Current Benchmade thoughts...

My edc is a doug ritter grip in m390 and I love it. 20cv is basically the same as m390, so while the new ones are not cheap I think they are pretty nice knives.
 
Pretty sure some of the torx screws in the handle are stripped. So, doubt I can change the handles.
 
Now that I've been carrying and using it for close to a year now, I'd gladly pay double what I paid for my plain-Jane 555HG mini-Grip. It kicked a small Sebenza out of my pocket that I'd been carrying for ten+ years.

I used to be a flat grind only kinda guy, but the hollow grind and edge geometry of the 555 brought me around. Having owned many BM's with the Axis mech over the years, I've yet to have the dreaded spring breakage that others have reported. I really like not having to worry with lock rock, late lockup, etc. I also like the fact that I can have several spares on hand that didn't break the bank.

Even at its raised price, I still personally find the mini Grip in particular a good value. Just my .02.
 
I love my Grip 550, but I didn't like it with the original plastic scales. I couldn't bring myself to carry it. Once I upgraded to some aftermarket G10 scales - wow!! Night and day difference - one of my favorites!

Value for the price - I don't know...? Between what I paid for the Grip and the aftermarket scales combined? Yeah, it was worth it. But not a great deal or anything. There are definitely better 'bang for the buck' knives - if you don't take anything else into consideration.

I do appreciate the fact that Benchmade is made in the U.S.A. and has great customer service! That is probably the value 'wild card' factor that isn't considered enough - even by me. Especially after they sent me some replacement screws - at no charge!
 
You can buy a mini Griptilian outfitted with AWT Aluminum Scales on their site for $154.95. I find that to be a way better value. Or a Ritter grip with M390 for around $130
The Grey G10 grip with 20CV is over priced IMO>
 
Elite_KG said:
Check out the HK14715 / HK14716 if you are looking for value in a griptilian-esque folder.
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The H&K 14715, 14716 and 14717 made by Benchmade with D2 steel (black-coated only) and G-10 (black or tan) are some of the best values out there going for around $90! Two different blade lengths (2.88" or 3.69") and blade shapes (clip point or tanto) with or without serration.
 
RIPtastic said:
You can buy a mini Griptilian outfitted with AWT Aluminum Scales on their site for $154.95. I find that to be a way better value. Or a Ritter grip with M390 for around $130
The Grey G10 grip with 20CV is over priced IMO>
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I did a quick search and the first site sold the 555-1 for $165. You consider a modded mini with a lower quality steel a way better value?
FWIW I've owned a number of after market scales from a number of makers and none fit as well as the stock G10 Mini Grip I currently own.
 
flipe8 said:
I did a quick search and the first site sold the 555-1 for $165. You consider a modded mini with a lower quality steel a way better value?
FWIW I've owned a number of after market scales from a number of makers and none fit as well as the stock G10 Mini Grip I currently own.
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Im not sure about other after market scales but scales by AWT and Wilkins IMO take the grip to the next level. And they fit like they were from factory.
 
My M4 drop point Stryker from the fine folks at knivesshipfree had been worth every penny, as has my M390 Ares.
 
RIPtastic said:
Im not sure about other after market scales but scales by AWT and Wilkins IMO take the grip to the next level. And they fit like they were from factory.
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Among others I've had a couple sets of Wilkins and while they were very nice, they weren't as good as the new G10 Mini I have.

And you're still using a lesser steel. Not seeing the big difference in price between a modded stock Mini vs the upgraded G10 Mini.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Grip isn't BM's original, but it has certainly become BM's bread and butter. It's got a lot of design tech goodness that set the bar for a commercial folder. You won't find a Grip with wobbly blade or blade play. First time owners with Grips will wonder what that even means.

It's also built like a tank for how it appears and has a lot of rigidity in its mass. It's kinda ugly but the handles were some of the first '3D' handles. It also can be handles in almost any angle/grip and like almost all Benchmades, it has great balance between blade and handle providing that much better control.

I think the Grip is BM's Delica. It's probably BM's best all-purpose, general design packed with trade secrets. It marks high all around that it does well on those knife test and really surprises. It doesn't even have a full frame. It really needs to be tried/used to understand.

Price is high, but a Grip with premium materials is well worth it. Benchmades customer service is indeed excellent. I recently sent like 5 requests for doodads within like 2 months, just email, no exchanges other than a reply saying on its way. All to make my BM's the way I wanted them to be. That's how BM wants them to be too.
 
KAEDC said:
My M4 drop point Stryker from the fine folks at knivesshipfree had been worth every penny, as has my M390 Ares.
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Yup!!! I have mine for a few months and can't say enough about it!! Sexy little beast of a knife with a monster steel and sweet CF!! I carry mine a lot!
Joe
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RamZar said:
The H&K 14715, 14716 and 14717 made by Benchmade with D2 steel (black-coated only) and G-10 (black or tan) are some of the best values out there going for around $90! Two different blade lengths (2.88" or 3.69") and blade shapes (clip point or tanto) with or without serration.
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Absolutely.
 
First I'll touch on the G10 Griptilians. I think a lot of people just look at the G10 and forget that Benchmade upgraded to a much better steel also. If you take a look around at similar knives with similar materials I think one would be hard pressed to find a better deal. The G10 Grips are just a completely different knife. When I bought my new 550-1 I owned 2 regular Griptilians and those are now long gone. There is just no comparing the two. The regular Grip is a fine knife for someone who just wants a workhorse and doesn't care much about aesthetics and feel. It has that god awful plastic clack when opening and closing and just doesn't feel like it's a $100 knife. But the new G10 Grips are just class acts. The only thing I would change is the G10 is a bit slick. However the build quality is excellent and it doesn't even feel like the same knife at all in the hand.

I also own the Stryker and mini Stryker and they are extremely solid knives. I wish they used a little better steel but I've never had an issue with them. They have one of the most solid feeling opening and closing actions of any knife I've had. Benchmade however went the opposite way on this one with the G10 as its so tacky that it tears my pants up. They need to find a happy medium with the G10 and put it on their Grips and Strykers moving forward. Awesome knives nonetheless.

I can't comment on the Presidios as I've never owned or even held one.
 
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