Doug Ritter Mini Griptilian 556?

S

soapboxpreacher

Joined
Apr 3, 2010
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Anyone know the release date on this? Knifeworks seems to be one if not the only seller of this model but no word on release date? I am looking forward to it for the simple fact that it is a S30V blade. Let me know what you guys think?
 
Well it's technically been around for a while... looks like mr. ritter is just switching dealers from aeromedix to KW.
 
Send Roger an email, that would be the most reliable way to get a straight answer.
 
I emailed KW a couple of days ago and they could not give me an ETA for the Ritters.

If you like mini grips you will love the mini Ritter! Great slicers, good utilitarian blade shape and nice EDC size. The limited release Ritters with CPM M4 blade are very nice :D.
 
Are we sure we're talking about the original mini-ritter?

It's model number was 558 not the 556 of regular mini-griptilians.
 
RevDevil said:
Send Roger an email, that would be the most reliable way to get a straight answer.
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Ashley is the gatekeeper. I havent spoke to Rodger in a year or so. He never answers the phone and I believe Ashley checks his email. When I did speak to him he was quick to get you off the phone. Not bashing him, just his personality. I spend some dough there and expected a little more. Knifecenter always seems to be a little more into digging up some info I couldnt find...instead of being uninterested and short. Sorry Just my opinion based on my experience. But there pricing is good and they ship very fast.

Wow is that expensive at aeromedix.com 125 for the S30V. 145 for CPM M4...isnt M4 very close to D2? And how superior is S30V to 154cm. I have actually had better 154cm on BM then S30V on ZT.
 
soapboxpreacher said:
Ashley is the gatekeeper. I havent spoke to Rodger in a year or so. He never answers the phone and I believe Ashley checks his email. When I did speak to him he was quick to get you off the phone. Not bashing him, just his personality. I spend some dough there and expected a little more. Knifecenter always seems to be a little more into digging up some info I couldnt find...instead of being uninterested and short. Sorry Just my opinion based on my experience. But there pricing is good and they ship very fast.

Wow is that expensive at aeromedix.com 125 for the S30V. 145 for CPM M4...isnt M4 very close to D2? And how superior is S30V to 154cm. I have actually had better 154cm on BM then S30V on ZT.
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I've noticed that too at KW. I've always gotten email replies from Ashley, and a couple from Roger. Must be a busy guy with all the sprints that he has made for KW. That is definitely one thing that keeps me shopping there.
KC is also a great spot for these things.

Basically the steel comes from the same facility, the way it is heat treated is what makes it a winner or not so much. For any Benchmade knife, I would always pick D2 over their M4. Just a personal preference I guess. I find the M4 on the 12800SBK801 does not hold an edge as good as the Gayle Bradley.:eek:
 
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I have had very good communication with Roger and Knifeworks in general. Knifecenter is good as well but I prefer Knifeworks.
 
RevDevil said:
For any Benchmade knife, I would always pick D2 over their M4. Just a personal preference I guess.
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Each to their own, I find that the M4 is much quicker and easier to sharpen to a hair whittling edge then their D2 and the edge holding to be very impressive.


I just re read the response from KW in regards to stocking Ritters and Ashley wrote:

"We are signed up as Doug Ritter’s exclusive dealer. We will be carrying every model of his products. As of right now we don’t have any in stock and hopefully getting the items in stock about a month."

Sorry should have read this before responding earlier:o.
 
soapboxpreacher said:
Wow is that expensive at aeromedix.com 125 for the S30V. 145 for CPM M4...isnt M4 very close to D2? And how superior is S30V to 154cm. I have actually had better 154cm on BM then S30V on ZT.
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Yeah, they are a little overpriced. But thats just how benchmade likes to do everything.

I think the basic mini grip should be a $40 knife. (I have 6 minis)

To defend the higher price point on the ritters though: The 558 ritter not only has S30V, but also a better (in my opinion) blade shape as well as a great looking stonewashed finish.

Im hoping KW knocks the price down a little bit so I can buy more.
 
HKBM45 said:
Yeah, they are a little overpriced. But thats just how benchmade likes to do everything.

I think the basic mini grip should be a $40 knife. (I have 6 minis)

To defend the higher price point on the ritters though: The 558 ritter not only has S30V, but also a better (in my opinion) blade shape as well as a great looking stonewashed finish.

Im hoping KW knocks the price down a little bit so I can buy more.
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KW always (almost always) offers a coupon to use on BM knives at checkout. That said, this is D. Ritter's baby, I assume and not BM or Aeromed's, so he's calling "most of the shots" right? Price being one and having a BM service deal with BM? Just guessing here though.

There were a lot of QC issues with his last releases through Aeromed. but he took care of everyone's complaints I assume since no further postings were made.

People love this man's work on these folders but they're not my cup of tea. Probably due to building off of the Griptilian platform. :barf:
 
I've always wanted a Ritter Grip but couldn't bite on the much higher price than Grips were available elsewhere (i.e., list price on much higher priced Ritter vs. discounted price on lower price regular Grip). The difference was way too high. I bet I'm not the only one.

Lets hope that Doug and Knifeworks really want to sell this and permit a small discount to narrow the difference. Then I'll pick one up.
 
illumination said:
I've always wanted a Ritter Grip but couldn't bite on the much higher price than Grips were available elsewhere (i.e., list price on much higher priced Ritter vs. discounted price on lower price regular Grip). The difference was way too high. I bet I'm not the only one.

Lets hope that Doug and Knifeworks really want to sell this and permit a small discount to narrow the difference. Then I'll pick one up.
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I agree, when you see a mini-grip opened up you realize how inexpensive they are made. The handle material is nothing special and brass inserts, the stainless steel liner are not full length. Dont get me wrong but this knife I love but when I saw the ritter price...I was a little shocked! I can handle 60 for this all day and 75 for a D2. But 125 for just an S30V version...that is pushing it. If the grip was G10 and the liners was beefer sure. I am onboard. But in all honesty that knife doesnt need to be built like an absolute tank. Would it be nice, yes! But for its length it is fine. Would I love it in G10 with say Titanium full length liners and a S30V blade...I would fork out 150 all DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
1st I would like to apologized if I sounded short to anyone, Over the last few weeks we have had so much to do getting our Exclusive Spyderco M4 military, And I have had to fly to Oregon for meetings this week with Benchmade and Doug Ritter, this transaction will take a little time, but when it is done our goal is not to run out of stock on these items as was done before. And Doug and I will be looking into Exciting new Project to bring you next year.

As far as emails and phone calls I have read about, if you need to talk to me, I am here most of the time, Emails are done mostly by Ashley ( My Daughter), If she can not answer the question, I will normally tell her the answer, With so many Jobs I have it is hard to do it all, So I have to assign to different ones.

So many have ask a questions that we could not answer or would not answer because we did not want to give the wrong answer, they is why we would not give much information until after our meeting.

Production of KnifeWorks' initial stock of RSK® Mk1 and Mini-RSK® Mk1 folders and RSK® Mk3 fixed blades is in the works. We hope to receive the first folders by the end of November. We hope to have the RSK MKk3 by end of the year.

We are pleased to announce the first run of the RSK® Mk2 Perseverance™, Doug's collaboration with Ethan Becker, is expected to be available.

We are also working on several more exciting new Knifeworks Exclusive offers for next year, (Sorry I cannot tell you right now)

We hope you understand and we appreciate your business.
Thanks,
Roger
 
Knifeworks.com said:
1st I would like to apologized if I sounded short to anyone, Over the last few weeks we have had so much to do getting our Exclusive Spyderco M4 military, And I have had to fly to Oregon for meetings this week with Benchmade and Doug Ritter, this transaction will take a little time, but when it is done our goal is not to run out of stock on these items as was done before. And Doug and I will be looking into Exciting new Project to bring you next year.

As far as emails and phone calls I have read about, if you need to talk to me, I am here most of the time, Emails are done mostly by Ashley ( My Daughter), If she can not answer the question, I will normally tell her the answer, With so many Jobs I have it is hard to do it all, So I have to assign to different ones.

So many have ask a questions that we could not answer or would not answer because we did not want to give the wrong answer, they is why we would not give much information until after our meeting.

Production of KnifeWorks' initial stock of RSK® Mk1 and Mini-RSK® Mk1 folders and RSK® Mk3 fixed blades is in the works. We hope to receive the first folders by the end of November. We hope to have the RSK MKk3 by end of the year.

We are pleased to announce the first run of the RSK® Mk2 Perseverance™, Doug's collaboration with Ethan Becker, is expected to be available.

We are also working on several more exciting new Knifeworks Exclusive offers for next year, (Sorry I cannot tell you right now)

We hope you understand and we appreciate your business.
Thanks,
Roger
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Alright roger...nice to hear from you!! Look forward to these releases! Any news on price at this moment? I just ordered a D2 but wouldnt have if I known the ritter was coming out so soon. D2 can get toothie and is a pain to sharpen, I much prefer S30V!!!
 
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