Bigger folder for backpacking

Hawk45

Hawk45

Joined
Jan 28, 2005
Messages
2,154
I usually carry my mini-ritter-grip for my EDC. Tossed it in my pocket while on vacation to go for a hike in the mountains with the wife. She forgot her walking stick so I grabbed a worthy stick and proceeded to dress up a handle for her. I have fairly big hands and thought the mini-grip is perfect for normal EDC, it felt small and hard to get leverage while cutting wood as I can only get 3 fingers on it. While it's thinness is welcome for EDC, I'm thinking little more hand filling folder will be better for outdoor activities. I was thinking of going with a full size Grip (maybe even a Ritter but the price of those are getting crazy) or a Rift maybe. So short question long... which? Grip or Rift? Or other suggestion..
 
If your looking for a great larger knife look at getting the 275 Adamas in D2 steel or the 810 Contego in M4 steel. Both are highly revered among heavy duty users. The Contego is like a bigger better Rift and the M4 steel is much, much better then 154cm in almost everyway except corrosion resistance 154cm takes that one. If you want one of the best knives for out in the woods that you can beat to hell and back and not have to worry at all about then the Adamas is the brute you will need :) it has a larger then normal axis lock making it even better then the rest for abusive use.
 
Blade-fiend said:
If your looking for a great larger knife look at getting the 275 Adamas in D2 steel or the 810 Contego in M4 steel. Both are highly revered among heavy duty users. The Contego is like a bigger better Rift and the M4 steel is much, much better then 154cm in almost everyway except corrosion resistance 154cm takes that one. If you want one of the best knives for out in the woods that you can beat to hell and back and not have to worry at all about then the Adamas is the brute you will need :) it has a larger then normal axis lock making it even better then the rest for abusive use.
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Both great choices, personally I like the ergonomics on the 275 a bit better than the 810. However the m4 on the contego is awesome. I wasn't a huge fan of the stock 810 scales when I got mine. The scales Keyman made for me fixed that problem.

RE
 
I had an Adams at one point and it was just TOOOO big in every way. I'm not looking to replace a fixed blade (which I usually don't carry either), just something bigger than the mini-grip for general outdoor use tasks.
 
well in that case I will also recommend the Presidio or Presidio ultra. They are similar to the griptilian but I find the handle to have a better feel in hand. The regular presidio comes with an aluminum handle and 154cm while the ultra comes with polymer handle and 440c blade. I have been EDCing my mini presidio ultra for about a month and its a really great knife.
 
I EDC a mini grip and just purchased a Camp Perry full size grip in D2 as a larger hiking knife. I also considered a full size ritter grip.
 
You might consider a 710. Great D2 steel and large enough to be useful camping but still is easy to carry.
 
Large hands?

Contego.
741.
710.
950.
Grip.
860.
275.

M4 is my favorite steel so far, sharpens pretty easily and takes a good bit of work to destroy the edge.
 
I think the Griptilian is one of those perfect folding knives that each knife company has at least one of. Benchmade has the Griptilian, Spyderco the Para 2, Kershaw the Blur, Cold Steel the Recon 1, etc...

The Griptilian has a comfortable handle and when used for woodwork has minimal "hot spots" when used for an extensive amount of time. The only hot spot I find after a while is of course where the pocket clip meets the palm. This would be a problem with most folders having pocket clips anyways, but on the Griptilian the pocket clip having rounded edges helps minimize this problem.

The Griptilian also has a very useful blade shape (all three variants have great blades) but I would recommend the 551 or the 552 due to the flat grind feature putting more support behind the edge if you are planning on taking the folder out in the woods. The 550HG is an excellent slicer for everything else but for woodwork I would not want to use it for an extended amount of time or for strenuous activities due to the thin edge.

The full size Griptilian is still very light and if you listen to Nutnfancy preach on youtube it's under the 4 ounce rule.

Great all around knife, you already have the mini so why not "upgrade" to the daddy Griptilian :cool:

 
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batosai117 said:
I think the Griptilian is one of those perfect folding knives that each knife company has at least one of. Benchmade has the Griptilian, Spyderco the Para 2, Kershaw the Blur, Cold Steel the Recon 1, etc...

The Griptilian has a comfortable handle and when used for woodwork has minimal "hot spots" when used for an extensive amount of time. The only hot spot I find after a while is of course where the pocket clip meets the palm. This would be a problem with most folders having pocket clips anyways, but on the Griptilian the pocket clip having rounded edges helps minimize this problem.

The Griptilian also has a very useful blade shape (all three variants have great blades) but I would recommend the 551 or the 552 due to the flat grind feature putting more support behind the edge if you are planning on taking the folder out in the woods. The 550HG is an excellent slicer for everything else but for woodwork I would not want to use it for an extended amount of time or for strenuous activities due to the thin edge.

The full size Griptilian is still very light and if you listen to Nutnfancy preach on youtube it's under the 4 ounce rule.

Great all around knife, you already have the mini so why not "upgrade" to the daddy Griptilian :cool:

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I agree. A Grip in this case is hard to beat. One of the best knives ever offered in the Benchmade lineup.
 
Yep, I'm gonna wholeheartedly second, third...whatever the vote for a full size grip. I got both and the mini sees no pocket time at all, plus the full size is super light and tough as nails.
 
Hawk45 said:
I usually carry my mini-ritter-grip for my EDC. Tossed it in my pocket while on vacation to go for a hike in the mountains with the wife. She forgot her walking stick so I grabbed a worthy stick and proceeded to dress up a handle for her. I have fairly big hands and thought the mini-grip is perfect for normal EDC, it felt small and hard to get leverage while cutting wood as I can only get 3 fingers on it. While it's thinness is welcome for EDC, I'm thinking little more hand filling folder will be better for outdoor activities. I was thinking of going with a full size Grip (maybe even a Ritter but the price of those are getting crazy) or a Rift maybe. So short question long... which? Grip or Rift? Or other suggestion..
Click to expand...

It depends, if you want the s30v steel, then the Ritter Grip. The way Benchmade heat treats their 154CM makes it a great all-round steel, so if s30v isn't a requirement, then I would recommend the Rift over the Grip. The full liners and G10 just feel more solid in my hand. I've had many min-Grips and really liked them, but I just couldn't pull the trigger on a full-size due to how the handle feels. I know the Noryl GTX or Valox or whatever they use is tough as nails and can handle plenty of hard use, but it just doesn't feel "right" in my hands. I need to pick up another Rift, but I'm holding out in hopes that they'll make it in M390, even if it's a LE.

Other options:
520 Presidio
810 Contego

I have both, and either one would be great when hiking/camping.
 
Another vote for the Presidio. Nearly identical size to the full size Grip but with aluminum scales, which give it a more substantial feel in hand. A great model and my work knife.
 
To me the 520 beats the Grips hands-down for hvy-use leverage. Compare the profiles-- you've got more on the rear-underside to fill your hand.
 
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