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D'Allara Drop Point vs Benchmade Griptillian
- Thread starter Hesparus
- Start date
The D'Allara Drop is a very nice knife - a world beater at its price point.
I wish it had a real Axis lock.
I've been carrying mine for about a month now in my EDC rotation. It's a hell of a cutter, it really sticks in my hand, I haven't had a single lock failure.
On what seems to be some people's sticking point - no, it is not easy to close. It's not HARD to close - except with gloves on.
After a few weeks, I can close it one handed in five different pairs of gloves, and it's not a chore, but it's not easy - certainly no where near as easy to operate gloved as an Axis. (Sorry, Sal.) And it took a significant learning curve - a couple evenings outside - until I could consistently unlock it one handed at all. Two handed in gloves is easier - still not actually easy, and with a learning curve.
So if the make or break question is, can a firefighter close it easily in gloves? Anywhere near as easily as a Griptilian? The answer, sadly, seems to be a pretty solid no.
I do actually like it as a glove knife, because the great ergos and agressive texture really make it much easier to handle gloved than most folders - it's right up there with my Benchmade 520 and my Kelly Worden.
I recommend it highly, to anyone who doesn't have closing it while wearing gloves as a high order priority.
I wish it had a real Axis lock.
I've been carrying mine for about a month now in my EDC rotation. It's a hell of a cutter, it really sticks in my hand, I haven't had a single lock failure.
On what seems to be some people's sticking point - no, it is not easy to close. It's not HARD to close - except with gloves on.
After a few weeks, I can close it one handed in five different pairs of gloves, and it's not a chore, but it's not easy - certainly no where near as easy to operate gloved as an Axis. (Sorry, Sal.) And it took a significant learning curve - a couple evenings outside - until I could consistently unlock it one handed at all. Two handed in gloves is easier - still not actually easy, and with a learning curve.
So if the make or break question is, can a firefighter close it easily in gloves? Anywhere near as easily as a Griptilian? The answer, sadly, seems to be a pretty solid no.
I do actually like it as a glove knife, because the great ergos and agressive texture really make it much easier to handle gloved than most folders - it's right up there with my Benchmade 520 and my Kelly Worden.
I recommend it highly, to anyone who doesn't have closing it while wearing gloves as a high order priority.
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2005
- Messages
- 4,761
I tried using it with a glove on last night, the thickest glove I have, and it really didn't change anything. It took me about two minutes of flicking open and closed to adjust, but I can easily open and close it one handed now--albeit, not as easy as an axis lock.
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2005
- Messages
- 11
Read the reviews and the opening /closing techniques. In the reviews and testing general forum. Found the D'Allara impossible to resist based on the info here. Ordered the D'Allara drop point with the combo blade. Got it yesterday. Opened the box about 6:30 PM. Started making serious plans to leave for the ER about 7PM.
Definitely should NOT have tried any of the detailed closing techniques without becoming more familiar with the lock style and the grip. The ball bearing lock is, at least initially for me, much more "fiddly" than the locks on my police, Delica etc. It also seems to demand some serious acclimation time before really getting complacent in the way you handle it. This is a VERY sharp knife that opens and closes very smoothly. It is little impeded even by finger tips carelessly left in the way.
I do think that, once I'm back in form, this knife will prove to be my favorite Spyderco so far.
Definitely should NOT have tried any of the detailed closing techniques without becoming more familiar with the lock style and the grip. The ball bearing lock is, at least initially for me, much more "fiddly" than the locks on my police, Delica etc. It also seems to demand some serious acclimation time before really getting complacent in the way you handle it. This is a VERY sharp knife that opens and closes very smoothly. It is little impeded even by finger tips carelessly left in the way.
I do think that, once I'm back in form, this knife will prove to be my favorite Spyderco so far.
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2002
- Messages
- 140
Bought a D'Allara drop point plain edge this afternoon. I have a BM550 Grip in PE too. Both are excellent folders. I could see where the D'Allara could be difficult to use with wool gloves. But, with leather or surgical gloves, it seems like it would be fine.
Scott
Scott