Could the MiniGrip benefit from a choil?

Custom

Custom

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Jan 15, 2012
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Bought my first Benchmade (custom mini grip) about a month ago and have not carried it nearly as much as I was expecting simply because the handle does not fit my hands very well. I am a big fan of small knives which is what originally attracted me to the minigrip. After looking at it for a bit and comparing it to my caly3 and chaparrals, I think the handle and knife in general would be a lot more comfortable with a choil like the caly3. naturally my pointer wants to be separated from my middle finger and the choil would accomplish that perfectly. Thoughts?

 
Spyderco is the master of choils. I think the Mini would need to be redesigned for it actually to be comfortable to use, just looking at where the gap of your middle and index finger would be.

I love the MiniGrip, all of mine have Wilkins or other aftermarket scales that are a little bit longer than the factory scales making them more comfortable.
 
I think if your having to put your finger on the blade or a choil where the cutting edge should be to comfortably hold the knife then you should get a knife with a larger handle.

I've never been a fan of choils in general as it reduces the amount of cutting surface of the blade and as a rule I like to keep my fingers off the blade while cutting something.

People do like them though so to each his own and I have heard it provides better or greater control for intricate type cutting like wood carving and such but since I don't use my knife for those types of tasks I've never had that need either.

I'm not knocking choils, just doesn't appeal to me or my needs, So no, I don't think the BM Mini Grip should add a choil. .
 
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I agree with atony - the aftermarket grips make a world of difference. The Wilkins Ti for instance, and his G10, make it feel like a different knife altogether. They may be kinda spendy, but I think they're worth it. Feel great in your hand.
 
You know, I was thinking the same thing last week.

My mini-grip is assigned strictly to desk duty simply because I can't get past its three and a half fingered grip.

If they added a choil I could see myself actually carrying the knife a lot more.
 
I don't care for any of the sheepsfoot opening hole blades but the 556 is perfect as is.
 
I have a 555 and I love it, absolutely my favorite knife. I have often thought about what it would be like with a choil but it works for me as is. If it had a choil I'd still like it (and I'd use the choil) but I don't necessarily want one added or anything.

Have you thought about cutting one? It wouldn't be as wide as the caly's (or other spyderco's) but it would probabily work.

I love your knife btw, all the black hardware with the white scales looks great! Always wanted a white knife but being a machineist/mechanic rules that out...
 
One word: NO.
Benchmade and Spyderco are both excellent each in its own way: there is no need to try to turn one into another!
 
Joe58 said:
I agree with atony - the aftermarket grips make a world of difference. The Wilkins Ti for instance, and his G10, make it feel like a different knife altogether. They may be kinda spendy, but I think they're worth it. Feel great in your hand.
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What is the point of buying $150+ scales for a $65 knife? Why not just buy a knife with better scales to begin with?
 
dfsutton said:
What is the point of buying $150+ scales for a $65 knife? Why not just buy a knife with better scales to begin with?
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Cause it works out to be the same difference. Not a thing wrong with the BM 154 or S30v blade. On a $200 knife for instance you'll get Ti scales in a frame or liner lock with S30v or 154 steel. Add Wilkins to a BM Ritter, you have the same thing but the plus of the axis lock. In my mind at least, it's a wash. Don't get me wrong, I have several Ti frame and liner locks as well as several Emersons, but ditching the plastic scales brings the Grip up to the same level. Just my own opinion.
 
Joe58 said:
Cause it works out to be the same difference. Not a thing wrong with the BM 154 or S30v blade. On a $200 knife for instance you'll get Ti scales in a frame or liner lock with S30v or 154 steel. Add Wilkins to a BM Ritter, you have the same thing but the plus of the axis lock. In my mind at least, it's a wash. Don't get me wrong, I have several Ti frame and liner locks as well as several Emersons, but ditching the plastic scales brings the Grip up to the same level. Just my own opinion.
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I'm sure it brings it up, but not to the same level as knives of $225+ range. You can definitely can get more for that price.
 
dfsutton said:
I'm sure it brings it up, but not to the same level as knives of $225+ range. You can definitely can get more for that price.
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DF - I have to respectfully disagree up to a point. For example, adding Wlkins Ti grips to a Ritter mini gives me:

Ti grips with outstanding fit and finish, very tight tolerances
Full steel liners under the Ti
Nice textured custom back spacer in aluminum
Outstanding S30v blade
Decent weight in your hand and pocket
Axis lock - one of the best out there
Very easy to maintain and keep clean
4 finger grip
Drilled for right or left hand carry
One hand open and close

With those specs, which other $200 knife will beat it? Not trying to be snotty or anything like that. Just curious. It's kinda like the best truck debate. :) Where Dodge is the obvious correct answer. Lol!

Now, if I get closer to $250 on up, you are getting into the semi custom neighborhood where there are indeed some fine knives. I think some of it has to do with it just being fun to upgrade your knife. There are just a ton of options for tweaking BM knives.

Joe
 
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I truly like the choil on Spyderco knives and they work great with the design of those blades. To incorporate a choil in the mini grip, imho wouldn't work so well. If it had a choil you'd either have a bigger knife or a smaller blade.I also like the protruding edge on a mini that runs all the way to the base of the blade.One of the cool things about a mini to me is it fits perfect in that pocket watch pocket in blue jeans.I solved the two finger grip issue by putting a lanyard on mine.
[URL=http://s1201.photobucket.com/user/blackhorse71/media/20130615_181525_zpsf170dd45.jpg.html][/URL]
 
Joe58 said:
DF - I have to respectfully disagree up to a point. For example, adding Wlkins Ti grips to a Ritter mini gives me:

Ti grips with outstanding fit and finish, very tight tolerances
Full steel liners under the Ti
Nice textured custom back spacer in aluminum
Outstanding S30v blade
Decent weight in your hand and pocket
Axis lock - one of the best out there
Very easy to maintain and keep clean
4 finger grip
Drilled for right or left hand carry
One hand open and close

With those specs, which other $200 knife will beat it? Not trying to be snotty or anything like that. Just curious. It's kinda like the best truck debate. :) Where Dodge is the obvious correct answer. Lol!

Now, if I get closer to $250 on up, you are getting into the semi custom neighborhood where there are indeed some fine knives. I think some of it has to do with it just being fun to upgrade your knife. There are just a ton of options for tweaking BM knives.

Joe
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The knife you "made" costs a good bit more than $200 now. I just looked the specific prices up on what you posted: a Ritter mini with Wilkins Ti scales. The Ritter mini with S30v goes for $119 on the only website I found that sells them and the Wilkins Ti scales for the mini are going for 150 Euros (from his site) which is $207.11 in US dollars currently. So together, that's $326.11 without shipping. That's getting pretty close to a serious mid-tech knife price and nowhere near the $200 you are comparing it to.

Am I missing something? Do you know somewhere to buy these things for almost half the cost that I do? If not, then let's not compare apples and oranges

To answer your question though, for $200 I can get get a regular Mini-Grip and another nice benchmade, like a 810 Contego, Osbourne 940, or MPR 755. Instead of a titanium scale, I get an extra knife. If I want Titanium, I can buy a 755 MPR for about $135 plus shipping.
 
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Yes - you're correct. I didn't use a fair comparison. Even still, if I use a standard 154 bladed mini grip, it still makes a very nice knife is all I'm saying. My biggest hangup with the mini is the dang plastic handles. They are very utilitarian but just seem cheap to me. And as you point out, the knife options abound in the $200 price range. I was an early bad mouther of the aftermarket grips as being too high in price, and actually still feel they are likely over priced but if upgraders like me pay it, that's capitalism I suppose. ;) Many other knife brands are over priced for what you get as well but guys still buy them.

I've strayed way off the original op's question about the choil. Adding the aftermarket grips won't really help with the choil but they are a bit longer and meatier giving you a 4 finger grip. At least for me. I have medium sized hands and am just talking about the mini here - no experience with the full size grip.

And DF - your points are well taken. Thank you sir! :)

Also, what are doing looking up prices! Trying to get me in trouble? If I just spend a little here and there it keeps me out of trouble. Ha! Lol.

Joe
 
Custom said:
Bought my first Benchmade (custom mini grip) about a month ago and have not carried it nearly as much as I was expecting simply because the handle does not fit my hands very well. I am a big fan of small knives which is what originally attracted me to the minigrip. After looking at it for a bit and comparing it to my caly3 and chaparrals, I think the handle and knife in general would be a lot more comfortable with a choil like the caly3. naturally my pointer wants to be separated from my middle finger and the choil would accomplish that perfectly. Thoughts?

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Your picture actually makes your argument better than words do :) but as others have pointed out, Benchmade would have to do a significant redesign to make it work. Still, the picture shows that it should be possible, and I agree that the benefits of the choil outweigh the loss of edge. :thumbup:
 
JNewell said:
Your picture actually makes your argument better than words do :) but as others have pointed out, Benchmade would have to do a significant redesign to make it work. Still, the picture shows that it should be possible, and I agree that the benefits of the choil outweigh the loss of edge. :thumbup:
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The Mini-Grip is a smaller knife, but has more useable blade. The sacrifice of such is that it doesn't have as much of a handle. If the mini-grip is too small, then get the Regular Grip. Or a Spyderco if that's your thing. No reason to change the design of any of the mentioned knives.
 
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