Benchmade, Spyderco, or Cold Steel

[bisbob]

I have the Griptilian, the mini-grip, and the PM2. All three very fine knives. The PM2 is the best Spyderco I own, and I would not trade/sell it. However, I have other Spyderco knives which I do not care for as they are stiffer opening than I like. Between the two BMs, I wear the big one on my front pocket, and keep the mini (without clip) in my rear pocket. If you have two, you have one, etc. blades on all three came very sharp. Did not even tune them up. One of my Spydies is a Delica, which sucks for its opening stiffness. Had I bought that one first I might not have gone for the PM2. Bottom line for me is I prefer the feel of the big Griptilian in my hand. I can deal with the mini as a backup. And I will use the PM2 rarely. I just prefer the BM opening.
This two cents brought to you free of charge.

 

[fetzer85]

i was thinking the opposite. that axis lock just hasn't won me over with that omega spring.

How many times have you had an omega spring fail?

I believe I can answer for him - never. For some reason he deems it necessary to always bring up his undecided yet doubtful attitude of the Axis lock. I'm not even an Axis fanboy and it's annoying me. Oh well...

 

[blame it on god]

Consider the brown Native in CTS-XHP (5th from the left) while you can. It's well within your price range, And is AWESOME! I'm obviously a big fan of Spyderco.

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But I must defend Benchmade. I have and use a few BM's and have never had an issue with an omega spring.

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Griptilian, Great knife, Not "scary" looking. Good steel
Paramilitary, Too much money for what you get IMO. Less "sheeple" friendly.
mini recon 1, Good knife for the money, But I am SO over AUS-8A.

 

[fzla226]

Griptilian. I rarely carry my PM2 but my mini grip gets a whole lot of love. The compression lock is kinda cool, but nowhere near the axis lock to me. The Cold Steel shouldn't even be in the running against the other two IMHO.

considering the price a grip goes for now, you're better off with the PM2, better steel, better handle material for the same price

 

[fzla226]

How many times have you had an omega spring fail? Because I have carried my mini grip more than any other two knives put together. Even when I'm not using it, I flick it open. I play with the axis lock. I torture that poor little guy. I have never had a problem with an omega spring and I'm not remotely concerned that I will any time soon. The only way I can possibly imagine it failing is if the springs corrode, but I have a friend that has carried his mini grip for the better part of a decade and hasn't had that problem.

I've had one fail before. A 710 after about a year and a half of a lot of use. BMs warranty service is good though, they'll replace them free of charge. I've had a lot of knives where, through a lot of use, I've had things break on them. Torsion bars in a kershaw speedsafe knife, coil spring in an auto, liner locks wearing out and inducing vertical blade play, and a spring breaking in whatever kind of lock SOG's knives use breaking. The only thing I've never had any big problems with really is a backlock.

 

[bpeezer]

considering the price a grip goes for now, you're better off with the PM2, better steel, better handle material for the same price

The OP said the grip was $100 and the PM2 was $160. I like my PM2, but I don't like it 60% more than my mini grip.

 

[fzla226]

The OP said the grip was $100 and the PM2 was $160. I like my PM2, but I don't like it 60% more than my mini grip.

That's a pretty bad price for a Para2 then. You can find one if you look around online for about $125.

 

[Smokinape]

Of the stuff you mentioned, the PMII is my favorite...

[video=youtube;vSS6rPd1zqY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSS6rPd1zqY[/video]

 

[JasonG]

Agree that cold steel shouldn't even be placed between those two. I would rather carry a spoon then have a cold steel, yuk! Lol

And omegas don't break, unless you own a Chinese rip off. Axis is the King of locks.

If you want a hard working knife, go griptillian. If you want a more quality feel, go para. Personally I would go griptillian, od green, spear point.

 

[blame it on god]

Agree that cold steel shouldn't even be placed between those two. I would rather carry a spoon then have a cold steel, yuk! Lol

And omegas don't break, unless you own a Chinese rip off. Axis is the King of locks.

If you want a hard working knife, go griptillian. If you want a more quality feel, go para. Personally I would go griptillian, od green, spear point.

They do on RARE occasions break. Rust, constant flipping or age. Stuff happens, But Benchmade will take care of it and make it right. Plus a tuneup and sharpening if needed.

I do agree, the AXIS is the king of locks. Tough, one handed and it doesn't matter which hand.

EDIT; I must be alone on thinking Valox is a good handle material. lol.

 

[RamZar]

Benchmade, Spyderco, or Cold Steel

Personally, not in the same sentence. Go with Benchmade or Spyderco.

 

[J1427]

Thanks for all your help guys! I think I'm going to go with the griptilian. SOunds like its a great knife for a good price. The place I would go to buy it is far away from where I live so I just wanted to ask you guys your opinions before I go. Who knows though, could change nee I handle them. Anyone know if there are custom scales for the griptilian? I've heard the default ones are tough but sound/feel cheap. Just out of curiosity, why does no one like the mini-recon? I know CS has a tacticool rep, but this one doesn't look like that to me. Looks like a tough, smaller blade with decent steel, good handles and a great lock to me. I'm definitely not experienced though, as the only knife I own is an SAK fireman.

 

[J1427]

Is there any way you could post pictures of the three side by side?

 

[blame it on god]

I'm not a cold steel hater, But out of all of them the recons steel is just a step or three below the others. Good handle, great lock but meh steel. It does sharpen easily though.

 

[recon1s14]

How many times have you had an omega spring fail? Because I have carried my mini grip more than any other two knives put together. Even when I'm not using it, I flick it open. I play with the axis lock. I torture that poor little guy. I have never had a problem with an omega spring and I'm not remotely concerned that I will any time soon. The only way I can possibly imagine it failing is if the springs corrode, but I have a friend that has carried his mini grip for the better part of a decade and hasn't had that problem.

Funny story, so I had my blue Mini-Grip for a month, both springs snapped...in the casing, under normal everyday use...my conclusion is they were heat treated wrong from the factory, my response was wait three months and then ship it in to Benchmade, and they in turn repaired it at no extra cost other than my shipping to them. But needless to say, since I got it back, my Leek has taken pocket dominance. I don't think they will snap again but the frailty of the springs will not leave my mind when I handle it now.

 

[rpn]

Thanks for all your help guys! I think I'm going to go with the griptilian. SOunds like its a great knife for a good price. The place I would go to buy it is far away from where I live so I just wanted to ask you guys your opinions before I go. Who knows though, could change nee I handle them. Anyone know if there are custom scales for the griptilian? I've heard the default ones are tough but sound/feel cheap. Just out of curiosity, why does no one like the mini-recon? I know CS has a tacticool rep, but this one doesn't look like that to me. Looks like a tough, smaller blade with decent steel, good handles and a great lock to me. I'm definitely not experienced though, as the only knife I own is an SAK fireman.

Handling the knives will be great and let you make a more informed decision. Have fun shopping and let us know which you ended up with! :thumbup:

 

[singularity35]

I just love it when guys say the cold steel isn't in the same league as the other two. Doing what, pray tell....

Cold steel falls apart when you grip it hard? It dissolves in your sweat? Blade breaks when you use it to cut cardboard? What?

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Thanks for all your help guys! I think I'm going to go with the griptilian. SOunds like its a great knife for a good price. The place I would go to buy it is far away from where I live so I just wanted to ask you guys your opinions before I go. Who knows though, could change nee I handle them. Anyone know if there are custom scales for the griptilian? I've heard the default ones are tough but sound/feel cheap. Just out of curiosity, why does no one like the mini-recon? I know CS has a tacticool rep, but this one doesn't look like that to me. Looks like a tough, smaller blade with decent steel, good handles and a great lock to me. I'm definitely not experienced though, as the only knife I own is an SAK fireman.

There are definitely custom scales available for the grip. As for the Mini-Recon, well Cold Steel has a knack for generating very strong opinions on this forum. Some absolutely love their stuff, others hate everything they put out. Personally, if the Mini-Recon had been $50 or $60 vs the Grip at $100 I would have recommended it, but with only a $20 difference the Grip just gives more bang for the buck.

 

[MC Chan]

I just love it when guys say the cold steel isn't in the same league as the other two. Doing what, pray tell....

Cold steel falls apart when you grip it hard? It dissolves in your sweat? Blade breaks when you use it to cut cardboard? What?

Tough but not sexy. I don't have a problem with the brand but I just can't love them much. Do like some of the fixed blades though.

 

[MC Chan]

For me the Para is the one I'd get for myself, the grip is one I'd get for someone else, unless I was going to customize the scales. If you are going to get to handle them that will answer all your questions.