Sometimes the holes in the SS liners are not machined too smoothly so that the bar gets sticky or sometimes trapped when you want to unlock. Let the seller have a look at it and ask them to pick out one with no stickyness for you. You payed the money and deserve a good product.

Let us know how it turns out ok. Good luck.

(Same thing happened to me but I'm not in the US so I can't send it for repairs since to and fro shipping may cost more than the knife!!! I fixed mine with some very fine sandpaper and all's well. Needed to tweak it a fair bit though.)
 
You could try swapping the handle to a different mini grip and see if that's the problem.

I've also noticed the phosphor bronze washers sometimes take some breaking in. Open and close it while doing something else, and see if the action becomes smoother.

My new 555HG was stiff and jerky opening and closing, even with a loose pivot screw for the first 50 or so open-close cycles. Now it's smooth like my other mini grips.
 
With the sheer numbers of knives Benchmade produces, every once in awhile one comes through that just isn't right, be it sluggish, off center or tight. I always recommend if you can do it, send it up there.

All you need to do is put a short note in the box along with a check for $5 and send it Priority and insured. Note: don't send the knife in its original box, just wrap the it carefully in bubble wrap or something.

Here's the mailing address in case it's needed:

LifeSharp
300 Beavercreek Road
Oregon City, OR 97045

I just got my 907D2 back from them and it took less than 2 weeks to get it back to me.

Good luck!
 
I'd definitely contact them before sending it in, or at least send a note with it. Otherwise they might just sharpen it and return it.
 
The idea of a bushing is that the pivot can be tightened all the way without affecting deployment speed or smoothness and it does this through the way contact is made. As for breaking them in, I dont know, after several months of use my bradley is exactly the same as the day I got it, super smooth. My suggestion is to call the manufacturer and ask for a new one, if that one isnt good, return it and buy something else.

Dont force yourself to like something or even live with it because other people like or even if its objectively a good peice. dont tell me youve never driven a nice car that you just couldnt see yourself in. I hate driving audis and by all accounts they are good cars. good thing my broke ass cant afford one. ;)
 
I don't think the mini grip has bushings. You can definitely adjust the blade tension and speed by tightening/loosening the pivot.
 
In my experience with Benchmade products I've seen some of their bronze phosphorus washer have a bur on one side but none on the other and some without a bur on both side.I believe this could affect the smoothness of the blade.
 
petrosil said:
I called Aeromedix and they said they would take a look at it. Not sure what to expect from a retailer looking at it. I know they're that only ones I found that are selling the Ritter mini.

Lou
Click to expand...

Lou:

If there is any question about the knife, please return it. We will be glad to fix it or replace it. We want you to be happy with your purchase.

Brent

brentblue@aeromedix.com
 
enderwiggin said:
You could try swapping the handle to a different mini grip and see if that's the problem.

I've also noticed the phosphor bronze washers sometimes take some breaking in. Open and close it while doing something else, and see if the action becomes smoother.

My new 555HG was stiff and jerky opening and closing, even with a loose pivot screw for the first 50 or so open-close cycles. Now it's smooth like my other mini grips.
Click to expand...


razorburn said:
In my experience with Benchmade products I've seen some of their bronze phosphorus washer have a bur on one side but none on the other and some without a bur on both side.I believe this could affect the smoothness of the blade.
Click to expand...

That makes sense. Good to know!
 
p_mcmanis said:
I dont know if the regular mini grip has them, but they are confirmed for the rsk. just scroll down to the info box

http://www.equipped.com/rsk_mk1.htm
Click to expand...


The BM 558 has bushings. Mine came with them. I sometimes work for a knife store and some brand new in box BM can be a bit "gritty" from the get go (As in taking them out of the delivery box). You just need to play with it for a bit to break it in. As the others have mentioned, try putting some lube in the joints, and just open and close it while watching a tv show. It should be fine after. If not, just send it in. Good luck!:thumbup:
 
Mine came absolutely jammed up - as Aeromedix had kindly tighened them. Which was very good as both packages (mini and regular) were opened by customs here - and it avoided any confusion.

For me Loosening - with the supplied torx key worked fine. However there was a noticeable increase in smoothness after a numbner of opening and closings.

I am very pleased with the mini ritter, not so enamoured to the full size.

My scary sharp mini blade chipped on light use but I gather from other posts here that is just a one off, and once repolished will be fine

Good luck, hopefully you just got a rare dud and aero will see you well

What I pine for is ritters with thin scales (and full liners on the full size)
 
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