EDC Recommendation: looking to switch out Griptilian 551-1 for something smaller

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uebe_19861969

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Jan 2, 2024
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Good morning and happy new year. I hope you and yours have all had a blessed finish of 2023 and start of 2024. I wanted some recommendations on a new EDC for myself.

I currently have a Benchmade Griptilian, the model with the gray G10 scales and the blue liner with 20CV steel. Love the knife and the quality is phenomenal, but it is a bit too big for my EDC. It’s not a big knife obviously, but I find myself carrying a crappy Walmart knife simply for convenience. I was looking at the Benchmade Full Immunity at the store the other day and LOVED the size. Anything in that size range that would be a good recommendation? Or if I could get that for under $180 would you say that is a good option?

Link to Benchmade Full Immunity

Here is a link to the full immunity so you can see the knife as well as the specs so it gives more intel into what I’m looking for. Not looking to spend what this costs full price, but I’d be interested in keeping it under $200 on a new knife (which I was interested in this because of the size, quality, and the fact I can get it under $200) also would be interested in a trade of my current Griptilian since it literally is never used and has been carried about 5 times total in a year.

Thank you all and stay blessed,
Mark
 
Para3 lightweight in S90V is extremely competitive compared to a Grip. Deep carry wire clip, friendly color, great edge retention, easier to sharper than 20CV.
 
My first thought was maybe a Demko AD20.50 "shark foot," but that's a bit bigger. So maybe a Cold Steel Tuff Lite? Yeah, the materials aren't the same, but people seem to like them.
 
Hello. There are hundreds if not thousands of knives smaller than a Benchmade Grip. A little more info on what your requirements are would help people make a recommedation, such as what brands you would consider, what type of opener (thumb stud, hole, assisted), what type of lock, pocket clip or no, steel requirements, hadle material, etc....

I have a couple of Grips and I don't carry them much either. They are too small! I carry a Spyderco Military. It's the perfect EDC size for me.
 
Maybe the new Mini Super Freek in M4 and G10. Small but great materials and good blade geometry. The Mini RSK is a good option too. You might even scrounge up a -1 Mini Griptilian somewhere.
 
I have limited experience with Benchmade so I can only recommend these two. The North Fork and the Mini Grip are both great knives. If you're willing to consider other brands and locking mechanisms, there are thousands of other quality knives available in your size and price range.

IMG_5492.JPG
 
If it doesn’t have to be a Benchmade, the Hogue Microflip Wharncliffe is very close in size and appearance to the Full Immunity, with decent blade steel (CPM154), and well within your budget. Except it’s a flipper instead of a thumber.
 
OP, I have that same Griptilian, and like you, I rarely carry it. It's not its length so much as its thickness for the most part, and a bit less the width.

I went and found a nice used Mini Grip; great knife and I like it a lot. It's comfortable to carry and use, but the pinky is left crowded. Not enough that I'd sell it, but enough that I occasionally notice.

After that, I decided to give the Bugout a try; it's PERFECT. If I ever go out thinking I'll do a lot of hard cutting, I'd bring the old 551, but for EDC and just a cut here and there, the Bugout is a masterpiece. It's not quite as ergonomic as a Spyderco; doesn't feel like it was designed so each finger has a place, but the fingers don't feel out of place either. It disappears in the pocket like a Spyderco or Cold Steel can't. It's thin and narrow and it goes forgotten in the pocket until I need it. I've come to appreciate the thinner blade stock, too. The 551 is built stronger and with a better grip, but despite that it's actually harder slicing through cardboard because the spine of the blade is so thick and it becomes more like splitting cardboard than slicing it. I also really came to appreciate the smaller clip. It made me realize there's no reason for such a long clip as most of these knives have these days.

I went looking for a used one and had a hell of a time finding one that didn't have an asking price too close to a new one; that's a good sign that there's not much supply because people like them so much.

My vote is for the mighty Bugout. It's so good for EDC that I find myself having to justify reasons to carry anything else.
 
Smaug said:
OP, I have that same Griptilian, and like you, I rarely carry it. It's not its length so much as its thickness for the most part, and a bit less the width.

I went and found a nice used Mini Grip; great knife and I like it a lot. It's comfortable to carry and use, but the pinky is left crowded. Not enough that I'd sell it, but enough that I occasionally notice.

After that, I decided to give the Bugout a try; it's PERFECT. If I ever go out thinking I'll do a lot of hard cutting, I'd bring the old 551, but for EDC and just a cut here and there, the Bugout is a masterpiece. It's not quite as ergonomic as a Spyderco; doesn't feel like it was designed so each finger has a place, but the fingers don't feel out of place either. It disappears in the pocket like a Spyderco or Cold Steel can't. It's thin and narrow and it goes forgotten in the pocket until I need it. I've come to appreciate the thinner blade stock, too. The 551 is built stronger and with a better grip, but despite that it's actually harder slicing through cardboard because the spine of the blade is so thick and it becomes more like splitting cardboard than slicing it. I also really came to appreciate the smaller clip. It made me realize there's no reason for such a long clip as most of these knives have these days.

I went looking for a used one and had a hell of a time finding one that didn't have an asking price too close to a new one; that's a good sign that there's not much supply because people like them so much.

My vote is for the mighty Bugout. It's so good for EDC that I find myself having to justify reasons to carry anything else.
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thanks for all the insight. I have kind of narrowed it down to, if I go with that quality range, a Bugout or Para 3. I feel like they’d be more comfortable and a better allocation of funds since it wouldn’t be sitting in my house as often as my Grip is.
 
Danny Linguini said:
If it doesn’t have to be a Benchmade, the Hogue Microflip Wharncliffe is very close in size and appearance to the Full Immunity, with decent blade steel (CPM154), and well within your budget. Except it’s a flipper instead of a thumber.
Click to expand...
Thank you for this. I’ve been thinking I might be good to not go down as small, but if I decide to go fully down there rather than a bugout or Para3, that looks solid. I didn’t know much at all about that before you mentioned it and I did some research, so thank you.
 
I carried a Buck 501 Squire for decades before I learned about one hand opening knives and the Mini-Grip was my first (maybe 10 or so years ago). I liked it with the deep pocket clip and then bought a full-size Grip but ended up not carrying it and it rides in my glove box. I bought a couple more Mini-Grips over the years but then the Bugout was introduced. Bought one and loved the idea of it but the somewhat squishy scales bothered me and I returned it to Benchmade. However, that was at the same time they introduced a slightly beefier version, the 535BK-2 so they sent that one to me and I love it. It's *my* perfect EDC. I also bought a heavier duty Mini-Presidio 2 for alternate carry which is a terrific EDC as well. I like the larger blade size of these knives but the Mini-Griptilian is everything good about the full size version in a smaller package. Great knife. Hard to go wrong with any of these IMO.
 
Lots of solid suggestions.

You may want to consider the Manly City in s90v as an inexpensive, ergonomic knife that is also a great cutter.
 
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