D'Allara Drop Point vs. Benchmade 550 Griptilian

[Bungwrench]

Hi, I'm new to knives. Well at least good knives. I have been looking at the Benchmade 550 Griptilian but then I noticed the D'Allara Drop Point from Spyderco. How do these knives compare to each other. What do you think? Why do you prefer one over the other? I figure at a place like this there should be some people who do own both or have at least owned them at some point.

 

[Artfully Martial]

I wrote a pretty in depth comparison here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=386771&highlight=d%60allara

My conclusion is that the d`allara is the better knife overall, provided you can handle having a knife so dang wide when closed. I just bought another one a week ago.

 

[powernoodle]

The D'Allara isn't so much wide as it is tall. Guess we are talking about the same thing. They are both nice knives and each is worth the money, IMO.

cheers

 

[Artfully Martial]

If you need me to, I can take pics of the d`allara. I don't have any minigrips anymore.

 

[yablanowitz]

The blade spine to handle spine distance when folded is definitely greater on the D'Allara than the Griptillian. But unless we are talking about the Ritter Grip, I much prefer the VG-10 steel of the Spyderco to the 154CM of the Benchmade. That is personal preference/voice of experience speaking

 

[Bungwrench]

Thanks very much!

 

[J85909266]

I've handled them both side by side. The D'Allara definitly feels 100x better in use to me. It has fantastic ergos, where as the Grip's are lacking. I like the opening hole much better too. The knife just all around feels better. However, the BM has a much more balanced look to it, and takes up much less room in the pocket, as well as the Axis lock being easier to use and manipulate one handed. It's also lighter, but nowhere near as beefy and sturdy as the D'Allara.

Personally, I pick the Spyderco for feel and performance, but the Grip certainly has the edge in some aspects.

 

[pkdmslf]

D'Allara all the way. Good size and good ergos. Love mine.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

The original D'Allara is a serrated wharnecliff with the same ball lock handle as the droppoint. It was designed as a rescue knife, which accounts for its relatively large size.