BM Griptilian vs. SOG X-Ray Vision

xsrdx

xsrdx

Joined
Apr 25, 2002
Messages
343
Seems like a solid pair of competitive knives, but the SOG products don't get much attention compared to the wildly popular Griptilian.

The X-Ray Vision, and the new Mini X-Ray, have ATS34 steel, the SOG ArcLock, Zytel handles, and steel liners. The Mini Xray has a spiffy low profile clip.

The BM 551/556 are 440C, Axis lock, with great, grippy handles, of course. And the mini-grips are available in some cool colors.

I prefer the SOG blade geometry, if only because it looks so stabby...

Is the BM really a superior knife, or just more popular?
 
556SOD.jpg


mnxrvis.jpg
 
Tanto's aren't as generally popular. The Griptilian has a more useful general purpose blade shape and a better handle design for work. The belly of the Griptilian blade helps in slicing and other draw cut work.

The SOG is more tactically oriented, more conducive to a variety of tactical grips and so on.

For my purposes, the Griptilian is a superior knife. Especially as a hole opener.

Phil
 
While i have not used the benchmade i do own an x-ray vision, it is a great knife for the money and good quality. The handle is a nice size for my hand and the blade holds an edge quite well. The only problem i have with it is the pocket clip, i have the older one that had a hex screw in it, that screw would never stay tight and i lost the clip finally, Maybe this is why the went to the new design.
 
While i have not used the benchmade i do own an x-ray vision, it is a great knife for the money and good quality. The handle is a nice size for my hand and the blade holds an edge quite well. The only problem i have with it is the pocket clip, i have the older one that had a hex screw in it, that screw would never stay tight and i lost the clip finally, Maybe this is why the went to the new design.
 
I think that I like the design on the SOG a little bit more than the mini Grip but the Grip is one I carry. Go figure.
Matt
 
I have a couple of Griptilians and was looking at the X-Ray Vision, but ended up passing. For whatever reason, there seemed to be more blade-play on the SOG.
 
This may not be fair since it wasn't a xray, but I have only tried one SOG knife with the arc lock(Sculptura), IMO, it wasn't even remotely in the same league as the minigrip's Axis.
 
Love the SOG. Hate the clip. It is very easily "sprung" on furniture seatbelts and just about anything else you can think of.
 
Sometimes I think SOG is their own worst enemy. In general, the "vision" series is very sound, IMO. The lock seems reasonable, the handle secure and comfortable, the fit and finish very good. But SOG sometimes has trouble not following whatever they think the big fad is, and refusing the come out with an actual useful blade shape (rather than sticking with their over-the-top tanto blade) on that knife is practically a criminal act :)

That is really the only reason I can think of that the Vision series doesn't get mentioned a whole lot more, because it is competitive with a lot of the very popular knives mentioned at various pricepoints, from the lower-end x-ray vision to the higher-end of the vision line. Unless there's a problem I haven't seen yet with the arc lock.

That said, given the choice between x-ray vision and Griptilian (either models in the griptilian line), I'd pick the Griptilian based on blade shape.

Joe
 
I only own the big X-ray vision so I can't compare but I love the knife! I like the tanto shape a lot but that's cause I mainly use it to open boxes and that shape agrees with me the most for that purpose. Obviously it's not that great in pull cuts but when I need to do one of those I usually need the serrations anyway so that isn't an issue for me. A little story about my X-ray vision that puts a smile on my face any time: at the pub where I usually hang out (and the local tough guys gather ;) ) knives and other weapons aren't really frowned upon. They hung up a bell and the general rule is whoever rings the bell buys a round of drinks even if it wasn't the persons intention to ring it in the first place. At a really busy night (there was a heavy metal band playing) I made a bet that I'd cut the rope attached to the bell without ringing it. Since this was fairly thick rope and as a rule tantos aren't the best slachers around most people said they'd buy me a drink if I could. Out came the X-ray and I haven't paid for a drink the entire evening/night.

Just to say I love my X-ray vision.
 
WillyD,
no kidding! wow! do you think it was because your blade was really sharp, the rope was really heavy, or, a combination of both plus technique?

I'm impressed - I've never been able to sever free hanging rope with my folders...the blade length is too short for me.

wow again!
 
I'm impressed too. I'm impressed that in Belgium you apparently can flail about with a tactical knife in a HEAVY METAL bar without being tackled, bounced, beaten, arrested, or killed.:D
 
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