Benchmark Griptilian

M

morgoth

Joined
Mar 26, 2006
Messages
94
I am new here.
G'Day mates :-)
What do you think of the Benchmade Griptilian folder?
Is it a good general purose knife?

Cheers
 
My typos and knowledge are ordinary
Are they they a handy general knife or are there better options?
Not Spyderco thanks
 
For their various price points Griptilians are at the top of the list for quality and features.

Phil
 
Everyone says they are great. I was going to buy a MiniGrip, but after handling it I decided against it. I love the overall design, with the Axis lock, small hole in the blade and the blade shape, but I just couldn't get over the cheap FRN (Plastic) handle on it. I could even handle it if there were aluminum or stainless liners, but no, the whole thing is cheap plastic, and for the price here ($80 Canadian) I would feel like a total sucker buying a knife that appears so cheap.
 
FLYBYU44 said:
I could even handle it if there were aluminum or stainless liners, but no, the whole thing is cheap plastic, and for the price here ($80 Canadian) I would feel like a total sucker buying a knife that appears so cheap.
Click to expand...

the mini grip has full steel liners,and for what it's worth FRN (fiberglass reinforced nylon) is not your typical plastic.
 
Excellent knife and great value. Yes, the handles feel cheap but they are strong and the well designed. The full size Grip has partial steel liners and the mini Grip has full steel liners. It is very lightweight for its size. I own and would buy again.
 
FLYBYU44 said:
Everyone says they are great. I was going to buy a MiniGrip, but after handling it I decided against it. I love the overall design, with the Axis lock, small hole in the blade and the blade shape, but I just couldn't get over the cheap FRN (Plastic) handle on it. I could even handle it if there were aluminum or stainless liners, but no, the whole thing is cheap plastic, and for the price here ($80 Canadian) I would feel like a total sucker buying a knife that appears so cheap.
Click to expand...

I find it hard to believe that you handled a MiniGrip like you say you did. Like was said above by a2d2 the MiniGrip has full steel liners and a person would have to be pretty unobservant to handle one and not notice them.
 
I have a mini Ritter grip and the FRN handles do not feel cheap to me. The FRN handle is pretty tough, more than enough for general jobs.
 
I have a Ritter mini in my pcket right now and while the handles feel different than the "premium" slabs on some other knives I have, they are perfect for EDC in that they take a lot of abuse and don't show it. I really don't have problem with them not being G10 or Micarta, they are what they are andwork just fine. Steven
 
The Grip line is a good line of knives. As far as the handles go I don't see any problem with the plastic or whatever it is. I perfer my Grip to the more expensive BM and Spyderco models I own. After all Glock, Ruger, Walther and so on use plastic in thier frames and I sure don't call it cheap feeling or cheap looking. For a good all around knife that is afordable you can't beat the Grips.
 
If you don't like the 'plastic' handles, try the Mini Presidio (525). They're alum. Cost you more money, but you get the better steel (154CM) in the blade. It's my EDC right now, but I still carry the Grip and it's handled everything I asked of it.
It even spent a week with me snorkeling, jet skiing, fishing in Cabo San Lucas earlier in Dec. No rust on it at all. All I did is fresh water rinse it at the end of the day. When I got home, I oiled it really well.
 
Please do a search.
The griptilian is easily the most discussed folder on the forums.
It's great, you can't go wrong with it.

But I must say I like my Falkniven U2 a little more than my mini grip only because I like to have my index finger as close as possible to the blade on a little folder.
Of course the grip is safer this way.
 
They may be "plastic" but they preform as well as any other higher clas knife I own.

mmmotorcycle
 
MaxFisher said:
I find it hard to believe that you handled a MiniGrip like you say you did. Like was said above by a2d2 the MiniGrip has full steel liners and a person would have to be pretty unobservant to handle one and not notice them.
Click to expand...

I stand corrected, my fiance always says I'm not too observant. :) Yes I did handle it, and I know that FRN is not typical plastic as well, but it feels like plastic to the uninitiated and the handle still felt very cheap to me. I only was playing with it for a few minutes, from my standpoint it didn't appear to have any liners at all. Had I looked at it further I may have noticed them, it didn't help when I was put off by the cheapness of the handle. I have no doubt that it is a very functional and tough knife, however I very much hesitate to lay out $80 of my hard earned money on something that appears to be bought at a dollar store. I purchased a Kershaw Minicylone instead as the fit and finish appeared vastly superior and it actually looked like it might be worth close to $80. As well it has full liners with textured aluminum scales on them.
 
I can empathise with the "cheap" feeling of FRN. But I can also see its advantages. Mostly, it allows a better steel with other price point increasers (QC, good customer service, etc.).

I prefer the Ritter version; but, if that is too expensive, then the 154cm versions I don't have a problem recomending as an introduction to the Axis lock.

The mini version seems to feel better to me as it has added weight. The fullsize seems a bit bulky for an EDC, but seems to work well "on the trail."
 
I keep saying this, surprised I haven't been flamed yet, but I purchased a Spyderco Native at the same time as my Griptilian. I re-sold the Native and kept the Griptilian.

The FRN handles on the Native felt cheap, to me. However, and as someone in another thread mentioned, the 4-finger grip of the Native is 'safer,' but I feel I have better control and a better, well, grip--on the Griptilian.

I have been EDC'ing the Griptilian since it arrived, and have been trying to convince myself to purchase another make of knife before I buy a Griptilian in D2 from Cabelas.
 
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