Does This Animal Exist? (Benchmade Question)

Guyon

Guyon

Biscuit Whisperer
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Mar 15, 2000
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My Google-fu is not turning up much, so I thought I'd ask. Who knows? Maybe my Google-fu is weak.
Is there a Benchmade Mini-Griptilian with the following configuration?
  • Olive Drab handle with satin, plain-edged, non-coated, non-tanto blade.
  • Thumb stud.
Basically, this knife without the blade coating...

80f192469ea1aad125a8a4af875e.jpg
 
As far as I know, the olive drab drop point Mini Grip has only been produced in the black-coated version. But you could get the combination you want with Benchmade's "Customize a Griptilian" service.
 
Thanks for that intel. I'll check it out.

Affiliated question: How hard would it be to strip the blade, and how finished would it be underneath the coating?

ETA: By this, I mean the entire blade. I've stripped plenty of knives, but I've never disassembled an Axis-lock.
 
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You can do the Benchmade customize a Grip and have any combo you want. Any steel choice, handle color, clip, and hardware finish. Sure it'll cost you more than a standard Griptilian, but you can have some cool combos.

As for stripping the coating, I think it would definitely be much easier than, say, the ESEE coating to strip (tough son of a gun). I think you can disassemble a Griptilian for a strip job by just removing the pivot screw and sliding the blade and washers out. I actually planned on stripping the coating from my coated D2, OD handled Mini Grip. If I do, I'll let you know the details involved.

Edited to add: It is possible to remove the blade without fully disassembling the knife and it is just as easy as it sounds. It took me all of 30 seconds to take it out and another 30 to put it back in.

SAM_0097.jpg

SAM_0098-1.jpg


My blade and clip are sitting in some Jasco right now. I'll post pictures when it's all done.
 
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An update on this; the coating is far tougher to remove than I had thought. After about 30-40 mins in the Jasco, the coating has barely been affected. It is by far the toughest coating I've tried to remove so far. The ESEE coating was affected after the same amount of time in the same stripper. I'm going to let is sit for a bit longer and check back.
 
OB, your response was heads above anything I expected.
If that coating survives another round in the Jasco, I'll just get a coated blade, safe in the knowledge it ain't coming off anytime soon. :p
 
Biscuit, it survived barely scathed. The only removal done was by scraping with a razor blade. Even then, it just looks like a used blade and not near a stripped one. I might give Citri-Strip a try tomorrow.
 
THe Benchmade coatings do get some scratches if they hit something hard - they're still coatings. ;)

On another note: you could purchase an olive drab grip with a back blade and a regular grip and swap the blades - it's fairly easy and I've seen quite a few sale threads of those frankenstein BMs. (especially with m4 grips or wilkins grips or bone collectors + presidio blade and the other product).
 
I gave that Customize a Grip site a look. It's not THAT much more than regular prices, and the options for D2 or S30V are nice.

What do folks think of this N680 steel? I see that's what's in their river knife.

Bohler N680: A chromium-molybdenum conventionally produced stainless steel with the addition of vanadium and nitrogen. Excellent corrosion resistance properties, especially in salt water. Good hardenability and high obtainable hardness. High wear resistance and ability to preserve keenness.
Click to expand...
 
I have an early mini grip with olive scales and an uncoated, drop point blade. The blade steel is 440c. Bought it new in 2003. Still one of my favorites.
 
jangy jr said:
I have an early mini grip with olive scales and an uncoated, drop point blade. The blade steel is 440c. Bought it new in 2003. Still one of my favorites.
Click to expand...

jangy, you're either an uber lurker, or you just pop in every blue moon or so.
Either way, I want to personally thank you for putting your first post, in nearly three years, in this thread. :thumbup:
Welcome to Bladeforums (sort of)! Enjoy that Mini Grip. I'll find mine soon enough.
 
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