Recommendation? Code4 spear point vs Mini Griptilian

midnight flyer said:
I think the most important thing to consider would be buying the knife from someone you trust and someone that will take returns. Bought a CODE4 a few years ago and it was a gorgeous piece of work with a wicked edge on it. But... it felt like they had poured sand on the pivot before assembly. It ground and grated pretty badly, and no matter how much flushing and blade exercising I did, it wouldn't quit. Since I was going to use it as a lightweight kind of work knife, I was also concerned about the smooth scales and thin frame. To top it off, the Triad lock was so stiff I had to work to close it. Back it went.

My nephew wanted a "good knife" so I decided on the Mini Grip. Waaaayyyy too small in the hand for me, but then it wasn't for me, it was for him. (I can cover a Mini Grip in my palm.) This was purchased at a time when BM was having sporatic quality control issues, so I looked at 3 - 4 to get one that lined up right, had good grinds and smooth action. He loved the knife, and since it was his ONLY knife, he worked it hard. He is an outdoors kind of guy and he used it daily. After about a year the lock had a fair amount of play (never came unlocked, though) and the only thing he didn't like about it was for bigger work on his property it was a bit small. I told him to contact BM to see if they could tighten up the lock since it moved enough to make it click, and they told him no. Now they did tell him that if it FAILED, they would repair it if they accepted the circumstances of its failure. I thought that was a stupid response, but then I think of all the guys that try to baton with a folder, spine whack the crap out of them for "testing" purposes, and all manner of other idiot stuff. So, OK. But then, about six months later he lost it.

It brings two things to mind. What are you going to use the knife for and who you buy it from. I have several CS knives and use the crap out of all of them, and thankfully, haven't needed anything from them. I hope if that day comes that GSM has their warranty situation sorted. I heard from a friend of mine that they will honor the warranty on a CS knife IF you have proof of purchase. He didn't, I don't, so if one breaks I might be screwed.
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Well I can buy Code4 from local hunting gear store. So I can inspect the knife before making a purchase.

Planned use is making sandwiches at work, opening food and similar, and carrying for more formal occasions.

I have enough fixed blades to never use a folder for outdoors stuff.

Having spare parts is good, but IDK how well would that work from Croatia and how would it go with shipping and everything.

Then again, from what I heard - Cold Steel just ignores your emails LOL
 
Ok, the Code4 and Grips are on sale. Gotcha.

I will say this tho. In 30+ years of carrying a knife, I only had 2 warranty problems. Buck and Spyderco. Both were taken care of to my satisfaction. In all my years of carrying BM and CS, I've never had a problem. Still, GSM purchasing of CS has led to a lot of problems supposedly. Since the Ultimate Hunter and Lawman aren't viable, I'd go Minigrip or Grip depending on which size you feel is best for you.
 
For your intended uses, don't think the handle on the Code 4 will be a problem. However, may want to check out the Air Lite. Still 3.5" blade, but in a smaller package, and has a grippier handle.

I didn't like my first Code 4, as it wasn't very smooth and it was hard to disengage the lock. But then I took a chance on another one that was a great deal, and it was so much smoother and easier to unlock...totally changed my opinion of the knife. Got rid of the first one and the other one is in my carry rotation.
 
I have a Code 4 in tanto configuration. Good knife, but one scary one, to me and to onlookers.
And it doesn't have an Axxis lock, everything is better with an Axxis lock.
The Griptilian is my go-to workknife.
I wouldn't sell either, but if I absolutely had to choose one, I'd choose the Griptilian.
 
jlauffer said:
I didn't like my first Code 4, as it wasn't very smooth and it was hard to disengage the lock. But then I took a chance on another one that was a great deal, and it was so much smoother and easier to unlock...totally changed my opinion of the knife. Got rid of the first one and the other one is in my carry rotation.
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Was, maybe still is, instruction online on how to grind the backspring a bit to make the knife easier to open/close while still being secure. I did it to mine, worked out great.
 
I text my friend yesterday and I asked him about this as he's collector.

He has 3 Benchmades and he carried all of them a lot. So there is a thing called "omega spring" which failed on 2 of his knives, and googling tells me that it's a thing.

He told me to go for Manly City in S90V which is even cheaper than both, Code4 and Griptilian. Only downside is waiting for it to get shipped here...
 
LostCause said:
I text my friend yesterday and I asked him about this as he's collector.

He has 3 Benchmades and he carried all of them a lot. So there is a thing called "omega spring" which failed on 2 of his knives, and googling tells me that it's a thing.

He told me to go for Manly City in S90V which is even cheaper than both, Code4 and Griptilian. Only downside is waiting for it to get shipped here...
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Maybe you're not familiar with Benchmade support. A lot can be said about this company, for and against, but they do have the best support in the industry. Need an omega spring? Give them a call and it will be in the mail the same day. Need a deep carry clip for your Griptilian? Same. No if, but or maybe and, more importantly, no charge.
 
Floatingby said:
Maybe you're not familiar with Benchmade support. A lot can be said about this company, for and against, but they do have the best support in the industry. Need an omega spring? Give them a call and it will be in the mail the same day. Need a deep carry clip for your Griptilian? Same. No if, but or maybe and, more importantly, no charge.
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I could be mistaken, but not too long ago they changed that to $10.00 per clip, due to an excessive amount of people asking for free clips.
 
Floatingby said:
Maybe you're not familiar with Benchmade support. A lot can be said about this company, for and against, but they do have the best support in the industry. Need an omega spring? Give them a call and it will be in the mail the same day. Need a deep carry clip for your Griptilian? Same. No if, but or maybe and, more importantly, no charge.
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Would they ship it to free even to Eastern Europe? To a country where only 1 place sells their knives?
 
Floatingby said:
Must be quite new if that's the case, they sent me one last november or december. Then again it was a replacement for one that I broke.
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Interesting. It must be something CS can make a determination on.

There was some hubbub about it a few years back.

No more free Deep Carry clips...

I just got off the phone with Benchmade customer service looking for 2 deep carry clips; one for a 940 and one for a 943. They are now $5 each. I guess the run of free clips had to end some time.
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
MolokaiRider said:
Interesting. It must be something CS can make a determination on.

There was some hubbub about it a few years back.

No more free Deep Carry clips...

I just got off the phone with Benchmade customer service looking for 2 deep carry clips; one for a 940 and one for a 943. They are now $5 each. I guess the run of free clips had to end some time.
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
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Interesting. I was quite upfront about the fact that I was responsible for breaking it(it snagged on my seatbelt as I was getting out of the jeep), I was fully expecting to have to pay something, but no, no charge whatsoever, not even for shipping.
 
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