BM Griptilian, CRKT M21, or.....?

R

RockyNomad

Joined
Oct 25, 2005
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169
Ok, I was set on purchasing a CRKT M21 as an EDC utility knife becuase I've read good things about them. Then I started looking at the griptilians. Help!!! Now I'm confused and not sure which one to get. They both seem like great knives but I have not handled either one.
 
CRKT is a good knife, but the Griptilian will get more thumbs up. Benchmades lock is more secure, and the fit and finish is one of the best of the production companies out there. Get both and if you dont like the BM it will trade out in a day.

Travis
 
Which M21 and which Griptillian?

I have the M21 Black SF. Definitely a good knife. It has aluminum handles and is incredibly sharp. But as an EDC it's big. It's also my bad luck knife. I've cut 2 of my fingers quite deeply, which hasn't happened with any of my other knives, no matter how much I use or play with them. Thinking it might be a combination of size, AutoLAWKS, and user error.
CRM21-14SF.jpg


The griptillian 551 I have is still probably one of my favorite knives. The axis lock is awesome and it's not nearly as big as my M21 or as mean looking, a good thing for EDC.
BM551SBKOD.jpg


I can't really delve into steel quality and other highly technical stuff though.
 
I really like the Ritter Benchmade edition but that's out of my price range. Now I'm leanign towards the Grip. Especially for the size factor and locking mechanism. Please keep any additional comments coming.
 
I have an M21-02 and its a great edc, the clip is a bit stiff but its extremly sharp and gets it fast.
 
The BM griptilians are very nice, however keep in mind that if you clip it onto your pant pockets it will shred your pockets faster than the M21. Main reason why i traded mine, since it wasnt seeing any pocket time.
 
SharpOne said:
The BM griptilians are very nice, however keep in mind that if you clip it onto your pant pockets it will shred your pockets faster than the M21. Main reason why i traded mine, since it wasnt seeing any pocket time.
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I will be carrying using the pocket clip. Please explain.
 
I got a M21-02 for a couple of weeks, then sold it afterwards. The blade geometry, cutting power, and the overall strength of the knife was great, but ultimately the aluminum handles were too smooth, and made the knife slippery wet or dry. Also, the LAWKS/AutoLAWKS is pure hype. It's not a secondary lock, it just (sort of) prevents the liner lock from retracting, and probably all would agree that CRKT doesn't make top-end liner locks. The lock placement is also ridiculous (for me personally), as it puts my fingers right in the path of the blade. The axis lock will take a lot more use or abuse.

(I ultimately got a Spyderco Delica.)
 
RockyNomad said:
I will be carrying using the pocket clip. Please explain.
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The checkering on the grip's scale coupled with a tight clip creates a high wear situation. It's easily remedied. Unscrew the clip. Take a few swipes with some fine sandpaper on the scale. Reattach the clip. Now it won't chew your pants more than other knives.

Phil
 
Get the Grip.
Better steel for edge holding.
Better lock.
Better F&F.
 
When it comes to an every day utility knife...a CRKT M21 is hard to beat. I have several high end folders to include Microtech, Zero Tolerance, Benchmade, etc and 7 out of 10 times...the M21 is in my pocket. It doesn't cost a lot, easy to sharpen and I beat the crap out of it. :D
 
I've never had a problem with the BM clip. Never had the scales wreck anything, and when clips are too tight i take pliers and loosen them a tad. Which M21 are you considering?
 
TCBA_Joe said:
I've never had a problem with the BM clip. Never had the scales wreck anything, and when clips are too tight i take pliers and loosen them a tad. Which M21 are you considering?
Click to expand...

I'm considering the full size one with the 4 in blade as I already have a kabar dozier with a 3 in blade. However, I'm reading that the full size M21 may be a bit large for EDC.
 
Get the big M21 if you're looking for a large, very good (not great) quality knife.
Blade is nearly four inches and it's a heavy duty knife. It's big, nasty, and solidly made. Weighs a lot too.
Fit and finish will almost certainly be excellent. The AUS8 steel will take a screaming sharp
edge, but you'll have to sharpen it regularly if you use the knife often.

Get the Griptilian if you want a very high quality knife - great steel and a great lock from
a top manufacturer - at an excellent size for general EDC. Blade is 3.4 inches.
The 154CM steel in the Griptilian is better than the CRKT's AUS8 in just about every parameter.
Same with the Axis Lock over the CRKT liner lock - LAWKS, AutoLAWKS or no LAWKS.

Hope this helps!
 
The checkering on the grip's scale coupled with a tight clip creates a high wear situation. It's easily remedied. Unscrew the clip. Take a few swipes with some fine sandpaper on the scale. Reattach the clip. Now it won't chew your pants more than other knives.

Phil
Click to expand...

That is correct. Except it takes a coarse rattail FILE to take the checkering down. I mean if you want it DOWN. That's what I did to my Ritter RSK.
Chewed it down to NO checkering under the clip.
I ...finished.... it with fine sandpaper. But that handle stuff is TOUGH.
I also bent the clip away from the handle to leave a clearance gap of a little less than a pocket material's thickness.
The size of the full size grip rides deep enough in your pocket that it won't fall out if you aren't doing somersaults.

I even sanded down the handle on my MINI grip.

Smoooooooooootttthhhhhh.
;)
 
I like the Griptilian, and I like the Axis-lock as well, but I like the design of the M21 better.
 
IMHO, the Griptilian is the best one hand opening folding lockback for under $100. I never had a problem with it chewing up my pants.
 
Thanks to all for the input. I agree with AllenC in that I prefer the styling of the M21 better. But, I think I am still leaning towards the Griptilian for the better locking mechanism and higher quality. It also seems as though it would be more comfortable in my pocket. I haven't heard any comments on thickness of either knife.
 
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